Which off the shelf float rod? Opinions please :)

[Ian Woods]

I liked the 13 a lot but it’s just not a length in that particular power rating that I use hardly ever.
I sold my 14ft spectron too.

I do turn rods over quite frequently and only keep the really special ones.
The Preston is really becoming a firm favorite. That was really awesome to play barbel on last Sunday. That’s got some mega back bone in it.

Yea, after having a play with a friends preston supera power rod I was very impressed. To be honest I felt it put the new avenger to shame!
The only thing I wasn't sure about were the guides, the blank and the action were superb.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

The only thing I wasn't sure about were the guides

As you know I had very similar reservations on them also. I’m quite at ease with them now though. I think any weaknesses or points of failure in them would have come to light by now. It’s gonna be a hell of a tool for the slider float guys with such large bores on the guides.
I half expected them to put afew yards on my Wallis cast being lower friction from the bigger bores but there is no noticeable difference at all.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

ok, nothing bigger than 13lb

just read this. it sounds like a below average fish when it’s worded like that.

“Caught anything mate?”

“Na it’s rubbish here. Just a couple of 13’s”
I’m joining your fishing club

 

[Carl Massey]

I've got the Mark Tunley MK1 13 1/2 ft specialist float to there's one available now on sale now. It's a lovely rod with top quality carbon and kit and handles the whole range of float fishing right down to small pond crucians/silvers up to barbel as had no problem with a near double recently on Ouse.

 

[Ian Woods]

As you know I had very similar reservations on them also. I’m quite at ease with them now though. I think any weaknesses or points of failure in them would have come to light by now. It’s gonna be a hell of a tool for the slider float guys with such large bores on the guides.
I half expected them to put afew yards on my Wallis cast being lower friction from the bigger bores but there is no noticeable difference at all.

Yea, it's just previous experiences with minima style guides that made me wary.
The rod though, absolute corker imo!
I know my friend had several very decent barbel with his 14ft supera power last week and rattled them out with it.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

, it's just previous experiences with minima style guides that made me wary.

I’ve heard some horror stories about them producing a sharp edge on the internal rolled seam. I’ve heard some go rusty and then there’s the strength of such thin light frames.
So far nothing to report