Feeder rod for big fish

[108831]

I have a Hardy Marksman 11ft 6in smuggler,its going to have an outing tomorrow possibly,rarely used but too good to sell.

Just to add,shortly I will be putting 6 reels on ebay,a Drennan 4000FD,two Shimano aero match three's,these are Japanese rear drags with 3 spools on each,a Japanese Stradic 4000 GTM(2 spools),another non Jap Stradic 4000 GTM(3 spools)and another 4000 sized fighting drag reel with 2 spools,all run well,my reasons for change,i prefer front drag these days,someone can get some use our of them rather than sit in my draw....

 

[tigger]

I think its a bit on the soft side is all. No doubt you disagree.

Not because it's you, but yes I do disagree.
Skippy, you don't believe the 11ft avon rods are powerful enough for barbel and yet Ste Binka and myself use them for barbel all the time and we've both caught lots of good sized fish with them.
This is a unweighed fish caught in a hit and hold swim and it was played out on the action of the rod and line before I could start to wind any line back. I'm quite sure the fish was well over 10lb, if it wasn't it was still a decent chunk.....





This was another one caught in a similar type of swim, this one was weighed and was several ounces over 11lb...



So if the 11ft avon rod is more than capable of catching barbel there's no doubt that the much more powerful barbel rod is gonn'a be up to the task...surely.

 

[dicky123]

Ben.
Lots of carp/barbel/ types rods will do, but I brought a rod just for big tench and bream at distance. Its the Drennan Acolyte Distance feeder. 13' with 3 tips 3/4/5oz. It will cast 100 grams a bloody long way, even though I'm not a big caster. Mine is teamed up with 6lb line and a 10lb shock leader. It's an out and out distance rod that for me will double up as a big river rod for barbel if I need it too. Respectfully to other on the forum an Avon type rod is not what you need, ideal for close quarter work, but not distance to sloppy and does not have a fast enough taper in my humble opinion. Hope it helps. Richard.

I should also say talking about rods with 12lb line just won't do if you want to cast a long way. You need a fast action rod with light line and a shock-leader for distance fishing on the tip. Fine if your barbel fishing the Hardy rods are fine, but your not long casting and Ben wants a distance rod from what I can understand (I'll stand corrected if wrong, Ben?) You need a specialist rod and not a make do, will do job.

 

[nottskev]

I don't mind who suggests what, but I did notice the OP wrote:

"I'm not looking to cast to the horizon so not really looking for a distance feeder rod"

 

[Aknib]

So if the 11ft avon rod is more than capable of catching barbel there's no doubt that the much more powerful barbel rod is gonn'a be up to the task...surely.

I think you saw the pic of my float-caught pb from last Autumn Ian, that went 13-4 and was on the 1lb t/c Ultralite Avon and that too was hit 'n hold due to a large, submerged tree branch resting on the riverbed right beside the fish.

It's a bit of a confidence trick, I've found the secret is to hold on for dear life and far beyond you'd generally go and the rods just kick into another gear and take over.

Sod's law really, I had taken a 'returning to angling' work colleague who'd never caught a Barbel before so I let him use the heavier Specimen Avon (he caught five on it but lost a real lump because he was too nervous about leaning into it)) and the lighter rod ended up taking the biggest fish of the day from a bit of a tight spot.

I dare bet Kev's sitting there reading this and knowing exactly which swim I mean

Anyway Skip's coming up for a stay in Newark on Trent this Summer, after conning the missus by telling her it's a nice break in a lovely old medieval market town before swanning off to the river for the day with me so i'll let him risk one of mine if he's still not sure.

 

[nottskev]

I dare bet Kev's sitting there reading this and knowing exactly which swim I mean

I do indeed. My best from it was a few ounces short of yours - but the rod I use in it is a couple of ounces heavier, and I've only dared floatfish that swim with a 2lb tc Harrison Chimera and 12lb line.

