Float rod for perch?

[Gary Coggon]

Grateful for recommendations of nice-feeling, easy-casting, cork-handled float rod for perch in constricted swims, please. Laying-on, waggler or roaming loafer with large lob + dendro + one or two SSG shot at up to 20m. Ideally, 11’ but longer if it’s a stellar rod.

JW 1.25 lb TC Avon not cutting the mustard - bit stiff and too much back-cast/wind-up required…

Many thanks.

[Gary Coggon]

6 lb mono to give a slight margin if a pike or something else meaty takes a shine to my worms…

[gary j stockton]

Hi Gary the rod i use for floatfishing for perch is the drennan series 7 puddlechucker 11ft carp waggler rod handles 6lb line and is beutifully balanced, i was lucky in that the tackle shop had the complete range of puddlechucker rods, and as soon as i picked it up and felt the fighting curve was hooked.

[Stewlaws]

Hi Gary the rod i use for floatfishing for perch is the drennan series 7 puddlechucker 11ft carp waggler rod handles 6lb line and is beutifully balanced, i was lucky in that the tackle shop had the complete range of puddlechucker rods, and as soon as i picked it up and felt the fighting curve was hooked.

My next purchase will be a Drennan Acolyte 11ft carp waggler.. never felt a rod like it for sensitivity/lightness and feel of backbone, perfect for tench or Perch, the former for me.

[gary j stockton]

Hi Gary the rod i use for floatfishing for perch is the drennan series 7 puddlechucker 11ft carp waggler rod handles 6lb line and is beutifully balanced, i was lucky in that the tackle shop had the complete range of puddlechucker rods, and as soon as i picked it up and felt the fighting curve was hooked.

My next purchase will be a Drennan Acolyte 11ft carp waggler.. never felt a rod like it for sensitivity/lightness and feel of backbone, perfect for tench or Perch, the former for me.

Hi, yes seen those completely agree, am tempted myself.

[Stewlaws]

Hi Gary the rod i use for floatfishing for perch is the drennan series 7 puddlechucker 11ft carp waggler rod handles 6lb line and is beutifully balanced, i was lucky in that the tackle shop had the complete range of puddlechucker rods, and as soon as i picked it up and felt the fighting curve was hooked.

My next purchase will be a Drennan Acolyte 11ft carp waggler.. never felt a rod like it for sensitivity/lightness and feel of backbone, perfect for tench or Perch, the former for me.

Hi, yes seen those completely agree, am tempted myself.

Followed quite a few reviews on these rods.. some of the range are prone to tip breakages on the 'float range' but the 11ft waggler rods are all held in high esteem, certainly my next purchase.

[Gary Coggon]

Many thanks, gents - those two Drennans sound pretty close to the sweet spot for the spec I’ve got in mind. Just one question, really… Gary, I noticed in Drennan’s bumph that your Puddlechucker is designed to handle up to a 20 g loaded waggler, so might it struggle to easily flick/cast my (normally) two SSG? I suppose I’m saying I’d rather be at the lighter end of the range, so would a conventional float rod suit better?

Thanks again.

[Gary Coggon]

And… any experience with the 10’ and 11’ Greys Prodigy TX Specialist Float Rods or Darent Valley 12ft Specialist Float Rod vs my needs?

Thanks again.

[keeponchucking]

Hi Gary the rod i use for floatfishing for perch is the drennan series 7 puddlechucker 11ft carp waggler rod handles 6lb line and is beutifully balanced, i was lucky in that the tackle shop had the complete range of puddlechucker rods, and as soon as i picked it up and felt the fighting curve was hooked.

My next purchase will be a Drennan Acolyte 11ft carp waggler.. never felt a rod like it for sensitivity/lightness and feel of backbone, perfect for tench or Perch, the former for me.

Hi, yes seen those completely agree, am tempted myself.

