Feeder rod for big fish

[ben10]

Hi all,

As the title suggests I am looking for a feeder rod for big fish - well at least beyond your average commercial size.

Something with a decent line rating (10+) and with a good action for decent fish under the tip.

I'm becoming less and less interested in sitting behind alarms for 2/3 rods just waiting for a take. I've always preferred to watch the tip of one rod and concentrate on my feeding - I find I fish better and enjoy it more.

Problem is all my tip rods are more traditional 'bream' rods - high ish loading points that can sometimes feel like they lock up close to the net.

Appreciate its not nessessarily the approach for really big fish on syndicate waters but at most well stocked carp waters with fish up 30ish and barbel and chub on the river its definitely my preferred method behind the float.

Does anyone have a recommendation? I'm not looking to cast to the horizon so not really looking for a distance feeder rod but would need to handle decent sized feeders in flow and (hopefully) double figure barbel/big chub in a flow and carp over 20 odd lbs.

I guess I'm looking more towards the barbel rod side of the market but it's hard to find a decent twin tip model these days with a dedicated quiver section for lakes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[flightliner]

Ben 10. I'm a big fan of twin tips, there are several makes around that should easily fit your reqmnts.
Drennan series 7 , Soniks amongst the many available will give you what you require.
Most can give you a test curve from 1•25lbs up to 1•75 lbs that can easily land big Barbel, carp, Chub etc.
So, my advice is to go to a tackle dealer with a big variety of choice and give them each a waggle to find the one that feels suitable for your requirements.

 

[tigger]

I have no idea what kind'a money your looking to spend, if it's not too much the JW youngs barbel rod is pretty powerful and has a choice of tips including a solid top. I think it's rated to 15lb !

 

[sylvanillo]

Have a look at Cormoran (Daiwa), they make feeder rods specifically for big fish - whether strong rods or heavy feeder.

Online: here

PDF (download from there): here

I have one of the GF Feeders and I'm very happy with it. The price was low but most importantly it's top quality. If I had to travel far (for ex. for barbel or carp) with only one rod I'd take this one.

 

[tigger]

I've just looked on ebay and there's a nice looking hardy marksman specimen feeder rod for sale, looks mint.

 

[Aknib]

I've just looked on ebay and there's a nice looking hardy marksman specimen feeder rod for sale, looks mint.

That would certainly do the job with a mainline rating of 12lb, i'v got the lighter 12' Specialist which is rated to 10lb and it's plenty to cope with Trent Barbel although I rarely use if for that.

If there are any still knocking around the 13' Extreme Feeder is a brute, mainline rated to 14lbs but I sold mine as it was just too much of an animal to regularly use for the direction my fishing took.

Would you rate the Marksman Barbel rod as a contender Ian, with the Avon top and quiver carrier top?

Mind you, probably as likely to find a pack of hens teeth as one of those now.

 

[108831]

You would find most twin topped barbel/Avon rods would fit the bill,the only issue could be strength of the quivers as most would be on the stronger side to cope with the flow...

 

[ben10]

I'll have a look on ebay for said Hardy now! Thanks.

I'll keep an eye out for any twin tip barbel rods I see, tips don't need to be too delicate as the size of fish are on the larger side anyway (other feeder rods I have cope with the rest).

I have noticed cadence make a 13ft 8 power feeder, unfortunately I've have no dealings with cadence and being online only it's unlikely I'll get to have a waggle of one either

 

[markcw]

I'll have a look on ebay for said Hardy now! Thanks.

I'll keep an eye out for any twin tip barbel rods I see, tips don't need to be too delicate as the size of fish are on the larger side anyway (other feeder rods I have cope with the rest).

I have noticed cadence make a 13ft 8 power feeder, unfortunately I've have no dealings with cadence and being online only it's unlikely I'll get to have a waggle of one either

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.

 

[ben10]

Top man, thanks very much!

 

[tigger]

That would certainly do the job with a mainline rating of 12lb, i'v got the lighter 12' Specialist which is rated to 10lb and it's plenty to cope with Trent Barbel although I rarely use if for that.

If there are any still knocking around the 13' Extreme Feeder is a brute, mainline rated to 14lbs but I sold mine as it was just too much of an animal to regularly use for the direction my fishing took.

Would you rate the Marksman Barbel rod as a contender Ian, with the Avon top and quiver carrier top?

Mind you, probably as likely to find a pack of hens teeth as one of those now.

I was gonn''a mention that you have experience of those specialist feeders and would most likely come on with advice.
You may well be right about those barbel rods but as you say you just don't see 'em.
I'm surprised they don't pop up now and again, maybe there wasn't a great deal of them produced, or people can't bear to part with 'em.
I have the 12ft extrem feeder in the supero and that's another contender.

 

[markcw]

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.

 

[S-Kippy]

The Marksman Barbel would certainly do a job...by no means a poker though,if anything I think its a tad undergunned but that suits me as I dont like rocket launchers.

Free Spirit do some good twin tip barbelly type rods though the "Specialist" range are imo much much better rods than the "Barbel Tamer". The tc on the Specialists are ( again imo) understated. I have an 11ft 1.5 tc Specialist and its got loads more nuts than the 1.75lb tc Barbel Tamer which I've also got....but wish I hadn't. Very slim but a bit "soggy" through the middle.

Just goes to show what an arbitary measure "test curve" is. Its an indicator of a rods potential capabilities but that's all it is.

 

[tigger]

The Marksman Barbel would certainly do a job...by no means a poker though,if anything I think its a tad undergunned but that suits me as I dont like rocket launchers.

I'm curious what you mean when you say undergunned, underguned for what?

 

[nottskev]

Listening to everyone who has one, The Hardy feeder rods are very good. But their fish-playing actions seem to be exceptional for feeder rods, and I'd be surprised if many are as good. I've got a couple of feeder rods that have line ratings such as you're after - the heaviest of the Daiwa Spectrons 11/13 and Shimano Technium 13' Feeders - and whilst they will cast far beyond equivalent barbel or Avon rods, their fish-playing actions, if you have something big on the end with 10lb line, are still relatively limited, and they stiffen up lower down. As I don't usually have to cast far, and barbel bite indication doesn't need a quiver, I've found that barbel/Avon rods play fish better when it comes to absorbing the fight and controlling the fish.

 

[daniel121]

I'm not really up on modern tackle, I personally have two porky pigs, and they are brilliant but, the big but, they have been obsolete for years.

That was back in the day when Diawa Scotland made quality rods in the UK that didn't break the bank.

 

[hague01]

the hardy which has just gone on Ebay is mine. It is new too.

 

[S-Kippy]

I'm curious what you mean when you say undergunned, underguned for what?

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

 

[mikench]

the hardy which has just gone on Ebay is mine. It is new too.

It looks a lovely rod Alec and will be perfect for someone who needs a powerful rod. I looked just in case it was the Marksman 11' Avon which I would have been very interested in.

To the OP you cannot do better than this rod which apart from its fitness for purpose is a thing of beauty.

 

[ben10]

Thanks for all the opinions so far guys.

I'm going to see if I can find more info on the cadence rods - either the power feeder or the 13ft no. 3 feeder.

The Hardy looks lovely and although I wouldn't normally worry about the cost, it may be a little out of my price range for a rod that is likely to be a little more abused than my others (not that I abuse any of my tackle). - I will keep an eye on it though as I have a habit of giving in to the voice in my head mg: