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Drennan Acolyte Medium Feeder rod review
Dan Webb takes a look at Drennan’s new offering, which is a little different to most other feeder rods you’ll find in your local tackle shop...
from Drennan
RRP £259.95
by Dan Webb |
Updated on12th January 2026 at 9.35am
Drennan Acolyte 13ft Medium Feeder
Matrix Aquos Ultra-X 12ft (3.6m) Feeder Rod
Daiwa N'Zon Slim 12ft Medium Feeder
Daiwa Tournament-S 13ft Feeder
Ask anyone why rods come in different lengths, and the most likely answer that you’ll get will be it’s so you can cast different distances. The longer the rod, the further you can cast with it, right? While this is essentially correct, as with most things in life, it isn’t quite as simple as that.
Enter the Drennan Acolyte 13ft Medium Feeder. Its substantial length means you would presume it could cast to the moon, and although it does cast superbly well, it is not what I would call an out-and-out distance rod.
The first giveaway is the guides. It stands to reason that for casting big distances, the guides should be extra-large, not only to reduce friction and therefore extend the cast, but also to allow big shockleader knots to pass through them with ease. The guides on this rod may be large and lightweight, but they aren’t huge.
The guides one the rod make casting so much better
The second clue is the Acolyte tips of 1.5oz, 2oz and 2.5oz. Not only are the ratings a little on the light side for a distance rod, but the slow taper is designed far more with bite indication in mind than for survival on a big cast.
Subtle hints go out of the window, though, when you pick it up… it’s beautifully light, slim and boasts a forgiving, yet crisp action - not powerful and brutish.
There are some reserves of power lower down, but it’s definitely not a rod for gutsy, all-or-nothing thrashings with the aim of out-casting everyone else on the lake. It’s more a rod for enjoying the session and immersing yourself in the battle against your aquatic adversary.
Enough of telling you what it isn’t, let me tell you what it is. This rod is perfect for situations where you require some extra length, but not necessarily extra distance.
The first instance that springs to mind is on slow to medium-paced rivers. Placing you rod high in the air to keep as much line out of the flow as possible is a great way of allowing you to fish with a lighter feeder and a more refined set-up.
Such venues often have steep banks and tall vegetation behind, where the extra length helps with casting, making it ideal for use on drains too. Add to that the nearside vegetation that fish might want to dive into, a disaster that a longer rod can prevent, and we have painted the perfect situation for this beautiful, if unusual and virtually bespoke rod.
The rod is very forgiving
The verdict
My test venue, a large reservoir, presented another ideal scenario. As the water starts to cool, a lot of fish are found in the deeper water off the dam wall. A modest cast of just 30m puts you into the deepest water, but tackling this with a shorter rod can prove tricky due to the steep slab wall behind, which is prone to trying to steal hooks from you!
Not only does the extra length of a 13ft rod give you a little more clearance, but the extra leverage from its length allows you to cast effectively without bringing the rod quite so far behind.
In practice, this worked beautifully. Despite the wall behind, casting was a dream, with pinpoint accuracy a doddle. The subtle 1.5oz tip gently came to life with each bite, then slowly bent over into a beautiful sweeping curve that stretched right into the heart of the rod on the strike. Even with the amount of fishing I do, that moment of connection to a wild creature still takes my breath away!
Something else to be aware of is, although this rod reels lovely and forgiving when playing fish, the power in the lower end, along with its additional length, means that it does cast surprisingly well too. After an afternoon session of catching bream, skimmers and a few good-sized roach, I ended the day by unclipping and giving it a workout. I was amazed to find how easily I could reach 70m using just a small 44g rocket feeder. This was a range Drennan stated was possible, but I wanted to verify it for myself. This might not be anything special for a distance rod, but for a model just under this rating, I was hugely impressed.
This leads me on nicely to its second niche use. Let’s say you are faced with a large, shallow lake where the fish live a long way out, and you might need to cast a small feeder a considerable way.
With a powerful, controlled cast, you can do it with this rod, meaning you can benefit from the lighter action and more subtle tips.
In calm conditions, I cannot think of a finer rod I would want to do this with.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT AND OTHERS FROM DRENNAN HERE.
Tech specs
- 13ft/3.96m length
- Three-piece construction
- 4ft 6ins/1.37m total pack-down length
- Full cork handle
- Supplied with 1.5oz, 2oz and 2.5oz Acolyte carbon feeder tips
- Maximum casting weight 70g
- Capable of casting distances up to around 70m
- Suited to mono reel lines of 5lb-10lb and braid of 0.08mm-0.12mm diameter
1. Drennan Acolyte 13ft Medium Feeder
Best medium feeder rod for rivers
Price: $259.95
The latest addition the popular Drennan Acolyte range of rods is the Acolyte Medium Feeder. It’s light, slim and crisp in the hand, but it’s the fish-playing action that really makes it stand out. The blank sensitivity and cushioning gives you confidence with lighter hooklengths and small hooks, which is exactly what you want when you’re chasing silverfish and bream on the feeder.
In the Acolyte line-up it sits just below the Distance Feeder models for outright power, but the trade-off is a nicer, more responsive feel. You still get useful reserves lower down the blank, helped by enlarged, carefully placed guides that improve line flow for distance and accuracy. It’s rated to feeders up to 70g and is capable at 70m-plus, which covers a lot of real-world fishing.
It comes with 1.5oz, 2oz and 2.5oz slim Acolyte carbon feeder tips, plus a full cork handle and Acolyte DPS screw-down reel seat. Best matched with 5lb to 10lb mono or 0.08mm to 0.12mm braid.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Tippy action makes it perfect for natural waters
- Also suited to slow medium paced rivers
Cons
- Would like to see a glass tip that would suit small rivers supplied
Price: $259.95
Our pick of the alternatives
2. Matrix Aquos Ultra-X 12ft (3.6m) Feeder Rod
Price: $64.99
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
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 & Cons
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
Price: $64.99
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
3. Daiwa N'Zon Slim 12ft Medium Feeder
Price: $89.99
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 & Cons
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
Price: $89.99
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
4. Daiwa Tournament-S 13ft Feeder
Price: $449.99
Daiwa Tournament- S 13ft 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 13ft 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 & Cons
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
Price: $449.99
Author Dan Webb first became involved in angling journalism in 2015 and has worked as Tackle Tester at Angling Times since April 2021. He is a fanatical all-round match angler and former England Youth International.
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