About the only hole in my armoury now is a lead rod suitable for river fishing for big roach.I dont get to do this very often so I dont want to spend a fortune and when I do its almost invariably lumps of bread with or without a small feeder.I want to be able to fish a reasonably light bottom if need be so I dont want anything too powerful.It doesn't need to do anything else...I've other rods more than capable of heavier work.

I've had a look around & read a few reviews and narrowed it down to

Drennan Avon Quiver 1.25 [too pokey ?]

Fox Avon Quiver [ got a Fox Speciaslist Avon & dont like it...is this one that different ?]

Grauvell LT [1lb 2 oz tc sounds perfect but who has them ?]

TFG X1 River & Stream [original highly rated.Whats this one like ?] 

I particularly dont want a JW Avon.I had an original JW and it was a marvellous rod then but I dont like the latest version.I want something a bit "sweeter" but with enough backbone for winter flows.Mainly on the Kennet with the odd trip on the Hants Avon.

Grateful for any views/recommendations .

i have one of these and it is very nice.

don't be fooled by the name! check one out

Brian,

I have used the Drennam IM8 Bomb rod on the Avon for winter roaching for a few years and has landed rogue chub up to 5lb on 2lb bottoms as well as some nice roach over 2lb again on light 2lb bottoms to 18/20 hooks with a single maggot.The action is very soft and forgiving.

For this season, I have also acquirred a Shimano Technium Specialist Quiver which is slightly longer to get over to the far bank runs a little better.I have not had any roach on this yet but the chub I have taken again show it to have a very forgiving action to protect light bottoms and the hookholds of small hooks.

I mainly fish the maggot feeder and the fish hook themselves a lot of time and there is often no need to strike.If you are fishing bread say on the far bank then you may find something with a little more poke to set the hook in a fast current may be beneficial. Certainly either of the two rods above coupled with say an soft Avon type rod with a quiver of circa 1lb test curve would cover all the bases.

Both rods are no longer in production but crop up on e-bay reasonably regularly.

questions about river roaching in the carp section ?

You're right...that's my mistake.What a muppet.