Light "Specimen" Rod

[S-Kippy]

I'm after a rod suitable for lead/feeder work [stillwaters primarily] of a more delicate nature....ie something capable of scaled down "specimen" tactics,dealing with small hooks/light hooklinks etc. Target species big roach/crucians...that sort of thing but enough nuts to deal with bait robbing tench ! Not a quiver rod though if it came with another top so be it.

Everything nowadays seems geared towards heavier work or for chucking feeders into orbit. I have rods to do that... I'm after something I can use at short/med range mostly with a forgiving tip but capable of lobbing a lead/feeder. Greys do an 11' Specimen Rod with a 1lb tc. That's the sort of thing [I think].

Anybody got experience of the Greys rod or other suggestions ? I have an original Fox Avon quiver which is supposed to be a 1lb tc solid tip but its way more than that. Much too fierce.

I thought about a Pellet Waggler rod as I've used those to lob feeders around at short range...but I'm not sure a PW is quite man enough for what I want to do.

Thoughts/suggestions ?

 

[sam vimes]

See if you can find one of the incarnations of the Fox Specialist rods. I have Duo-Lite Avons and Specialists, the Specialists are lighter than the Avons and definitely sub 1lb TC.

Other similar rods worth looking out for are the Shimano Antares and Technium Specialists. The snag with them is that they are older and tend to go for more money when they, rarely, pop up on ebay.

There's not a vast choice of such rods at 1lb or slightly less.

 

[jimlad]

Have you considered something like a drennan match pro super feeder? The rods are spot on....


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[sagalout]

I find the pellet waggler type ideal for the work you describe, I can't feel any fight from smaller fish on my 1lb test avon, even tench of the 2lb mark are dull on it. My PW rods are brilliant using 15g feeders or a float and I have landed carp to 16.5lb and tench to 6.5lb on them without problems.

 

[smufter]

Korum CS 11' feeder. Great rod for the money and will do everything you want it to do

 

[S-Kippy]

Not a quiver rod chaps....I've discovered my inner bobbin watcher.

The Fox sounds good and I may have to explore the PW option a bit more.I know they will cope with small feeders but might struggle with bigger ones though that is precisely the sort of "action" I'm looking for.

 

[sagalout]

I use the "15g small" feeders and can cast them a reasonable distance with a slow overhead cast. I would not use a hard/fast overhead cast. Maver list the powerlite as 3-8lb mainline, 25g casting weight.

 

[garethdwatkins]

Perhaps a light barbel rod would be the ticket if you want to use bigger feeders.
I've been using a pair of Free Spirit Tamers in 1.75lb for my tench and crucian fishing as they can cope with a loaded 70g method feeder no problem. They do come with a quiver tip top section too, but I've never used it.

Most barbel rods exist in 1.5lb too if you want more finesse.

Other rods my mates have that are also very good for short to medium feeder fishing are the Wychwood Rogue Barbel and the Shimano Vengence Barbel both 1.5lb TC.
cheers
Gareth

 

[nicepix]

Chapmans 500 split cane Avon would suit your needs S-Kippy. Nice through action and sensitive at the tip so as not to bump off fish at the net when using light leaders and small hooks.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

Would something like the lovely (older) Drennan IM8 Bomb Rod be fit for purpose?

It had 2 complete top sections one with built in quiver the other a straight top.

I have used mine for everything from specimen roach to Chub without any problems.

Probably no good with heaier feeders but an excellent action rod with either small feeders or arlesly bombs.

You can still pick them up on good old fela-bay, but the prices are beginning to rcoket somewhat.

 

[aebitim]

I am looking for a similar rod and am considering the nash specialist avon at 1.25, at present I am using a harrison 1.5 avon which has a very responsive tip and a good amount of power further down. It does seem to be difficult to find the right rod for this type of fishing. Keep us posted on developments pls

 

[Bluenose]

Kev Baynes specialist.

 

[robtherake]

Another vote here for the Fox Avons. Been using a pair of 1lb Duos since they came out and I'm still amazed by their versatility.

