Lord Paul of Sheffield
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Can anyone recommend a good tench rod
My new lake holds some good tench I've been told
My new lake holds some good tench I've been told
Tench rod
- Thread starter Lord Paul of Sheffield
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barbelboi
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Yes, the original Preston Carbonactive float rod c2000 with 4 inches snapped off the top section - absolutely brilliant for tench and by coincidence I have one - yours for £100 -less than half the original price (excluding discounts)...............
nicepix
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I've got an original Shimano Alivio Barbel rod, 12 foot, less three inches, that you can have for forty quid and I'll stencil 'Tench' over the 'Barbel' sticker.
sagalout
Well-known member
Pellet waggler rod.
For many years I used a fibreglass (Winfield!) 11' Match rod and found it great for small to medium sized Tench on the float.
Then inspired by Chris Yates I bought and used a lovely old split cane B James Mk4 Avon. Used nothing else for about a decade and loved it, even had the cork bodied floats and wicker creel. Its a classic rod for Tench if you stick an old Mitchell on it. Felt like a garden cane though when you cast with it but I can honestly say it did indeed have real magic when you hooked a fish.
I sold the Mk4 when I decided I was no longer going to try and live an angling past I never knew and went back to 'modern' rods from my own era.
I bought a couple of 'marmite' 11', 1.25lb, Wilson Avon rods from the early 90's and found them better in every way (except resale value!)
I've got the 2nd generation rods (green blank, black duplon section on the handle and sliding reel fittings).
Love them or hate them, those Avons still do a sound job for Tench on the float but like the previous poster, the Pellet Waggler type rods look perfect for tench and I wouldn't mind owning a Shakey Mach 3XT 11' model and changing the handle to full cork. Would probably be a crisper rod than the JW Avons.
Then inspired by Chris Yates I bought and used a lovely old split cane B James Mk4 Avon. Used nothing else for about a decade and loved it, even had the cork bodied floats and wicker creel. Its a classic rod for Tench if you stick an old Mitchell on it. Felt like a garden cane though when you cast with it but I can honestly say it did indeed have real magic when you hooked a fish.
I sold the Mk4 when I decided I was no longer going to try and live an angling past I never knew and went back to 'modern' rods from my own era.
I bought a couple of 'marmite' 11', 1.25lb, Wilson Avon rods from the early 90's and found them better in every way (except resale value!)
I've got the 2nd generation rods (green blank, black duplon section on the handle and sliding reel fittings).
Love them or hate them, those Avons still do a sound job for Tench on the float but like the previous poster, the Pellet Waggler type rods look perfect for tench and I wouldn't mind owning a Shakey Mach 3XT 11' model and changing the handle to full cork. Would probably be a crisper rod than the JW Avons.
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I like to use the old drennan avon duo's in 1.25 test if lagering and using bobbins, alarms etc.
I use a few different float rods including the drennan super tench...obviously the best for tench fishing as it has "drennan super tench float rod" printed on the blank lol...being serious it is a good rod.
As far as i'm aware Drennan do a up to date tench float rod in their current series and a power float rod also. They do the avon 1 1/4 test leger rods in the series 7 although i'm not really impressed with any of those rods myself preferring drennans older stable of rods.
I use a few different float rods including the drennan super tench...obviously the best for tench fishing as it has "drennan super tench float rod" printed on the blank lol...being serious it is a good rod.
As far as i'm aware Drennan do a up to date tench float rod in their current series and a power float rod also. They do the avon 1 1/4 test leger rods in the series 7 although i'm not really impressed with any of those rods myself preferring drennans older stable of rods.
dangermouse
Well-known member
I used the Middy 4G pellet waggler for tench for a couple of sessions then sold it.
Fine for open water with tench under 3lb, but anything bigger than that, or trying to steer fish away from snags and it was rubbish.
After that I went to the 1.25 Wychwood I posted above and cant fault it.
Light enough not to bump small silvers, but powerfull enough to handle big tench.
Fine for open water with tench under 3lb, but anything bigger than that, or trying to steer fish away from snags and it was rubbish.
After that I went to the 1.25 Wychwood I posted above and cant fault it.
Light enough not to bump small silvers, but powerfull enough to handle big tench.
barbustheorgaangrinder
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Hi, I've an old Sundridge 12' 1.25 tc specimen rod that was marketed with your own tackle shop's name on it, and for float, or light legering would be perfect for Tench of any size especially for Bread flake under a float and of course using a centrepin reel ( bit of controversy there then! ) I've had carp to 20lb on exactly the same set up so I know it will handle the Tench beautifully. Tight lines to you meLord !!
I think you cannot beat the original Drennan Tench Rods myself.
I have one and still use it all these years down the line, it is soft enough to yield when needed but has the backbone to hold when necessary.