 

[tigger]

I think you saw the pic of my float-caught pb from last Autumn Ian, that went 13-4 and was on the 1lb t/c Ultralite Avon and that too was hit 'n hold due to a large, submerged tree branch resting on the riverbed right beside the fish.

It's a bit of a confidence trick, I've found the secret is to hold on for dear life and far beyond you'd generally go and the rods just kick into another gear and take over.

Sod's law really, I had taken a 'returning to angling' work colleague who'd never caught a Barbel before so I let him use the heavier Specimen Avon (he caught five on it but lost a real lump because he was too nervous about leaning into it)) and the lighter rod ended up taking the biggest fish of the day from a bit of a tight spot.

I dare bet Kev's sitting there reading this and knowing exactly which swim I mean

Anyway Skip's coming up for a stay in Newark on Trent this Summer, after conning the missus by telling her it's a nice break in a lovely old medieval market town before swanning off to the river for the day with me so i'll let him risk one of mine if he's still not sure.

I knew you'd had some nice fish in tight swims using yours .

My two heaviest barbs on the float were a thirteen two or three ouncer and thirteen seven. In all honesty, I can't remember what rods I caught them on though. I have a feeling the 13.2 was on the hardy speialist 11 footer but the 13.7 was caught using a Dave Harrell 14ft RS Pf rod.
I have had a few others between 10 and just over 12 whilst using the 11ft specialist and 11ft supero. I'm pretty sure the specialist and supero are identicle blanks, just different guides, whippings and coloured reel seat.

 

[hague01]

I had an xt 11 feeder . Regret selling it ever since. Value for money it was unbeatable. Had a supero Avon 11, nice but not memorable particularly.

 

[tigger]

I had an xt 11 feeder . Regret selling it ever since. Value for money it was unbeatable. Had a supero Avon 11, nice but not memorable particularly.

The XT rods were the budget rods in the hardy range which was very noticeable when handling them.

 

[ben10]

****y123, Yeah I'm looking more for a powerful rod for large fish at closer range. Less interested in distance as I don't fish large waters, I just need something more sensitive than a carp or normal barbel rod so I can watch the tip, hence my thinking of a twin tip barbel rod with a quiver tip carrier section.

Thanks for the response though

 

[S-Kippy]

Not because it's you, but yes I do disagree.
Skippy, you don't believe the 11ft avon rods are powerful enough for barbel and yet Ste Binka and myself use them for barbel all the time and we've both caught lots of good sized fish with them.
This is a unweighed fish caught in a hit and hold swim and it was played out on the action of the rod and line before I could start to wind any line back. I'm quite sure the fish was well over 10lb, if it wasn't it was still a decent chunk.....





This was another one caught in a similar type of swim, this one was weighed and was several ounces over 11lb...



So if the 11ft avon rod is more than capable of catching barbel there's no doubt that the much more powerful barbel rod is gonn'a be up to the task...surely.

I didnt say it wasnt up to the job...just that imo its slightly softer than I would have thought. Sadly...I dont have access to the sort of barbel fishing you have so I've yet to see what it can really do. Call me a yobbo but I use mine for zander....I prefer my Free Spirits for barbel.

Still havent worked out quite what that Avon is best for either. All lovely rods though....I have several now in various specs and dont regret buying any of them BUT none of them are my "go to" weapon of choice.

Just got too many rods I guess...and still room for another.

 

[tigger]

I didnt say it wasnt up to the job...just that imo its slightly softer than I would have thought. Sadly...I dont have access to the sort of barbel fishing you have so I've yet to see what it can really do. Call me a yobbo but I use mine for zander....I prefer my Free Spirits for barbel.

Still havent worked out quite what that Avon is best for either. All lovely rods though....I have several now in various specs and dont regret buying any of them BUT none of them are my "go to" weapon of choice.

Just got too many rods I guess...and still room for another.

The 11ft avon is perfect for barbel fishing with a float or light legering for them, also great for float or leger fishing for tench carp etc. You know my opinion of them, I love 'em.
I've not forgotton it was you that put me onto one of my barbel rods, two 11fT superos...plus an 11ft feeder rod.....you swine LOL .
If you take your hardy rods when you go visit mr binka you'll be able to test it's metal good and propper!
I'm quite sure you'll be pleasantly surprised .

