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Perch Rods

Ian Murfin

Ian Murfin

Senior Member & Supporter
I'm planning on targeting Perch more this coming season so im thinking of getting new rods and wondered if you guys have any recommendations mostly for ledgering with worms and prawns.

I've done a bit of reading up and options I've come up with so far are
-Drennan specialist twin tip duo 1lb
-Darent Valley 0.75 specialist
-Harrison Chimera Specialist 1.25lb

Any thoughts on those or other options would be most appreciated. Thanks.
 
Depends on the method you are using I think? Float fishing? Ledgering or live bating?

BTW, I am using the Harrison 1.5lb Avon for float and live bait perching recently.
 
I've had some big perch on the Drennan 9ft ultra light mini feeder rods, great for those tight swims they like to hold up in. Using light tactics & worms.

And the Drennan series 7 1.25 rods are good choices too😉
Go up to the 1.5's if your live baiting.

But depends on your venue, rivers lakes or canals.
😊
 
Graham Elliott said:
If you can get a second hand John Wilson original green blank rod with quiver, go for it or as said 7 Series Drennan 1.25
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I've got a pair of those (Ryobi/Masterline) I haven't used for 10 years or more ... if anyone's interested. Said to be one of the best perch rods ever produced. They've both both Avon tops, one has the original very fine red tipped quiver tip, and the other has been shortened by 5" for use when there a bit more flow. I'd almost forgotten about them ;)
 
Terry Simner said:
I've got a pair of those (Ryobi/Masterline) I haven't used for 10 years or more ... if anyone's interested. Said to be one of the best perch rods ever produced. They've both both Avon tops, one has the original very fine red tipped quiver tip, and the other has been shortened by 5" for use when there a bit more flow. I'd almost forgotten about them ;)
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I thought the best perch rod is chimera Avon?

Which one is the original John Wilson Avon? There are son many John Wilson Avon rods, I thought those with sliding reel seats are the original? But I then find there many version again.
 
Terry Simner said:
I've got a pair of those (Ryobi/Masterline) I haven't used for 10 years or more ... if anyone's interested. Said to be one of the best perch rods ever produced. They've both both Avon tops, one has the original very fine red tipped quiver tip, and the other has been shortened by 5" for use when there a bit more flow. I'd almost forgotten about them ;)
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Cracking rod for chub too.
 
Huanzhou Zhu said:
I thought the best perch rod is chimera Avon?

Which one is the original John Wilson Avon? There are son many John Wilson Avon rods, I thought those with sliding reel seats are the original? But I then find there many version again.
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There was a dark green Wilson Avon with a selection of tips in orange green and yellow made by ryobi master line that was a fantastic little ledger rod. Land anything that swims on it with 6lb line
They used to be obtained easily second hand for 40-50 quid. Not so much now.
 
Terry Simner said:
I've got a pair of those (Ryobi/Masterline) I haven't used for 10 years or more ... if anyone's interested. Said to be one of the best perch rods ever produced. They've both both Avon tops, one has the original very fine red tipped quiver tip, and the other has been shortened by 5" for use when there a bit more flow. I'd almost forgotten about them ;)
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The one with the red tip is the one.

There are a few on ebay at the moment.
2 original needing bit of work and 3 newer models from 1 Seller that would be fine.
Don't get the Barbel ones.



I have one still. 11ft I think. I use it for perch and chub but also landed quite a few modest barbel from the Thames years ago.

I tend to use the Avon top when Wye ( using bleak,) Perching and the quiver top on lakes with legered prawn although mainly use a float rod on lakes with a crystal 3bb top and bottom.
Like to fish very sensitive with prawn on float.

No need with lives. 3 ssg clubber.
 
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If you can find one, Drennan Ultra Light Bomb Rod, 10 to 11ft

I use it on the Severn, fishing lobworms. Had Perch over 3lb and lobworm snatching Chub over 5lb on it. As fish playing action goes, I’ve never owned a better rod.
 
Ian Murfin said:
I'm planning on targeting Perch more this coming season so im thinking of getting new rods and wondered if you guys have any recommendations mostly for ledgering with worms and prawns.

I've done a bit of reading up and options I've come up with so far are
-Drennan specialist twin tip duo 1lb
-Darent Valley 0.75 specialist
-Harrison Chimera Specialist 1.25lb

Any thoughts on those or other options would be most appreciated. Thanks.
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I tend to lure fish for Perch, but last year had amazing luck catching them when targeting chub. I found the Greys Toreon Tactical Quivertip range really fun as they provide a nice amount of feedback and are seriously light.

I particularly found the shorter 8ft1 model the most fun, assuming rod length isn't too much of an issue. It's fantastic if you are making your way through woody areas or a lot of undergrowth or fishing under those nearby tree roots and comes with 3 quiver tips:

Bobco Tackle

www.bobcotackle.co.uk www.bobcotackle.co.uk

The longer rods come with 5 quiver tips:

Bobco Tackle

www.bobcotackle.co.uk www.bobcotackle.co.uk

I appreciate these are purely feeder rods, but personally have found them to be the best way to catch the stripey buggers. They are nearly always on "sale" at BoBco, the cheapest so far was £59.99 but currently at £69.99 which I think is a bargain for the quality you get.
 
Jean-Pierre Bantin said:
I tend to lure fish for Perch, but last year had amazing luck catching them when targeting chub. I found the Greys Toreon Tactical Quivertip range really fun as they provide a nice amount of feedback and are seriously light.

