Match pro 13ft ultra light,or im9 finesse?

paul1234 · Apr 6, 2014

Like the look of the matchpro,but prefer 2 piece rod setup.
Will be used for general float work for roach,skimmers and hopefully some nice summer rudd!!
Ive seen alot about how good the ultra lights are,is there much in it as regards quality etc,
So its a case of matchpro vs im9!!
Any thoughts would be appreciated

Cheers paul

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Richox12 · Apr 6, 2014

IM9. The answers in your question. IM9 if you want 2pc and Matchpro if you want traditional 3pc. I have used both extensively and now just use IM9 simply because I can fold them in 2 when setting up at home and after fishing when packing up (as I leave them made up in their sleeves).

paul1234 · Apr 6, 2014

Richox12 said:
IM9. The answers in your question. IM9 if you want 2pc and Matchpro if you want traditional 3pc. I have used both extensively and now just use IM9 simply because I can fold them in 2 when setting up at home and after fishing when packing up (as I leave them made up in their sleeves).

Cool,is there much difference between the 2 rods?

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---------- Post added at 10:49 ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 ----------

Richox12 said:
IM9. The answers in your question. IM9 if you want 2pc and Matchpro if you want traditional 3pc. I have used both extensively and now just use IM9 simply because I can fold them in 2 when setting up at home and after fishing when packing up (as I leave them made up in their sleeves).

And i do prefer 2 piece but if the matchpro is generally a better rod i would not mind 3 piece, would be daft to get the im9,if its not as good.though im sure both are very good

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bullet · Apr 6, 2014

I would say the im9 is slightly more powerful than the matchpro, not much in it,though.

keora · Apr 7, 2014

I bought a 14 ft Drennan Matchpro Ultra Light a couple of years ago, I've used it mainly for catching grayling, plus chub and perch on local rivers. Very light and responsive, I like it.

I don't take off the float and shot and rewind the line when I've finished. I remove the hook length, bunch the shot and hook at the end of the line, wind them up to the rod tip, unplug each section in turn, fold them together and wrap a rod band around the top, then stick it in a quiver type rod holdall.

Richox12 · Apr 7, 2014

Nothing in it.

mick b · Apr 7, 2014

If you've read some of the previous threads you'll see that I recently obtained a 15' Ultralight.

Because Ive seen a number of rods fail I always hammer a new rod very hard inorder to establish a high level of personal confidence in it.
(Better to break it sooner than later

mg

I can assure you that my Ultralight was really put through its paces on real fish in flooded river conditions and never looked like failing.

Beautiful middle and top fighting curve, gentle deflection (1"+) in the butt and zero after effects.

Hope this helps?

.

trotter2 · Apr 7, 2014

The im9 is slightly more powerful but not much. Think of the ultra light as a roach, dace rod and your not far off.

mick b · Apr 7, 2014

trotter2 said:
The im9 is slightly more powerful but not much. Think of the ultra light as a roach, dace rod and your not far off.

One of my testers was a 5-6 Chub plus around eight over 4 before the season ended.

Interestingly it was as good at keeping them out of the trash as any other rod I have.

Tackle:-
running line 6lb
hooklength 4lb
hook size 11

.

aebitim · Apr 7, 2014

Couldnt get on with the ultralight at all at 14ft, didnt suit my style, have been using a friends 13ft matchpro which is better, neither is a patch on the 1m9, but mine was the 3piece version.
The matchpro rods have huge reserves of power down the blank, cant get on with the tip is my gripe.

tigger · Apr 7, 2014

There's always the drennan acolyte if your prepared to spend a few pennies more.
Funny enough it was only this Saturday just gone when I was in a tackle shop and having a nosey at the rod section. I had seen the lighter version, the "ultra" before but hadn't seen the stepped up "Plus" version. If i'm honest I wasn't impressed with the ultra so was keen to see the heavier version hoping it would impress me. Unfortunatly when I got my hands on one, looked at it and waggled it about I wasn't impressed with it any more than I was with the Ultra. In the hand it was light and slim but it just didn't feel like £189's worth of rod...well imo anyhow.
I also notice that both rods had a bit of droop but the 14ft rod seemed to have a little to much droop for my liking. I think the guides could have been more stand off also, drennan do seem to use shorter guides than most and on a float rod I would prefer a set of decent stand off guides.
It may not sound like it but I am a big fan of drennan rods and their gear but I really can't understand why people seem to be raving about this rod as much as they are. Saying that you really need to get out on the bank and fish with a rod before you can truly judge it...maybe it feels much better in use

.
Maybe it would be worth your while to pop into a shop that stocks them and check out all all three models before making your mind up which to plump for ?

mick b · Apr 7, 2014

Hi tigger,
Hope you don't include me in your rod 'raver' posters?

The only rods I would ever 'rave about' would be my Hardy Specialist (9/10) and my Sage ZXL (11/10

)

Id give the Ultra 7/10 in a mark up.
Its okay, does the job well enough, and is well made and doesnt break on a goodish fish, but yes its certainly droops, 1.5" + on the 15' but having started with cane its something I can live with.
The script on the butt section was certainly a bit OTT but its been rubbed off so no problem!

A Rod Raver....what have you started now........

mg:

tigger · Apr 7, 2014

mick b said:
Hi tigger,
Hope you don't include me in your rod 'raver' posters?