They'll chuck a big cage feeder a fair distance (with either tip fitted) and are a dream to play fish on - I've landed carp to just under 19lb with these rods and never felt that the fish had the upper hand. They're also delicate enough for smaller fish without taking all the fun out of it.

Peter mentioned the Drennan IM8 bomb rods. Buy one, by all means, (they're superb) but they aren't man enough to cast more than an ounce or so and only have quiver tops.

I'm not sure about the pellet waggler option - I have a 12ft Reactorlite and find the action a bit stiff for delicate work.

 

[bullmoose_jackson]

I have two Shimano Purist Multi-Light Specialists.

They come with .75lb and 1.25lb test curve tops, as well as a quiver section with three tips.

They are multi-length - 11ft 6' to 12ft 6'.

Great rods.

Also, this is slightly left-field, but the Shakespeare Mach 3 pellet waggler makes a great rod for a bobbin/bite alarm set-up. Very useful for small feeders at close range for roach, etc.

 

[S-Kippy]

Blimey....loads to think about there fellas.

Anything over about 1lb tc is going to be too fierce for what I have in mind.I have rods around 1.25/1.5 and they are simply too much for light lines & small hooks...I know,I've tried them.

The IM8 is going to be too soft. I know that for certain too. Lovely rod though.

The Fox Duo ? Hmmm....like I said I have a Fox Avon and I dont like it at all. Way more than 1lb tc and a rather lifeless blank. Are the Duo's better ? They'd need to be !

The PW is still a possibility....and I have a couple of those I might try [inc the aforementioned Shaky Mach 3 which is a cracking rod] but not man enough for anything other than fairly short range.

The Shimano I'll need to research and the Kev Baynes sounds exquisite...but its a lot of dosh. I was expecting somebody to plug the Grey's but nobody did. Are they that bad ?

More research needed. Keep the suggestions coming....all are welcome because I think there's a hole in the market for this sort of rod.

 

[tigger]

Sounds like a power float rod might fit the bill. Maybe a drennan tench or similar ?

 

[S-Kippy]

Got one...just been trying it in the garden lobbing 1.5 oz leads/feeders around. Too soft in the tip when it compresses for the cast. Reckon I might get 10 casts in before the tip went.

Good call and would work with light leads but not scaled down semi-fixed feeder/lead rigs.

 

[tigger]

Got one...just been trying it in the garden lobbing 1.5 oz leads/feeders around. Too soft in the tip when it compresses for the cast. Reckon I might get 10 casts in before the tip went.

Good call and would work with light leads but not scaled down semi-fixed feeder/lead rigs.

Sounds like your gonna have to look at an avon style rod, maybe the old drennan duo's, they have a soft through action. Infact the later series 7 avones have a soft through action.
Failing that I've heard Korum are doing a twin top avon style rod that might be worth a look.

 

[barbelboi]

Now listen here Skippy, I've just the rod for you - look no further. One of my Carbonactive float rods has lost three inches from the tip and, as your luck would have it, now makes the ideal rod for your needs. You're very welcome to have a waggle next time we meet so long as you have 200 notes in your pocket at the time.
Jerry

 

[S-Kippy]

Sounds like your gonna have to look at an avon style rod, maybe the old drennan duo's, they have a soft through action. Infact the later series 7 avones have a soft through action.
Failing that I've heard Korum are doing a twin top avon style rod that might be worth a look.

I have an old Drennan Duo in 1.5lb tc.Lovely rod...that's exactly the sort of thing but lighter.

---------- Post added at 20:14 ---------- Previous post was at 20:11 ----------

Now listen here Skippy, I've just the rod for you - look no further. One of my Carbonactive float rods has lost three inches from the tip and, as your luck would have it, now makes the ideal rod for your needs. You're very welcome to have a waggle next time we meet so long as you have 200 notes in your pocket at the time.
Jerry

Welcome back Jerry.....that's what happens when you buy rubbish

I've a few rods that are short by 3 inches or so...all Drennan's curiously which makes you wonder does it not ?