Description
Strength, Balance & Precision for Modern Float Anglers
The Drennan Acolyte Plus Float Rods are designed for anglers who love float fishing but need that extra backbone for larger fish, heavier floats, or more demanding venues. Sitting neatly between the Acolyte Ultra and Acolyte Specimen models, the Plus range offers the perfect balance of finesse and power — light and responsive, yet strong enough to subdue quality fish with ease.
Whether you’re fishing wagglers on stillwaters, trotting on deep rivers, or tackling commercials for F1s, bream, or carp, these rods deliver exceptional casting accuracy, smooth line control, and a fish-playing action that inspires total confidence.
The Acolyte Plus Float range combines classic Drennan craftsmanship with modern carbon technology to give anglers the perfect all-round tool for today’s float fishing.
Designed for Power and Control
The Acolyte Plus Float Rods are built for those situations where a standard match rod doesn’t quite have enough muscle. With a slightly stronger blank than the Acolyte Ultra, the Plus models let you fish confidently with heavier lines, larger floats, and bigger hooks — perfect for mixed venues where the next bite could be a 4oz roach or a 4lb tench.
Despite their added strength, they still retain the trademark Drennan finesse. The blank recovers crisply after casting, ensuring precise float placement, while the tip remains sensitive enough to cushion light hooklengths and detect delicate bites.
It’s this unique blend of control and refinement that makes the Acolyte Plus Float range a favourite among serious float anglers.
High-Performance Carbon Construction
Each Acolyte Plus Float Rod is constructed using high-modulus carbon fibre, developed by Drennan’s engineers to produce a slim, lightweight blank with exceptional responsiveness and strength.
The carbon layering and taper have been finely tuned to provide a semi-through progressive action — soft enough in the tip to protect fine lines but with a more powerful mid and butt section to handle bonus fish or deal with flow and distance.
This means the rod bends smoothly when playing fish, maintaining pressure evenly throughout the blank and reducing hook pulls, while still giving you the control and lifting power needed for larger fish and stronger flows.
Available Models
The Acolyte Plus Float range is available in 13ft and 14ft models, each designed for specific float fishing scenarios:
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13ft Plus Float Rod – The perfect all-rounder for both stillwaters and light river work. Ideal for wagglers, sliders, or traditional stick floats.
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14ft Plus Float Rod – Provides extra line control and casting range for deeper or faster rivers, or when fishing at distance on open stillwaters.
Both rods share the same crisp, responsive action, with the 14ft offering a touch more leverage and reach for challenging venues.
Perfect for Mixed Venues
These rods truly shine on venues where variety is the name of the game. The Acolyte Plus Float range can handle everything from light waggler work for roach and skimmers to margin float fishing for carp or tench.
The rods handle mainlines from 3lb to 6lb, with hooklengths down to 2lb if needed, and enough power to subdue quality fish without risking breakages.
This makes them ideal for anglers who fish a mix of commercials, natural lakes, and rivers — offering one rod that does it all with style and precision.
Casting Accuracy and Line Pick-Up
As with all Acolyte rods, casting performance is outstanding. The blanks recover quickly after the cast, ensuring wagglers and stick floats land accurately and consistently. The lightweight build and perfect balance make it easy to cast with precision, even at long range.
Once your float is in position, the rod’s extra power allows for fast line pick-up and positive striking, so you connect instantly with bites — crucial when fishing at distance or in choppy water.
Whether you’re laying on with a heavy stick float or fishing a slider in deep water, the Acolyte Plus Float Rods keep you in complete control of your presentation.
Fish-Playing Action
The progressive action of the Acolyte Plus Float Rods is one of their standout qualities. The rod bends smoothly and evenly, cushioning the lunges of powerful fish while maintaining constant pressure.
This makes them ideal for handling everything from small silvers to proper specimens. The forgiving tip helps prevent hook pulls, while the powerful mid and butt sections provide the strength to steer carp, tench, and chub safely to the net.
In short, these rods give you the confidence to fish fine for bites and still have the backbone to handle anything that bites back.
Premium Components and Build Quality
Drennan’s attention to detail is clear in every Acolyte Plus Float Rod. Built with the finest materials and fittings, they combine traditional elegance with modern practicality.
Key features include:
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Lightweight stainless-frame guides with smooth, low-friction inserts for easy casting and line flow.
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Screw-down DPS-style reel seat, giving a secure, balanced fit for your reel.
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High-grade cork handle with EVA trim for comfort, grip, and durability.
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Matte low-glare blank finish with subtle graphics and Drennan’s signature Acolyte detailing.
Every component has been carefully chosen to complement the rod’s light, balanced feel and deliver long-lasting performance.
Comfort and Balance
Even with the added strength of the Plus models, Drennan has maintained the effortless balance that defines the Acolyte range. These rods sit perfectly in the hand, feeling light and responsive without tip heaviness.
The cork and EVA handle combination offers excellent grip, even when wet, while the slim blank makes the rod easy to hold for long sessions. The result is a rod that’s powerful yet refined — equally suited to speed fishing for roach or playing a large carp with control and precision.
Performance on the Bank
In real fishing conditions, the Acolyte Plus Float Rods perform beautifully. Casting is effortless and accurate, float control is precise, and the blank’s recovery ensures no wobble or vibration.
The rods excel in situations where you might need to step up slightly from the ultra-fine Acolyte Ultra — for example, when using heavier wagglers, thicker lines, or targeting bigger fish.
Striking feels sharp and immediate, and once you’re into a fish, the smooth, progressive action gives total confidence. Whether you’re fishing commercials for mixed species or targeting quality fish on natural venues, the Acolyte Plus Float Rods deliver the performance you need.
Ideal Applications
The Acolyte Plus Float range is perfect for:
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Commercial carp and F1 fishing with wagglers or pellet floats.
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River float work for chub, roach, and dace.
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Stillwater bream and tench fishing with heavier wagglers or sliders.
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General mixed-species venues where flexibility is key.
They’re designed to handle the rough-and-tumble of larger fish while maintaining the refined performance and sensitivity of a true float rod.
Conclusion – The Perfect Balance of Power and Finesse
The Drennan Acolyte Plus Float Rods bridge the gap between finesse and strength, offering the ideal tool for anglers who need one rod that can handle a wide range of float fishing challenges.
Light, crisp, and perfectly balanced, yet strong and dependable under pressure, they deliver the smooth casting, precise control, and powerful fish-playing performance that serious anglers demand.
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Available in 13ft and 14ft models
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High-modulus carbon blanks – slim, strong, and lightweight
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Progressive through-action for smooth fish control
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Cork/EVA handle and stainless guides for quality and comfort
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Ideal for commercials, rivers, and natural stillwaters
For anglers who want a rod that feels refined but has the muscle to cope with big fish and tough venues, the Acolyte Plus Float is the perfect choice.
Drennan Acolyte Plus Float Rods – the all-round float rods that combine finesse, strength, and classic Drennan performance.
