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Normark float rods

Chris Jones said:
I've had to sacrifice a fair bit of this year's prime tench fishing to work. It was in a good cause though, two FS Hi-S float rods. I've had them a couple of weeks now and have managed to squeeze a touch more fishing in of late. I can finally give a minimally informed view of them.

First up, for those interested in bare weight figures, the 15'er comes in at 180g and the 17'er 218g. In my view, both feel a touch heavier than bare weight figures might suggest. This is due to the point of balance being a bit further forward than might be ideal. Not really an issue for my application as they are likely to spend most of their life on rests. When I venture out with them to a river, I'll be looking to use a reel that's a touch heavier than I may usually choose.

As far as power goes, they are undoubtedly as pokey as I require. However, they are nowhere near being the brute of a tool that the Freespirit "Spirit Specialist Advanced" 13' 1lb 6oz Power Float, that I already had, is. I've actually had to wade through a fair number of roach and perch to catch tench up to around 6lb. There's enough in the tips to give something more than a rather soulless retrieve with fish around the 8oz to 1lb 8oz mark. I've had no issues with bumping such fish. I did use the 15'er on a small river for about four hours. Similar story in that it was fine with the small dace and roach I was catching. Plenty of power in reserve for the 3lb ish chub that tried to bury itself in every bit of streamer weed present and the inevitable near side kiting to get into reed beds.

Mat the fishing gods have mercy on my soul for the next comment. The rods are also rather easy on the eye with the 1k weave and "perdurable" finish. I'd absolutely loath to do so, but it has crossed my mind that I might just about be able to cover all my float fishing with four (17', 15', 13' and 10/11') Hi-S float rods. There would undoubtedly be some niches that they couldn't adequately cover, but if I were prepared to compromise a bit, or had greater "specialist" leanings, it could be viable.
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Nice write up Chris and being an owner and heavy user of the same two rods albeit my 15 has the older handle style, I share a lot of the same veiws.

Power wise I wouldn’t underestimate them. Mine has had in excess of 70 barbel including 5 cracking doubles on them now and while the resistance to bending may be less than your other more poky rods they have a hell of a lot of stopping power in the lower half and let’s not forget they are 2-4ft longer.

The weight in the newer ones is impressive because they have shed all the hardware and steel off the handle. They’ve made it substantially shorter too with a bit of duplon here and there and I’ll be honest I absolutely love the handle. It’s perfect in every way and better than my old one by a mile.

The trade off however is my old one feels abit lighter and more balanced with a lighter reel. (A very good example of why figures are next to useless)
For me it’s a good trade off I have no issues with slightly nose heavy rods and the handle style is more important.

It doesn’t bump small fish off I agree but they do lack the tip speed and recovery offered in more suitable rods and for that reason alone I actually couldn’t replace my rods completely with them. It’s to be expected mind they are power floats and a through action with back bone is more important than a lightning fast fine tip.

I’m impressed with them definitely.
 
I had a 13.12 off the tidal and a few smaller ones last week. I ga e them a fair bit of stick. The FS 15s certainly bend a bit. Would love to get a photo of them in action, landing a double.
 
Jon Frisby said:
I had a 13.12 off the tidal and a few smaller ones last week. I ga e them a fair bit of stick. The FS 15s certainly bend a bit. Would love to get a photo of them in action, landing a double.
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Hey mate.
That was from a short session Thursday
11,02.
They do bend but that’s exactly what you want to cushion them Net bolts.
They stop big fish really well if you just hang on and let em bend right through.
I’m incredibly impressed with how good they are.
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I've been a fan of the normark rods since the team 2000s came out. I've had pretty much all of them in their various lengths. My favourite to use was the 12ft microlite, a lovely rod to use.
I also had the 3000 range in the avenger and the titan, again, very nice rods. I wasn't very keen on the reel holder on most of the 3000s though.
When I first got hold of the original mkII range which were all 13ft (no extentions) I let all my previous normarks go as I was smitten with the mkII's. By far my favourite model out of the mkII's is the avenger, i've had so many barbel whilst using the it I wouldn't like to try and put a number on the amount, people would most likely laugh at me. The action of it is just perfect for playing them.
As virtually all my fishing is trotting a float, mostly for barbel and chub i'm always on the look out for rods to try and better what I already have.
I know people give the acolytes a lot of stick regarding breakages but I think they are fantastic rods, and i've never had one break, even in hit and hold swims catching barbel to just shy of 12lb.
Another modern float rod which I find to be excellent is the browning sphere range of spliced rods and waggler rods. My preference is the waggler models and the 14ft is superb, again, i've had a hell of a lot of very nice barbel whilst using that rod.
I have numerous other float rods that I use for barbel fishing, my latest addition is a 12ft hi S power float rod.
In all honesty i'm not at all impressed with it, it just lacks in power and the action under pressure is ....not good. I have handled the 17 and 15ft versions of the same range of rods and they are more of what I expected, but still not so powerful as I had expected.
So, after owning and using many very nice float rods, the normark avenger mkII is still my all time favourite float rod 🙂.
 
