A medium feeder rod isn't determined by its length. Rather, it's a tool that will cast modest distances for average-sized fish, with feeders around the 40-60g range. It's the best rod when bream, skimmers or smallish match-sized carp are the target, as they generally have a much more forgiving action. This helps reduce fish bumping off on the retrieve whilst allowing for easier casting at shorter ranges where a more powerful rod can cause issues with accuracy.
Unlike a short feeder rod, it's generally anything from 10ft-12ft long and for casting around 30-50m. This type of rod really excels for casting up to islands that are a bit further away than usual or fishing on big, commercial or natural venues. They will help improve accuracy, fish hook to land ratio and your efficiency on the bank.
If your venue is full of smaller carp, then a medium feeder rod around the 11ft mark with a more powerful action would be a good choice as you will predominantly be using method style feeders, which comes with lots of casting and hopefully lots of rod bending, so you need a rod that capable of taking some punishment. Similarly, if you're fishing for silverfish on a short line of around 20-40m, an 11ft-12ft would be a great choice, but this time, you want to look for a rod with a more forgiving action.
The best medium feeder rods at a glance:
• Best Value Medium Feeder Rod: Matrix Aquos-C 12ft Feeder Rod - View offer on Total Fishing Tackle
• Best Medium Feeder Rod: Daiwa Tournament-S 12ft Feeder - View offer on Total Fishing Tackle
• Best All-Round Medium Feeder Rod: Daiwa N'Zon Slim 12ft Medium Feeder - View offer on Total Fishing Tackle
• Best Commercial Feeder Rod: Drennan Acolyte Plus 12ft Feeder - View offer on Fishing Tackle & Bait
Here's our pick of the best medium feeder rods out there at prices to suit everyone from novices to top-flight match anglers...
THE BEST FISHING REEL IS ESSENTIAL TO COMPLIMENT YOUR FEEDER ROD, OUR GUIDE WILL HELP YOU CHOOSE.
Best feeder rod (2023 National Angling Award Winner)
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The Preston Supera X 12ft Feeder is a high-performance rod designed to excel at long-range fishing. Its powerful, progressive action is perfectly suited to propelling larger feeders with precision and accuracy, making it a top choice for anglers targeting big fish at distance.
The Supera X 12ft is a comprehensive tool, handling a wide range of fishing styles and conditions. The three-piece design ensures a seamless bend, reducing the risk of hook pulls during the crucial netting stage. Equipped with three carbon quiver tips (1.5oz, 2oz, and 2.5oz), this rod allows anglers to adapt to varying conditions and fish sizes.
Perfect for natural waters at longer ranges up to around 55m, it also performs superbly on flowing waters with heavier feeders on shorter 30m casts. As expected of a rod in this range, you get exquisite carbon detailing and a cork/EVA handle with ‘Super X laser’ etched into the armlock.
Pros
- Light and thin, yet powerful blank offers real versatility
- Aesthetically pleasing unique finish with Supera detailing
Cons
- It’s 3 piece design may not suit all anglers preferences
Best medium feeder rod
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
Daiwa Tournament- S 12ft building upon the legendary heritage of its namesake the Tournament S pole. The rod embodies cutting-edge technology with exceptional performance.
Crafted with HVF Nanoplus carbon, the Tournament S offers a blend of strength, sensitivity, and responsiveness. The V-Joint Alpha technology ensures seamless power transfer, while the carefully engineered handle provides optimal comfort and control.
The Daiwa Tournament S 12ft caters to a wide range of fishing scenarios, from delicate finesse work to distance work this rod is capable. The inclusion of three Megatops further enhances versatility, allowing anglers to adapt to changing conditions.
Pros
- High-end product giving high-end performance
- Tournament reel seat and armlock handle offer comfortable fish playing
Cons
- Premium product, may not be within every angler’s budget
Best value medium feeder rod
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The Matrix Aquos Ultra-X 12ft Feeder Rod is a versatile choice for feeder anglers. Its progressive blank, ideal for medium-distance feeder fishing, and multiple length and weight options make it suitable for both rivers and lakes. The oversized guides enhance casting performance, while the hook keep provides convenience.
Built from high-modulus carbon, this two-piece rod boasts a seamless, progressive action capable of handling a broad spectrum of lines and hook sizes. It’s fast-action tip and impressive casting capabilities make it multi-purpose, the Matrix Aquos Ultra-X 12ft Feeder Rod effortlessly reaches distances of 50 meters, making it suitable for both short and medium-range fishing.
The durable cork and EVA composite handle ensures a comfortable grip. Additionally, the rod comes with two 2.8mm carbon tips in 1oz, & 2oz weights, offering versatility for different fishing conditions.
