Hardy Marksman Rods

[BRPS]

BRPS this item on ebay is the earlier Team Normark 140285486425 . I had three Microlites but have just sold one at 12ft. This has the two ft extension 13 to 15ft. The later models only have a 1ft extension. I've got the Titan in the 13 to 15ft Team version.

 

Hi Tigger , thanks for the info. I too am the proud owner of a Normark Titan 3000 13'/15' float rod . A superb bit of kit but it doesn't quite have the backbone of the Titan MK11 13'/14' float rod. Since much of my fishing is on the rivers Test and Itchen for grayling ( and roach if I am lucky ) I'm not unaccustomed to hooking into the odd " spotty herbert " or "silver tourist " . Therefore I need a rod which is just a smidgeon beefier than a standard match float rod. The Titan MK11 was ideal. I guess that I'll just have to have a solid tip spliced into the top joint and pray that the rods action isn't impaired too much....

[Guest tigger]

Hi Tigger , thanks for the info. I too am the proud owner of a Normark Titan 3000 13'/15' float rod . A superb bit of kit but it doesn't quite have the backbone of the Titan MK11 13'/14' float rod. Since much of my fishing is on the rivers Test and Itchen for grayling ( and roach if I am lucky ) I'm not unaccustomed to hooking into the odd " spotty herbert " or "silver tourist " . Therefore I need a rod which is just a smidgeon beefier than a standard match float rod. The Titan MK11 was ideal. I guess that I'll just have to have a solid tip spliced into the top joint and pray that the rods action isn't impaired too much....

 

 

 

Hopefully it won't detract to much from the action of your rod when it's repaired. If it's only a small peice then it should be ok. Have you looked at the Avenger, there pretty powerfull rated to 8lb mainline. I use one for most of my river fishing.

[BRPS]

Hopefully it won't detract to much from the action of your rod when it's repaired. If it's only a small peice then it should be ok. Have you looked at the Avenger, there pretty powerfull rated to 8lb mainline. I use one for most of my river fishing.

 

I've never actually considered the Avenger believing it to be just a tad too beefy . For heavy float work I've got Leslie's 14' Insight and a Normark 12' Richie McDonald River Specialist ( bloody marvelous rod with 2 tips ) .

[Guest tigger]

I've never actually considered the Avenger believing it to be just a tad too beefy . For heavy float work I've got Leslie's 14' Insight and a Normark 12' Richie McDonald River Specialist ( bloody marvelous rod with 2 tips ) .

 

 

Belive me it's not to beefy it's the best of the bunch imo, as I say I use it for most of my trotting catching fish from tiddly dace to decent Chub etc. I've used it for Tench and landed them over 8lb this year, I think it's just the perfect all round rod. Another range of rods I love are the Drennan im8's. I have the drennan im8 specimine rod and it's very light and thin but will land most uk fish. I havn't seen the rods you mention but if you like them that's all you want.

[mick57]

as their media hype would lead us to believe ?. I've always been a fan of Normark rods which sadly seem to be extinct . Looking for something in the same bracket and the Marksman range seem to be up there with the best. Has anyone got one and if so are they worth the cash?.

 

 

I had 5yrs of poleituis ? great but regained an interest in using rods,when the hardy marksmen range where first advertised i thought no way at > £300.I have several Antares and carbon active float and feeder and felt neither could be bettered.

 

But when they first arrived in my local shop and i started to have a play i had to reconsider !.The model that interested myself was the 11f feeder and just having a play in the shop it appeared to combine the best of both from the above mentioned.

 

I must have gone back to the shop >6 times before deciding to buy,and having fished with it i can only say BOTHER !.because now i would not want to use anything else and am seriously considering the 11f 10in float rod.

 

At twice the price > of my other rods is it twice as good ? no but it is better.Is it worth >£300 only the individual can decide but all i can say is i now WANT the float rod as well.

[watatoad]

I have the 13 foot specialist Hardys Float Rod. It is a dream of a rod. And the customer service has been brilliant too. Can't speak highly enough about Hardys.

 

When I enquired about a centrepin reel and had a query about which size was best, they said someone would ring me back. A bit of a surprise but a pleasant one when I answered the phone and it was renowned angler Dave Coster, a Hardys consultant, who proved extremely helpful.

 

The float rods are feather light and have a great anti lock action.

 

They are strong too, though when I managed through my own stupidity, to break the tip, they were incredibly helpful in replacing it; quickly too.

 

Not cheap, but in my opinion, Hardys products are worth every penny.

 

I feel like the man taking the pigeons to the cat...hehehe

 

I agree with tiddlertamer

 

I've had Normarks and have a fair few Hardy rods, I got rid of the Normarks because for my style of fishing they were nowhere near the standard of the Hardy nor for that matter the Drennan rods. I have had a few Normark lock up in their action something which I have never experienced with either a Hardy not a Drennan.

