Photos: Preston Innovations · supplied retailer imagery
Coarse match · Waggler rods · Our take
Preston Innovations Absolute All-Round 13ft Float Rod
13ft float rod · Product reference P46164
A proper versatile waggler rod for natural venues, match carp and everything from delicate dobbing to a lively scrap in the edge.
- 13ft length for versatile waggler fishing and useful line control.
- Advanced carbon blank with a powerful through action.
- Hollow tip designed to work with light hooklengths and small hooks.
- Mid-section transfers power when larger fish, including match carp, are hooked.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Preston Innovations Absolute All-Round 13ft Float Rod, reference P46164. The listing is currently out of stock.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A versatile, well-specced float rod for anglers who want one dependable waggler tool rather than a narrow specialist.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance8.9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching9.1/10
- Ease of Use8.8/10
- Value for Money8.6/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Match anglers fishing mixed natural venues. It covers conventional waggler work while retaining enough power for match carp and better fish.
- Coarse anglers wanting one versatile float rod. The 13ft length and through action suit a broad range of lake and river float fishing rather than just one narrow job.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers mainly fishing heavy commercials. If your fishing is all big pellets, powerful hooklinks and hard-fighting carp, a dedicated carp or pellet-waggler rod may be a better fit.
- Anglers fishing tiny, overgrown swims. A shorter float rod can be handier when there’s little room behind you or the margins are doing their best to eat your tackle.
The lowdown
Introducing the Preston Innovations Absolute All-Round 13ft Float Rod
A proper versatile waggler rod for natural venues, match carp and everything from delicate dobbing to a lively scrap in the edge.
- 13ft length for versatile waggler fishing and useful line control.
- Advanced carbon blank with a powerful through action.
- Hollow tip designed to work with light hooklengths and small hooks.
- Mid-section transfers power when larger fish, including match carp, are hooked.
Quick verdict
A cracking all-round waggler rod
The Preston Absolute All-Round 13ft is built for anglers who want one float rod to cover a big chunk of traditional coarse fishing. Its powerful through action should keep light hooklengths working properly while still giving you enough control when a decent match carp gets its head down.
It won’t be the specialist choice for every job, but for natural venues, conventional waggler work and mixed bags, it looks bob on. A proper middle-ground rod rather than a one-trick pony.
A versatile, well-specced float rod for anglers who want one dependable waggler tool rather than a narrow specialist.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 8.9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 9.1/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.8/10
- Value for Money
- 8.6/10
Advanced carbon, quality lined guides, a hollow tip and soft-touch reel seat make for a thoughtfully equipped rod.
The through action should offer a useful mix of delicate presentation, cushioning and power.
Its ability to work with light hooklengths while handling match carp gives it genuine versatility on mixed venues.
The 13ft format and all-round action should be straightforward for regular waggler fishing, though shorter rods are handier in tight swims.
Its broad fishing range can make it a sensible buy if you want one float rod covering several jobs, though specialist anglers may prefer more focused kit.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Preston Innovations
Preston Innovations Absolute All-Round 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 Preston Innovations Absolute All-Round 13ft Float Rod
There’s something properly satisfying about a good waggler rod. No faff, no overcomplicated gubbins. Just a float, a bit of shot, a tidy bait and the chance of anything from a string of silvers to a right old lump. The Preston Innovations Absolute All-Round 13ft is aimed squarely at that sort of fishing.
As the name suggests, this isn’t a specialist tool built for one very narrow job. It’s an all-rounder for anglers who fish natural venues, traditional match-style swims and commercial lakes where the next bite could come from a roach, bream, tench or match carp. That broad brief is the main reason to look at it.
The 13ft length is a useful middle ground. You get more reach and line control than with a short float rod, which can be dead handy when you’re fishing beyond the near shelf or need to mend line across a bit of surface tow. At the same time, it shouldn’t feel like you’re waving a telegraph pole around all day.
This rod is designed for all variations of waggler fishing, so it’s about presenting a float properly rather than simply lobbing a loaded rig somewhere near the far bank. Whether you’re running a float down a natural venue or laying a waggler over a lake, that extra length can help you keep the line where you want it.
The blank is made from advanced carbon and uses a powerful through action. In plain English, the bend should spread through the rod instead of just folding over at the tip. That’s a cracking action for float fishing because it gives you feel at close quarters, then brings more of the blank into play when a fish starts pulling properly.
The hollow tip is another important part of the package. It’s suitable for light hooklengths and small hooks, so the front end is designed to be forgiving rather than brutally stiff. That matters when you’re fishing fine tackle for shy bites, especially with silvers where a harsh rod can turn a good hook-up into a pinged hook or a straightened hooklink.
Then there’s the mid-section. This is where the rod is intended to transfer power when a larger fish is hooked. So, while the tip helps protect delicate rigs, the middle of the blank gives you something to lean on when a carp decides it fancies the far bank. You still need sensible drag settings and good fish-playing technique, mind. No rod makes bad tackle choices magic.
That combination makes the Absolute All-Round a natural fit for mixed fishing. You can start with a small hook and light hooklength, catch a few bits, then deal with a better fish without the rod feeling completely out of its depth. It’s the sort of flexibility that can save you carrying several rods to the bank, especially on a match or short after-work session.