Pros
- A comprehensive rod for a budget price
- Capable of distances of 50m+
Cons
- Lacking a lighter glass tip option to really suit natural stillwater venues
Best allround medium feeder rod
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
The Daiwa N'zon Slim 12ft Medium Feeder is a versatile choice for both commercial and natural waters. Built with high-modulus carbon for strength and sensitivity, this three-piece rod excels at casting distances of 50 meters and beyond, comfortably handling carp while also capable of launching up to 120g feeders at shorter ranges.
Its slim profile and convenient 3 pieces (127cm packed length) make it perfect for anglers on the move. Featuring premium components like SeaGuide guides and a comfortable cork and EVA handle, this rod is designed for all-day comfort and performance
Pros
- Slim blank gives finesse but also holds power through the middle
- Multi-functional, easily handle method feeder on commercials to big payloads upto 50m
Cons
- An additional lighter tip would have just offered that little more versatility for flatter calmer conditions
Best carp medium feeder rod
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The MAP Parabolix Pro 12ft SUV, SUV meaning Stepped Up Version, represents an advancement of its predecessors, offering high levels of versatility for modern anglers.
The SUV offers 20% more power whilst remaining sensitive enough to deal with shy biting silvers. Engineered with advanced carbon technology, the rods deliver exceptional performance across a wide spectrum of fishing conditions.
The parabolic, non-locking action ensures smooth, progressive power, while the carefully designed handle provides exceptional grip, even in wet conditions.
Whether you're fishing commercials, rivers, or stillwaters, the Parabolix Pro 12ft SUV offers a balance of power, sensitivity, and control.
Pros
- True parabolic action synonymous with the MAP Parabolix range
- Butt has a unique grip material to ensure secure handling whatever the conditions
Cons
- SUV model may prove to be a little too powerful for some anglers preferences
Best medium feeder rod for rivers
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The Drennan Vertex 11ft Medium Feeder is a sensible choice for anglers seeking a balanced feeder rod capable of handling a variety of species and conditions. This versatile rod excels in both stillwaters and rivers, targeting bream, skimmers, or chub with equal finesse.
Crafted from high-modulus carbon, the Vertex 11ft Medium delivers a progressive action that effortlessly absorbs powerful fish runs while maintaining excellent hook-holding capabilities. Accurately casting feeders up to 45g to distances of around 40-50 meters is a breeze, making it ideal for a wide range of fishing scenarios.
With its adaptable design, the Vertex 11ft Medium accommodates various line preferences and fishing styles. The included 1.5oz and 2.5oz feeder tips provide a solid foundation, while additional tip options offer a more situation specific choice, ensuring optimal performance in all conditions.
Pros
- The progressive action gives a real sensitivity to the rod, detecting the shyest bites
- Supplied with glass and carbon tips to give options to suit many angling situations
Cons
- May not be adequate where larger carp are the target
Best Commercial Medium Feeder Rod
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
Drennan Acolyte Plus 12ft Feeder is powerful yet refined suited to targeting a wide range of species from bream and tench to hard-fighting carp. Its slim, responsive blank delivers excellent casting accuracy, effortlessly launching feeders up to 60g to distances of 60 meters plus.
Perfect for commercial fisheries and natural waters alike, this two-piece rod combines portability with outstanding performance. Equipped with three interchangeable carbon tips, anglers can adapt to varying conditions and fish sizes.
The parabolic action ensures smooth fights with even the largest fish, while the comfortable cork handle and reliable components provide all-day comfort.
Pros
- Supplied in equal 6ft pieces for easy storage and transport
- Supplied with 3 Acolyte tips that give complete flexibility to adapt the rod to suit the conditions
Cons
- Falls a little short on power when pushing further than 60m
Best Method Medium Feeder Rod
www.ebay.co.uk
Designed in collaboration with top feeder anglers, the Hi-S Power Special Feeder range represents the pinnacle of feeder rod technology. These rods are meticulously crafted to deliver exceptional casting accuracy and progressive power, making them ideal for mastering the art of feeder fishing.
The heart of the Hi-S Power Special lies in its advanced carbon construction. Low resin content ensures a light, responsive blank that loads smoothly, preventing explosive casts that can damage delicate Method feeders. The seamlessly integrated hollow quiver tips, made from the same carbon material as the blank, provide a harmonious transition of power, enhancing both casting performance and fish-playing capabilities
The 11 ft two-piece feeder special offs a multi-function tool to suit different fishing styles and preferences. It boasts a slimmer profile and a slightly more progressive action, making them excellent choices for anglers seeking a refined feel.