I particularly found the shorter 8ft1 model the most fun, assuming rod length isn't too much of an issue. It's fantastic if you are making your way through woody areas or a lot of undergrowth or fishing under those nearby tree roots and comes with 3 quiver tips:

Bobco Tackle

www.bobcotackle.co.uk www.bobcotackle.co.uk

The longer rods come with 5 quiver tips:

Bobco Tackle

www.bobcotackle.co.uk www.bobcotackle.co.uk

I appreciate these are purely feeder rods, but personally have found them to be the best way to catch the stripey buggers. They are nearly always on "sale" at BoBco, the cheapest so far was £59.99 but currently at £69.99 which I think is a bargain for the quality you get.
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I was thinking of these rods for a while, was planning to use them for chub fishing. How do you find the blank? Are they heavy?
 
Huanzhou Zhu said:
I was thinking of these rods for a while, was planning to use them for chub fishing. How do you find the blank? Are they heavy?
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They are very light and well balanced. Considering they are feeder rods they provide surprising tactile feedback.
The blank itself seems stiff initially but once you are into a decent sized fish it will give a nice progressive action that I found to be forgiving.
When priced under the £70 mark, I think they are likely one of the best rods out there assuming you are happy with a progressive action (which of course will loose you some bullying power if larger fish and snaggs are involved).
I have also used them with smallish crankbaits for chub and it also performs well at that unless in a heavy flow.

Also be aware they are not meant for casting heavy loaded feeders by any means.
 
Just don't think you can get better value than the Drennan series 7 1.25 outfit personally. But this is the lovely thing about threads like these. Everyone has their own preference.

I'm going to be having some Torrix 1.25's built for my Chub at some point, and I'd imagine they'd be just as good although stupid money. (But have credit to use with Mark Tunley)
And if I opt for the quiver section too, then it'll be a great all round species rod...
 
Ian Murfin said:
I'm planning on targeting Perch more this coming season so im thinking of getting new rods and wondered if you guys have any recommendations mostly for ledgering with worms and prawns.

I've done a bit of reading up and options I've come up with so far are
-Drennan specialist twin tip duo 1lb
-Darent Valley 0.75 specialist
-Harrison Chimera Specialist 1.25lb

Any thoughts on those or other options would be most appreciated. Thanks.
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If your only likely to be targeting perch for a few weeks in April and Autumn I don't think you can go wrong with Darent Valley's tbh Ian. The Chimera's are great, but a lot of money to be sat around for most of the year. Yes they also make good chub rods, but personally I prefer a quiver tip on an 11ft chub rod, and they aren't quite heavy enough for big tench, not in weedy venues anyway.

I've got a pair of the 0.75's which I keep at my mother's in Devon, and I have the Chimera Avons. The CA's are better rods no question about it, but not £180+ worth of difference better, not in a million years.

Simon Lush (an angler who knows his onions) posted some very good reviews on the Darent Valleys 0.75's as perch rods on here a good while back. For £45 each you can't really go wrong, not with a lifetime guarantee. Worse case scenario and you don't like them, you'll get £30 each for them back on here or Ebay I'm sure. I'm not sure there are any better values rods out there than the DV rods.
 
Guy Leeder said:
Suppose it depends on the venues you're fishing. I use a Drennan Series 7 1.25 avon top for trotting liveys on the tidal Trent, and they handle the flow, bigger baits and rogue pike and zeds well too.

Wouldn't be my first choice for smaller rivers or stillwaters though.
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Very true, yes sorry I was thinking about my local venues and rivers only.
That drennan short mini feeder rod I've got is a little gem of a rod for tight swims. 👍
 
Joe Winstanley said:
If your only likely to be targeting perch for a few weeks in April and Autumn I don't think you can go wrong with Darent Valley's tbh Ian. The Chimera's are great, but a lot of money to be sat around for most of the year. Yes they also make good chub rods, but personally I prefer a quiver tip on an 11ft chub rod, and they aren't quite heavy enough for big tench, not in weedy venues anyway.

I've got a pair of the 0.75's which I keep at my mother's in Devon, and I have the Chimera Avons. The CA's are better rods no question about it, but not £180+ worth of difference better, not in a million years.

Simon Lush (an angler who knows his onions) posted some very good reviews on the Darent Valleys 0.75's as perch rods on here a good while back. For £45 each you can't really go wrong, not with a lifetime guarantee. Worse case scenario and you don't like them, you'll get £30 each for them back on here or Ebay I'm sure. I'm not sure there are any better values rods out there than the DV rods.
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Those rods are a great shout too!
Great price, and that guarantee that was mentioned, they do honour it from what I've heard & read without any fuss. 👍

Great shout Joe
 
Joe Winstanley said:
If your only likely to be targeting perch for a few weeks in April and Autumn I don't think you can go wrong with Darent Valley's tbh Ian. The Chimera's are great, but a lot of money to be sat around for most of the year. Yes they also make good chub rods, but personally I prefer a quiver tip on an 11ft chub rod, and they aren't quite heavy enough for big tench, not in weedy venues anyway.

I've got a pair of the 0.75's which I keep at my mother's in Devon, and I have the Chimera Avons. The CA's are better rods no question about it, but not £180+ worth of difference better, not in a million years.

Simon Lush (an angler who knows his onions) posted some very good reviews on the Darent Valleys 0.75's as perch rods on here a good while back. For £45 each you can't really go wrong, not with a lifetime guarantee. Worse case scenario and you don't like them, you'll get £30 each for them back on here or Ebay I'm sure. I'm not sure there are any better values rods out there than the DV rods.
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Joe, do you say the Chimera Avon is soft enough for ledgering for chub? I am sure it is not as sensitive as a quiver tip, but is it sensitive enough for the job?
 
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