Trotting rod

[Alan Rose]

Currently they only do one 17ft Acolyte float rod, its described as neither the Ultra or Plus, as I believe its somewhere between the two?

Have you seen something definitive stating that the prototype model will be a Specimen version, or again is it unique in action due to the long length?

No, but that grayling article predates the release of the Acolyte Specimen by some months Neil.

 

[Alan Rose]

Currently they only do one 17ft Acolyte float rod, its described as neither the Ultra or Plus, as I believe its somewhere between the two?

Have you seen something definitive stating that the prototype model will be a Specimen version, or again is it unique in action due to the long length?

Just double-checked to make sure I wasn’t going loopy, and that article was Feb ‘23 so the prototype was definitely the Acolyte Specimen. A couple of friends mentioned a 17’ Specimen Acolyte, but I think it was more wishful thinking than anything else.

I hope I’m wrong. A 17’ Acolyte Specimen would be the bomb

 

[Julian Peacock]

Just didn't want to put a reel on it , hook a barbel for it to blow the top section....that would be a very expensive mistake as iv had 1 acolyte tip snap during a normal float fishing session....hence my reservation and curious to find out what other people's recommendations are

Then you are once bitten, twice shy.
All my regular float rods are Drennan, I have 4 that I regularly use, a 13ft/15ft combo which is around 20 years old, 3 piece and my favourite, 2 Acolytes and a Matchpro. Definitely nothing wrong with any of these rods
It’s really how you use them that counts

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I’d definitely be in the running for a stepped up 17 if they do decide to release one.
I love the action of the one they do now it would be sensational if they could retain that action, not increase the weight too much and just step up the stiffness another 10%. What a long rod that would be.

 

[Huanzhou Zhu]

I’d definitely be in the running for a stepped up 17 if they do decide to release one.
I love the action of the one they do now it would be sensational if they could retain that action, not increase the weight too much and just step up the stiffness another 10%. What a long rod that would be.

Seriously, give daiwa connoisseur pro bolo rod a try if you love long rod, I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but the action and the power is just great for trotting barbel.

 

[Ian Woods]

Not for me, but here you are....

 

[Kevin Steele]

I don't see how they can call that a Bolo rod if it has a reel attached to it, but as we discussed in another thread, the term Bolo has been appropriated for use whenever the marketing people think it'll sell tackle. At 340g for the Daiwa, I think I'd rather have a 17ft Acolyte Plus, which I waggled a few weeks ago and I'm guessing is around 200g.
.

 

[Alan Rose]

I don't see how they can call that a Bolo rod if it has a reel attached to it, but as we discussed in another thread, the term Bolo has been appropriated for use whenever the marketing people think it'll sell tackle. At 340g for the Daiwa, I think I'd rather have a 17ft Acolyte Plus, which I waggled a few weeks ago and I'm guessing is around 200g.
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Spot on Kevin, mine is 199g.

I may be wrong, but I think bolo rods always had reels attached. Otherwise it’s just a pole/whip.

 

[Lee Backshall]

I don't see how they can call that a Bolo rod if it has a reel attached to it, but as we discussed in another thread, the term Bolo has been appropriated for use whenever the marketing people think it'll sell tackle. At 340g for the Daiwa, I think I'd rather have a 17ft Acolyte Plus, which I waggled a few weeks ago and I'm guessing is around 200g.
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I have a 17ft one....never put it together ...I'm scared after blowing 2 13ft acolyte tips

 

[Kevin Steele]

Spot on Kevin, mine is 199g.

I may be wrong, but I think bolo rods always had reels attached. Otherwise it’s just a pole/whip.

I might be teaching you to suck eggs, Alan, but they originated in the Bologna region of Italy, hence Bolognese, or Bolo. They were long rods (up to 8m) without reels - closer to a modern day pole (or very long whip) than anything that has a reel attached.

I did my homework on this recently, as I had no idea what Bolo, in the fishing sense, meant - finding the various definitions (for rods and floats) confusing and, as it turns out, not strictly true to the original idea.

There you go - just call me Dr Alice Roberts.... on second thoughts.
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[Alan Rose]

I might be teaching you to suck eggs, Alan, but they originated in the Bologna region of Italy, hence Bolognese, or Bolo. They were long rods (up to 8m) without reels - closer to a modern day pole (or very long whip) than anything that has a reel attached.