Pros
- Available in abbreviated or cork handles
- Forward facing anti-frap rings will ensure no wrap overs
Cons
- Premium rod, with premium features may be out of some anglers budget
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What to look for in a medium feeder rod
When it comes to choosing a medium feeder rod, there are a few things to consider. Fish won't usually hook themselves with a traditional feeder set-up, so you'll need to watch the tip to spot and hit bites. A 1oz rated tip is great for calm conditions, while 2oz-3oz might be used in wind, tow, or on a river. The more tips the rod comes with, the more versatile it'll be. The taper of the tips is important too. Soft tips which bend right through offer little resistance to shy-biting fish, but faster taper tips show up tiny tentative bites better and allow you to cast harder and further.
If you generally fish in the same venue or a handful of venues and you know what sort of distances you'll be fishing, then try to get a rod to match the style of angling you do. If you only need to cast 40m, a rod that will cast 90m is almost useless to you as the extra power will make it cumbersome to use at the shorter distances and may lead to hook pulls. A shorter, softer rod of around 10-11ft would be ideal, if you do fish venues, you need the extra distance, then go for a rod 11-12ft with an increased casting weight.
If you aren't fishing for carp, you can sacrifice some of the power to get a rod that will have a much more thorough action, this will reduce the pressure on smaller fish like skimmers and roach and help eliminate hook pulls, which can be notorious if you're tackle is too powerful.
Glossary
Blank: The hollow carbon fibre tube that the rod is made from, attached to which are the guides and handle.
Guides: The rings that line the length of the rod that the line passes through.
Reel Seat: The part of the handle that your reel attaches to. Almost all UK coarse rods have screw-down reel seats, where the fore-grip on the handle rotates and closes the seat to hold the reel in place.
Casting Weight: Depending on the manufacturer, it is either the best suited or maximum total weight in grams that you should cast with your rod. You will normally find your rod will perform best at around half its total casting weight. E.g. a 120g feeder rod best suits a 60g feeder.
Quiver tip: The very top (often brightly coloured) section of a feeder rod, used to identify bites, which bends and 'quivers' when a fish moves off with the bait. Like the test curve of a rod, quiver tips are often rated in test curves measured in ounces.
Fish playing action: A way of describing how good a rod performs when reeling in a fish. A rod with a good fish-playing action will provide plenty of cushion to a thrashing fish, preventing hook pulls (lost fish) and line breakages.
Progressive Action. A rod that quickly powers up from its tip through to its middle area, providing the ideal coordinated playing action for powerful fish.
Tip action: This normally applies to traditional three-piece float rods that need a 'tip or tippy action' to be able to whip out light floats when casting, as well as pick-up line very quickly on the strike.
Through action: A rod that has a softer top section but still produces a cushioned bend throughout its entire length, giving a good fish-playing action.
Parabolic Action: A rod that can bend throughout its length but stiffens towards its butt section, providing a controlled cushioning action when playing a fish.
Rod taper: How a rod changes in diameter along its length. A fast taper rod will typically thicken up very quickly as you move away from the tip. Although other factors come into play, like carbon types, weave and construction, typically, a fast taper rod will bend more at the tip than the butt (tip actioned).
<strong>Frequently asked questions</strong>
Should I choose a rod that will cast the furthest distance that I will want to fish?
No, you should choose a rod that best suits the distance that you want to fish at. A rod that is too long and powerful will make casting short distances with any kind of accuracy difficult and will have a poor fish-playing action. This is why all rod ranges feature models of varying lengths and powers.
What quiver tip should I use?
The tip should not only match the species and type of bite you are expecting but, more importantly, the tow and movement on the water. Selecting too light a tip will see it bend round too much due to the flow of water pulling on the line, making seeing bites difficult. Too stiff a tip will see fish dropping the bait due to the extra resistance, and shy bites hard to see. This is why most feeder rods come with several different rated quiver tips.
What is the difference between a Method feeder rod and a standard feeder rod?
With some manufacturers, there is no difference at all, whilst others provide heavier quiver tips and more powerful fish-playing actions. Generally speaking, you can use a feeder rod with any kind of feeder or bomb.
What's the difference between a commercial feeder rod and an all-round or natural venue feeder rod?
Most commercial fishery feeder rods are designed with a progressive fish playing that bends at the tip and 'powers up' along the blank as more pressure is exerted, and ideal for carp. All-round feeder rods tend to have softer 'through' or 'cushioned parabolic' fish playing actions ideal for all species of silver fish.
Author Mark Sawyer holds the position of Tackle Editor at Angling Times, boasting more than thirty years of experience working within different fields of the angling industry.