Followed quite a few reviews on these rods.. some of the range are prone to tip breakages on the 'float range' but the 11ft waggler rods are all held in high esteem, certainly my next purchase.

Can confirm Steve. That was an Acolyte Plus Float Rod before even getting to use it.

Screenshot_20231003_142816.jpg

[Gary Coggon]

Thanks for photo - probs enough to steer me away.

…and the Grey’s is out of stock everywhere, and fetching a lot on ebay, so the field’s narrowing to Gary’s Drennan series 7 puddlechucker 11ft carp waggler and the Darent Valley Specialist Float... …unless there’s another recommendation out there (please!)

[gary j stockton]

Many thanks, gents - those two Drennans sound pretty close to the sweet spot for the spec I’ve got in mind. Just one question, really… Gary, I noticed in Drennan’s bumph that your Puddlechucker is designed to handle up to a 20 g loaded waggler, so might it struggle to easily flick/cast my (normally) two SSG? I suppose I’m saying I’d rather be at the lighter end of the range, so would a conventional float rod suit better?

Thanks again.

Hi Gary just had a look at my puddlechucker and underneath it says ideal for all wagglers and pellet wagglers to 5g, i also use the rod floatfishing for roach using normal sized wagglers no problem hope this helps Gary.

[JoeNickel]

Hi Gary the rod i use for floatfishing for perch is the drennan series 7 puddlechucker 11ft carp waggler rod handles 6lb line and is beutifully balanced, i was lucky in that the tackle shop had the complete range of puddlechucker rods, and as soon as i picked it up and felt the fighting curve was hooked.

My next purchase will be a Drennan Acolyte 11ft carp waggler.. never felt a rod like it for sensitivity/lightness and feel of backbone, perfect for tench or Perch, the former for me.

Hi, yes seen those completely agree, am tempted myself.

Followed quite a few reviews on these rods.. some of the range are prone to tip breakages on the 'float range' but the 11ft waggler rods are all held in high esteem, certainly my next purchase.

Can confirm Steve. That was an Acolyte Plus Float Rod before even getting to use it.
Screenshot_20231003_142816.jpg

Bloody hell. The Acolytes cost a fortune for an off-the-shelf rod, don't they?

[Gary Coggon]

Thanks, Gary S - it does help. Probs going to clinch it for the Puddlechucker

[muncherpike]

I use a Harrison Explorer, 11'6", short handle section with longer middle and tip section so packs down shorter than a 2 piece 10' rod, will handle lines up to around 6/7lbs and cast any float you want.

[suffolk si]

I have one of those puddle chuckers, good rods The acolytes are great but I am often ordering new sections for customers so I would suggest they are a bit fragile...

[stubbojo]

might get the name wrong here ,think its a drennon spinflex 10ft cork handle think it a 2lb test , lovely rod to float fish with for perch , pellet, pike
it does it all .....
if i have got it wrong ...dave will be along shortly to correct me ........
think they come in 9ft and 10ft

steve

[stubbojo]

I have one of those puddle chuckers, good rods The acolytes are great but I am often ordering new sections for customers so I would suggest they are a bit fragile...

i also have a puddle chucker pellit waggler 10 ft its a cracking all rounder si ...good perching rod

steve

[keeponchucking]

Hi Gary the rod i use for floatfishing for perch is the drennan series 7 puddlechucker 11ft carp waggler rod handles 6lb line and is beutifully balanced, i was lucky in that the tackle shop had the complete range of puddlechucker rods, and as soon as i picked it up and felt the fighting curve was hooked.

My next purchase will be a Drennan Acolyte 11ft carp waggler.. never felt a rod like it for sensitivity/lightness and feel of backbone, perfect for tench or Perch, the former for me.

Hi, yes seen those completely agree, am tempted myself.

Followed quite a few reviews on these rods.. some of the range are prone to tip breakages on the 'float range' but the 11ft waggler rods are all held in high esteem, certainly my next purchase.

