chipbuttee
Well-known member
I'm looking for a new rod that would serve well for stick float fishing 13-14ft can anyone recommend such a rod?.
Cost is not an issue.
Cost is not an issue.
Stick Float Fishing
- Thread starter chipbuttee
- Start date
xenon
Well-known member
drennan acolyte plus.
chrisjpainter
Well-known member
What's the quarry? The acolyte range is great, except when it comes to big chub and barbel. Even the Acolyte Plus feels a bit undergunned then. If they're on the cards, I'd look at something with a little more punch. I've just got the 14ft Daiwa Theory power float, which is a great option.
If you're not looking for anything with that oomph, then the Acolyte Plus or the Ultra are probably the best around.
If you're not looking for anything with that oomph, then the Acolyte Plus or the Ultra are probably the best around.
The bad one
Well-known member
Harrison GTI 12 or 13 ft. I've had a 13 ft GTI for 30 years+ and it's still going strong. Or possibly 1 of the newly developed stepped up 12 or 13 ft for handling bigger fish while stick float fishing.
https://www.harrisonrods.co.uk/specialist-rods/ last paragraph on the page.
https://www.harrisonrods.co.uk/specialist-rods/ last paragraph on the page.
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
Well at the risk of pelters, the Acolyte range hasn't got what I consider the right action for stick float fishing, as they tend to both be an all throughish type of action, the plus is better, but not still not right imo, if cost is no issue await for the new Normarks and have a look at the Avenger, it won't be much less than 500 notes however as Normarks name and quality(if the new ones still have it) equate to them not being cheaper than Guru/Daiwa....
hi Alan,
how would you rate your cadence 13ft #2 for the job?
that’s what I use, but
1. I value familiarity with the capabilities of the rod over specific stick vs waggler
2. I’m generally fishing stick float at short range
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
I rate it highly, but certain people believe they a cheap rubbish, add to that people can't get to see one unless a mate has one, Des Barker(a guy Alex and I know well) swears by Acolytes and wouldn't want anything else and he is a good angler, so the advice he and I would give is polar opposite, thus it must come down to the op and his leanings, a pretty rod isn't a good rod and the lightness of Acolytes along with their finish sways many, if an angler doesn't know what his own preferences for stick float fishing are it's a hard question to answer....for me at least, imo there are lots of rods out there that I wouldn't even dream of using...
I confess that I’ve just agreed to buy two accy ultras (2nd hand) to see for myself why some are so enamoured. A great price and boredom are dangerous bedfellows
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
Being honest Alex, I'd be interested what you think, I think you will find them quite a bit different than your Cadence's, I several ways, one being the cast....
The newer Acolyte Specimen is capable of landing good barbel and chub. Fantastic rod (have recently bought one but yet to use it in anger). I have a friend who has had double figure barbel on his without any problems.
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
The late Keith Speares caught quite a few barbel from 15-17lbs on normal float rods, i think the new Acolyte is very specialised in its usage, I would imagine countless double figure barbel have been caught on the pluses Steve...
Mark Wintle
Well-known member
My concept of a stick float rod is something light, well-balanced and crisp. It should be designed work with main lines from 1.5lb up to a max. of 4lb, light floats, hook links down to 0.08, hooks down to a 24; once you start talking about barbel then you're trotting for barbel with heavier lines, and need a different rod.
My current favourite is my Tricast Allerton Premier Match in 13' with a changed reel fitting. I have an old Harrison spliced-tip blank MAP Dave Harrell rod that is good for the stick float.
One thing, having watched many of the stick-float greats is that over the years it's more the angler holding the rod than the rod itself.
I don't think the Acolytes have the right action for stick float fishing, and they wouldn't last long in my brutal hands!
My current favourite is my Tricast Allerton Premier Match in 13' with a changed reel fitting. I have an old Harrison spliced-tip blank MAP Dave Harrell rod that is good for the stick float.
One thing, having watched many of the stick-float greats is that over the years it's more the angler holding the rod than the rod itself.