The quality lined guides should help the line flow cleanly during casts and playing fish, while the soft-touch reel seat adds a bit of comfort where your hand spends plenty of time. They’re not flashy details, but on a long float session the little things can make a difference. Overall, this Preston looks like a proper workhorse: versatile, forgiving and powerful enough for the moments when a bite turns into a screaming take.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Length
- 13ft
- Fishing style
- Waggler fishing across natural venues and traditional coarse-fishing situations
- Blank
- Advanced carbon
- Action
- Powerful through action
- Tip
- Hollow tip, suitable for light hooklengths and small hooks
- Product reference
- P46164
Specs checked with Preston Innovations, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Why this rod makes sense
The clever bit is the balance between a soft, forgiving tip and a more powerful mid-section. That’s exactly the sort of spread you want when small hooks and light hooklengths are involved, but the peg can still throw up a lump.
At 13ft, it gives you useful line control and extra reach without turning a normal waggler session into hard work. For anglers who fish rivers, lakes and traditional match venues, that versatility is the main attraction.
What you’re buying
A float rod with a broad working range
The Absolute All-Round 13ft is built around a powerful through action. That means the bend should develop progressively through the blank, helping you cushion fast runs on light tackle while still finding extra authority lower down. It’s a sensible design for waggler fishing, where the same session can involve tiny hooks one minute and a proper carp the next.
The hollow tip is suited to light hooklengths and small hooks, giving you a more forgiving front end for delicate presentation. Behind that, the mid-section transfers power into bigger fish. Add the advanced carbon blank, quality lined guides and soft-touch reel seat, and the package is clearly aimed at regular, practical float fishing rather than a flashy one-job rod.
Worth knowing. The all-round label is the whole point here. It means versatility, not specialist extremes. For dedicated pellet-waggler work, heavy commercial carp or ultra-fine river float fishing, another rod may be more focused.
Match and natural-venue fishing
A solid choice when the peg can throw anything at you
This rod should suit match anglers who want a reliable waggler tool for natural venues and traditional styles. The 13ft length gives you useful control when fishing at range or holding line above surface tow, while the through action keeps the fight connected when a fish bolts under your feet.
It also makes sense for the coarse angler who doesn’t want a cupboard full of rods for every tiny variation. Pair it with a suitable float reel, sensible main line and a selection of hooklengths, and you’ve got a versatile set-up for silvers, bream, tench and match carp. Keep the drag smooth, stay in contact and let the blank do its job.
It’s less suited to cramped, overgrown swims where a shorter rod is easier to handle. Likewise, if your fishing is mainly heavy-duty commercial carp with big baits and beefy rigs, a dedicated carp or pellet-waggler rod will probably be less of a compromise.
Quick answers
The useful stuff before you choose
For many anglers, yes. It gives you extra reach and line control without being as unwieldy as a much longer float rod. It’s handy for fishing beyond the near shelf, mending line and keeping a float working cleanly.
That’s what the hollow tip and through action are designed to help with. They should cushion sudden lunges and make the rod suitable for light hooklengths and small hooks, provided the rest of the tackle is balanced properly.
The rod is designed with a powerful mid-section that transfers power when larger fish are hooked, and it’s capable of landing match carp. Use sensible hooklengths, set the reel drag correctly and keep the rod working through the fight.
Worth knowing. A versatile rod still needs the right rig. Don’t fish ultra-light tackle around snags just because the tip is forgiving, and don’t bully a small hook with locked-up drag. Match the set-up to the swim and the fish.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Proper all-round waggler design for natural venues and traditional fishing styles.
- Through action should protect light hooklengths and small hooks.
- Power in the mid-section gives it the backbone for match carp.
- 13ft length offers a useful blend of reach, control and fish-playing feel.
- Soft-touch reel seat and quality lined guides keep the set-up comfortable and practical.
Worth knowing
- It won’t replace a dedicated method, pellet waggler or heavy feeder rod.
- A 13ft rod can feel more rod than you need on tiny commercials or cramped swims.
- The all-round brief means it may not have the extreme delicacy or brute power of a specialist rod.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01What sort of fishing is the Preston Absolute All-Round 13ft designed for?
What sort of fishing is the Preston Absolute All-Round 13ft designed for?
It’s designed for all variations of waggler fishing, with a particular lean towards natural venues and traditional fishing styles. That makes it suitable for mixed coarse fishing, match work and general float sessions.
02Can it handle carp?
Can it handle carp?
Yes. The powerful mid-section is designed to transfer power when larger fish are hooked, and the rod is capable of landing match carp. The through action should also help cushion lunges when you’re using lighter hooklengths.
03Is the hollow tip suitable for small hooks?
Is the hollow tip suitable for small hooks?
Yes. The hollow tip is intended to work with light hooklengths and small hooks, giving the front end a more forgiving feel for delicate float work.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a cracking all-round waggler rod. The strongest reasons to choose it are proper all-round waggler design for natural venues and traditional fishing styles. and through action should protect light hooklengths and small hooks.; the main trade-off is it won’t replace a dedicated method, pellet waggler or heavy feeder rod..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Proper all-round waggler design for natural venues and traditional fishing styles.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Match anglers fishing mixed natural venues: It covers conventional waggler work while retaining enough power for match carp and better fish.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “It won’t replace a dedicated method, pellet waggler or heavy feeder rod.”
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 Preston Innovations Absolute All-Round 13ft Float Rod
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