Ian Woods said:
I've been a fan of the normark rods since the team 2000s came out. I've had pretty much all of them in their various lengths. My favourite to use was the 12ft microlite, a lovely rod to use.
I also had the 3000 range in the avenger and the titan, again, very nice rods. I wasn't very keen on the reel holder on most of the 3000s though.
When I first got hold of the original mkII range which were all 13ft (no extentions) I let all my previous normarks go as I was smitten with the mkII's. By far my favourite model out of the mkII's is the avenger, i've had so many barbel whilst using the it I wouldn't like to try and put a number on the amount, people would most likely laugh at me. The action of it is just perfect for playing them.
As virtually all my fishing is trotting a float, mostly for barbel and chub i'm always on the look out for rods to try and better what I already have.
I know people give the acolytes a lot of stick regarding breakages but I think they are fantastic rods, and i've never had one break, even in hit and hold swims catching barbel to just shy of 12lb.
Another modern float rod which I find to be excellent is the browning sphere range of spliced rods and waggler rods. My preference is the waggler models and the 14ft is superb, again, i've had a hell of a lot of very nice barbel whilst using that rod.
I have numerous other float rods that I use for barbel fishing, my latest addition is a 12ft hi S power float rod.
In all honesty i'm not at all impressed with it, it just lacks in power and the action under pressure is ....not good. I have handled the 17 and 15ft versions of the same range of rods and they are more of what I expected, but still not so powerful as I had expected.
So, after owning and using many very nice float rods, the normark avenger mkII is still my all time favourite float rod 🙂.
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Great write up Ian.
Yes the mk11’s are lovely rods. I had a waggle with some of Chris Jones mk11’s yesterday. Really Lovely rods. The 3000 avenger is still a personal favorite of mine. Especially at 15ft. I like long rods in general mind.

I’m not in agreement with you regarding the free spirit hi s specials and the power.

I use the original 15ft version for all my real big barbel float work and it’s not just slightly more powerful than an avenger or acolyte, it’s got alot more guts in it. Just put the pressure on, let it bend and bend and it will stop anything.

I feel very comfortable running 8lb line straight through it and there’s not that many true float rods especially at 15ft that would deal with lines like that.

To my knowledge the best avenger or should I say most suitable Avenger for barbel was the original mk1. Shame they never really took normark float rods to decent lengths.

I guess that’s why I like the 3000’s so much. It’s the only ones that work really nicely and seamlessly at 15ft. Mines got the 2000 reel seat
 
Ian Woods said:
I've been a fan of the normark rods since the team 2000s came out. I've had pretty much all of them in their various lengths. My favourite to use was the 12ft microlite, a lovely rod to use.
I also had the 3000 range in the avenger and the titan, again, very nice rods. I wasn't very keen on the reel holder on most of the 3000s though.
When I first got hold of the original mkII range which were all 13ft (no extentions) I let all my previous normarks go as I was smitten with the mkII's. By far my favourite model out of the mkII's is the avenger, i've had so many barbel whilst using the it I wouldn't like to try and put a number on the amount, people would most likely laugh at me. The action of it is just perfect for playing them.
As virtually all my fishing is trotting a float, mostly for barbel and chub i'm always on the look out for rods to try and better what I already have.
I know people give the acolytes a lot of stick regarding breakages but I think they are fantastic rods, and i've never had one break, even in hit and hold swims catching barbel to just shy of 12lb.
Another modern float rod which I find to be excellent is the browning sphere range of spliced rods and waggler rods. My preference is the waggler models and the 14ft is superb, again, i've had a hell of a lot of very nice barbel whilst using that rod.
I have numerous other float rods that I use for barbel fishing, my latest addition is a 12ft hi S power float rod.
In all honesty i'm not at all impressed with it, it just lacks in power and the action under pressure is ....not good. I have handled the 17 and 15ft versions of the same range of rods and they are more of what I expected, but still not so powerful as I had expected.
So, after owning and using many very nice float rods, the normark avenger mkII is still my all time favourite float rod 🙂.
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I have the new HI S 15ft and yes it is lacking in power in the butt to middle section. Shame really as I was expecting a little more power tbh. My Daiwa F1 LD 15ft is way ahead for my needs.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
Great write up Ian.
Yes the mk11’s are lovely rods. I had a waggle with some of Chris Jones mk11’s yesterday. Really Lovely rods. The 3000 avenger is still a personal favorite of mine. Especially at 15ft. I like long rods in general mind.

