Photos: Drennan · supplied retailer imagery
Coarse rods · Specialist float fishing · Our take
Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod
13ft / 3.90m · RSAG01
A slim, crisp and properly capable float rod for running-water anglers who want control, feel and enough grunt for chub, barbel and everything in between.
- 13ft / 3.90m version, model RSAG01.
- Slim, lightweight olive-green blank with a crisp forward action.
- Responsive fast tip for float control and smooth line management.
- Designed for flowing water, with power for chub, barbel, perch and grayling.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod, model RSAG01. Drennan also makes the range in 14ft and 15ft versions, but this verdict is for the 13ft model.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A focused, capable river float rod with a strong mix of reach, control and fish-playing power.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance9.1/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.9/10
- Ease of Use8.6/10
- Value for Money8.5/10
Price alerts are coming soon — we don't track live retailer prices yet, so we'll never guess one.
If you buy through our links, we might get a small kickback, but it won’t cost you a penny extra. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The full story
Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- River float anglers. The length, fast tip and forward action are aimed squarely at controlling a float and managing line on flowing water.
- Chub, grayling, perch and modest barbel anglers. It offers the reach and stated power for a broad mix of river species without looking like a hefty, clumsy tool.
Maybe skip if
- Small-stream anglers fishing tight, snaggy swims. Thirteen feet gives useful reach, but it can be awkward when trees, bushes and high banks close in around you.
- Light float specialists chasing tiny silver fish. The crisp, fast character and extra river power may feel more purposeful than you need for delicate close-range work.
The lowdown
Introducing the Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod
A slim, crisp and properly capable float rod for running-water anglers who want control, feel and enough grunt for chub, barbel and everything in between.
- 13ft / 3.90m version, model RSAG01.
- Slim, lightweight olive-green blank with a crisp forward action.
- Responsive fast tip for float control and smooth line management.
- Designed for flowing water, with power for chub, barbel, perch and grayling.
Quick verdict
Verdict
The Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod looks a cracking choice for proper flowing-water float fishing. Its slim, lightweight blank, crisp forward action and responsive fast tip are all geared towards controlling a float, mending line and putting a bait in the right crease.
At £139.99, it sits in the serious-but-not-daft money bracket. It’s not the rod for every little pond or tiny silver-fish job, but for chub, perch, grayling and modest barbel work, it looks bob on.
A focused, capable river float rod with a strong mix of reach, control and fish-playing power.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 9.1/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.9/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.6/10
- Value for Money
- 8.5/10
The slim blank, full cork handle and purposeful action give it the feel of a well-resolved specialist rod.
The crisp forward action and responsive tip are well matched to float control and line management on flowing water.
Better control and contact can help keep a float in the right water, while the stated power covers several useful river species.
The lightweight build should be pleasant to handle, although 13ft takes a little space and suits active river fishing best.
At £139.99 it isn’t cheap, but the focused design and broad river use make the price fair for regular float anglers.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Drennan
Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod
There’s something properly satisfying about a good river float rod. You’re stood on the bank, watching a stick float creep through a glide, making tiny corrections and trying to keep everything ticking along naturally. The Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod is built for exactly that sort of fishing.
This is the 13ft version, model RSAG01, measuring 3.90m. It’s the middle-of-the-road option in a Specialist Float Rod range that also includes 14ft and 15ft models. That makes it an interesting size for anglers who want useful reach without automatically going for a long, specialist tool.
The blank is described as slim and lightweight, which is a big tick for a rod you might hold and work all day. River float fishing can involve constant little movements rather than simply parking the rod on rests. A lighter blank should make trotting, holding back and feeding a swim feel less tiring.
The olive-green finish keeps things traditional and understated. Then there’s the full cork handle, which suits the whole Specialist vibe nicely. Cork gives you a familiar, warm grip and plenty of room to move your hands when you’re changing how you control the float or steering a fish away from trouble.
Action-wise, Drennan describes the rod as having a crisp forward action with a responsive fast tip. In plain English, that points towards a rod that reacts quickly when you lift, mend or check the line. That’s handy when the current is pushing hard and your float needs a cheeky correction before it disappears into a crease.
The fast tip should also help with smooth line management. On a river, the float might be travelling one way while the surface flow pulls your line somewhere else. Keeping that line tidy is half the battle. A responsive top section gives you a better chance of staying connected without constantly dragging the float off its line.
Despite the slim build, this isn’t just a delicate grayling wand. The rod is described as having sufficient power for chub, barbel, perch and grayling. That’s a useful spread of species. You can fish a light float through a steady glide, then step up your approach when there’s a chance of a proper lump in the swim.
For chub, the crisp action should give you control close to weed and cover. With barbel, you’ll still need sensible tackle choices, a decent reel and a bit of watercraft, but having backbone in the rod is reassuring when a fish powers off downstream. It’s not about bullying everything. It’s about having options when the river kicks off.
At £139.99, the 13ft Specialist sits above bargain-bin territory, but it’s not silly money for a dedicated river float rod either. You’re paying for a focused tool rather than an all-purpose match rod. If flowing water is where most of your fishing happens, that focus makes sense.
