New Normark Rods

[Cliff Turner]

I picked up the 12-14' Avenger last week, nothing special as far as I could see but of course the proof is in the pudding. Made me get my Avenger II out this week and I wasn't disappointed, awesome rod.

 

[Ian Woods]

I picked up the 12-14' Avenger last week, nothing special as far as I could see but of course the proof is in the pudding. Made me get my Avenger II out this week and I wasn't disappointed, awesome rod.

Have you got the first avenger mkII straight after the 2000 range Cliff, the 13ft ones?

 

[Alec Hague]

I went to a shop today to have a look at one as my wife was going to buy it as my 50th birthday present. Not as tippy as I thought it would be but still felt good. However for the price of the rod there were a couple of things that put me off and you may think me fussy for mentioning these point. Firstly the tip section had a bend to the left, a set or kink if you like. Second the ringing was not straight especially on the tip section, neither was the reel seat to the butt eyes.

Again call me fussy but I've had many rods over the years and quite a few custom builds too but I would not be happy to accept a rod of that price with that quality control. Perfectly functional but it would erk me everytime I picked it up.

keen now to see if anyone else has noticed the same issues.

 

[Stuart Linton]

keen now to see if anyone else has noticed the same issues.

Me too. I haven't read anywhere of this type of issue, quite the opposite in fact which is why I was a little surprised to see the build. This was on a 13 foot Titan. The 13 foot Avenger I looked at wasn't so bad but it looked like they joined two bits of duplon on the handle instead of using a whole piece judging by what looked like a join. Bit of corner cutting by the look of it which doesn't inspire confidence.

Considering used prices are relatively high I sure people would be prepared to pay more for a new version if the quality of the build is better. Of course I may have just been unlucky with the samples I saw.

 

[Jon Frisby]

I had a waggle with a friends Avenger the other day and thought Normark had done a great job in bringing the Avenger into the 2020s....

 

[Cliff Turner]

Have you got the first avenger mkII straight after the 2000 range Cliff, the 13ft ones?

yes Ian, that's the one

 

[Graham Elliott]

Can anyone tell me what version this one is please. Will be out for roach and tench in Suffolk end of the

month

 

[Alec Hague]

Can anyone tell me what version this one is please. Will be out for roach and tench in Suffolk end of the View attachment 35950View attachment 35951View attachment 35952View attachment 35953month

Hi Graham.
I am your way next week and will be at sudley on wednesday!. But I see you are in suffolk later this month. I have been recommended to foxearth which I plan to try before months end. Worth a look, said to have lots of tench. Either way would be nice to meet up depending on your time constraints!

 

[Neil Blood]

During the last couple of weeks I’ve bought both the 13ft Avenger and the 12 - 14ft Avenger.

As per my previous post, the 13ft Avenger just blew me away, so the second rod was purchased too. I’m not an angler who is looking to go out trotting for Barbel every week. If I wanted to do this and in challenging swims, then I’d likely use my 13ft Chimera 1 float rod.

I’d been looking to upgrade my float rods, as I’m gradually getting back into trotting for quality fish on rivers. Typically this is for Chub and I wanted a rod, which would handle big Chub and the occasional Barbel, when they put in an appearance. I already own a 15ft Acolyte Plus, which I use for River Severn Perch fishing in the winter. I know what the rod can do and I’ve landed bonus Barbel with it to 9.8lb, which have taken my float fished lobworm.

I also wanted rods to specifically cover the 12ft to 14ft range in my fishing and I did consider Acolytes. Like many anglers, as good as Acolytes are, to me they feel delicate in the hand and I know other anglers think the same. Maybe its down to being over cautious and hearing stories from others of “Snapolytes” although such stories tend to be 3rd hand.

Yesterday I returned to the Upper Severn in Wales, again with Chub in mind and armed with the 12 - 14ft version. Initially I was fishing 7.9lb Silstar Team on the pin with hook lengths of the same in 5.5lb and then 6.6lb. After being smashed a couple of times by Chub in a snaggy swim, I went 7.9lb line straight through to a size 12 Super Spade hook. This put me in better control and I went on to catch 11 Chub to 5.5lb. Personally I’d say 7.9lb straight through had the rod at its upper limits when bullying fish from underneath overhanging willows.

In 14ft configuration the rod feels less powerful than my other 13ft version. I put this down to the 2ft section, which takes the rod from 12 to 14ft. This 2ft section contains 2 line guides, so has to be made up properly. As a result you definitely get more of a feel that you are playing the fish much further up the rod on a tip to upper middle basis. In this respect the 13ft rod is the better rod. I haven’t yet fished the rod as a 3 piece, 12ft rod; however I have seen a review on another forum, where an angler caught Barbel to 6lb using the 12ft configuration and loved it.