I’m not in agreement with you regarding the free spirit hi s specials and the power.

I use the original 15ft version for all my real big barbel float work and it’s not just slightly more powerful than an avenger or acolyte, it’s got alot more guts in it. Just put the pressure on, let it bend and bend and it will stop anything.

I feel very comfortable running 8lb line straight through it and there’s not that many true float rods especially at 15ft that would deal with lines like that.

To my knowledge the best avenger or should I say most suitable Avenger for barbel was the original mk1. Shame they never really took normark float rods to decent lengths.

I guess that’s why I like the 3000’s so much. It’s the only ones that work really nicely and seamlessly at 15ft. Mines got the 2000 reel seat
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A friend of mine still has a 13 to 15ft 3000, and yes it does feel very nice at 15ft.
Power wise the 13ft avenger mkIIs are very deceptive, as you say with your free spirits they just keep bending.

The 12 ft free spirit of mine is seriously bent over with a good sided chub in a decent flow! I was curious about its power so I put a fixed spool reel on it and tied the line to a bush. I kept bending the rod and altering the drag until I dare not put any more pressure on. I then put the reel on a 12ft drennan carp waggler and left the drag at the same setting. The carp waggler was every bit as powerful as the free spirit!

I have a couple of daiwa dave harrell rs pf rods and tested the reel at the same setting on the 13 footer and it was more powerful than the 12ft free spirit, as were several other rods.
So, i'm a little dissapointed in the free spirit to be truthful.

Another firm favourite of mine that I use for trotting for barbel is a hardy marksman specialist or the supero model 11ft avon, they are both fine.
I don't mind using a shorter rod even on a larger river, although a downstream wind can make things more alkward for mending line etc than if using a longer rod.

Have you ever seen or used a drennan im8 specimen float rod Richard? Again, they are superb for trotting for barbel, infact that is what they were made for. I still have the tag which was attatched to the rod. This what it says on the tag.....

Light enough to "long trott" all day. Powerfull enough to control and bully big, hard fighting tench, barbel or even carp.
In the hand this rod simply feels light, fast amd extremely well balanced.
Produced in IM8 carbon, this specimene rod with a power curve of over 2lb, retains a light, sensitivetip whichallows delicate float amd line control.

Fuji S I C rings, 24 1/2" corkhandle, will accomadate a wide range of reel linesfrom 2lb to 6lb +.

Those rods are brilliant, but unfortunately they are very scarce!
 
I think it’s a case of different wants from a big fish float rod. It’s obviously got to be able to deal with the line strength you put through it but this whole “stiffer is powerful” couldn’t be any further from truthful.
For me I’ve found what I thought I wanted and what I actually want are different things entirely

I have a 14ft daiwa spectron m2 xp which is a very capable float rod and is stiffer than the free spirit in the lower sections.
You’d think that was better….. it’s not, and it all goes back to this leverage malarkey.

I always take both the Hi S snd M2 tackled up on my barbel float sessions and I’ll swap between them during the course of the day.
The free spirit “feels” less powerful as it bends a bit easier yet…. I can stop fish far easier with it.

I can land barbel far quicker on it then the stiffer daiwa.

You’ve got to have the stones to push it mind and bend it way beyond what you probably think is the limit and by doing so that lever is so short through that strong blank the fish just roll over.