 

[dalesman]

Cadence may be at the Big One at Farnboro' in March. I am going to the Northern Angling Show next weekend and if they are there I will ask James or Paul the question for you. I have had a waggle with a few cadence rods and they are good value for the money.

I use a Cadence CR10 13' #3 for Barbel and Chub on the Swale up here in Yorkshire, great rod. Same Paul and James rod uses for big chub and barbel.

 

[ben10]

I use a Cadence CR10 13' #3 for Barbel and Chub on the Swale up here in Yorkshire, great rod. Same Paul and James rod uses for big chub and barbel.

Great to hear someone is using the rod Ive been looking at. Would you say it has a good action for larger carp etc too? Just don't want anything likely to lock up. I guess feeder rods generally have a stiffer butt section for casting but would like to find one a bit more forgiving. Any feedback would be great, thanks!

 

[john step]

This flies under the radar, I have mentioned it on here before, it's the Shakespeare Agility CONTINENTAL feeder rod, this is a different rod than the Agility, capable of handling the size of fish you are after also large open waters and rivers. You would have to google it for suppliers, expect to pay between £65 and £70 ,this is because being discontinued.

From memory I think Flightliner bought one in a sale last year.

 

[ben10]

One other rod to throw in the mix.... The drennan acolyte distance feeder... I read somewhere that the tips are the same size as the old 3.5mm from the older daiwa and drennan, is this true? I have a bucket load of those tips from 0.75oz to 6oz so would be ideal if they did! Has a line rating of 10lb and a mellowish action from what I've read so could be perfect if I can re use my old tips.

 

[108831]

The problem is in my opinion,most feeder rods are designed for certain distances to be cast,not necessarily big fish,the ones that are for rivers 'probably' are,most commercial type feeder rods are fairly soft to lessen hook pulls,it is truly what the OP's MO is,what he thinks is 'the one',I fished for barbel yesterday with my Hardy Avon smuggler 11ft 6in,in reality I think the rod slightly outgunned the fish I was catching,and that maybe my 11ft Harrison Avon perfection would have been better,thing is it may not have been,it doesnt make either bad rods...

 

[dalesman]

Great to hear someone is using the rod Ive been looking at. Would you say it has a good action for larger carp etc too? Just don't want anything likely to lock up. I guess feeder rods generally have a stiffer butt section for casting but would like to find one a bit more forgiving. Any feedback would be great, thanks!

Ben Cadence rods are progressive in their action. Check the Cadence Chanel on youtube and facebook page

 

[108831]

I believe also,they are designed not to lock up,to be fair,if you fished on your reels drag it would not be an issue,what do you need,a rod that has power to pressure larger fish,or a rod to cushion large fishes lunges and runs,its one big trade off...

 

[tigger]

The problem is in my opinion,most feeder rods are designed for certain distances to be cast,not necessarily big fish,the ones that are for rivers 'probably' are,most commercial type feeder rods are fairly soft to lessen hook pulls,it is truly what the OP's MO is,what he thinks is 'the one',I fished for barbel yesterday with my Hardy Avon smuggler 11ft 6in,in reality I think the rod slightly outgunned the fish I was catching,and that maybe my 11ft Harrison Avon perfection would have been better,thing is it may not have been,it doesnt make either bad rods...

Alan, I have one of those supero 11ft 6inch smuggler rods and wouldn't use it on a smaller type river, unless the river had lots of snags and there where some serious clonkers in there, maybe a medium feeder rod even? I usually use a float rod.
The 11ft avon isn't as powerful and would have suited you much more.
I wouldn't say the 11ft 6 incher is more than a pound and a half test (maybe less) but if you were in a small river then that power would knumb the fight down.
I'm quite sure if you fished a larger river with more flow, snags and larger fish you would have found the 11ft 6inch rod to be ideal.