I rarely get excited about a product launch .... But my excitement peaked this evening when I saw a post and video from ESP marketing their new Tectrix rods range.
I have a couple of set of original Tectrix rods in 2.75lb and 3.25lb. These were ESP flagship rods of the time and cost in region of £190ea about 15+ years ago. They are my favourite all time carp rods (I prefer them to my MK1 Snipers and TH rods) .... So I had high hopes for something a bit special ......
Unfortunately my excitement was very short lived. By using the Tectrix name I was hoping for a top of the range carp rod, possibly built on the Alcolyte blanks, but, alas it's just a run of the mill every day budget rod. It's very underwhelming and I am surprised ESP would use the Tectrix name on a new range of budget carp rods ..... Gutted!!
I have a couple of set of original Tectrix rods in 2.75lb and 3.25lb. These were ESP flagship rods of the time and cost in region of £190ea about 15+ years ago. They are my favourite all time carp rods (I prefer them to my MK1 Snipers and TH rods) .... So I had high hopes for something a bit special ......
Unfortunately my excitement was very short lived. By using the Tectrix name I was hoping for a top of the range carp rod, possibly built on the Alcolyte blanks, but, alas it's just a run of the mill every day budget rod. It's very underwhelming and I am surprised ESP would use the Tectrix name on a new range of budget carp rods ..... Gutted!!
Maybe Drennan missed a trick there.
That would have been great, a carp rod based on an acolyte blank.
Got a couple of the float rods in the plus version and they’re very decent.
Also, a super specialist type avon/quiver rod with an acolyte blank, surely that would be a top seller for Drennan as well.
Remember those older Drennan carp Continental rods, used to be quite jealous when a friend had those.
That would have been great, a carp rod based on an acolyte blank.
Got a couple of the float rods in the plus version and they’re very decent.
Also, a super specialist type avon/quiver rod with an acolyte blank, surely that would be a top seller for Drennan as well.
Remember those older Drennan carp Continental rods, used to be quite jealous when a friend had those.
£60 for the 10' and £70 for the 12' apparently - A quality brand offering rods at a price that will appeal to new starters etc. what's not to like?
In reply to Post #1
Acolyte blanks were developed for match fishing, where low weight, recovery speed and sensitivity are the priorities.
This makes them very good for long trotting with rods to15ft allowing faster pick up, with legering again they offer excellent sensitivity which all translates into more fish in the net.
You have to be careful with bigger specimens as I knew a few angler who snapped their rods when under high loading. Their are more durable blanks that are better to use.
Carp rods it’s all about high compressive strength for casting heavy leads, durability under repeated high loading so I don’t think building a carp rod on an acolyte blank would work ?
I can imagine they would be really expensive.
Acolyte blanks were developed for match fishing, where low weight, recovery speed and sensitivity are the priorities.
This makes them very good for long trotting with rods to15ft allowing faster pick up, with legering again they offer excellent sensitivity which all translates into more fish in the net.
You have to be careful with bigger specimens as I knew a few angler who snapped their rods when under high loading. Their are more durable blanks that are better to use.
Carp rods it’s all about high compressive strength for casting heavy leads, durability under repeated high loading so I don’t think building a carp rod on an acolyte blank would work ?
I can imagine they would be really expensive.
In reply to Post #4
I still have and use esp vertex carp rods, I may be wrong but I seem to recollect that these were advertised as high modulus carbon which has all the properties you have just described in the acolyte brand.
The vertex rods are very lightweight (the high modulus gives strength with a thin walled blank) and eventually lock up under load, both properties I like.
In theory they should be more brittle and prone to breakage but mine have stood the test of time.
As you say nowadays carp rods are more durable but often heavier. I am sure a professional rod maker could describe this far better than I can.
I still have and use esp vertex carp rods, I may be wrong but I seem to recollect that these were advertised as high modulus carbon which has all the properties you have just described in the acolyte brand.
The vertex rods are very lightweight (the high modulus gives strength with a thin walled blank) and eventually lock up under load, both properties I like.
In theory they should be more brittle and prone to breakage but mine have stood the test of time.
As you say nowadays carp rods are more durable but often heavier. I am sure a professional rod maker could describe this far better than I can.
In reply to Post #5
Actually, I thought the Vertex rods were a bit of a heavy beast (partly because of the reel seat and fittings I imagine).... The set I owned briefly (12ft 3lb) weighed a hefty 425grams (according to my records ..... And. yes, there was a period in my life when I weighed the rods lol) against the Mk1 Sniper which comes in at around 300grams. The Daiwas rods I had (Linear/Theory) were even lighter at around 250-280grams. Those Daiwas Tournament Linear rods were a lovely rod.
Vertex were proper rods though and it what lead me to the Textrix range when they superseded them and another name Drennan have bought back for a more budget range
Actually, I thought the Vertex rods were a bit of a heavy beast (partly because of the reel seat and fittings I imagine).... The set I owned briefly (12ft 3lb) weighed a hefty 425grams (according to my records ..... And. yes, there was a period in my life when I weighed the rods lol) against the Mk1 Sniper which comes in at around 300grams. The Daiwas rods I had (Linear/Theory) were even lighter at around 250-280grams. Those Daiwas Tournament Linear rods were a lovely rod.
Vertex were proper rods though and it what lead me to the Textrix range when they superseded them and another name Drennan have bought back for a more budget range