drennan acolyte waggler rod breakages and 4000fd problems

[TF_inky finger]

Hi all, I am a massive fan of drennan rods however my love is being tested at the moment. I have brought two acolyte 14 ft ultra waggler rods and have had three breakages. The first the tip went when i first put a bend in it while setting up. The second tip went mid cast after using that rod twice using a 5gms (3ssg ish) slider at 25 yards. The third was yesterday on the same set up and rod when the midsection went. I have never broken a rod of any sort in 40 years of fishing. Two of the brakes are clean and one a long split. I have no problems with the back up service so far and am only wondering if anybody else has had any problems. I know there is a plus version out but any modern float rod should cope with 3ssg wagglers and i fish for silvers. I have used my finesse and many other float rods up to 6grms without any issues.
The other issue is that i changed my reels to drennan 4000fds and am now suffering horrific twist within 15mins of starting from the reel to the float after that lead to the line forming into tight twisted balls (ouch)! and long perfectly formed twizzled line.I now have to spend as much time looking down and sorting the tangles out than looking at the float. All the line between the float and the reel has to go after one use. I’ve used different lines and this has made no difference and the balearm roller move freely. Has anybody had this problem with these reels or can suggest a cure or the reels are going back as well. The rod problems came within a few casts so the two are not connected. cheers. inky

[TF_april9092Participant]

On maggot drowners website a few issues have been mentioned about the rods and reels you mention, have a look there/

[TF_wightangler]

may be its quality control problems – given that Drennan manufacture in Mauritius now?
It takes time for a major move to bed in – and seems first batch of rods/poles often have problems – regardless of manufacturer.
That said – drennan have launched some fantastic new products – but quality and drennan have formerly gone together – hope they sort this for you. Keep us updated.

[TF_TIDALWAVE1]

Drennan have their own manufacturing facilities,and do not rely on outside resources to manufacture for them and various other companies as well.so all quality control is carried out in house personally by them,and not through a third party before shipment to Drennan.Their customer after sales are also first rate.

[TF_wightangler]

tidal wave – they upped from oxford and moved to a low cost overseas manufacturing plant – plus a non-materialised incentive grant from that govt.(according to Pete Drennan in an interview from 2 years ago).
No where did i say – a third party – but hey you know best as usual.

[TF_matchace]

its just another way for MADE IN CHINA although i wouldnt mind working for them
just think of all those business meeting on the beach lol
that will be another pint of lager please barman and a packet of cheese and onion crips loooooool

[TF_Smeagle]

I had the Drennan Crackalot pole. What a joke. I’m not a heavy handed angler but broke it a few times in the short time I had it before selling.
I have an Acolyte Plus 13′ rod and have found it a complete joy to use with no probs at all.
My FD 4000 Reel ? , well I get on with it fine, no line twist ( Daiwa TDR Reel line), but recently the clutch knob started mis behaving and now when you tighten or loosen it, it no longer gives me an audible click click click, to tell me how many increments I’ve tightened it. Sounds petty, but it does make a difference to my fishing.
Will I buy Drennan non consumables again ? Nah, – I’ll stick to just buying their consumables (floats, line, hooks etc) which I’ve always got on ok with.

[TF_jason.raikes]

I have the 14ft Drennan Acolyte Ultra – no problems so far but mainly used for stick float fishing. I have landed plenty of decent chub using it.
For heavier work I strongly recommend the Tricast Trilogy range – X model for medium work or the XS for power work. I have used the XS for punching 5 swan speci wagglers across the Wye and dealing with 5lb plus chub in swift flowing water.

[TF_inky finger]

Hi all, Drennan replaced one acolyte with my selection within their range [14ft ultralite) and the other acolyte is still fine.The reels all went back and were replaced but i changed them for a shimano aero feeder 4000 in the tackle shop.I would like to thank both drennan and the staff at the Tackle Hub in Fenny Stratford for their service. As for tricast i use a John allerton 16ft and the original xrs pole on and off throughout the season and love them both but for very different reasons.

[TF_manor man]

Thank you for your post inky finger as I thought I was going mad with my Drennan fd 4000 reel, I to have suffered line twist right from when I first used it. Was blaming myself thinking I was doing something wrong, the effected line is Preston reflow power max, I will change to another line to see if it makes a difference and if this dose not work I will consider what you had to do.
many thanks

[TF_inky finger]

Hi Manor man, I wouldn’t bother with new line. If the line twist is really bad take the reel back to the shop where you bought it. A good tackle shop will see if its beyond normal slight twist and they will speak to drennan. If they are a drennan shop the visiting rep will have a look and may give you some free line and tell the tackle shop to spool the line on correctly.(how you wind on line to the spool incorrectly is beyond me). If the line still twists badly get the shop to send the reel back. If you have a reel in warranty they should replace it. I went through drennan, daiwa and gardener line and they all did the same thing.This is what happened to me and did take sometime.

[TF_baz-65Participant]

I have the 13ft acolyte ultra and the rod is perfect for roach fishing. I have the drennan 3000fd with it for waggler fishing, and the Abu 506 for stick float. I suffered lots of tangles with the 3000fd, until I changed the line to 3lb maxima. No problems with the 2lb maxima on the Abu. Now both are a joy to use, just got to catch some fish. 🙂 u

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