Rods, power float or "normal" ?

[Phil Adams]

Hi all, My dad and I have been looking to get new float rods due to ours being very old and somewhat tired.

 

Looking around at the vast choice avaliable is driving me mad. Even when I find a rod at a suitable price with all the features I like..........they spring another choice on me! i.e the normal rod or a "power" version.

 

I'm looking for a general 13/14ft waggler rod to be used on the local lakes and ouse, mainly for decent bream, tench, chub etc.

 

The problem is, i dont know if I should go for a power, or normal version of a rod. Although I'm not looking at breaking any records fish wise, there is always a chance of a rampaging middle ouse chub or chunky lake tench to be had. Equally I dont want to be dragging in smaller fish or missing bites with a broomstick.

 

So what should I go for?

[Peter Waller]

Power rods are generally marketted for carp from commercial mud puddles. And, yes, I have one, I bought it for river bream. Probably not a bad choice. In an ideal world go for both! Good rods are just sooooo cheap today, unless you are a label freak!

[chavender]

i'd say look at the line rating of the rods (mainline) its not easy to put a standard formula as each manufacturer list there rods differently but as a rougth guide a standard match/float rod will have a line rating of 3-4lb and a power float/carp 4-5lb,just choose one to match the size of fish you'll be fishing for ,and like peter says you might be able to afford two rods one for small & silver fish (fish upto 5lb) and one for medium fish like small carp,bream ,big chub & small barbel (fish from 4lb to 8lb).

[Phil Adams]

Part of my confusion has been to do with line ratings, since there is often only a "lb" difference between the ranges.

 

I think I might just choose one that I like and have done with it lol, I doubt I would struggle to land a slightly larger fish on a normal rod anyway given a balanced setup. If I do then I'll revise my setup.

 

Off to Leslies tomorrow methinks!

 

Thanks to both of you.

[Peter Waller]

Look on it this way, Phil, you can more easily land a little fish on a big rod, but you might not land a big fish on a little rod. Have a look at both Ron Thompson and Okuma rods, impressive stuff at sensible prices.

[A Worm OOE]

Phil

My preferencxe would be for one rod but buy a quality rod with one of the "anti lock" "Parabolic" actions. With these you can get a proper float fishing rod that is a joy to use but also when pushed will keep bending rather than lock up as most older or cheeper rods will. This makes them much more versatile. Personaly I use the Maver Reactorlite (@£99) if you can find them. I have promissed myself that next time I need to replace a rod It will be one of the Preston Sentient rods, not cheep but the sort of rod you will be hapy to use in ten years time.

[Phil Adams]

Just to let you know I have just bought a Drennan Competition Float 13ft, reel lines from 2-5lb and I think its just what I was looking for and cost just under £75

 

There is a "carp" version, but this felt too stiff for my liking. I'm going to try it out asap and I'll let you know.

[Guest tigger]

Just to let you know I have just bought a Drennan Competition Float 13ft, reel lines from 2-5lb and I think its just what I was looking for and cost just under £75

 

There is a "carp" version, but this felt too stiff for my liking. I'm going to try it out asap and I'll let you know.

 

 

Hi Phil,

Is that the series 7 competition?

Tigger.

[Dick Dastardly]

quote name='Peter Waller' date='Mar 21 2006, 01:28 PM' post='604179']

Look on it this way, Phil, you can more easily land a little fish on a big rod, but you might not land a big fish on a little rod.

 

Now just to confuse matters I would look at it from a different veiw!

 

I would consider what strength hook lengths I would be mainly using rather than sie of fish expected.Working on the premise that I could get away with using a heavier hook length on a light rod but not a light one on a heavy rod.

 

Hollow tiped "Waggler" rods have a more suitable action for playing big fish on than spliced tip "Stick float" rods so for an all round float rod I would go for a Waggler type rod of around 13'

 

Other than fishing for carp on the commercials that they were designed for I have found "power" match rods very good for Mullet ,Chub,Tench and even small barbel.They are just too much for 1.1lb hook links and size 20 hooks.

 

I do agree with Peter though that some of the cheaper rods are well worth a look.

 

 

Just noticed youve all ready chosen one! Good choice Drennan make a nice rod.

[Phil Adams]

Hi Phil,

Is that the series 7 competition?

Tigger.

 

Yes mate it is, and I cant wait to use it lol, its the first Drennan rod Ive owned.

 

Thing is, I have a range of rods (dont we all) two of which are soft 12ft 1lb test avon types. So I figured a nice slim match rod for general use, and if need be to use the avons for larger fish as normal.