sam vimes
Well-known member
Notwithstanding flaws, or damaged in shop transit, which should manifest early in a rod's life, I too expect a rod to be able to perform beyond it's stated capabilities. My Ultras have all done exactly that, as have the Pluses. I still believe that a fair too few Ultras have been bought by folks with expectations well beyond their remit. When a rod has on it that it's for 2.5 to 4lb (+, mustn't forget that rather ambiguous +) mainlines, 1 to 3.5lb hooklinks, and the average modern float rod is rated to 6, or even 8lb mainlines, you know that this is much lighter than the norm. I winced when I saw an early Drennan video suggesting that they could be used on commies, and I wince when I hear the way some use them. I've always winced, and stated so on here, when I hear of the way so many folks transport fully made up float rods (old style match float rods), of almost any brand, in ready bags with rods bands etc. In this respect, the Acolyte Ultras are no different to plenty of other unusually light actioned float rods, including the much vaunted Normarks, especially the lighter Microlights. Few seemed to bat an eyelid when these broke with monotonous regularity. The only difference I see (again, disregarding obviously flawed or transit damaged rods) is that few anglers thought to be able to take a rapier to a broadsword fight and expect to get away with it. I feel that there are more than a few anglers that expect to be able to treat a float rod as if it were an Avon or heavy Pellet Waggler rod. I don't treat my float rods with the kid gloves I, and most others, did thirty years ago. However, I do seem to treat them a lot better than many seem to.
All in all, having six of the damned things, I would have expected at least one to break by now if things were quite as bad as some make out. I'd have expected Tigger's to have broken many times over. Unsurprisingly, I'm less than convinced that all the breaks are purely down to flaws and bad luck, some, but not all.
On a more positive note, if anyone has a quite useless 11' Acolyte Carp Waggler rod lying around that they want rid of. I may be able to do you a favour and take it off your hands. Naturally, I'm not going to pay top dollar for such a POS!:wh
All in all, having six of the damned things, I would have expected at least one to break by now if things were quite as bad as some make out. I'd have expected Tigger's to have broken many times over. Unsurprisingly, I'm less than convinced that all the breaks are purely down to flaws and bad luck, some, but not all.
On a more positive note, if anyone has a quite useless 11' Acolyte Carp Waggler rod lying around that they want rid of. I may be able to do you a favour and take it off your hands. Naturally, I'm not going to pay top dollar for such a POS!:wh