Drennan Specialist Tench and Bream rods

[Anderoo]

Budgie, is there a way for a novice (like me) to look at a rod in a shop and check the alignment is correct?

[Sportsman]

This is what the man who makes the blanks has to say about spine

 

http://www.harrisonrods.co.uk/rodtips.htm

 

You pays your money and takes your choice

[Anderoo]

This is what the man who makes the blanks has to say about spine

 

http://www.harrisonrods.co.uk/rodtips.htm

 

You pays your money and takes your choice

 

Thanks for that!

[Dick Dastardly]

Steves really missed out the main practical reasons for spline alignment IMO and just concentrated on the asthetic affect it can have! His explanation of why it occurs is correct though.Over the years Ive come across several blank manufacturers who are a bit confussed over the correct "use" of the spline.There is even debate over wether it should be "spline" or "spine"!

 

Anderoo its really simple to check spline alignment.If you want I will show you at the next SG meet.

 

I will conceede that correct spline alignment is of varying degrees of importance depending on the actual specific use/type of rod but regardless of degree affect it it does.Such a simple thing to get right so why dont they bother? Simple reason is that most rods are wrapped on a lathe by women in big factories.Ive been to several in this country and seen it in the days before most of this work went abroad.Just production line assembly.

 

Tigger I totally agree with your last post.

[Dick Dastardly]

Some blank manufacturers understand spline so well that they have tried to eliminate it.I know Brian at B&W thought it was important enough to start his initial experiments with Hexagraph and also a rolling method that meant the spline would be a "spiral".

 

Back in the late 80's I spent a lot of time discussing the subject with Centurey Composites top guy Simon (cant remember second name) as they were having a lot of problems with their top of the range beach rods. Trouble is that often the people who make the blanks arnt expert anglers but experts in tubular composites.Learning each others needs and "language" is very important.

 

I dont know if Steve from Harrisons fishs or not but he must be an ok guy as he offered to build up and send me some cat rods FOC a few years back!

[tincatinca]

From a personal point of view I would generally agree with the comments made by Budgie. To get the best out of a blank I think that ring spacing is critical and needs to follow the natural curve of the blank when it is under tension. This can vary considerably dependant on the type of blank and action. Additionally the type of ring needs to be chosen carefully ie single leg or double leg. Where the rod flexes most eg the tip section of a waggler rod then I would fit single leg rings where there is pronounced bend and spaced to ensure that I could follow the natural curvature as close as possible and only move to double leg where the effect of ring against rod would be minimal. I also think that Budgie is right in differentiating build quality in appearance from build quality in funcionality. There have been numerous excellent blanks produced from a number of companies over the years both in terms of off the shelf products and custom builds where the finish fas been excellent cosmetically but which could have been improved by a better selection of guide ring and ring spacing however there is also much to be said for the statement of whether it feels right. The one thing for sure is that there is currently a huge choice available at very reasonable prices.

[Anderoo]

Anderoo its really simple to check spline alignment.If you want I will show you at the next SG meet.

 

Yes please.

 

I bought the Drennans in the end. Long story and not interesting enough to re-tell here! They look luvverly. I just hope they're worth the money!

[Sportsman]

Budgie, is there a way for a novice (like me) to look at a rod in a shop and check the alignment is correct?

 

 

If your still interested

 

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/Content/rodbu...g_the_spine.htm

[Rob Ward]

Greys Prodigy Specimen would get my vote.

 

They're what I bought for Wingham, made for the job!

 

They've got a lot more backbone than the average Barbel rod and the 2lb top was punching Method feeders out to the eggbox without issue.

 

I picked up the pair for less than £180 shopping around online.

 

Haven't heard anything about the SG fish in, when is it?

Edited September 30, 2008 by Rob Ward

[Anderoo]

They're what I bought for Wingham, made for the job!

 

They've got a lot more backbone than the average Barbel rod and the 2lb top was punching Method feeders out to the eggbox without issue.

 

I picked up the pair for less than £180 shopping around online.

 

Haven't heard anything about the SG fish in, when is it?

 

Hi Rob, I haven't hear any more news about the SG meet, the last I heard it was probably going to be the 2nd weekend in October (I think Steve's still very busy).

 

The Drennan rods look lovely. The eyes are much bigger than on barbel rods, and they've got a fairly soft tip with lots of backbone (a semi-through action, according to Drennan). I got the 12ft 1 3/4lb tc ones, with the cork handles. At least they'll look nice on the rests while I'm blanking I'm looking forward to trying them out.

 

Those Greys look very nice.