Can confirm Steve. That was an Acolyte Plus Float Rod before even getting to use it.
Screenshot_20231003_142816.jpg

Bloody hell. The Acolytes cost a fortune for an off-the-shelf rod, don't they?

Yep, €280 it cost me. Shop I bought it for sent me out a replacement.

[Gary Coggon]

Gary S, Steve, Si - just so I’ve got it clear before I buy…. to get my 2SSG, float, lob, etc. out up to c20 m, is it the 11’ Drennan Series 7 Puddle Chucker Carp Waggler rod or the Pellet Waggler rod I’m after?

Steve, 10’ sounds nice but would I be right to suspect won’t readily cast as far as I need?

Realise may be sounding a bit needy/dim - just never needed or fancied float-fishing before…

Thanks again, gents

[Gary Coggon]

Sorry, Gary - you clearly specified Carp Waggler early on…

[Richard.]

Acolyte ultra 11ft would be ideal. I’ve got several acolytes and this is exactly what I would chose based on your want list.
You don’t need a specialist float rod or stepped up float rod to comfortably land the biggest of perch.
4lb line straight through a medium-fast action match rod would be a perfect balanced set up.
I’ve had plenty of big chub perch and grayling on mine and it’s fantastic sport.

[Gary Coggon]

Thanks, Richard. My need is to flick a good way with limited back-cast, rather than perch control. That said, I haven’t pressed the button on the new rod yet, so I’m still interested in your choice of rod. What exactly would you buy?

[seanyboy]

I've got a few of the acolyte rods and I love them,but this spring I purchased one of the drennan specialist extension float rods for my chub and rudd fishing,cheaper than the acolytes but still very good, I.like the way it can be transported easily as it is a 13ft rod but the bottom half of the blank can be "telescoped" into the butt section effectively making it a 2 piece rod

[Dave R]

I found a Drennan Series 7 13ft Tench & Specimen Float ideal for big perch. Might sound overkill but it’s rated for 2.5 to 6lb hooklengths and comes in handy when you hook the inevitable carp. Maybe it’s too long for you but I found it easy to underarm swing out a light float leger rig.

[LB]

Harrison Chimera 11ft, 1lb 4oz, stunning rods for perch fishing.

[Roger5]

Distinction Moy Salmon Spin fs 10' 20-60g first time using it, two perch over 4lb, best 4lb 12oz and 4 over 3lb plus a 20lb pike
Only thing I don't particularly like, it has single leg rings. Rog

[Steve Moore]

Harrison Chimera 11ft, 1lb 4oz, stunning rods for perch fishing.

I picked up one with a reel, For £35

[Fentiger01]

Korum 'Allrounder' in 11ft - 1.25lbTC. I have two of them, they are absolutely fantastic rods with plenty of backbone for bigger chunks but also soft enough to absorb a decent fish lunging at the net. They also do a 12ft version with a 1.5lbTC.

https://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/korum-a ... k_products

At about £55, they are the absolute mutts nutts.

[OldTaff]

Went into the Tackle Box yesterday and had a play with the 12oz 11’ Specialist because I was looking for a roving float rod - found the handle too short from reel to butt. Action not what I expected being poker stiff butt to half way then all bend.

I have a 1lb TC Greys specialist which is a gorgeous perch rod with a progressive action - had a stack of perch in the 1lb to 3lb Range this summer off my local river just fishing simple loafer/worm combo.

Grabbed a super cheap Korum Phase 1 10’ for roving instead as that felt brilliant, tip to handle action, slim blank, light - should do me a treat.

[Jack H]

Second the Korum all rounder. Brilliant rod for the money. I’ve got the 11 ft and with 3 different quiver tips it’s really versatile. I’ve used it for all sorts of different species and have been really pleased with it. The other rod which is great for the money is the Korum power glide float. I’ve used it for everything from small chub to bigger carp. Works perfectly with a centerpin for trotting too. Korum are excellent when it comes to value for money.

Jack