I did my homework on this recently, as I had no idea what Bolo, in the fishing sense, meant - finding the various definitions (for rods and floats) confusing and, as it turns out, not strictly true to the original idea.

There you go - just call me Dr Alice Roberts.... on second thoughts.
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I’m sure you’re correct mate, and it’s probably true that all fishing rods, irrespective of what we now call them, began life as a stiff and some line attached.

I am aware of the Italian connection, but when I refer to bolo rods, I am thinking of what we call bolo rods in the UK. To the best of my knowledge they’ve never been used without a reel and began to appear after English match anglers got hammered by continental Europeans using similar tactics.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I might be teaching you to suck eggs, Alan, but they originated in the Bologna region of Italy, hence Bolognese, or Bolo. They were long rods (up to 8m) without reels - closer to a modern day pole (or very long whip) than anything that has a reel attached.

I did my homework on this recently, as I had no idea what Bolo, in the fishing sense, meant - finding the various definitions (for rods and floats) confusing and, as it turns out, not strictly true to the original idea.

There you go - just call me Dr Alice Roberts.... on second thoughts.
.

Exactly.
They are essentially a long telescopic rod with weights you can add to the back to balance them up.

Not for me. I appreciate the float control something like that could add for far bank trotting on wide rivers especially in a down stream wind but far too numb and weighty for me to want to hold all day.
To be completely honest if I was really really struggling to hold good presentation on a far bank line I’d just swap to a speci waggler and be done with it.

 

[Chris Jones]

they originated in the Bologna region of Italy, hence Bolognese, or Bolo.

That bit is absolutely true.

They were long rods (up to 8m) without reels - closer to a modern day pole (or very long whip) than anything that has a reel attached.

I'm not remotely convinced about this bit. I recall seeing Bolognese rods first appearing in the UK shops and angling press. This was shortly after the home nations had their arses handed to them on a deep flowing venue by Italians fishing Bolo style. These rods were long (6m and more), telescopic, ringed (though sparsely as a result of being telescopic) and fitted with a Fuji plate type reel seat which was whipped on. They certainly weren't just long multi section "Canna Inglesi" (English style rods). They weren't exactly modified poles either, though you could see they were more closely related to poles than they were to UK style float rods.

As an aside, I lived for a few months in a town not a million miles from Bologna (less than 100 miles). Unfortunately, I never got to wet a line myself. However, a deep river ran right through the town so I got to observe locals fishing. To a man, they all used telescopic Bolo rods, of varying lengths and strengths, with reels fitted. I never got to see anyone fishing in any style similar to the UK. However, I have read about a relatively low number of Italian enthusiasts that use and covet UK style rods and brands such as Normark. I suspect that the number of them will be similar to the number of UK anglers that use genuine Bolo rods.

 

[John Care]

That bit is absolutely true.



I'm not remotely convinced about this bit. I recall seeing Bolognese rods first appearing in the UK shops and angling press. This was shortly after the home nations had their arses handed to them on a deep flowing venue by Italians fishing Bolo style. These rods were long (6m and more), telescopic, ringed (though sparsely as a result of being telescopic) and fitted with a Fuji plate type reel seat which was whipped on. They certainly weren't just long multi section "Canna Inglesi" (English style rods). They weren't exactly modified poles either, though you could see they were more closely related to poles than they were to UK style float rods.

As an aside, I lived for a few months in a town not a million miles from Bologna (less than 100 miles). Unfortunately, I never got to wet a line myself. However, a deep river ran right through the town so I got to observe locals fishing. To a man, they all used telescopic Bolo rods, of varying lengths and strengths, with reels fitted. I never got to see anyone fishing in any style similar to the UK. However, I have read about a relatively low number of Italian enthusiasts that use and covet UK style rods and brands such as Normark. I suspect that the number of them will be similar to the number of UK anglers that use genuine Bolo rods.

I had one of the early ones back in early 90's. A Garbolino "Bolo-stream" i think it was. In fact. I might even still have it somewhere. A cumbersome thing that I never got on with.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I recall seeing Bolognese rods first appearing in the UK shops and angling press.

Roughly what year was this Chris? It was long long after they’d been on the scene when I first saw one in the flesh but I’ve got no idea how long they’ve been around

 

[Kevin Steele]

I'm not remotely convinced about this bit. I recall seeing Bolognese rods first appearing in the UK shops and angling press.

Which bit, exactly? Where I said they were rods of up to 8m long and with no reel? (Maybe the comparison with poles and whips was inaccurate... other than all of them having no reel.)

