Drennan Acolyte Pro pole 16m Review
After four successful years as Drennan’s best-selling flagship pole ever, the Acolyte hands the reins to the Acolyte Pro.
The newcomer, designed from the ground up, will handle everything from carp and F1 bagging on commercials to whipping out silverfish on natural lakes, rivers and canals.
Five-times World Champ Alan Scotthorne has been heavily involved in its development, as indeed he was with its predecessor, and with more than 12 months of rigorous field-testing on every conceivable pole venue, you can rest assured the new Pro won’t disappoint.
The changes are more significant than mere cosmetic tweaks, as can be the case with flagship models.
Like cars, poles are to some degree slaves to fashion, and some manufacturers prefer ‘go-faster stripes’ to genuine technical innovation. Not Drennan!
Advancements in carbon technology have given the Pro greater section strength and improved linear rigidity without any significant difference in overall weight at any length.
The major change, though, is the use of an updated mandrel for the No5-No11 sections of this perfectly balanced powerhouse of a pole. However, owners of the original Acolyte pole wishing to upgrade need not fret, as existing top-2, top-3 and top-4 kits will all still fit.
True, the new pole’s butt sections are fractionally wider, but less than a millimetre’s increase in diameter is barely noticeable. Drennan, in fact, says the change improves tip end recovery.
This, I have to say, was quite exceptional, as I discovered while live testing the pole on Decoy’s Six Islands Lake. Having fished with the original Acolyte I feel I can cut straight to the chase.
The Pro is a very different beast from the original. It’s a hell of a lot meaner, with improved section wall strengths coupled with hexagonal patterned reinforced joint ends. And there’s little, if any, post-strike movement.
But it’s when you hook something that pulls back a bit that you really appreciate the Acolyte Pro.
It’s downright powerful, but not in a pokey, over-gunned way. Steely strength with subtlety is what it’s all about, making it bang on the money for any UK venue you care to mention.
Our verdict: Yes, the new Acolyte Pro is another beast entirely from the original pole, but only in a good way. Teamed with lightweight Drennan A top kits, it shows superb silverfish form.
Its core of steel instils confidence in the user to take on the largest fish, and it’s more than up to commercial bagging tactics. This is Drennan’s best pole to date, perfectly combining a modern build with top-end performance, and multi-venue versatility.
Price: £2,995
Drennan D-S7 Combat Carp 14.5m pole review
THE PACKAGE
• D-S7 Combat Carp 14.5m pole (including standard Drennan top-2 kit) • Two top-2 Carp kits • Double 2 Carp kit • Double 2 Ghost Carp kit • Top 2 Cupping kit• Two reversible mini-extensions (fitting 13m and 14.5m and sections
6 and 7) • Five Roller Cones • Extractor rod
• Five Skid Bungs • EVA nose cones • 36 PTFE bushes • Six intermediate bushes • 40 Side Puller Beads • 250ml pole pot • Extra Cupping kit adaptor • Drennan Visi Case
• Drennan 4-6 tube holdall
Launched around 2003, Drennan’s Series 7 range of rods, reels and – of course – poles has become a benchmark name for classy fishing kit at affordable prices.
With superb design, quality fittings and Drennan’s deserved reputation for durability and reliability, it’s little wonder the Series 7 range is so popular.
Its designers have the happy knack of keeping their finger on the pulse of the latest tactics and reacting quickly to market trends in rods and poles – in other words, Drennan gives its customers exactly what they want, when they want it.
All this brings me nicely on to the latest member of the clan, the D-S7 Combat Carp pole – the abbreviation, obviously, stands for ‘Drennan Series 7’.
This is a modern style of pole with a true 14.5m length, ideal for bagging match carp on commercial fisheries. It does have more than one string to its bow, though, being light and responsive enough to target silver fish too.
Many manufacturers claim their poles combine equal degrees of strength and finesse, but few actually achieve this. However, the Drennan development team are experts in both areas, and having fished with the D-S7 Combat Carp at a mixed commercial fishery I wouldn’t refute their claims.
And so to the live test at Decoy, where sport at the fish-packed Willows Lake was somewhat slower than it should have been. A nasty side wind didn’t help, doing its damnedest to wreak havoc with my presentation.
This, I hasten to say, wasn’t the fault of the D-S7, which remained straighter than a fireman’s greasy pole. It was more down to the lightness of my rig, and the fact I was trying to lower it tight up against a reed bed at 14.5m on a very short line.
The odd F1 and skimmer hung itself on my hook, demonstrating the pole’s balance at full length, and a faultless shipping performance.
Even when I had to break down twice, due to lack of room and poor swim selection on my part, there was no discernible bounce, and the sections came apart easier than I would have expected with a brand-new pole.
I had also fed a margin line against the reeds, in hindsight rather too far away for comfort. However, the pole comes with two reversible mini-extensions. One, at 60cm, fits on to the end of the sixth or seventh sections and the other, at 64cm, fits on to the 13m and 14.5m sections, giving that bit of extra length when needed. I found this particularly handy when targeting that margin swim.
The pole has a more than generous selection of spares, and all its top kits are fitted with the Drennan Roller Cone side-slot puller system – in my opinion the best there is.
That spares package consists of two Double 2 Carp kits, one for use with shorter lengths of elastic and perfect for margin and up-in-the-water work, and the other with a light grey Ghost tip, also ideal for shallow water tactics.
You also get an array of skid bungs, nose cones and Roller Cone accessories, PTFE bushes, a cupping kit and cups… in fact with this package you’ll be armed with everything you need for carp combat.
Our Verdict: In my opinion by far the best pole Drennan has released in the Series 7 range. Easy to use, it’s a pleasure to fish with and would make a perfect addition to any keen club or pleasure angler’s holdall. The depth and quality of the spares package lends itself to all types of venue, and helps to make it an outstanding pole at its price.
Price: £599
