Float rod

[Loxie]

I'm thinking of buying a float rod, well the full outfit really. This is not for salmon but for a bit of general course fishing, perch, roach, break and maybe some medium sized carp. I'd also like to catch mullet as well. I don't mind spending a bit but I won't use it a great deal so don't need very high spec stuff. Thoughts, advice, suggestions etc all welcome!

 

[Rennie]

A std. 13ft Match style rod will do you just fine. Any thing from Diawa or Shakespeare to suit your budget will do you just great.As ever, it go's without saying the more you spend the better the product you get!. Buying a rod with a bias towards the commercial fisheries should see you with a rod with a tadge more beef about it, if you think you'll be targeting more in the way of Carp and Mullet.
Reels by Diawa or Shimano as one may well expect will match the rod great.You won't need huge great big reels, as long as the spool will take 100yds of 6lb line (thats the high side of things you'll need) or more like 100yds of 3lb line.
There will be more choice out there than you are maybe used to with Game Fishing gear, in a word bewildering!
I'd get yersell down to the biggest tackle shop you can find and have a word with the guys in the shop and as ever see what suits you sir!
Both Diawa and Shakespeare have on line catalogues, maybe peruse those in the 1st instance?.
Good luck, Pedro.

 

[Chicharito]

I managed to pick up a couple of Bruce and Walker ex shop stock match rods a couple of years ago.
One is a 12ft Multi Modulus match rod from the late 80's and the other is a 13ft CTM13A from a bit earlier.
I use them for fishing on a mixed fishery and trotting for grayling. The 12ft MM is the better and lighter rod.
Both were bargains and a real joy to fish with.
Worth shopping around for and Ebay is always worth a search.

 

[iainmortimer]

Pretty much what Pedro said. If you’re going to be holding the rod a lot then moving away from the really budget stuff will you get you a lighter rod. If you’re after carp a lot then you may want to consider a barbel/Avon rod rather than a match rod.

 

[Isisalar]

For general float fishing there's not much better than the Drennan Acolyte range. The plus models will be great with silver fish and easily handle the odd barbel, carp or mullet, incredibly light, with a fantastic action. The compact models can be packed away assembled in the case.
Not yet an Acolyte suitable for Salmon sadly, I'm currently using a Drennan Carp waggler and would be happy with the Tench and specimen. Both in the compact format.

 

[happy days]

Ive been using a 10ft shimano float rod I bought for my grandson, it was only about £40 and is my go to rod now for coarse, Ive got longer more expensive rods but love this one it will handle anything from small roach to carp in their teens.

 

[bencarvosso]

I'll second isisalars comments. I have been using the compact 2 piece drennans for quite a few years. The acolyte plus is a beautiful rod...
The tench and specimen is also a great rod and great value for money. I have used it for so many applications...
I'm planning on using the compact drennan power float for salmon / grilse with the prawn from next week with a pin... Ive had some hard fighting fish in close quarters with it so I'm sure it can handle salmon to 10lbish on an open to river and have enough grunt to tame it quick enough to not tire it out...they have surprisingly a lot of backbone.
The beauty of them is you can keep them set up in the rod case they come in which makes setting up handy

 

[Isisalar]

Me too with the pin. Nothing like it.

 

[Loxie]

Blimey!! This is harder than it looks: the Drennan Acolyte rods seem largely out of stock. What lines do you guys recommend, braid or mono?

 

[Piker20]

I have one of the drennan drx 14ft rods. Even though there are no coarse fish up here I'll never sell it as replacing it would be difficult. I've had 6lb chub on it with a 2lb hook link and fished down to 10oz for dace, beautiful rod that just never locks up.


For me mono is only line for float work, can treat to sink or float and has that comfort of stretch.
Feeder fishing can be braid depending on target species.

 

[Red Spinner]

A early 13ft Daiwa Spectron Waggler rod that I bought 2nd hand online for £60 has proved a great allround float rod for me, river carp into double figures, salmon to 18lbs and innumerable bags of grayling that it was actually acquired for.
I also have an original Specialist Marksman which is its equal and an Acolyte which is rubbish by comparison.

 

[Piker20]

This thread is dragging up repressed trauma, I had a milo rod that had been built on some famous Japanese blank and was just the perfect rod. I had found utopia.
Walked into a bridge one day and snapped the rod in an irreplaceable bit.
Impossible to buy another.
Never got over it.

 

[ibm59]

13’ Daiwa Power Waggler.

 

[Dalesman]

Have a look at James Robins site https://www.cadencefishing.co.uk/ Plus there's the option of 20% discount.

The Drennan Acolyte range has had its problems with breakages. Just ask the question on this sites, sister site https://www.fishingmagic.com/

 

[Red Spinner]

Have a look at James Robins site https://www.cadencefishing.co.uk/ Plus there's the option of 20% discount.

The Drennan Acolyte range has had its problems with breakages. Just ask the question on this sites, sister site https://www.fishingmagic.com/

It is my understanding that the original Acolytes were built on blanks of high quality, the later rods (like mine) were built down to meet an increased demand. Similar story with the first Wilson Avons, Normarks and dare I say it, Hardy's.

Lesson - buy a first model not its later reincarnation.