 

I am willing to conceive that I might have been unlucky with the Normark but I doubt it...in my personal opinion the Hardy rods are worth every penny. With one small exception for trotting a very light float the 14' Drennan Ultralight match pro waggler beats the Hardy for lightness in the 14' size and I think it has the edge over the Hardy for short to medium trotting but for long trotting the Hardy seems to have a slightly quicker pick up.

 

I have not needed their after sales service but whatever it may or may not be like as Normark are long gone it must be better than the current service not offered by the now defunct Normark

[Tigger]

I feel like the man taking the pigeons to the cat...hehehe

 

I agree with tiddlertamer

 

I've had Normarks and have a fair few Hardy rods, I got rid of the Normarks because for my style of fishing they were nowhere near the standard of the Hardy nor for that matter the Drennan rods. I have had a few Normark lock up in their action something which I have never experienced with either a Hardy not a Drennan.

 

I am willing to conceive that I might have been unlucky with the Normark but I doubt it...in my personal opinion the Hardy rods are worth every penny. With one small exception for trotting a very light float the 14' Drennan Ultralight match pro waggler beats the Hardy for lightness in the 14' size and I think it has the edge over the Hardy for short to medium trotting but for long trotting the Hardy seems to have a slightly quicker pick up.

 

 

Rod, your the only person i've ever heard say they've had a normark lock up on them.

I have quite a few drennnan rods and yes they are fantastic rods but not in the same league as the normark range of match/float rods. Out of the drennan ultra light rods I'd prefer the im8 and im9 rods.

I have looked at the Marksman rods and in truth I'm not impressed with them at all....just a mid range rod imo. I do think hardys live off their name and are drastically over rated.

Edited November 27, 2010 by Tigger

[watatoad]

Rod, your the only person i've ever heard say they've had a normark lock up on them.

I have quite a few drennnan rods and yes they are fantastic rods but not in the same league as the normark range of match/float rods. Out of the drennan ultra light rods I'd prefer the im8 and im9 rods.

I have looked at the Marksman rods and in truth I'm not impressed with them at all....just a mid range rod imo. I do think hardys live off their name and are drastically over rated.

 

I agree that Hardy live on their name...It was and is the quality of their rods which gave them their name, they are still in business, Normark are not, Bruce and Walker are still in business, because of the quality of their rods, Normark are not. If Normark were so great what went wrong?

 

One thing I will ask because I do not know, how many national and international matches have been won on Normark rods?

 

Why have Normark rods never been very popular, except among a few devotees?

[Tigger]

I agree that Hardy live on their name...It was and is the quality of their rods which gave them their name, they are still in business, Normark are not, Bruce and Walker are still in business, because of the quality of their rods, Normark are not. If Normark were so great what went wrong?

 

One thing I will ask because I do not know, how many national and international matches have been won on Normark rods?

 

Why have Normark rods never been very popular, except among a few devotees?

 

 

I can't really answer that, but I do know their range of match rods is the elite in match rods, not through other people telling me so but from my own experience with them. I have had and do have quite a lot of different rods and they (the normarks) are the top of the tree amongst them in build quality and in performance.

 

Another top range match rod "the Carbotec" which where very similar to the Normarks have also ceased production. Maybe it was to costly to manufacture their top quality rods to compete with the prices of hardys who make their Marksman rods in China !

 

You only need to look at the Drennan range of rods to see they've had to lower their standard of finnish, guides, blanks etc, to bring their prices down to compete in the price war. I belive even they manufacture their rods in China these days ! You pick up one of their older rods and compare it to their latest, I know which one I would spend my money on.

Edited November 27, 2010 by Tigger

[tiddlertamer]

I feel like the man taking the pigeons to the cat...hehehe

 

I agree with tiddlertamer

 

I've had Normarks and have a fair few Hardy rods, I got rid of the Normarks because for my style of fishing they were nowhere near the standard of the Hardy nor for that matter the Drennan rods. I have had a few Normark lock up in their action something which I have never experienced with either a Hardy not a Drennan.

 

I am willing to conceive that I might have been unlucky with the Normark but I doubt it...in my personal opinion the Hardy rods are worth every penny. With one small exception for trotting a very light float the 14' Drennan Ultralight match pro waggler beats the Hardy for lightness in the 14' size and I think it has the edge over the Hardy for short to medium trotting but for long trotting the Hardy seems to have a slightly quicker pick up.

 

I have not needed their after sales service but whatever it may or may not be like as Normark are long gone it must be better than the current service not offered by the now defunct Normark

 

A point well made Watatoad.

 

And we agree for once!

 

If I'm ever in the Sudbury area, let's go explore the Suffolk Stour. With your experience of the river, I certainly won't blank!

 

Hardy rods a go go...

Edited November 27, 2010 by tiddlertamer