trotting rod advice

[frothy]

Hi, I have been dithering for a while now regards the purchase of a trotting rod, i haven't done any river float fishing for many years so have lost touch with it all. the two rods i have been looking at are the shimano purist tench 12'6 and the drennan floatmaster combo 13/15ft, the purist appeals as it has a bit of grunt and i would also like to use it on still water for tench/bream and it can be left setup! but im worried about it being to short on the rivers? this is why i have also considered the drennan combo as it would seem to cover both situations... does anyone have experience of these rods? or any advice?
Thanks in advance

 

[geoffmaynard]

Get both because a lot will depend on the rivers you are fishing. I prefer long rods on most rivers as I usually fish with a pin and the longer rods give me better control of the tackle. But on small overgrown streams the long rods can be a right pain and a shorter rod - even a 10ft rod - would sometimes be better.

 

[sam vimes]

At the risk of going down a road well travelled already. I'd not be using a specimen float rod for trotting unless I was targeting big chub or barbel. They don't usually have the tip action or finesse that I'd be looking for in a trotting rod.

 

[frothy]

Get both because a lot will depend on the rivers you are fishing. .

I may well end up doing just that but i will have to sneek one into the garage just want to make sure these are up to the job before i do so.

 

[S-Kippy]

At the risk of going down a road well travelled already. I'd not be using a specimen float rod for trotting unless I was targeting big chub or barbel. They don't usually have the tip action or finesse that I'd be looking for in a trotting rod.

Second that. In my experience its rare to find a rod that will do two jobs well...adequately maybe,but not well. The exception is as Sam says maybe "heavy" trotting.I used to use a Tench Float for chubbing where the extra oomph certainly helped but it was way too beefy for light work.

I'll happily use budget end rods on stillwaters but for trotting I would always opt for the best I could afford.

And I dont personally like rods over 13 ft for anything for a variety of reasons...not least being that I think float rods tend to be 13 ft for a very good reason ie it is the optimum length taking into account weight/balance/action/tip recovery etc etc. Other people get on fine with longer rods and good luck to them but I dont & wont even contemplate one.

 

[mick b]

I tried to Wallis cast with a 13ft Diawa Spectron and found the cast difficult, however the centrepin experts who I watched and spoke to told me to get a through/compound action rod to enable me to master the cast correctly.

I now use a Hardy Marksman specialist float 13ft and can Wallis cast prefectly, however if your not using a 'pin my experiences are irrelevant.

I agree that 13ft is the best all-round length for the majority of situations.

IMO its better to buy the best you can afford then add some, than have a stack of rods that do not do the job you brought them to do.

Most of us fish all our lives and money spent on good kit is never wasted.

 

[tigger]

And I dont personally like rods over 13 ft for anything for a variety of reasons...not least being that I think float rods tend to be 13 ft for a very good reason ie it is the optimum length taking into account weight/balance/action/tip recovery etc etc. Other people get on fine with longer rods and good luck to them but I dont & wont even contemplate one.

I have a 13 to 15ft titan 2000 but very rarely use it at 15ft. I also have a 14ft drennan im9 which is excellent but my preferance is for a 13ft rod even when fishing large rivers.

 

[XIII13]

I tried to Wallis cast with a 13ft Diawa Spectron and found the cast difficult, however the centrepin experts who I watched and spoke to told me to get a through/compound action rod to enable me to master the cast correctly.

I now use a Hardy Marksman specialist float 13ft and can Wallis cast prefectly, however if your not using a 'pin my experiences are irrelevant.

I agree that 13ft is the best all-round length for the majority of situations.

IMO its better to buy the best you can afford then add some, than have a stack of rods that do not do the job you brought them to do.

Most of us fish all our lives and money spent on good kit is never wasted.

I notice that Hardy have a new range coming on stream (XT) which seems a bit more reasonably priced, plus if you shop around some of the original Marksman rods are being heavily discounted to clear stock. I'm thinking of treating myself to one.

STEVE

 

[S-Kippy]

I notice that Hardy have a new range coming on stream (XT) which seems a bit more reasonably priced, plus if you shop around some of the original Marksman rods are being heavily discounted to clear stock. I'm thinking of treating myself to one.

STEVE

Do it...they are lovely rods to use and own.

 

[mark brailsford 2]

I have the preston carbon active rods in 13, 14 and 17ft and they are superb river rods, yes they are a little on the pricy side, but they are of a superior quality and unlike most cheaper rods the blanks are made in japan from top end carbon cloth.
they are a dream to use and are so light, I can hold my 17ft all day without fatigue!
Go and have a waggle in your tackle shop, you will not be disappointed, honest!

mark

PS: forgot to say, they are a lot cheaper than the hardy rods, with them you are just paying for the name...before anyone pulls me up on this I would just like to say that when I was fly fishing (15yrs) I owned a couple of very expensive hardy rods (and reels) bought because I thought paying a bit more bought me a better class of fly rod, I was wrong, I cast better and a lot further with cheaper rods (a lot cheaper!) leave these rods for the wealthy folk out there.

 

[tigger]

If people are going to start reccommending rods then i'll reccommend my all time favourite and a far bettter rod than anything anyones come up with or could possibly come up with...the 13ft MKII Normark Avenger....best of the best...simples .
Anyone disagreeing with that is a numpty and doesn't know their arse from their elbow LOL.

