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Rod for grayling

S

Steven Knox

Senior Member & Supporter
What rods would you recommend for trotting for grayling?

It would mainly be used of faster flowing water (mainly scotland) with the chances of bigger fish in the 2lb to 3lb range.
I use an acolyte plus the now and like it but I'm looking for a back up rod or better rod if there is one available?

Ideally the browning sphere spliced tip in 13'6, but it seems hard to come by these days. So something easily available would be preferable.
 
My first question is if you like the drennan acolyte plus and your after a back up rod….. spare perhaps….. why not another acolyte plus? If it’s fast flowing then what about the acolyte specimen float?
 
Richard Isaacs said:
My first question is if you like the drennan acolyte plus and your after a back up rod….. spare perhaps….. why not another acolyte plus? If it’s fast flowing then what about the acolyte specimen float?
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It's looking like I will probably go that way, probably just in a different size.
It's sometimes good to buy something a bit different to what I already have so I was just checking if there was anything out there that people would consider a better option?
 
Steven Knox said:
It's looking like I will probably go that way, probably just in a different size.
It's sometimes good to buy something a bit different to what I already have so I was just checking if there was anything out there that people would consider a better option?
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I get that totally. Should be possible to get something different, doesn’t always mean better mind
If your not in a rush and budget isn’t factored here, then there is several options that I would like to trot rivers with and they’ll all match the power of an acolyte plus with similar line ratings.
As you mentioned sphere 13’6 then I’m guessing around 13ft is preferred.

Normark avenger 2000
Daiwa connoisseur/spectron spliced tip specials
Browning sphere river as mentioned
Maver signature pro

You could also look at the tricast allerton spliced tip rods
I don’t like the screw up seats and actions of them very much but some people really rate them.

Those are all good trotting rods in my opinion but neither are easy to come by and you really have to watch out for short tip sections especially on the normark and Daiwas
 
Another vote for the 13'6" Sphere, Steven.

They certainly surface more frequently than the 15'6" (much to my enduring chagrin), so worth keeping your powder dry and waiting on one (and they are very, very good) :)👍
 
Nobody mentions the Preston Supera X range of rods for trotting? I sold my Acolyte Ultra as i found it too floppy with no backbone at all. Bought the 13’ Supera X (matched with the Centris 320 reel) and i find it the most balanced set up i’ve used by far. Gorgeous light rod (with a flat spot on the handle which is handy) with backbone when needed and a lovely responsive tip. The reel is also probably the best fixed spool reel i’ve ever used for that type of fishing, excellent line lay, very light & brilliant clutch. Can hold them all day without any fatigue and have yet to hook anything i’ve not been able to deal with (using for general trotting, roach, Chub etc)
It’s definitely not a big fish set up (although the match lads have no trouble with carp) but dont dismiss it for general float fishing/trotting. You can also get them in 14’
Priced similar to Acolytes and hold their price second hand but would suggest ‘having a waggle’ next time you see one
 
Richard Isaacs said:
I get that totally. Should be possible to get something different, doesn’t always mean better mind
If your not in a rush and budget isn’t factored here, then there is several options that I would like to trot rivers with and they’ll all match the power of an acolyte plus with similar line ratings.
As you mentioned sphere 13’6 then I’m guessing around 13ft is preferred.

Normark avenger 2000
Daiwa connoisseur/spectron spliced tip specials
Browning sphere river as mentioned
Maver signature pro

You could also look at the tricast allerton spliced tip rods
I don’t like the screw up seats and actions of them very much but some people really rate them.

Those are all good trotting rods in my opinion but neither are easy to come by and you really have to watch out for short tip sections especially on the normark and Daiwas
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep an eye out for these. I've seen a few of the nomarks for sale recently and all were missing a couple inches from the tip
 
Nigel Whittingham said:
Nobody mentions the Preston Supera X range of rods for trotting? I sold my Acolyte Ultra as i found it too floppy with no backbone at all. Bought the 13’ Supera X (matched with the Centris 320 reel) and i find it the most balanced set up i’ve used by far. Gorgeous light rod (with a flat spot on the handle which is handy) with backbone when needed and a lovely responsive tip. The reel is also probably the best fixed spool reel i’ve ever used for that type of fishing, excellent line lay, very light & brilliant clutch. Can hold them all day without any fatigue and have yet to hook anything i’ve not been able to deal with (using for general trotting, roach, Chub etc)
It’s definitely not a big fish set up (although the match lads have no trouble with carp) but dont dismiss it for general float fishing/trotting. You can also get them in 14’
Priced similar to Acolytes and hold their price second hand but would suggest ‘having a waggle’ next time you see one
Click to expand...
Do you what Nigel, I was going to mention this rod too. There's not just Acolyte's , Daiwa and Free spirits out there... if you have a chance over winter, get down and have a waggle at a big independent tackle shop... don't take someone's sayso, as mistakes can be costly.....
 
