A rod to match my shiny new centre-pin.

[wellyphant]

I recently asked the forum to recommend to me a centre-pin reel and after alot of sound advice i decided upon the Okuma Sheffield.I have recently received this reel and what i need now is a rod to go with it.So far(for the last 20 years) i have made do with my 'old' drennan tench float rod for every float fishing situation.The rod is good for what it's meant for(and maybe more)but after a recent Grayling session i felt a little bit overgunned when using this rod.What i need now is the same advice regarding a rod.I would like the rod to be mainly suitable for trotting on rivers and that is light enough for grayling,roach,dace and perch but that is strong enough to handle chub and barbel.I would also like to be able to use it for stillwater waggler fishing..Does such a rod exist??My budget is around £100.Recommendations please.

[lyn]

I tend to use my Drennan tench float rod, then if I do hook into a large trout, chub etc I know the rod is up to the job.

 

lyn

[Rusty]

I would like the rod to be mainly suitable for trotting on rivers and that is light enough for grayling,roach,dace and perch but that is strong enough to handle chub and barbel.I would also like to be able to use it for stillwater waggler fishing

As you suggest, that would have to be a very versatile rod to cater for those situations.

 

Earlier in the year I spent ages in a well stocked tackle shop with a centrepin trying to do the same thing but eventuallly had to concede that my ideal trotting rod wasn't going to cope with everything a river could produce. A Drennan DRX Mark II 14ft float rod ticked all the boxes for me. Lightweight, extra length, soft tip action (good for using braid) and rings not too close to the blank. Used with a Youngs Bob James CP it's very well balanced, the Okuma is heavier though. List was £129 but shop around and it should be available for nearer £100.

 

So far it's been brilliant on rivers and stillwaters. It's coped with a 6lb Carp and a 4lb Brownie well enough but I don't think I'd target Barbel with it though.

[Chris Plumb]

More than you want to spend - but exactly what you're looking for!

 

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/Tackle-And-Bai...-float-rod.html

 

 

C.

[Alan Roe]

To be honest Wellyphant within the budget you are allocating you are already using a perfectly good rod. If you hit some really good grayling over a couple of pounds you will be glad of the extra control and if you are planning on trotting for barbel then your rod is ideal. On the Ribble the silver fish are slowly making a bit of a comeback but the recovery is well down towards the tidal lengths and is not yet strong enough to be worth investing in specialist kit for them.

 

I dont tend to fish the coarse fishing lengths of the Lune which is closer to you so I can't comment on that river.

 

So my advice is stick with your present rod for now until you have used the combination over the course of a season and then in the light of that, consider what you want as an alternative, as your reasons will change, you may want something longer or even possibly shorter or something through actioned for example.

 

It will all depend on what you discover your real wants are after using the current combination for a while, simply rushing out now and buying on someone else's recommendation could be an expensive mistake as we all fish in different places, in different ways, and with different skill levels.

[Toady]

Just a word of caution - my Sheffield fits some of my rods but not all. Take the reel along when you go to purchase one just to be sure...

 

The Sheffield is a fine bit of kit mind!

[jameshodkin]

I'd second the DRX 14ft, superb rod. If you fancy something a bit cheaper the Nash dean macey specialist float rod is lovely for roach, dace etc

[Alan Stubbs]

I have a 13' TFG Power match rod which came in at £35. It's a good rod for small silvers but has also taken tench to 5lbs and mirror carp to 12lbs with plenty in reserve.

 

It's fair to say, though, that fishing rivers would be easier with a 14' /15' rod for better control when trotting. It seems insane, but having used a 14' rod, the extra 12 inches does make a difference.

[magicdog]

I have a 13' TFG Power match rod which came in at £35. It's a good rod for small silvers but has also taken tench to 5lbs and mirror carp to 12lbs with plenty in reserve.

 

It's fair to say, though, that fishing rivers would be easier with a 14' /15' rod for better control when trotting. It seems insane, but having used a 14' rod, the extra 12 inches does make a difference.

 

That is interesting - I got into long trotting a few years ago after getting an Adcock Stanton as a gift...

 

I have been using an old Shakespeare Black Mirage Match 12' which I bought new ages ago and it's been my only 'float' rod over the years.

 

I have been reading about using 14' or even 15' rods for long trotting - any recommendations apart from the Harrisons...

[Neuvy]

I have a 13' TFG Power match rod which came in at £35. It's a good rod for small silvers but has also taken tench to 5lbs and mirror carp to 12lbs with plenty in reserve.

 

It's fair to say, though, that fishing rivers would be easier with a 14' /15' rod for better control when trotting. It seems insane, but having used a 14' rod, the extra 12 inches does make a difference.

 

I'm a bit late replying but I have only joined the forum recently, recently I bought a TFG 'Carp Match 15' carbon 3 piece rod. I use it exclusively for float fishing here in France where they breed 'em big!. I had caught a 30lbs carp on an old borrowed fibre glass rod before I bought the TFG rod, realising that I stood a fair chance of hooking some really big fish whilst fishing for Roach, Bream and Rudd I decided to invest in something that wouldn't see me playing a fish for 30 mins again. Since then I have caught carp to nearly 20lbs with no problems but better than 'no problems' is the fun that this rod brings to playing a fish. It really bends over but always wants to pull back like old fashioned cane. At 15' it is great for easily dipping the rod tip when waggler fishing under the surface or for avoiding close in snags, casting is a breeze. Next on the shopping list is J.W. Youngs Bob James centrepin.