I don't think the Acolytes have the right action for stick float fishing, and they wouldn't last long in my brutal hands!
jemesneesham
New member
If cost isn’t an issue, I’d recommend looking at the Daiwa Tournament Pro 13-14ft or the Drennan Acolyte Pro. Both are top-tier rods for stick float fishing, offering excellent balance, sensitivity, and control. The Drennan Acolyte Pro, in particular, is lightweight yet powerful, making it a favorite among serious float anglers. Shimano’s Aero X5 also gets great reviews for its performance. What kind of waters are you fishing rivers, lakes, or a mix?
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
Hi James, welcome, I take it you mean Acolyte Plus not pro, I googled it thinking they had a new rod out, as for the plus being a favourite for 'serious' float anglers, again that is a matter of opinion, I wouldn't want one, they might be OK for Avon or bolo work, as a stick float rod they would never be the rod of choice for me, a more old fashioned action would be better, the Daiwa Tournament Pro is like that, some anglers think a 3grm float is a stick float, not in real terms it's not, with 3-7 no.4 being the normal, but up to 3-4bb tops...
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Hi @chipbuttee … I notice from a search that you already own a cadence 15ft (#2 iirc). Is that not suitable, or do you want something with a faster action?
John Aston
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Stick float fishing was developed and enjoyed its heyday at a time of heavy , floppy and slow actioned fibreglass rods. I wonder if our agonising over whether an Acolyte, Cadence or Harrison is the best rod to use for stick float in 2025 is the secular equivalent of counting angels on a pin ?
@Clive
Well-known member
Its just anglers wanting the best that is currently available. Back in the pre carbon era there were 'float' rods and 'match' rods, the latter having much more tip action. Even back in the days of cane 'roach' rods tended to be whole cane butt & middle sections with a spliced built cane top section whereas general 'bottom fishing' rods tended to have whole cane butts and built cane upper sections giving them a more through action.
The 1970's Hardy Matchmaker hollow fibreglass rod that I have has a totally different action to the Avon rods made from the same materials. I would choose the Matchmaker when trotting for roach and dace and the Avon if fishing heavier floats and baits for chub.
The 1970's Hardy Matchmaker hollow fibreglass rod that I have has a totally different action to the Avon rods made from the same materials. I would choose the Matchmaker when trotting for roach and dace and the Avon if fishing heavier floats and baits for chub.
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
Indeed, the matchmaker was a top rod in its day, things have become more achievable as materials and technology moved on, even earlier carbon rods weren't the best action for stick float fishing, but you can put rings on a bamboo bean cane and fish any float you like, but it doesn't mean its any good, it means the angler can't be arsed, or doesnt know what he/she might need, I found out through trial and error about my preferred actions, occasional advice may have helped, or even hindered the process...
The Shimano triple X, with the spliced tip was a lovely stick float rod, as was the Normark Norboron, ones which were long before their time, I'm sure there are many others I haven't had the pleasure of owning, by lots of manufacturers...
The Shimano triple X, with the spliced tip was a lovely stick float rod, as was the Normark Norboron, ones which were long before their time, I'm sure there are many others I haven't had the pleasure of owning, by lots of manufacturers...
Mark Wintle
Well-known member
Quite a few fibreglass rods were tippy enough for fishing a stick float. Ivan Marks used the Lees Golden Jubilee rod from about 1964 onwards and the 13' was a four-piece rod, and this was the rod that Ivan had coiped for the Persuader range in 1972. The Shakespeare International from about 1975 had a spliced tip. The ABU Mk 6 wasn't bad either (still got both of mine; must have strong arms back in the day as it weighs nearly 15oz!).
When carbon match rods arrived en masse in the late 70s it was quickly apparent that the tips were too fierce for the 1.1 Bayer hook links in common use and it wasn't long before some anglers/manufacturers were splicing in solid carbon tips.
Im my opinion some of the 90s rods have a far better stick rod action than later ones such as the Acolyte even if it weighs about the same a budgie feather, and it'll be interesting to see what the action of thhe new Normarks are like (due soon, and likely to be EXPENSIVE!).
When carbon match rods arrived en masse in the late 70s it was quickly apparent that the tips were too fierce for the 1.1 Bayer hook links in common use and it wasn't long before some anglers/manufacturers were splicing in solid carbon tips.
Im my opinion some of the 90s rods have a far better stick rod action than later ones such as the Acolyte even if it weighs about the same a budgie feather, and it'll be interesting to see what the action of thhe new Normarks are like (due soon, and likely to be EXPENSIVE!).
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