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Which off the shelf float rod? Opinions please :)

John Parker

John Parker

Active Member
I'm thinking about getting a float rod - Inspired by an upcoming trip to Hay-on-Wye (which will rule out full custom)

I'm likely to be doing some wading and trotting and I don't really have a suitable rod for this.
I'm looking for something that will be a good all rounder - Ideally capable of handling a barbel, as well as comfortable to trot for multiple species with. I'd quite like to catch some Grayling...

Suggestions welcome please!
 
Personally I use a 13’ Drennan extension , works well for me had some decent barbel and chub on it, , I there not everyone’s cup of tea, but there decent rods for the money
 
I bought the 14' Daiwa Connoisseur power float fairly recently. Maybe a little OTT for the Grayling, but it handles the Chub and Barbel pretty well. I don't find it heavy or awkward to use. Having said that, I only use it for trotting on the Trent for Barbel. It's teamed up with a Daiwa TDR 4012.
 
John Parker said:
I'm thinking about getting a float rod - Inspired by an upcoming trip to Hay-on-Wye (which will rule out full custom)

I'm likely to be doing some wading and trotting and I don't really have a suitable rod for this.
I'm looking for something that will be a good all rounder - Ideally capable of handling a barbel, as well as comfortable to trot for multiple species with. I'd quite like to catch some Grayling...

Suggestions welcome please!
Click to expand...
I have recently bought a 14ft Acolyte specimen.......its very versatile handles barbel beautifully and im also very happy using it for silvers......
 
Barry Peck said:
I'll second the Acolyte specimen ... lovely rod for all species .
Click to expand...

I'll echo you and Lee, imo they are the king of the float rods past and present.
I got one of the latest normark avengers recently, and again, jmo, the acolyte speci blows it away by a country mile. I would also recommend the acolyte plus which is slightly less powerful but I never had a problem catching barbel with it.
 
I have the Drennan Acolyte Specimen in 15 ft and the Tricast John Allerton among others. The Acolyte Specimen's have had issues with snapping but other than that they're fantastic rods! I had one snap just about 8'' above the handle and I've heard of 4 others going on forums. I have a replacement now and I will be using it because they are lovely to use, but for an all round rod the Allerton is better IMO, had a couple of doubles on it and it's a better silvers rod too.
 
The Drennan Acolyte Specimen seems like a good shout then!
The other one that I was looking at is the Mark Tunley MK1 13½' 1.50tc Specialist Float - Has anyone had both of these to offer an opinion?
 
I use a Mark Tunley 13 1/2 Specialist Float for Barbel on the Wye Thoroughly recommend it. Had Barbel to over 12lb on it and it handled them really well. Plenty of power in reserve and light enough to comfortably hold all day I’ve used other rods in the past including Drennan xtension Float and a Free Spirit Power Tamer and in my opinion the Mark Tunley rod is way much better. And the real beauty is it closes down to a 12ft two piece which means I can take it with me in the rod case with my lead rod.
 
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