The main question is whether 13ft suits your usual swims. On open rivers, it should give you useful reach and control. In a tiny, overgrown stream, it could become a bit of a faff. Pick your length around the places you fish, mate, and this looks like a proper enjoyable rod for keeping a float moving and the rods ready for a screaming take.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Length
- 13ft / 3.90m
- Model
- RSAG01
- Action
- Crisp forward action with a responsive fast tip
- Blank
- Slim, lightweight olive-green blank
- Handle
- Full cork handle
- Price listed
- £139.99
Specs checked with Drennan, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
The angle
This is a rod for anglers who like being involved. You’re not just lobbing a float out and waiting for the tip to disappear. The 13ft length gives you reach over bankside rubbish and currents, while the fast tip helps you hold back, mend line and keep a float tracking naturally.
The main attraction is balance. The rod is described as slim and lightweight, yet it has enough power for proper river fish. That’s a useful mix when you’re trotting for chub or grayling, but still want a bit of backbone if a barbel sticks its head in a streamer bed.
The rod itself
A focused river float tool
The Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod combines a slim, lightweight olive-green blank with a full cork handle. It’s a traditional-looking setup, but the action is purposeful: crisp through the blank with a responsive fast tip. That points towards quick float corrections, cleaner line control and a direct feel when you’re holding back in a run.
The 13ft length gives you a useful amount of reach without going all the way to the 14ft or 15ft versions. That should make it a sensible all-rounder for open rivers and longer glides, while remaining less cumbersome than the bigger models. The rod is aimed at flowing water, not lazy stillwater float work.
Worth knowing. A fast-tipped river rod rewards active fishing. Keep your line tidy, mend it before the current creates a belly and use the reach to guide the float through the best water. Don’t just chuck it out and hope for a bosh.
On the bank
Best matched to moving water
This rod makes most sense for anglers trotting for chub, grayling and perch, with enough stated power for barbel when the swim and tackle are right. It should suit anglers who like to stay in contact with the float and make regular adjustments rather than fish passively.
The 13ft size is also a good shout if your fishing covers a mixture of broad rivers and more manageable runs. It offers reach for line control, but doesn’t commit you to the longest rod in the range. Pair it with a smooth centrepin or fixed-spool reel, sensible line and a float suited to the pace of the water.
Worth knowing. On tight little streams, measure the swim before reaching for a 13-footer. Overhanging trees and high banks can turn useful reach into a proper faff. In open water, though, that length becomes a real asset for keeping line off the flow.
The questions anglers ask
What to know before buying
The 13ft model is 3.90m long and carries the model code RSAG01. Drennan also offers 14ft / 4.20m and 15ft / 4.50m versions, so there’s room to match the rod to the size of river and the amount of line control you need.
The rod has a full cork handle and an olive-green blank. Its crisp forward action and responsive fast tip are the key characteristics. Those features make it more about accurate float presentation and line management than ultra-soft, close-range fishing for tiny fish.
Worth knowing. The listed price for the 13ft version is £139.99. That puts it in the serious coarse-rod bracket: a proper investment for regular river anglers, but still a fair shout if flowing water is where you spend most of your bite-time.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Slim and lightweight for a long day of trotting.
- Crisp forward action should make float control and line mending feel sharp.
- Responsive fast tip helps keep contact with the float and fish.
- Enough stated power for chub, barbel, perch and grayling.
- Full cork handle feels properly at home on a traditional float rod.
Worth knowing
- The 13ft length can feel a bit much on cramped, overgrown little streams.
- A fast action won’t suit anglers who prefer a very soft, tippy float rod for delicate silver-fish work.
- At £139.99, it’s a considered buy rather than a cheap spare or first-ever coarse rod.
Want one?
Add it to your Wanted list or join a Group Buy — shops see anonymous totals only.
Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01What is the Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod for?
What is the Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod for?
It’s designed for float fishing on flowing water, where you need reach, line control and a tip that responds quickly. Think trotting for chub, grayling, perch and barbel rather than tiny-pool dabbling.
02Is 13ft a good length for river float fishing?
Is 13ft a good length for river float fishing?
For many rivers, yes. The 13ft length helps you hold more line off the current, mend line and guide a float through a longer run. It can be a bit of a faff on cramped streams, though.
03What’s the difference between the 13ft, 14ft and 15ft versions?
What’s the difference between the 13ft, 14ft and 15ft versions?
The range is also available in 14ft / 4.20m and 15ft / 4.50m versions. The longer rods offer extra reach and line control, while the 13ft model should be the handier all-rounder for a wider mix of swims.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: verdict. The strongest reasons to choose it are slim and lightweight for a long day of trotting. and crisp forward action should make float control and line mending feel sharp.; the main trade-off is the 13ft length can feel a bit much on cramped, overgrown little streams..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Slim and lightweight for a long day of trotting.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “River float anglers: The length, fast tip and forward action are aimed squarely at controlling a float and managing line on flowing water.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The 13ft length can feel a bit much on cramped, overgrown little streams.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod
No angler score yet — nobody's reviewed Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod here. Be the first and get the score started.
Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Drennan Specialist 13ft Float Rod. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
No owner reports yet.
Alternatives & go-withs