 

[mark brailsford 2]

If people are going to start reccommending rods then i'll reccommend my all time favourite and a far bettter rod than anything anyones come up with or could possibly come up with...the 13ft MKII Normark Avenger....best of the best...simples .
Anyone disagreeing with that is a numpty and doesn't know their arse from their elbow LOL.

Yes mate, most on here would not disagree that normark rods were the mutts nutts, but there is a slight problem...They don't make them any more!!!!!

soz mate

mark

 

[xenon]

second vote for Preston-have the 13 ft excel-best float rod I have used by far-finesse with some grunt lower down if need by-would (and do) happily use it for either dace or big chub/medium barbel.

 

[dalesman]

Preston get my vote, love it. Had chub to 5lb plus on a fast rising river with no problems

 

[S-Kippy]

I have the preston carbon active rods in 13, 14 and 17ft and they are superb river rods, yes they are a little on the pricy side, but they are of a superior quality and unlike most cheaper rods the blanks are made in japan from top end carbon cloth.
they are a dream to use and are so light, I can hold my 17ft all day without fatigue!
Go and have a waggle in your tackle shop, you will not be disappointed, honest!

mark

PS: forgot to say, they are a lot cheaper than the hardy rods, with them you are just paying for the name...before anyone pulls me up on this I would just like to say that when I was fly fishing (15yrs) I owned a couple of very expensive hardy rods (and reels) bought because I thought paying a bit more bought me a better class of fly rod, I was wrong, I cast better and a lot further with cheaper rods (a lot cheaper!) leave these rods for the wealthy folk out there.

Oi ! Objection ! I've got Hardy rods [coarse & fly] and I'm not wealthy.The fly rods suit my casting style though I agree some Hardy "marques" are very average.I also have a couple of Marksman coarse rods for the sheer hell of it because in my eyes they are simply lovely rods. they are a bit pricey but so are some others and I've never paid RRP for any of them.

Agree about the Prestons though. I have a 13' Carbonactive Sentient and that is an absolute cracker of a rod. Nearest I've ever come to a true allrounder and as I've said before I dont believe the rod that will do everything well exists.

 

[chav professor]

Oi ! Objection ! I've got Hardy rods [coarse & fly] and I'm not wealthy.The fly rods suit my casting style though I agree some Hardy "marques" are very average.I also have a couple of Marksman coarse rods for the sheer hell of it because in my eyes they are simply lovely rods. they are a bit pricey but so are some others and I've never paid RRP for any of them.

Agree about the Prestons though. I have a 13' Carbonactive Sentient and that is an absolute cracker of a rod. Nearest I've ever come to a true allrounder and as I've said before I dont believe the rod that will do everything well exists.

I love the look of the hardy range of coarse fishing rods - they really ooze class and felt fantastic. I am an idiot - the only reason I did not buy one was that they were made in the far east - to exactly the same quality standard as if made in the UK........ I got a Daiwa tournament 13' - which is also beautifully made in Scotland!

Another super trotting rod is the John Allerton Tri cast in 20'. surprisingly crisp and relatively light. I was fortunate to pick one up from my tackle shop for £100....... I salivated at them when they were over £300 - so as soon as I saw the knock down it didn't even warrent checking with the boss. I presented it to her and said wrap it up - thats my Birthday present!

It is great for trotting down the far bank of some stretchs of my river and picks up line fast on a long trot..... Awesome when required....

 

[tigger]

Yes mate, most on here would not disagree that normark rods were the mutts nutts, but there is a slight problem...They don't make them any more!!!!!

soz mate

mark

Of course Mark you are right m8 but...you can often pick them up on fleebay and cheap compared to medioca rods in the shops today .

As Chav Prof says the Daiwa Tournaments are a top of the range rod and imo in another league to the Hardys.

 

[mark brailsford 2]

Of course Mark you are right m8 but...you can often pick them up on fleebay and cheap compared to medioca rods in the shops today .

As Chav Prof says the Daiwa Tournaments are a top of the range rod and imo in another league to the Hardys.

Don't do ebay...long story, but you are right about the Diawa rods...STILL MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN, and good on em (yes, I know that they only make the top end ranges here now but who cares when they are giving folk employment!)
I have nothing against folk buying hardy, but it stinks when a company brags about it's ''MADE IN BRITAIN'' heritage that stems back 200yrs or so and then ships all the work abroad ( same with tera nova tents, the best in the world and made in DERBYSHIRE, then they shipped all the work abroad to CHINA!...Sorry to digress, but it does make my blood boil.

mark

 

[tigger]

Don't do ebay...long story, but you are right about the Diawa rods...STILL MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN, and good on em (yes, I know that they only make the top end ranges here now but who cares when they are giving folk employment!)
I have nothing against folk buying hardy, but it stinks when a company brags about it's ''MADE IN BRITAIN'' heritage that stems back 200yrs or so and then ships all the work abroad ( same with tera nova tents, the best in the world and made in DERBYSHIRE, then they shipped all the work abroad to CHINA!...Sorry to digress, but it does make my blood boil.

mark

I've got that way now that if it was made in Britain and has been moved abroad I just won't buy it.

 

[andreagrispi]

I have the old Mark II tournament - the best float rod I have used by far. I have a Normark - very good but not as good as a tournament.