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Stick float rod

D

Dave Quinn

Senior Member & Supporter
I'm looking to get a float rod for fishing the stick

I've had a look on the internet and it looks like opinion seems to suggest a Drennan tench float mk III, but I also saw on another thread on here to look out for a 13ft Preston Innovations Carbonactive float rod, in the power version.

I saw that Keith Speer used the Carbonactive but with an Askari Blank, how would I find out if a rod has that blank, and does it really matter?
 
It depends on what your fishing for, if your after silvers and the odd chub then the rods you mention are probably over powered. For silvers etc then something like the Drennan Accolyte or Ultralite in 13 or 14 feet is a good option.
 
Dave, a dedicated stick float rod, lightweight with a spliced tip, will be unsuitable for barbel fishing, you will definitely need a power float rod.
The drennan and preston ones you mentioned should be ok - btw I think you mean asaki, not askari.
Most manufacturers do a power float rod.
Do you want a new one? if so what's your budget.
If you are happy with secondhand then state your location and look in the classifieds.
 
i'm happy with a second hand rod, based in north london but do most of my fishing in hertfordshire.

i looked at a few threads on barbel to come to my conclusion about the sort of rod i'd need, i looked at an article by the great keith speer and also looked at what keith arthur was using for stick fishing for barbel when I saw him at a stick float clinic that Verulam Angling Club did at the weekend. KA used a Drennan Series 7 tench and specimen float rod and Keith Speer seemed to favour the Tench float Mk III.

Probably getting far too hung up on the finer details of all this, but its part of what I love about fishing, I'm a bit ashamed to say. At the moment I'm using a Daiwa Spectron Waggler which hasn't let me down yet but I think I could do with something with a bit more backbone and a bit better suited to stick fishing
 
if its for barbel , take a look at the harrison chimera float .

2 options in length ,12 and 12 6 (i think) both 2 piece

these rods are brilliant , designed for the job
 
Drennan Tench Float old ones come up for sale now and again and reach quite high prices. A note of caution - Mk2's sometimes are claimed to be Mk1's. Line ratings vary from 3 to 6 for the Mk1 and 3 to 8 (or 8plus) for the others. Have still got a 'thing' for this particular rod and have quite a few. Guides type (single or double foot and liners), trim and logos vary between Marks.

Top to Bottom:
Mark 1, Mark 2, Super Tench and Mark 3:

collection%20800.jpg


The lack of screw winch fitting can be rectified (should you want one), but bit of a job when done properly.
 
nice bit of rod porn there!

i watched a mark iv fetch over £140 on ebay recently, i can't imagine they cost much more than that when they came out
 
You won't go far wrong with the Daiwa spectron 13 foot xp and even better the 14ftxp. Just a bit more class than the drennans. A few on ebay at the moment. Have you got the standard Spectron. ?
 
Prices can vary quite a bit - just keep looking for the reasonable ones. I have picked up ' never used and used a few times examples. Prices range from £40 to £130 plus. At one point Mk3 were being sold at £60 brand new as old new stock a couple of years back. The Mk1 and Mk2 are the early 'made in UK' ones - these are clear coated and you can see the weave pattern of the carbon blank, the later (Mk3 and Super Tench) examples are gunmetal grey 'painted' blanks. Later Mk's don't know much about. Things to watch out for are 'mix and match', shorter tips. The rings/guides are a bit small and spindly - especially the Mk2 (single legs). The Mk1 had higher spec guides as did the Super Tench. Finally watch out for colour variation on the sections of Mk3 and Supers - Bore over.

Must have a look at the Daiwa that Jon suggests.
 
Jon Frisby said:
You won't go far wrong with the Daiwa spectron 13 foot xp and even better the 14ftxp. Just a bit more class than the drennans. A few on ebay at the moment. Have you got the standard Spectron. ?
Click to expand...

yes, i have the 12' m2 waggler

are the spectrons you recommend the m2 or the more recent models? i ask because the m2 waggler and the model that followed it were quite different
 
Its a little older than the m2. I had both the 13xp and the 14xp. I mostly fish the Trent for Barbel on the float and the 13 is a little bit short really, the 14 is my fav because it will for either silvers or straight through with 8 to10lb line for the Barbel. I dont have either now but regret selling the 14xp as it was such a great rod and on a few occasions had over a dozen barbel in a day using it, with an average size over 8lb and doubles very common too. I just needed the extra length and with some near side depths up to 14 foot, i now have 2 shimano aerocast 15 foot specimen floats.
 
I went through exactly the same thoughts about a new barbel float rod and eventually settled for a drennan series 7 13ft Power Carp Waggler. Reasons: 2 piece with 1ft detachable handle so easily transported, 13 feet so good float control, recommended up to 8lb line so lot of backbone, recommended down to 3lb hooklink so a fairly soft action, float rod so high rings, fairly light and responsive. Has proved a worthwhile investment and certainly has the backbone. Against: says power carp on the blank!
 
Dave,Keith Speer also had a Drennan tench float rod when he could get away with fishing heavier - 7.9LB Preston powerline straight through so that he could 'give them some stick'.Yesterday i had 25 barbel to around 9lb all on a Mk1 Drennan tench float rod and stick float.The rod bends to the handle which absorbs all the lunges, a fantastic rod,with just the right amount of power,not too light and not over heavy.Just do not tell everyone otherwise they will get even more pricey on ebay.The one issue is the plastic reel fittings sometimes slip --something Bob can sort with a new fitting
 
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