Normark Rods

[Perce66]

I received the above mentioned 13-14' Avenger yesterday and can confirm that it is a fine rod, complete, unmarked and with the cellophane still on the handle. Almost certainly a Masterline rod as it has their standard red topped full length plastic tip protector tube.

 

Compared to my Titan 2000, (acquired last month), the blank is a little thicker at the butt end. a bit thinner at the tip and slightly heavier. I am never sure about extensions but at least the 1' one on this rod has no rings and is easily added or removed at will. It fits between the handle and the bottom section and does make the tip feel softer without adding too much weight. I particularly like the two rings on the bottom section which at 13' makes the rod ideal for Centrepin use.

 

The rod is in very good condition, very light and well balanced so I spent the afternoon comparing it with my Titan 2000 and a Grey's Prodigy TX 13' Specialist rod (2011) and a Grey's Prodigy 13-15' Float rod (2006). In a totally unscientific experiment I set each rod at 13' and added my John Wilson Heritage centrepin reel (the green one) to each rod in turn and tested the balance, weight and comfort of each setup. The rods were all within millimetres in length and the handles and reel fittings in almost identical positions.

 

The results were that the Titan balanced at 1,1/4" from the top of the handle and the Float rod at 2,1/2" from the handle. The Avenger at 1,1/2" and the Specialist at 2,1/2-3". The Normarks were noticeably lighter, more responsive and felt more comfortable than the Grey's, particularly for a long session. Both of the Grey's are excellent rods and I have been very happy with them to date but I think I know which rods I will take on my next outing.

 

All a bit crude and unscientific but a pleasant afternoon and now I have to decide whether to keep the Grey's (as backup?) or add them to my JW Barbel/Quiver rod on Fleabay. I really don't like extentions!

 

Incidentally, can anyone tell me what maximum line strengths are recommended for the Normarks?

 

Thanks

Alan

[lutra]

I received the above mentioned 13-14' Avenger yesterday and can confirm that it is a fine rod, complete, unmarked and with the cellophane still on the handle. Almost certainly a Masterline rod as it has their standard red topped full length plastic tip protector tube.

 

Compared to my Titan 2000, (acquired last month), the blank is a little thicker at the butt end. a bit thinner at the tip and slightly heavier. I am never sure about extensions but at least the 1' one on this rod has no rings and is easily added or removed at will. It fits between the handle and the bottom section and does make the tip feel softer without adding too much weight. I particularly like the two rings on the bottom section which at 13' makes the rod ideal for Centrepin use.

 

The rod is in very good condition, very light and well balanced so I spent the afternoon comparing it with my Titan 2000 and a Grey's Prodigy TX 13' Specialist rod (2011) and a Grey's Prodigy 13-15' Float rod (2006). In a totally unscientific experiment I set each rod at 13' and added my John Wilson Heritage centrepin reel (the green one) to each rod in turn and tested the balance, weight and comfort of each setup. The rods were all within millimetres in length and the handles and reel fittings in almost identical positions.

 

The results were that the Titan balanced at 1,1/4" from the top of the handle and the Float rod at 2,1/2" from the handle. The Avenger at 1,1/2" and the Specialist at 2,1/2-3". The Normarks were noticeably lighter, more responsive and felt more comfortable than the Grey's, particularly for a long session. Both of the Grey's are excellent rods and I have been very happy with them to date but I think I know which rods I will take on my next outing.

 

All a bit crude and unscientific but a pleasant afternoon and now I have to decide whether to keep the Grey's (as backup?) or add them to my JW Barbel/Quiver rod on Fleabay. I really don't like extentions!

 

Incidentally, can anyone tell me what maximum line strengths are recommended for the Normarks?

 

Thanks

Alan

I had a good look at the photo's of that 13-14' mark II when it was on ebay and it didn't look the same as my 13' mark II. It has different whippings and looked thicker to me, more like a 3000. I was left thinking there must be more than one version of the mark II. Anyone know for sure?

[Tigger]

I had a good look at the photo's of that 13-14' mark II when it was on ebay and it didn't look the same as my 13' mark II. It has different whippings and looked thicker to me, more like a 3000. I was left thinking there must be more than one version of the mark II. Anyone know for sure?

 

 

There is Brian, yours is the first MKII at 13ft, the one before the 13 to 14ft MKII which is what Perce66.

[Perce66]

Hi Tigger & Lutra

I've had another look at the Avenger II and have found that it is thicker and heavier than my Titan 2000. The Avenger measures 12.75mm just above the handle and 1.46mm just below the top ring whipping. The Titan is 12.47mm and 1.25mm at the same points. The Avenger weighs 2.08gm and the Titan 1.78gm. As a comparison, my modern Grey's Float rod weighs 182gm. and the Specialist Float rod come in at 229gm.

