Description
Drennan Vertex Medium Feeder Rods
The Drennan Vertex Medium Feeder Rods are beautifully balanced tools built for anglers who enjoy refined feeder fishing on stillwaters, canals, and moderate rivers. Designed for precision casting, smooth fish-playing action, and all-day comfort, these rods are ideal for targeting bream, skimmers, chub, tench, and small to medium carp.
Overview
Available in both 11ft and 12ft versions, the Vertex Medium Feeder offers the perfect blend of casting power and sensitivity. The shorter 11ft model is excellent for tighter swims and distances up to around 40 metres, while the 12ft version gives a little more reach and control, comfortably casting to 50 metres. Both models share the same balanced, progressive action that absorbs lunges and minimises hook pulls, making them perfect for modern commercial and natural venues alike.
Construction and Components
The rod’s high-modulus carbon blank gives it an incredibly crisp, responsive feel, with power in reserve for when you need it. The SiC line guides are lightweight, durable, and designed for smooth line flow to aid casting accuracy. Each rod comes fitted with a quality reel seat, ensuring a secure hold on your reel and excellent balance in the hand.
The handle features a combination of cork and EVA, offering both comfort and control even during long sessions. The rods are supplied in a two-piece configuration, making them easy to transport while maintaining excellent performance once assembled.
Performance and Action
The Vertex Medium Feeder has a forgiving tip that blends seamlessly into a progressively powerful mid-section. This gives the rod the perfect combination of sensitivity and strength — sensitive enough to pick up shy bites from skimmers, but with enough backbone to subdue strong fish like tench or small carp.
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The 11ft version excels on smaller lakes, canals, and tight pegs where accuracy and soft presentation are vital.
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The 12ft version is slightly more powerful, handling longer casts and slightly heavier feeders with ease.
Both lengths comfortably handle feeders up to 45g and are best paired with mainlines between 4lb and 6lb, depending on conditions and species.
Supplied Quiver Tips
Each Vertex Medium Feeder comes with two interchangeable quiver tips — a 1.5oz glass tip and a 2.5oz carbon tip. These cover most situations from light silverfish work to slightly heavier feeders for bream or chub. The tips offer smooth recovery and excellent bite detection, and additional tips can be purchased to suit specific venues or conditions.
On the Bank
The rod’s action really comes into its own when playing fish. The tip cushions sudden lunges, helping prevent line breaks and hook pulls, while the mid and butt sections provide enough power to turn and control fish heading for cover. The result is a rod that feels responsive, forgiving, and incredibly enjoyable to use.
It’s also a superb casting tool. The blank loads smoothly during the cast, releasing power in a controlled, accurate way — ideal for placing feeders precisely over baited spots. Whether you’re fishing a stillwater, a small river, or a commercial lake, the rod delivers consistent, controlled performance.
Where It Excels
Stillwaters and Commercial Fisheries
Perfect for targeting bream, skimmers, and F1s where accuracy and a soft, forgiving action are key. It casts easily up to around 45–50 metres and is ideal for method, pellet, or cage feeder setups.
Rivers and Natural Venues
The rod handles small to medium rivers comfortably, with enough power to cast feeders across the flow and control fish in the current. It’s especially suited to chub, dace, and bream fishing.
Versatile Species Range
The Vertex medium Feeder is a true all-rounder, happy handling everything from shy-biting silvers to tench and carp into double figures. Its balanced action makes it forgiving enough for light work yet tough enough when the pressure’s on.
Comparison Within the Vertex Range
Within the Vertex series, the Medium Feeder sits neatly between the Light and Distance models:
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Model
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Length
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Casting Range
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Feeder Weight
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Ideal Use
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Vertex Light Feeder
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10–11ft
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Up to 35m
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Up to 30g
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Small lakes, canals, roach and skimmers
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Vertex Medium Feeder
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11–12ft
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Up to 50m
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Up to 45g
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All-round stillwater and light river fishing
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Vertex Distance Feeder
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12–13ft
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60m+
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60g+
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Long-range and big fish venues
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This makes the Medium Feeder the perfect middle ground for anglers who want one rod to cover most UK conditions.
Pros and Cons
✅ Advantages
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Superb balance of sensitivity and power.
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High-quality blank and fittings for long life.
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Smooth, controlled casting with great accuracy.
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Soft action reduces hook pulls.
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Versatile enough for both commercials and rivers.
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Comfortable cork/EVA handle design.
⚠️ Considerations
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Not designed for extreme long-range or heavy feeders (for that, choose the Distance model).
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Two-piece construction means longer transport length than telescopic alternatives.
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Slightly higher price point than entry-level feeder rods, though the performance justifies it.
Recommended Setups
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Reel Size: 3000–4000 class with a smooth drag.
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Mainline: 4–6lb mono, or 8–10lb braid with a shock leader.
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Hooklengths: 0.10–0.16mm depending on target species.
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Feeders: 20–45g cage, pellet, or method feeders.
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Venues: Commercials, lakes, canals, small to medium rivers.
Who It’s For
The Vertex Medium Feeder is perfect for:
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Pleasure anglers looking for one rod to cover most UK venues.
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Club match anglers who fish commercials and natural venues.
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Anglers targeting a mixed bag of species from roach and skimmers to tench and carp.
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Those upgrading from entry-level feeder rods and wanting more refinement and sensitivity.
Buying Advice
When choosing between the two models:
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Go for the 11ft version if you mostly fish small lakes, canals, or tight swims.
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Choose the 12ft version if you need a little more casting distance or fish bigger venues.
It’s worth pairing the rod with a quality reel that matches its balance — too heavy a reel will upset its delicate feel, while too light may reduce casting control. A mid-range 3000–4000 reel is ideal.
Also, consider investing in a few extra quiver tips for different conditions. Light tips work best in winter for shy feeders, while stiffer carbon tips are ideal for summer carp sessions or rivers with flow.
Verdict
The Drennan Vertex Medium Feeder Rods stand out as some of the most reliable and enjoyable medium-range feeder rods available in their class. They combine quality construction, perfect balance, and versatility, making them suitable for almost any coarse angler in the UK.
For anglers who fish a mix of commercials, lakes, and small rivers — and want a rod that can cast accurately, detect delicate bites, and handle hard-fighting fish — the Vertex Medium Feeder is hard to beat.
It’s not the heaviest, lightest, or most expensive rod on the market, but it’s one of the most well-rounded and dependable tools you can own for general feeder fishing.
In short:
If you want a rod that can handle most UK feeder fishing situations, looks and feels premium, and performs beautifully on the bank, the Drennan Vertex Medium Feeder is a superb choice. It’s a genuine all-rounder that bridges the gap between finesse and power — and once you fish with it, you’ll understand why so many anglers trust the Vertex name.