Nigel Whittingham said:
Nobody mentions the Preston Supera X range of rods for trotting? I sold my Acolyte Ultra as i found it too floppy with no backbone at all. Bought the 13’ Supera X (matched with the Centris 320 reel) and i find it the most balanced set up i’ve used by far. Gorgeous light rod (with a flat spot on the handle which is handy) with backbone when needed and a lovely responsive tip. The reel is also probably the best fixed spool reel i’ve ever used for that type of fishing, excellent line lay, very light & brilliant clutch. Can hold them all day without any fatigue and have yet to hook anything i’ve not been able to deal with (using for general trotting, roach, Chub etc)
It’s definitely not a big fish set up (although the match lads have no trouble with carp) but dont dismiss it for general float fishing/trotting. You can also get them in 14’
Priced similar to Acolytes and hold their price second hand but would suggest ‘having a waggle’ next time you see one
Click to expand...
Is this the preston supera x waggler in 13ft?
 
Jon Frisby said:
Do you what Nigel, I was going to mention this rod too. There's not just Acolyte's , Daiwa and Free spirits out there... if you have a chance over winter, get down and have a waggle at a big independent tackle shop... don't take someone's sayso, as mistakes can be costly.....
Click to expand...
Unfortunately staying in central Scotland there's not any shops to see any of the rods rods mentioned.
 
Nigel Whittingham said:
Nobody mentions the Preston Supera X range of rods for trotting? I sold my Acolyte Ultra as i found it too floppy with no backbone at all. Bought the 13’ Supera X (matched with the Centris 320 reel) and i find it the most balanced set up i’ve used by far. Gorgeous light rod (with a flat spot on the handle which is handy) with backbone when needed and a lovely responsive tip. The reel is also probably the best fixed spool reel i’ve ever used for that type of fishing, excellent line lay, very light & brilliant clutch. Can hold them all day without any fatigue and have yet to hook anything i’ve not been able to deal with (using for general trotting, roach, Chub etc)
It’s definitely not a big fish set up (although the match lads have no trouble with carp) but dont dismiss it for general float fishing/trotting. You can also get them in 14’
Priced similar to Acolytes and hold their price second hand but would suggest ‘having a waggle’ next time you see one
Click to expand...
I’m keen to look at the new range of power floats by Preston. I’m quite drawn to the handles and reel seats they look superb. The only thing that’s stopped me making a special trip to see them is the power model is only available in 13/14 ft and typically I’d look for something a little longer.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
I’m keen to look at the new range of power floats by Preston. I’m quite drawn to the handles and reel seats they look superb. The only thing that’s stopped me making a special trip to see them is the power model is only available in 13/14 ft and typically I’d look for something a little longer.
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Have a look/feel Richard. Think you might be pleasantly surprised. Such a crisp feeling rod! On the strength of the float rod i also bought the 11’6” feeder rod which is probably the best tip rod for stillwater roach & bream there is! (IMHO of course!)
 
Nigel Whittingham said:
No sorry, mine is 13’ float 3-10g about 6 years old now. They've just ‘upgraded’ them i see so not sure if the waggler rod is the same one? Noticed they do 13,14 &15 lengths tho. Not seen the new ones but imagine they are same/similar
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It looks like the 13ft waggler rod has the same casting weight. It's also described as more of an all round float rod, so possibly pretty similar.

Readily available there seems to be only be the preston or acolyte that's been suggested so far. There's a couple of new Daiwas I think would work well. I bought and returned the tournament-s in 13ft as the tip section bent to the left and the eyes were noticeably out of alignment .
 
Steven Knox said:
It looks like the 13ft waggler rod has the same casting weight. It's also described as more of an all round float rod, so possibly pretty similar.

Readily available there seems to be only be the preston or acolyte that's been suggested so far. There's a couple of new Daiwas I think would work well. I bought and returned the tournament-s in 13ft as the tip section bent to the left and the eyes were noticeably out of alignment .
Click to expand...
I know it’s all about taste and preference, but I’d have thought a waggler rod wouldn’t be the right sort of action for trotting for grayling.
 
Alan Rose said:
I know it’s all about taste and preference, but I’d have thought a waggler rod wouldn’t be the right sort of action for trotting for grayling.
Click to expand...
Agreed, the word ‘waggler’ would put me off tbf. The originals were classed as ‘float’ rods and had a very fine ‘spliced’(?) tip
 
Alan Rose said:
I know it’s all about taste and preference, but I’d have thought a waggler rod wouldn’t be the right sort of action for trotting for grayling.
Click to expand...
I was thinking that might be the case. It was only the fact the older model had been mentioned here that made me look at it.
It is described by preston as a "genuine all rounder". Similar to how drennan describes the acolyte plus, which I find does the job well.
 
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