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Recommendations sought: Float Rod for trotting for Roach & Chub

J

James Whittleton

New Member
Hello

My old Drennan DRX mark2 gave out on me whilst playing a chub this afternoon (there must have been damage to the blank that I was unaware of). I wonder if anyone could recommend a replacement: I will be using it to fish for roach and chub on the Hampshire Avon and would like to find a 13ft model to pair with my centrepin. I was looking at the Greys Prodigy TXL Specialist Float Rod (c.£120), but don't mind paying more if there is a reason to do so. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers
James
 
James if you can find a IM9 Drennan Classic on ebay...buy it.

Added. Can see there is a 14ft one on now.
More than 120 but worth it. And I use a 14ft rod on HA and Stour as do 3 other well known HA anglers for trotting for roach and chub
 
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I use an Acolyte for 90% of my trotting which includes chub, perch, roach etc.
a lot more than 120 quid but it’s a sensational feather light rod and one that’s extremely popular with river anglers
It’s just an absolute pleasure to guide a stick through and play fish on.
Mines a compact plus as I don’t go fishing to catch bits and has a bit more power in the blank.
I fish smaller rivers round our way like the G Ouse, Cam, Nene, and Ivel where 13 foot rods are right at home.
As Graham points out rightly a 14 footer would offer better control over a float on the bigger rivers.
 
The Maver Signature Pro Classic is a good river float rod. Expensive at full price but some say better than an Acolyte.

Some were sold off half price a few months ago - I picked one up (14ft) for £120. There might still be the odd one knocking about…..

Another superb slightly stepped up trotting rod is the Tricast 14ft XS. Again expensive, but discounted ones do popup now and again.
 
James
If interested I have a 14' Drennan Matchpro to sell which is a slightly more powerful than an ultralight.
I live close to the Avon just outside Downton. If interested give me a pm
Mike
 
I've been using a Drennan 13ft Tench & Specimen Float rod, with braid. The rear 12" of the butt is removable so I can leave the rod made up in 2 sections (plus the 'butt piece'). It'll wing an 8g waggler across the Severn with ease, and has landed barbel to almost 'the double' (9lbs 15ozs .... bugger!)
 
Ben Marr said:
That is a shame, I hate 3 piece rods.
Don't know why they dont make 4 piece ones, which you can break down as a 2 piece if you wish.
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It's a pain but, it only takes 10 minutes to tackle up and gives you the opportunity to introduce a little bait into the swim before you cast out. ;)
 
Terry Simner said:
I've been using a Drennan 13ft Tench & Specimen Float rod, with braid. The rear 12" of the butt is removable so I can leave the rod made up in 2 sections (plus the 'butt piece'). It'll wing an 8g waggler across the Severn with ease, and has landed barbel to almost 'the double' (9lbs 15ozs .... bugger!)
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Ah……. What’s an oz between friends.
Next time make the sling a bit wetter 🤣
 
Terry Simner said:
I've been using a Drennan 13ft Tench & Specimen Float rod, with braid. The rear 12" of the butt is removable so I can leave the rod made up in 2 sections (plus the 'butt piece'). It'll wing an 8g waggler across the Severn with ease, and has landed barbel to almost 'the double' (9lbs 15ozs .... bugger!)
Click to expand...
Yeah that’s how the compact acolytes work. You break them in to two sections tackled up and uncrew the last 12 inch of cork. Very convenient for traveling.
 
I'd also recommend the Acolyte plus compact if you can get one. It's the same 2 piece + butt section configuration as the tench and specimen which is quite a bit beefier in action.
 
Tim Marks said:
The Maver Signature Pro Classic is a good river float rod. Expensive at full price but some say better than an Acolyte.

Some were sold off half price a few months ago - I picked one up (14ft) for £120. There might still be the odd one knocking about…..

Another superb slightly stepped up trotting rod is the Tricast 14ft XS. Again expensive, but discounted ones do popup now and again.
Click to expand...
I have the Signature Pro & XS sold both my Acolytes as I didn’t use them again after buying the Maver & Tricast rods.
 
I too have the maver signature pro classic in 15ft and the Tricast xs in 14ft, both of which I picked up at discount prices. I now rarely use my Normark Avenger 2000 13ft, such is the quality of these rods. The maver rod is incredibly light and versatile, I use mine for trotting for roach, chub, grayling and barbel, it has a sensitive top but plenty of power in the mid section.
 
The biggest issue here is that the better rods I'm aware of are either more expensive, discontinued, or both.

Acolytes are about as good as it gets with regards to being current and not significantly exceeding £200.

Browning Sphere Spliced Tip River are in another league and current, but so is their price. I consider these to be the best I've ever used, but many will be put off by the daft price (rrp), handle and reel seat.

Tri-Cast Allertons are decent but more costly. I'm really not keen on the handle and reel seat configuration.

The Maver Signature Pro Classic was comparable to an Acolyte Plus, though just a touch more weighty. Unfortunately, they are now discontinued. At one time, they were cleared for around the £120 mark (model dependent). The few still lurking in shops are now back at full price.

The Drennan Matchpro/Matchpro Ultralight was a decent rod at a lower price than anything I've mentioned. However, it has also been discontinued by Drennan. This rod is probably the most closely related to your Drennan DRX.

If you wish to spend circa £120, getting the best possible bang for your buck is going to involve buying bargain old stock or getting lucky on the second hand market. Much is going to depend on your expectations and preferences. The problem is that few are selling old stock at big discounts and the second hand market is a sellers one at the moment.
 
Here’s another one for you:

Tricast 13/15/17 Tri-Axial.

A very unusual rod - a power float rod with a spliced tip.

Comes with a 2ft extension to take it to 17ft.

Also available with a 2 piece butt -hence the 13/15/17 designation.

I bought a used one last year and think it is excellent. It is light enough to use for roach but absolutely murders decent chub. I haven’t hooked a barbel on it yet, but expect no issues if/when I do.

They were discontinued several years ago but do turn up on eBay. I spotted 3 last year without looking hard. I paid about £150 for mine.
 
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