I know that down on the old river Trent, nps waters, the Hi s 15 is definitely the most used float rod by a mile. A lot of very big fish come out on those blanks. I think they are absolutely awesome. Mines a mark Tunley custom build which is a little more special again 😜
 
Richard Isaacs said:
I think it’s a case of different wants from a big fish float rod. It’s obviously got to be able to deal with the line strength you put through it but this whole “stiffer is powerful” couldn’t be any further from truthful.
For me I’ve found what I thought I wanted and what I actually want are different things entirely

I have a 14ft daiwa spectron m2 xp which is a very capable float rod and is stiffer than the free spirit in the lower sections.
You’d think that was better….. it’s not, and it all goes back to this leverage malarkey.

I always take both the Hi S snd M2 tackled up on my barbel float sessions and I’ll swap between them during the course of the day.
The free spirit “feels” less powerful as it bends a bit easier yet…. I can stop fish far easier with it.

I can land barbel far quicker on it then the stiffer daiwa.

You’ve got to have the stones to push it mind and bend it way beyond what you probably think is the limit and by doing so that lever is so short through that strong blank the fish just roll over.

I know that down on the old river Trent, nps waters, the Hi s 15 is definitely the most used float rod by a mile. A lot of very big fish come out on those blanks. I think they are absolutely awesome. Mines a mark Tunley custom build which is a little more special again 😜
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Richard, belive me bud, I let the rods bend, manys the time i've just held the rod and said out tloud to myself "if it snaps, it snaps".
Often i've had rods flatten out on me so nothing left to give, luckily they didn't snap lol.
I know about leverage, but I'm not quite sure about the leverage thing when using bendy sticks of carbon, i'm not convinced the principle works in the same manner.
I also use a 11ft 6inch hardy marksman avon rod and that's another excellent rod for targettijg barbel whilst float fishing in a snag swim.
You know if you have a powerful rod when you can actually wind a foul hooked barbel which has come to the surface and given up, so is just a dead weight with the flow pusing it downstream back upstream 😉.

I forgot to mention a rod that Chris lent to me a couple of months back, it's a free spirit float rod. I think it was made for carp fishing, now this rod is very powerful. The worst draw back about the rod is it's weight as it is heavy. I did manage to cast a good 30yds with it and accurately as well, so it is useable despite it's weight.
I'm sure if Chris sees this he'll enlighten you on the info about the rod.
 
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Ian Woods said:
I'm sure if Chris sees this he'll enlighten you on the info about the rod.
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Sorry, I was out fishing. Richard needs no further enlightenment. The Freespirit Spirit Specialist Advanced 13' 1lb 6oz Power Float was one of the rods I took with me yesterday. The most pokey proper float rod that I've yet to encounter.
 
It was the very first one I looked at among Some very very special rods indeed
One or two you could probably spend a lifetime looking for.

I’m not naming them as they don’t belong to me but yeah….. some really rare beauty’s
 
Ian, like you I have caught lots of barbel on the 13' Avenger II and always been amazed at its performance. But like a lot of people I have been drawn to longer rods believing they offer better control, a rod I like using is the Hardy Marksman 15' Supero and I also now have the new Freespirit Hi S in 15' which needs more use before commenting. However, since reading this thread Im going to try the Avenger II again and remind myself how capable it is !
 
Cliff Turner said:
Ian, like you I have caught lots of barbel on the 13' Avenger II and always been amazed at its performance. But like a lot of people I have been drawn to longer rods believing they offer better control, a rod I like using is the Hardy Marksman 15' Supero and I also now have the new Freespirit Hi S in 15' which needs more use before commenting. However, since reading this thread Im going to try the Avenger II again and remind myself how capable it is !
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I've never used the 15ft hardy float rods but have used the hardy marksman 14ft specialist and 11ft 6inch supero float rods and had lots of nice barbel and chub whilst using them.
Some other rod I sometimes use for barbel is the 13ft tricast John Allerton match waggler.
 
Martin Osmond said:
Thoughts on this, for the price?

View attachment 29250

www.thomasturner.com

Team Normark Titan Match 12' 3pce carbon float rod & bag

Maker: Team Normark Model: Titan Match Approximate year of manufacture: 2000+ Condition: Fine Material: Carbon Length/ diameter: 12' 3-piece Country of manufacture: UK Ideal use: Fish or collect TT opinion: A Team Normark Titan Match 12' 3-piece carbon float rod, model...
www.thomasturner.com www.thomasturner.com
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Way over priced and it’s not even original any more. It should have a full cork handle, metal sliding bands and wye button on the back.
£80 -100 is more realistic but someone will buy it because it’s a normark
 
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