Remember, by definition, I'm talking about the original Italian bolo rods, not what might have subsequently appeared for the UK market. That was the whole point... that the original idea had been bast4rdi5ed to suit other markets, to the extent that today we don't know what a bolo rod or float actually is.
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[Chris Jones]

Roughly what year was this Chris? It was long long after they’d been on the scene when I first saw one in the flesh but I’ve got no idea how long they’ve been around

I was in Italy '99/'00. The international match spanking where Bolo rods came to attention in the UK was earlier than that. Exactly when, I'm not certain. I'd guess at late 80s/early 90s. (I've just checked and found those with a greater interest and knowledge of match fishing saying that the pivotal match was the 1992 World Championships.)

Which bit, exactly? Where I said they were rods of up to 8m long and with no reel? (Maybe the comparison with poles and whips was inaccurate... other than all of them having no reel.)

Remember, by definition, I'm talking about the original Italian bolo rods, not what might have subsequently appeared for the UK market. That was the whole point... that the original idea had been bast4rdi5ed to suit other markets, to the extent that today we don't know what a bolo rod or float actually is.
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Your suggestion that the original Italian Bolognese rods lacked reels is where my doubts lie. Bolognese rods may well have developed from simple pole fishing (as could be said with any style of rod angling). However, I have doubts that any fishing style or rods that came to be known as "Bolognese" ever lacked reels. It's a bit difficult to fish moving water without being able to give line. If you can't give line, then there would be no distinction between the Bolognese method and standard static long pole fishing in running water. As best as I recall, the earliest Bolo rods I saw in the UK were made by the likes of Trabucco, Milo and Tubertini. They were telescopic and had "plate" type reel seats fitted. I very much doubt that they were made specifically for the UK market. It didn't take too long for the likes of Daiwa and Shakespeare to bring out similar rods.

I tend to agree that modern UK market rods which are simply long "Canna Inglesi" (non-telescopic with a cork/EVA handle and 15-20') are sometimes advertised as being Bolo rods, or suitable for Bolo fishing in the UK. I know that Browning said this about the Sphere Spliced Tip River, "These are the ultimate in river rods and the 15’6” / 4.7m version performs much better than traditional “Bolognese” type rods.". They may have a point, but they aren't proper Bolognese rods. I can't think of too many UK river or canal venues where a genuine Bolognese rod would be particularly suitable (Manchester ship canal, lower ends of rivers Don/Tees perhaps (and other similar lower rivers where long pole fishing might be a viable method)). I've long been fascinated with long rods including telescopic Bolo rods. However, the lack of suitable venues (that I actually fish) to use a proper Bolo rod has always stopped me from taking the plunge.

The following threads may make interesting reading.
https://www.maggotdrowning.com/forums/threads/bolognese-method-help.135983/
https://www.maggotdrowning.com/foru...e-rod-of-the-same-length.246887/#post-3023198

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I was in Italy '99/'00. The international match spanking where Bolo rods came to attention in the UK was earlier than that. Exactly when, I'm not certain. I'd guess at late 80s/early 90s. (I've just checked and found those with a greater interest and knowledge of match fishing saying that the pivotal match was the 1992 World Championships.

 

[Ian Woods]

I remember getting some dodgily sourced daiwa telescopic bolo rods for a m8 of mine way back in the 90s. I do remember that they had a metal reel holder built onto them and they were light in the hand. I had zero interest in them and I never clocked them again....thankfully.
A number of years back I came across some videos of anglers using bolo rods in europe, I think it was Italy?
The poles had no reels or running lines, they did use a float which was held still in the flow of the river not far from the tip of the pole. When they hooked a fish it bent their poles right over, and they just held on and pulled back with no fear of the pole or the line snapping. The fish was a wells catfish and it turned out that was all they were catching, and they caught loads of them.
Whatever those poles were made of it must have been very stong stuff because it fish just wore themselves out against them, no fannying round trying to play them....hook and drag!
I think the poles reminded me of long powerful whips.

Heres a youtube video using bolo rods..

 

[Alan Rose]

A number of years back I came across some videos of anglers using bolo rods in europe, I think it was Italy?

Could it have been China? I have certainly seen vids of what you are describing of Chinese anglers. Talk about Bolognese rods! These bad boys looked like cooked spaghetti with a bloke on one end and a catfish on the other, and lots of exaggerated yanking and heaving!