The only rods I would ever 'rave about' would be my Hardy Specialist (9/10) and my Sage ZXL (11/10 )

Id give the Ultra 7/10 in a mark up.
Its okay, does the job well enough, and is well made and doesnt break on a goodish fish, but yes its certainly droops, 1.5" + on the 15' but having started with cane its something I can live with.
The script on the butt section was certainly a bit OTT but its been rubbed off so no problem!

A Rod Raver....what have you started now........mg:

mg:

Mick....you a rod raver, narrh....now a raving looney :wh

.

I'm with you on the specialist, I have the 14ft version and the 11ft avon and the quality of the rods is top shelf in every way...action is fantastic, finnish is luuuurvely and the fittings are of the finest quality. I picked mine up for the same price as the drennan rods so which to pick to buy was a no brainer

.
As fantastic a rod as the specialists are though Mick....the normark float rods blow 'em away with both barrells and I have to hold my hands up and addmitt to being a normark rod RAVER !....sorry Mick

mg:.LOL

Oh, I do know you dislike grafiti on the drennan rods Mick, but I find it usefull to be honest...line ratings etc. I had to look up the 14ft hardys specialist rods spec's online when I git it and since the rods have now been discontinued it might be a bit of a ball ache to get them. I wouldn't mind the 13ft specialist specimen float rod if I can find one, I don't know why as the 14ft is rated to 8lb the same.

paul1234 · Apr 7, 2014

Cheers for all your input chaps!the acolyte its a nice thought,though at the minute im kinda feeling the I.M 9 more out of the three,il have to see if i can get my hands on a couple and see which 1 i prefer

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Keith M · Apr 8, 2014

I have the 13ft Drennan Acolyte and the 15ft Hardy Marksman (the one before the Supero version came out), However; I also have an older 13ft Diawa Amorphous Whisker Super light float rod (AWM13L) which at 5.75oz is a whole ounce heavier than the 13ft Acolytes 4.75oz and I love that rod too.

The main difference is that the Acolyte has managed to land me Barbel up to just over 7lb (see pic) and I certainly wouldn't try doing that on my Amorpheous Whisker float rod.

I use my 15ft Hardy Marksman for trotting for Barbel, Chub and Roach and occasionally on stillwaters for small Carp and the build on that is quite simple and plain; but this doesn't detract it from being a good rod.

A 7lb 6oz Barbel that I recently caught trotting on the Acolyte for Chub (just before the season closed); I also caught a smaller Barbel of around 4lb.

NB. To be honest I would rather be using my Drennan Tench float rod for fish like this but the Acolyte did do the job and on a 4lb hooklength, so it can't be that bad a rod LOL.

Keith (BoldBear)

paul1234 · Apr 8, 2014

Keith M said:
I have the 13ft Drennan Acolyte and the 15ft Hardy Marksman (the one before the Supero version came out), However; I also have an older 13ft Drennan Amorpheous Whisker light float rod (AW13L) which at 5.7oz is a whole ounce heavier that the 13ft Acolytes 4.75oz and I love that rod too.

The main difference is that the Acolyte has managed to land me Barbel up to just over 7lb and I certainly wouldn't try doing that on my Amorpheous Whisker float rod (see pic).

I use my 15ft Hardy Marksman for trotting for Barbel, Chub and Roach and occasionally on stillwaters for small Carp and the build on that is quite simple and plain; but this doesn't detract it from being is a good rod.

A 7lb 6oz Barbel that I recently caught trotting on the Acolyte.
NB. To be honest I would rather be using my Drennan Tench float rod for fish like this but the Acolyte did do the job (I was after Chub at the time) LOL.

Keith (BoldBear)

So its got a bit of backbone then if needed,thats a cracking barbel!!fine example of the species

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tigger · Apr 8, 2014

Keith, I didn't know Drennan ever made a Amorphous whisker rod lol...do you mean Daiwa ?
I have the Daiwa Amorphous (24 strand) Tommy Pickering Tournament stick float supreme and that's a lovely rod, as you say not really a rod to choose when trotting for barbel, but no doubt you would land them ok if you bumped into one.

Keith M · Apr 8, 2014

tigger said:
Keith, I didn't know Drennan ever made a Amorphous whisker rod lol...do you mean Daiwa ?
I have the Daiwa Amorphous (24 strand) Tommy Pickering Tournament stick float supreme and that's a lovely rod, as you say not really a rod to choose when trotting for barbel, but no doubt you would land them ok if you bumped into one.

OOps! I meant Diawa, Ill change it straight away, sorry about that. LOL

andreagrispi · Apr 8, 2014

I used a diawa Tournament X Mark II recently - catching 19 chub, with almost all above 4lb, up to nearly 6lb. All were hooked just off some overhanging trees on opposite bank. It was strike and just hold fishing. 4lb maxima main line and 4.12lb hook length to size 18 drennan super spade. The rod was superb - 13 foot.

tigger · Apr 8, 2014

shaunfox said:
I used a diawa Tournament X Mark II recently - catching 19 chub, with almost all above 4lb, up to nearly 6lb. All were hooked just off some overhanging trees on opposite bank. It was strike and just hold fishing. 4lb maxima main line and 4.12lb hook length to size 18 drennan super spade. The rod was superb - 13 foot.

Is is a bit strange how people don't seem to think to mention Daiwa float rods much these days (well on the forums) as they've made some of the top end rods for years. A friend of mine bought a Daiwa tournamet 13/15ft float rod not to long back and it really is a stunner, just bit expensive though...I think it was 450 notes

.

Match pro 13ft ultra light,or im9 finesse?

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