I have been using my Hardy matchmaker 12 foot for the above fishing on small Kent rivers,after buying a new centerpin and closed faced reel i feel i need a more modern, lighter and softer tip with through action rod.Your advise would be much appreciated as i cannot find anything i believe to be suitable.Budget up to £135
Regards.

Guests - this sponsored link will vanish when you log-in. Click here to register for free.

Try this

Greys Trotting Rod

Andy

Thank you for that but i feel that 12 foot is my max due to the type of fishing,
Regards

I have Drennan DRX rods which I find superb. One of which is 12' and I seriously rate it as a float rod.

Interestingly, so I am told, the Greys rods, which are also superb, are Chinese blanks. Drennan, apparently, also now use Chinese blanks on some of their rods. The meaning of this is that some very fine budget rods are now available. The Ron Thompson range is well worth looking at, as is the Shakespeare range.

Your right, you need a new rod. So maybe you could send that old Hardy my way.

I recentley brought a Drennan Tench float rod which makes for a super stick road, I think its 12'6 though.
I use it mainly for the Ouse perch but it has plenty of back bone when the Barbel take me worms.

I would agree with peter the DRX rods are excelent I have 3 models from the range.

Also have a look at the Shakespeare Valor 12ft its about £50 and as good as rods costing over twice the price, very light, ideal for small river fishing.

shakespeare-fishing.co.uk/Produ...1.asp?line=1823

What isn't made in China these days???

Just out of interest medwaygreen where do you fish, I like to fish the small rivers of Kent, like the Len, upper Stour, Beult, and a few others I know.

<small>[ 01. January 2005, 08:55 PM: Message edited by: nick_gilbert ]</small>

Whenever this sort of question comes about I'm always interested to see the same rods suggested, even though some of their designs are nearly 10 years old!. The Tench Float for example. Good rods yes (I have one), but it's 2005. The Greys is also mentioned, but they seem a bit pricey to me.

It's worth checking out what's new this year (or perhaps last). Carbon Technology moves on, manufacturing prices get cheaper, and yes, everything is made in China. Including, so I've read somewhere, (some?) of Greys products?

£135 is a fair budget - check out what the top matchmen are using for their stick-float/light float work and I reckon they'll be the rods to look at.

My own personal favourite light-rod is a couple of years old now, but it is a Silstar Edge Match rod at 13 foot. I know it's not available now, but it is pencil thin, super-light, very expensive (in it's day - I got it new for £120 discounted). I can compare this with my Drennan Tench Float and can say that hands down the Silstar would be better suited for your kind of fishing. And if the Silstar was an expensive rod a few years ago, chances are modern equivalents are much cheaper.

I reckon you'd be worth looking at the higher-end range of rods from Shakespeare, Abu (they make good coarse fishing rods!!), Browning(?), Preston, etc.

Something like this from Shakespeare:

shakespeare-fishing.co.uk/Produ...1.asp?line=1832

I would consider the Drennan Tench float a bit meaty for general stick float fishing, I use mine with 6lb line for Barbel.

I use a much lighter rod for smaller fish, unfortunately it's almost certainly no longer available, a Century Composites Excalibur.

Guys,
Thank you all for the advise,i will be looking at your suggestions very soon,but must say that as a past user of shakespeare the valor and borak are of great interest,will let you know what i get.
I was also thinking of the Normark crusader 12' braid rod as it has a soft through action.
Note for Nick Rivers Beult and Stour.