** Realistic Reviews by Real Anglers **
I bought this rod last summer specifically to use on the Ribble for both barbel and chub . It was the first dedicated feeder rod I’d bought, most of my barbel and chub fishing having being undertaken with the usual ‘Avon’ type rods. The Ribble however demanded a change from my standard tactics of baiting a number of close range swims and then touch-legering each in turn, feeders fished well across the river were to be the main tactic.
Having identified that I needed a feeder rod for throwing heavy feeders for the barbel in summer and also to help hit winter chub bites better by picking up line quickly, I was not impressed by most that I looked at. Many resembled broomsticks with a fine top stuck on the end, very few combined the ability to cast a heavy feeder with a proper playing action for use with the lines needed for barbel. In the end having looked at a number of rods and swayed by the praise for the rod by Peter Stone in ‘Coarse Fisherman’ I went for the Drennan Big Feeder.
The rod is rated for 3lb to 6lb line, but I have found it performs very well with 8lb and I would have no worries going up to 10lb. It has performed well with 4lb, but caution is necessary below this. It is supplied with a 4oz carbon tip and a 2oz glass tip, but I would suggest you immediately add a 3oz tip to these.
Overall it is a super rod for anyone needing a feeder rod for big fish, it has performed really well for me and I have had many good barbel and chub on it. It handles heavy feeders well and yet feels good when playing fish. My only dislike is the ringing. For me there are too many and they are too small, which does reduce casting distance with heavy lines.
