Trotting for barbel

[fruitowl]

ok been looking at my tackle whilst laid up and feel like a rod light.
So which is the best style of rod for trotting to catch barbel on the faster flowing river Severn a pellet waggler or a barbel rod (which I already own) if a pellet waggler which ones budget being about £70.

 

[tigger]

I use a stepped up match rod rated to 6lb or 8lb lines and have never had any prob's. I also fish large fast flowing rivers.

 

[sam vimes]

Same as Tigger, a proper float (match) rod action, but a stepped up version. I hate using through actioned rods (pellet waggler, Avons and most barbel rods) for trotting. As far as I'm concerned, though I know some disagree, they're poor tools for the job.

 

[tigger]

I've only ever found one avon rod to be of any use for trotting and that's a 11ft hardy marksman specialist avon rod, I hold my hands up as to being smitten with that rod. Only downsides to the rod being they're no longer produced and they're expensive.

 

[fruitowl]

So what brand of rods do you use

 

[theartist]

I'd avoid anything under 13ft as you'll struggle a bit with shorter rods on a river like the severn.

Any decent brand power match 13-15ft would do a good job

 

[barbelboi]

A 15' Harrison GTI SU.........

 

[binka]

So what brand of rods do you use

Hardy Marksman 13' Specimen (not Specialist) Float for me mainly because it's the nearest thing I have to a dedicated barbel float rod, it does do an extremely good job though

Agree with Tigger on the 11' Avon, the heavier 11' 6 Specimen Avon is doable but just a tad too much for trotting imo but is my preference for other static float work like stret pegging or laying on, on the rare occasions that I think of giving it a go instead of the lead.

Drifting way over that £70 budget I'm afraid and again no longer being produced although some excellent examples crop up on Ebay regularly but still fetch top money.

 

[tigger]

So what brand of rods do you use

Obviously everyone will have their own preferances. I use a few rods depending on the day....13ft normark avenger, 12ft 9inch drennan im8 specimen float rod, the 14ft hardy marksman specialist float rod , the Hardy11ft avon rod and the 14ft drennan acolyte.
My out and out favourite is the avenger and at 13ft it's my preferd lenghth also.
I really don't like using rods over 14ft as for me they give no advantage whatsoever, just disadvantages.

 

[flightliner]

Leeda assassin 15/17' will come within your budget and will do the job you want, not certain there made anymore but plenty around-- maybe e-bay?. Oh, lob the dolly section in the bin or use it as a garden cane but at 15' its perfect for my river trent thats rocked up along much of its length allowing you to exert the desired pressure on a barb thats getting to close to underwater/ upward sloping rocks for comfort.

 

[cattyfatty]

Shakespeare Super Team Match Rod 13 ft rod 6-8 lb rated line
seen one just over your budget for around 78.00 delivered from Fishing Republic Company on amazon website .
quote from Shakespeare website.....
"These match rods have extremely versatile progressive actions that perfectly blend the fine hollow tip section into a powerful middle and butt section, offering a rod that is equally good when hooking and playing fish on finer hook lengths and hooks as well as more powerful fish on heavier gear. Both blanks are also amazingly slim and balanced with a comfortable ergonomically shaped reel seat."
look like will do the job for you.

 

[fruitowl]

Hi guys
thanks for all the input some of the rods I wish I could afford given my budget and the fact her indoors bought me a new 14ft float rod for xmas I have found a 14ft daiwa proteus line rated upto 10lb which I am going to give a try.

 

[itsfishingnotcatching]

What's the line rating on your 14'0 float Stephen, it should be fine for what we catch

Ian

 

[fruitowl]

What's the line rating on your 14'0 float Stephen, it should be fine for what we catch

Ian

my 14ft float rod is 3 to 6 which is fine for where we have fished and for the thames (fingers crossed)
but for the severn at holte fleet and a couple of stretches around bridgenorth where It flows off weirs would not cope hence the new rod for trotting after trolling the net I got the daiwa down from £69 to £53 so can get all new line currently re lining reels with either daiwa hyper sensor or maxima camo.

did you fish the weekend ian

 

[dicky123]

I would think about the Shakespeare rod. I brought a 16' before I 'invested' an a Daiwa.

If you do a bit of research you may find a deal on EBay. Your looking for a stepped up match rod with a line rating up to 8 lb I'd suggest. But they are like gold dust, so you have to keep looking every day.

I also agree a Avon style barbel style rod are simply too short. You really need 13' plus, longer the better.

 

[john step]

Leeda assassin 15/17' will come within your budget and will do the job you want, not certain there made anymore but plenty around-- maybe e-bay?. Oh, lob the dolly section in the bin or use it as a garden cane but at 15' its perfect for my river trent thats rocked up along much of its length allowing you to exert the desired pressure on a barb thats getting to close to underwater/ upward sloping rocks for comfort.

I have one of those and agree about the dolly section. At 15 its OK for the budget price. I think it was about £35 new. At 17 I find it OK in two rests with a pole float on still waters. Had mud pigs to 20 on it.

 

[tigger]

I also agree a Avon style barbel style rod are simply too short. You really need 13' plus, longer the better.

I wouldn't say 11ft is too short. Problem with an avon rod is the actions are usually way off for trotting, they're just too slow and sloppy for striking and especially if your fishing at any range. As I posted yonks ago on here the only avon rod that i've found suitable for trotting is the 11ft hardy marksman specialist avon or the 11ft supero avon, they are spot on! Obviously the size of river has gott'a be taken into account but even on a large river I do ok with an 11ft rod, the problems start when fishing across river with a downstream wind and trying to stick tight to a line. The wind makes it awkward when mending your line and can make it practically impossible to do without pulling your float off the line you want to trott. I do like using an 11ft rod in the right conditions but a rod that'll cover most situations is a 13 or 14 footer and the best overall choice imo.

 

[108831]

I would say that as Sam says Avon rods are not quite responsive enough for trotting and I agree about the Hardy Marksman being a cracking rod,trouble is it isn't really what it's for imo,looking on ebay for a Normark specimen match,preferably the original,but any if not is a good option,if price is prohibitive then its a matter of wading through your tackle shops looking for the more responsive rods.

 

[macko]

I would say that as Sam says Avon rods are not quite responsive enough for trotting and I agree about the Hardy Marksman being a cracking rod,trouble is it isn't really what it's for imo,looking on ebay for a Normark specimen match,preferably the original,but any if not is a good option,if price is prohibitive then its a matter of wading through your tackle shops looking for the more responsive rods.

Are you selling the Normark Specimen Match on ebay ?????

 

[108831]

No mate,i've already got one,they are a little thicker than today's rods at the butt,but they are relatively light and fit well in the hand(mine anyway,my names Guy).