Regarding build quality there are no issues with either of my rods.

Overall for what I wanted and covering the 12ft, 13ft and 14ft rod range, I’m happy with the rods and especially the 13ft. If you want a dedicated 14ft rod, you may be better off waiting to see if they produce a 3 piece version. I believe other models will be coming out in the future.

Also in my local tackle shop last week, I asked if they were going to stock the Normark rods. The answer was no, as they considered them expensive for what they are and are adamant that Acolytes will continue to outsell everything else on the market.

 

[Graham Elliott]

Hi Graham.
I am your way next week and will be at sudley on wednesday!. But I see you are in suffolk later this month. I have been recommended to foxearth which I plan to try before months end. Worth a look, said to have lots of tench. Either way would be nice to meet up depending on your time constraints!

I'm around next week Alec in all day 14th as waiting for Fridge / Freezer delivery.
No time weekend though as Granddaughter here.
Msg you my phone number.

 

[Tim Penn]

During the last couple of weeks I’ve bought both the 13ft Avenger and the 12 - 14ft Avenger.

As per my previous post, the 13ft Avenger just blew me away, so the second rod was purchased too. I’m not an angler who is looking to go out trotting for Barbel every week. If I wanted to do this and in challenging swims, then I’d likely use my 13ft Chimera 1 float rod.

I’d been looking to upgrade my float rods, as I’m gradually getting back into trotting for quality fish on rivers. Typically this is for Chub and I wanted a rod, which would handle big Chub and the occasional Barbel, when they put in an appearance. I already own a 15ft Acolyte Plus, which I use for River Severn Perch fishing in the winter. I know what the rod can do and I’ve landed bonus Barbel with it to 9.8lb, which have taken my float fished lobworm.

I also wanted rods to specifically cover the 12ft to 14ft range in my fishing and I did consider Acolytes. Like many anglers, as good as Acolytes are, to me they feel delicate in the hand and I know other anglers think the same. Maybe its down to being over cautious and hearing stories from others of “Snapolytes” although such stories tend to be 3rd hand.

Yesterday I returned to the Upper Severn in Wales, again with Chub in mind and armed with the 12 - 14ft version. Initially I was fishing 7.9lb Silstar Team on the pin with hook lengths of the same in 5.5lb and then 6.6lb. After being smashed a couple of times by Chub in a snaggy swim, I went 7.9lb line straight through to a size 12 Super Spade hook. This put me in better control and I went on to catch 11 Chub to 5.5lb. Personally I’d say 7.9lb straight through had the rod at its upper limits when bullying fish from underneath overhanging willows.

In 14ft configuration the rod feels less powerful than my other 13ft version. I put this down to the 2ft section, which takes the rod from 12 to 14ft. This 2ft section contains 2 line guides, so has to be made up properly. As a result you definitely get more of a feel that you are playing the fish much further up the rod on a tip to upper middle basis. In this respect the 13ft rod is the better rod. I haven’t yet fished the rod as a 3 piece, 12ft rod; however I have seen a review on another forum, where an angler caught Barbel to 6lb using the 12ft configuration and loved it.

Regarding build quality there are no issues with either of my rods.

Overall for what I wanted and covering the 12ft, 13ft and 14ft rod range, I’m happy with the rods and especially the 13ft. If you want a dedicated 14ft rod, you may be better off waiting to see if they produce a 3 piece version. I believe other models will be coming out in the future.

Also in my local tackle shop last week, I asked if they were going to stock the Normark rods. The answer was no, as they considered them expensive for what they are and are adamant that Acolytes will continue to outsell everything else on the market.

That may have been me if it was maggot drowning, I had a great day trotting for barbel on it at 12ft, ended the day with 11. I don’t think I’ll use mine at 14 very often, the river Lea is very narrow so it won’t be needed that often. Can confirm mine has zero of the issues detailed here.

My dad has just got himself the 13ft version after using mine.

 

[Neil Blood]

That may have been me if it was maggot drowning, I had a great day trotting for barbel on it at 12ft, ended the day with 11. I don’t think I’ll use mine at 14 very often, the river Lea is very narrow so it won’t be needed that often. Can confirm mine has zero of the issues detailed here.

My dad has just got himself the 13ft version after using mine.

In that case it was you Tim