 

Interestingly, the Avenger is clearly marked "Avengerr II 13-14' NCA13XT " on the bottom section but also has the inscription Avenger 3" just above the handle and also just above the whipping on the ferrule end of the middle, tip and extention sections. The whippings are Black with the same speckled effect Gold tippets as the Titan. The blank is the same colour as the Titan and it has the usual Normark Lion emblem, athough this is in Gold and not Black on a gold coloured band as other Normarks I have seen. All of the other markings are in bright Gold with the exception of the word Nor*mark which is in White with a Red Lion in the * spot. The reel seat is also marked Normark in Gold.

 

Nowhere, does the word Masterline appear but there are signs of change such as , the red plastic tip holder, the bright Gold and the White Normark inscriptions. I wonder if this was a transition rod using the remaining Normark blanks and style leading to the 3000 series or did the 3" just mean three sections ?

 

Tigger: Hope this goes some way to further identifying the Mk II 13-14' rods; probably just muddies the water a bit more?

 

Incidentally, can you advise on maximum line strengths and casting weights fot the Titan 2000, the Avenger and in particular the Quiver tip NCQT 132-3 No. 1 which has such a fine tip that I too am worried about breakage?

 

Alan

[Tigger]

Hi Tigger & Lutra

I've had another look at the Avenger II and have found that it is thicker and heavier than my Titan 2000. The Avenger measures 12.75mm just above the handle and 1.46mm just below the top ring whipping. The Titan is 12.47mm and 1.25mm at the same points. The Avenger weighs 2.08gm and the Titan 1.78gm. As a comparison, my modern Grey's Float rod weighs 182gm. and the Specialist Float rod come in at 229gm.

 

Interestingly, the Avenger is clearly marked "Avengerr II 13-14' NCA13XT " on the bottom section but also has the inscription Avenger 3" just above the handle and also just above the whipping on the ferrule end of the middle, tip and extention sections. The whippings are Black with the same speckled effect Gold tippets as the Titan. The blank is the same colour as the Titan and it has the usual Normark Lion emblem, athough this is in Gold and not Black on a gold coloured band as other Normarks I have seen. All of the other markings are in bright Gold with the exception of the word Nor*mark which is in White with a Red Lion in the * spot. The reel seat is also marked Normark in Gold.

 

Nowhere, does the word Masterline appear but there are signs of change such as , the red plastic tip holder, the bright Gold and the White Normark inscriptions. I wonder if this was a transition rod using the remaining Normark blanks and style leading to the 3000 series or did the 3" just mean three sections ?

 

Tigger: Hope this goes some way to further identifying the Mk II 13-14' rods; probably just muddies the water a bit more?

 

Incidentally, can you advise on maximum line strengths and casting weights fot the Titan 2000, the Avenger and in particular the Quiver tip NCQT 132-3 No. 1 which has such a fine tip that I too am worried about breakage?

 

Alan

 

 

Alan, I remember seeing the line ratings for the normark range about 7yrs back but have clean forgotton them now. I would imagine the Avenger will be roughly 2lb to 6lb, the Titan 1lb to 5lb and the Microlite about 8 ounces to 3lb. I've used 6lb straight through on all three models without any prob's . I think your lower BS is the more important to try and stick to.

[Marcuswood]

Thanks for the replies which have confirmed most of my thoughts. Last weekend there were three options I was interested in which were a 13 foot Titan 2000 with 20mm of the tip missing, a 13 foot Titan 1000 and a 13/14ft Avenger 11. After much deliberation I decided to take a punt on the Titan 2000 which I eventually got for £125 which I think was reasonable as £200 plus seems the norm plus the fact that I cannot see the missing 3/4" making any difference. I wanted a rod for float fishing up to 4lb mainline and as I already have good rods for heavier work including 2 Harrisons based on the GTI blanks and a Diawa Amorphous Whisker H it swayed me towards the Titan as opposed to the Avenger. The main purpose for the rod will be for roving on my local river for Chub, Perch and Roach plus a bit of waggler fishing on the lakes in the warmer months and from previous comments made by several members on this and other forums I was attracted by the comments made re weight, action and kindness to the arm and wrist. Should receeive the rod later this week and hopefully be able to give it a whirl at the weekend although the river really does need some rain. I have noted the comments re knocking the the tip so I will have to be careful.

Hey folks

Think you guys should insure your tackle. It's pretty cheap when you get a quote. There's an tackle insurer on woodsfishing.net

[Anderoo]

Hey folks

Think you guys should insure your tackle. It's pretty cheap when you get a quote. There's an tackle insurer on woodsfishing.net

 

People do call me cynical, but would the 'woods' in your name and the URL be related?