If you can get your hands on one, never let it go!
. . . . and no, mine is not for sale LOL
I have one and still use it all these years down the line, it is soft enough to yield when needed but has the backbone to hold when necessary.
If you can get your hands on one, never let it go!
. . . . and no, mine is not for sale LOL
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The Drennan im8 specimine float blows the old tench rod away, only problem being they're very hard to find, harder to find than a good example of the old tench rod.
The latest drennan acolyte plus rods are also great for tench fishing if using a float.
Being honest there's loads of great rods idealy suitable for tench fishing wether using a float set up or a leger set up, it's just down to funds and with the older rods, their availability.
The latest drennan acolyte plus rods are also great for tench fishing if using a float.
Being honest there's loads of great rods idealy suitable for tench fishing wether using a float set up or a leger set up, it's just down to funds and with the older rods, their availability.
cattyfatty
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flightliner
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I,m sure these rods are really fit for purpose, most Drennan gear is but the three piece format just puts me off.
Back in the nineties I purchased a pair of Daiwa pms112 12' 1.25 tc that had a seperate butt section. Fitted together they were fine but broken down in a ready to use mode on re assembly they were at best awkward.
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
Have to agree with Peter, the Drennan Tench Mk1's are wonderful. Also have a pair of Mk4's.
Fished in a pair in rests with corn or worm under wagglers...who am I kidding? Tench are like Arsenal, they batter me every time and I hate em with a passion...
Actually, I love them but they are my bogey fish!!
Fished in a pair in rests with corn or worm under wagglers...who am I kidding? Tench are like Arsenal, they batter me every time and I hate em with a passion...
Actually, I love them but they are my bogey fish!!
Keith M
Well-known member
I used to use one of the older 12ft 6in Drennan Tench Float rods till someone stood on it. LOL.
I now use a 13ft MKIV Drennan Tench Float rod and use it both for Tench fishing and when trotting on my local stream for Barbel and Chub.
I know the finish on the MKIV is not quite as good as on its predecessors but it is still an excellent Tench float rod and I have found that it handles both largish Tench and Barbel with few problems.
NB: The MKIV is designed to be used with lines up to 8lb (both mono & braid).
Another couple of rods that I use when float fishing for largish Tench are: a 15ft Hardy Marksman Specialist Float rod and an old 12ft stepped up waggler rod made by Mitchell which cost me just £15 from a tackle show at Thorpe Park about 15 years ago, which I originally bought for the missus.
If I am fishing a lake which only holds smaller Tench up to around 4lb max at most then I will often use my normal light waggler rods (Diawa Amorphous Whisker or my Drennan Acolyte).
Keith
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cattyfatty
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I,m sure these rods are really fit for purpose, most Drennan gear is but the three piece format just puts me off.
Back in the nineties I purchased a pair of Daiwa pms112 12' 1.25 tc that had a seperate butt section. Fitted together they were fine but broken down in a ready to use mode on re assembly they were at best awkward.
i quite like the idea off having a 13ft rod made up in a rod sleeve, playing wise of the rod does not seem that bad at all , i all so have the sliverfish 13ft from drennan in the same format with the 1 ft dolly handle.
just clip up to me quiver and at the bank , a couple of minutes up and ready to use.
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
Hello lord paul,
Now i have searched high and low for a rod to suit tench fishing, it depends what you want i.e. Float rod, feeder or specialist.
For the float i like the shimano purist all rounder float, good action (as with all shimano rods), yet it has lots of backbone. Also comes in a nice green colour.
For feeder work i use shimano purist avon, again great action but very powerful in the mid section, i also use this along with shimano purist classic barbel for specialist work, only 1.5 tc, so great for larger feeders or led work.
I have also seen that freespirit has dropped the price on the tench seeker, although still relatively highly priced.
I have also caught 5lb+ tench on greys txl prodigy 13ft float which i am impressed with. Also, although i have not fished one, alot of people have reccommended korum xpert rods, again low tc's.
Hope this helps, let me know how you get on.
Peter
Now i have searched high and low for a rod to suit tench fishing, it depends what you want i.e. Float rod, feeder or specialist.
For the float i like the shimano purist all rounder float, good action (as with all shimano rods), yet it has lots of backbone. Also comes in a nice green colour.
For feeder work i use shimano purist avon, again great action but very powerful in the mid section, i also use this along with shimano purist classic barbel for specialist work, only 1.5 tc, so great for larger feeders or led work.
I have also seen that freespirit has dropped the price on the tench seeker, although still relatively highly priced.
I have also caught 5lb+ tench on greys txl prodigy 13ft float which i am impressed with. Also, although i have not fished one, alot of people have reccommended korum xpert rods, again low tc's.
Hope this helps, let me know how you get on.
Peter