• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

New Normark Rods

You’re right mate I do need to give it a better test before being completely satisfied. It won’t be used on the nene ever. I don’t believe it’s up for that as strong as it feels but I do hope to get it out on the middle and maybe some sections of the tidal Trent this coming summer.
If the guides let me down I’ll not be buying another.
Would be a shame if they do as it’s an absolute beauty of a float rod to trot with. Certainly one of my favorites


Fingers crossed for you the guides on your preston rod are better than the ones on my scope rod and they stand up to your requirements 👍.
 
Fingers crossed for you the guides on your preston rod are better than the ones on my scope rod and they stand up to your requirements 👍.
Wallis casting is probably the worst thing for them guides Ian. When you pull down for a 30 yarder you don’t half put some friction on. I’ve burned my thumb doing it before when the line is warm and dry
 
Wallis casting is probably the worst thing for them guides Ian. When you pull down for a 30 yarder you don’t half put some friction on. I’ve burned my thumb doing it before when the line is warm and dry


For sure, wally casting does test the guides, although, if they arn't up to it then they arn't fit for purpose.
I am interested in how your preston rods guides hold up to the casting, playing numbers of decent fish and of course those clonkers you get!
 
For sure, wally casting does test the guides, although, if they arn't up to it then they arn't fit for purpose.
I am interested in how your preston rods guides hold up to the casting, playing numbers of decent fish and of course those clonkers you get!
It’s been alright so far with 15-20 yarders across to the far bank on the nene for some lumpy chub.
You’re right though it needs a good test out.

I’ll give it a whirl on the Trent and no doubt pick up the odd double but as for the real zoo creatures in the nene in summer and autumn when it’s really over grown it’s not a rod for that I don’t think.
I’d be worried about breaking it.
 

BTW Daryl Hodges posted on Facebook recently, "The rods are finished and about to be shipped. We are hopeful we can get them out to shops in early July".
 
I'm confused about the hook keeper way down near the bottom of the handle?.... surely that will keep catching on your clothing etc during use? That looks like a propper cock up!
 
I think they look great.
The spec on the fittings sounds great, i really like the appearance and the aesthetics despite the fact I do generally prefer a natural ground finish in general over a gloss but that said it’s a nice finish.

They are priced sensibly when you consider Preston are asking more for a rod that doesn’t come with anything Fuji. (Not dissing the Preston at all i absolutely love mine but wouldn’t of paid full RRP on it)

It takes alot of balls to bring something like that back from the grave.

I like the fact that these have undergone some heavy real testing by some good anglers in good situations.
One in particular by Taking a titan to ladypit for afew sessions. Now that is definitely putting it through its paces in conditions that quite frankly a Titan isn’t or shouldn’t be designed for.

That stretch of river is fast paced and full of very hard fighting chub and barbel. Albeit not massive generally but again a ballsy test for a medium action medium strength match rod. That could have gone very wrong for him and if it got out, caused him some potential problems before they hit the shops.

All that aside I still firmly believe he’s messed up with the range to go in at.
Times have moved on and it’s a fact that a lot of people want long rods nowadays. Dolly sections are or should be a thing of the past now.
I have rods with them and yes they are fine. Some are by a country mile better than others but frankly they compromise 1 length or the other.

I believe a better more popular 5 rod strong range to go in at would of been

13ft mic/tita/Av
15ft Av/Tita

I won’t be buying one until the 15’s come out then I’ll probably start off with an avenger and if I like it I’ll buy a titan.
Not interested in the 13’s tbh
 
I think they look great.
The spec on the fittings sounds great, i really like the appearance and the aesthetics despite the fact I do generally prefer a natural ground finish in general over a gloss but that said it’s a nice finish.

They are priced sensibly when you consider Preston are asking more for a rod that doesn’t come with anything Fuji. (Not dissing the Preston at all i absolutely love mine but wouldn’t of paid full RRP on it)

It takes alot of balls to bring something like that back from the grave.

I like the fact that these have undergone some heavy real testing by some good anglers in good situations.
One in particular by Taking a titan to ladypit for afew sessions. Now that is definitely putting it through its paces in conditions that quite frankly a Titan isn’t or shouldn’t be designed for.

That stretch of river is fast paced and full of very hard fighting chub and barbel. Albeit not massive generally but again a ballsy test for a medium action medium strength match rod. That could have gone very wrong for him and if it got out, caused him some potential problems before they hit the shops.

All that aside I still firmly believe he’s messed up with the range to go in at.
Times have moved on and it’s a fact that a lot of people want long rods nowadays. Dolly sections are or should be a thing of the past now.
I have rods with them and yes they are fine. Some are by a country mile better than others but frankly they compromise 1 length or the other.

I believe a better more popular 5 rod strong range to go in at would of been

13ft mic/tita/Av
15ft Av/Tita

I won’t be buying one until the 15’s come out then I’ll probably start off with an avenger and if I like it I’ll buy a titan.
Not interested in the 13’s tbh
Exactly, missing 15ft is a huge mistake especially for average.

I think I will get the microlite first and wait until the 15ft.
 
It’s an extra keeper for make up rods. I personally like it since that’s actually something I want to have for a while.

Yes, I know its an extra keeper ring HZ, but the placement being right down the handle like that looks like it may be a problem/ nuisance "for myself".
The reason I say that is because I'm constantly moving a rod from one hand to the other whilst trotting, and so the butt may scrape across my clothing and get caught on it.
In the video the hook keeper does look like a quite large protrusion.
 
Back
Top