Compromise rod - Drennan Series 7 Specialist Avon Quiver

[Reyes]

I am after a rod to cover a variety of situations (I realise that there is no such rod and that I will have to compromise). I am an Irish angler and at the extreme end of my requirements I will need a rod that is capable of dealing with large tench and bream in confined weedy swims, swimfeeder and legering on large rivers and lakes (with both bobbins and quivertipping) and finally floatfishing (mainly ol fashioned close range lift-method style fishing). I feel the float fishing will be the biggest compromise and I may eventually get around to buying a float rod, but as most of my floatfishing will be close range I hope to get by with an Avon rod as I have in the past.

 

I was initially going to go for an all round rod like the John Wilson or Matt Hayes rod. I had a pair of the John Wilson barbel quiver rods before (great value but didn’t like the way the rod rings were so close to the blank), but am now leaning towards a pair of the Drennan Series 7 Specialist Avon Quiver rods, probably the 1.5 TC version (rated for 5 - 10lb bs lines).

 

Does anyone here have any views/advice re the above?

[robd]

I’ll endorse the Drennans, I have a pair of 1.25 tc S7 avon/quivers that I use for my ‘general’ Irish fishing for Bream and Tench. They have played/ landed big fish (by Irish standards) superbly at ranges of rod tip to 50yds in lightly weeded water. You may need the 1.5 tc that you mention if yours is thick weed/snags. In addition I have a pair of Drennan 1.75 Bream/Tench rods for more demanding swims or distance. I can’t comment or offer a comparison on the other makes you name but I am certainly well pleased with the Drennan quality, build and performance.

[Mark Wintle]

I have the slightly more expensive but similar Drennan Super Specialist 1.25. Handles double-figure carp no problems never mind decent chub, bream and tench. Stick to the 1.25 and you'll be fine.

[Tigger]

I have a pair of the series 7 1.25lb test avon quivers from drennan and they are ok but in all honesty prefer the older John Wilson 1.25lb avon quiver by a country mile. I'd try and find a decent pair of them first (they do come up on ebay quite often) jmo mind.

[Reyes]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I wonder if you can help again as something came up on another forum where a member said he personally doesn't like the action on Avon rods so uses a Fox Barbel rod. Can any of you tell me if Barbel specific rods have a stiffer action when compared to an Avon rod of the same test curve? I enjoy playing fish on a rod with a somewhat stiff to semi-progressive action. However, as Barbel rods usually come with Avon tops I thought they also had an Avon action. I suppose these rods (if the action is stiffer), might also handle larger swimfeeders/leads?

 

Just wondering as another possibility is a 1.5 TC barbel rod (I was looking at the Shimano Vengance Classic).

 

All the best.

[Reyes]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I wonder if you can help again as something came up on another forum where a member said he personally doesn't like the action on Avon rods so uses a Fox Barbel rod. Can any of you tell me if Barbel specific rods have a stiffer action when compared to an Avon rod of the same test curve? I enjoy playing fish on a rod with a somewhat stiff to semi-progressive action. However, as Barbel rods usually come with Avon tops I thought they also had an Avon action. I suppose these rods (if the action is stiffer), might also handle larger swimfeeders/leads?

 

Just wondering as another possibility is a 1.5 TC barbel rod (I was looking at the Shimano Vengance Classic).

 

All the best.

[Rob Ward]

Have a look at the Wychwood Rogue Barbel Rods for Tench fishing, they come in 1.5, 1.75 and 2lb test curves.

 

Not sure I'd use one for float work though.

[Robin A.]

I've heard alot of great things being said about the Wychwood Rouge Barbel-rods, both for tench and other similar species. I am actually thinking about ordering 2 for myself used for bream method-feeder fishing with bolt-rigs. Wich t.c would you recommend for the above tactics?

[Newt]

Just a quick note here about T/C & rod action which really are not closely related. I planned to make it quick but wasn't able to.

 

Test curve is a guide to the rods power. It is usually the weight in pounds and ounces that is required to pull the tip of a rod round to 90 degrees to the butt. The T/C you need should usually be based on the weight you will normally be casting rather than on the size fish you expect to catch. The easiest way for me is to convert the rod's T/C in pounds to the casting weight in ounces so that a 2.5 lb T/C rod will be well suited to casting weights of 2.5 ounces, a 1.25 lb T/C will handle just over an ounce, and so on.

 

However, T/C says nothing about a rod's stiffness or recovery rate or blank design and all of those will have some effect on how it casts but much more on how it behaves with a fish on.

 

Action is based on how the blank is designed - does it evenly bend from tip to handle or is most of the bend in the tip of the rod with progressive stiffness back toward the handle. The Americans rate their rods as

. slow - evenly from tip to handle and what would be termed a through action in the UK

. medium (or semi-fast) - evenly from tip to the middle

. fast - evenly in the last 1/3 of the rod

. extra fast - evenly in the last 1/4 of the rod

This classification sort of works for UK rods although there are many variations that will not be described using only those criteria. Generally, a slow/through action works well for playing fish as long as the water is clear of snags & weed but not so good if you will need to turn a fish away from danger zones. I stand to be corrected but from reading, I gather that almost all UK rods other than purpose made lure rods will be slow - medium action.

 

In my opinion, you can use the rod T/C to begin looking at suitable rods for your fishing based on what weight your rigs will generally have. Beyond that, you really need either some hands-on with the specific rods that interest you or else advice from others who are very familiar with a variety of rods.

. extra fast - only the last 1/4 bends easily

. fast -

[RUDD]

I have the slightly more expensive but similar Drennan Super Specialist 1.25. Handles double-figure carp no problems never mind decent chub, bream and tench. Stick to the 1.25 and you'll be fine.

I use one of the original (wish I had two) super specialists and have landed Carp up to 22lbs (three over 20lbs) using 8lb line with it.

I have used mine for float, bomb, method, feeder, lure and freelining work.

They have a great action and bend round to the butt - I also use a John Wilson barbel rod but have found it has a much stiffer action and is not as good for close range work.