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Normark Avenger 12-14ft & 15ft rod review
Mark Sawyer enjoys a trip down memory lane while enjoying the return of Normark to the UK rod market.
from Normark
RRP £329.99
by Mark Sawyer |
Updated on3rd December 2025 at 6.40am
Normark Avenger 12-14ft Float Rod
Drennan Acolyte Specimen Float
Daiwa Connoisseur Pro 15ft Power Float
Daiwa Theory 14ft Speci Float Rod
I’m not sure how other anglers gauge time but, for me, the passing of years is often remembered by fishing tackle releases.
With that in mind, please allow me to indulge you in a pivotal release from 45 years ago. In February 1980, things like 16m poles didn’t exist, big-carp fishing was in its infancy, commercials were things only seen on TV, and Mitchell 300, Match and 410 reels were the best around.
Most decent match rods of the time were made from fibreglass – the Milbro Enterprise and Hardy Matchmaker are two that immediately spring to mind.
But all that was about to change forever, as on Friday, February 15, 1980, I took delivery of my first carbon rod. It had to be ordered and built to spec, as they didn’t come ‘off the shelf’ back then.
The Japanese Daimaru-built blank was made for Normark and, as far as I’m aware, it was the original carbon match rod.
My diary shows that I paid £102 for the finished rod, supplied by Castaway in Banbury and dressed in Fuji guides. Incidentally, that rod had a very long and bountiful life, and as I recall, my step-dad took it when he went to live in Cyprus, where it was used to catch roach and carp from Akana Dam.
That Daimaru blank pretty much sealed a bright future for Normark, who quickly went on to successfully release the three model Titan, Avenger and Microlight 2000 range designed by Geoff Salisbury in the early nineties.
One thing that should be mentioned at this point, for those who know nothing about Normark rods, is that their essential characteristics have never changed, even when the last 3000 series was launched – the Microlight had a light action, the Titan was an all-round medium actioned rod and the Avenger was a stepped-up power model.
Sadly, for more reasons than I have space to write about, the brand faded away and seemed lost to angling and anglers… other than those who trawled websites and eBay in search of them.
All things Normark seemed abandoned forever – that was until Rapala VMC, under the guidance of co-manager Daryl Hodges, embarked on a quest to bring the rods back with a new Avenger, Titan and Microlite Legacy range.
The launch of these new Normark rods has been well documented on these pages, as well as on angling websites and online shop pages since last year. But from what I have heard on the grapevine, the new rods – which are fully spec-based on the original models, but with several key improvements, including their overall weights – have been well received and are already much sought-after.
Now, stepping away from all the dewy-eyed nostalgia, this is supposed to be a live test. Although in truth, it’s going to be a test with a bit of a twist…
It was late autumn last year when an excited Daryl Hodges called me to say he had just taken delivery of the final sample of the new Normark 14ft Avenger. Would I like to take it out for a few hours?
Daryl and I both share a fondness for wading while float fishing for chub and barbel and, when work allows, we often fish together.
Verdict
Fast-forward to the upper Trent two hours later, and I was staring down at a pristine barbel in the landing net, a fish that had battled hard in the fast-flowing water.
As for the new 14ft Avenger it was, in my opinion, simply sublime. My only ‘but’, however, wasn’t about the rod’s build, action, or performance. It was the niggling fact that nearly all the hardcore upper Trent float anglers that I know fish with 15ft float rods.
Of course, Daryl already knew this and had a model on the back burner which he duly produced from the back of the car a few weeks ago when we went fishing together again. The sneaky devil had kept quiet about this beauty!
If I thought the 14ft Avenger was superb, then this latest Avenger family member simply blew my socks off. Given that it’s a stepped-up 15ft model, it was incredibly lightweight in the hand.
Its tip produced a wickedly fast pick-up, without any post-strike movement and, under strain, it powers up through its middle section to produce a flawless fish-fighting arc.
I confidently predict that the plaudits for this rod, when it goes on sale in a few months’ time, are likely to be off the scale. If you’re in the market for an easy-to-handle long trotting rod, then I suggest you hold your horses until the blinkers come off this unbridled thoroughbred.
It’s capable of whipping line off the water’s surface in double-quick time, while playing the biggest and strongest of fish, as well as casting floats up to 20g using beefy reel lines or even braid.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT AND OTHERS FROM NORMARK HERE.
Tech Spec
- Designed for powerful species such as chub and barbel
- Sensitive tip for all-round versatility
- Exceptional control in snaggy swims
- Lightweight feel with hidden strength
- Equally at home on rivers and stillwaters
Normark Avenger 12-14ft Float Rod
Price: $329.99
Few names in float fishing carry the same weight as the Normark Avenger. It still stirs something in those who remember the golden era, when craftsmanship, feel, and finesse defined every cast. The new Avenger isn’t a tribute, it’s a true continuation of that legacy, built to the same original specifications but now refined through modern carbon technology for greater balance, recovery, and responsiveness.
Each of the first 100 rods carries a unique serial number, a subtle nod to collectors and those who still treasure their own, or their father’s original Avenger. It’s a rod that bridges generations, combining modern performance with an unmistakable soul.
Built for anglers who demand backbone without losing sensitivity, the Avenger is a master of control when trotting for chub and barbel in the snaggiest and testing swims. Yet it remains refined in the tip with rapid line pick up and offers a smooth action. Equipping it to equally catching smaller fish, whilst adapting effortlessly to the changing conditions of a river.
Equally at home punching a waggler across a stillwater as it is holding firm against a havy flowing river, the Avenger feels alive in the hand - light, poised, yet has a hidden strength reminiscent of its predecessor.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Super stiff and easy to use
- Useable at 12ft and 14ft
Cons
- For the river the 15ft model would be better
Price: $329.99
Our pick of the alternatives
Drennan Acolyte Specimen Float
Best specimen float rod
Price: $249.00
The Drennan Acolyte Specimen float rods are designed for anglers who want a rod that's both elegant and powerful. They're slimmer and better balanced than previous models, but with extra power for handling bigger fish. Imagine a rod that can handle anything from small fish on light lines to large specimens like chub, tench, barbel, and even carp. I use these rods extensively for my river fishing and they really are superb, a firm favourite of specimen anglers when using float tactics.
These rods have been tested extensively, from fast-flowing rivers to deep lakes. This means they're versatile enough for almost any situation. They're designed to give you excellent control over your line and float, especially when fishing at longer distances so you can maximise every inch or your swim, often getting where other anglers can't fish effectively.
The Acolyte Specimen rods come in 13ft, 14ft, and 15ft lengths. They're made in three sections and have a smooth, progressive action that bends through the rod. This helps to protect your line and absorb the lunges of big fish. The fast-action tip helps with casting and controlling your float. Featuring a comfortable cork handle, reliable Fuji reel seat, and high-quality guides. These rods are ideal for reel lines between 3lb and 7lb.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Smooth progressive action
- Three-piece construction for compact storage
- Unbelievably light considering their strength
Cons
- The tips can be delicate so take care when packing them away
Price: $249.00
Daiwa Connoisseur Pro 15ft Power Float
Price: £154.00
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
Wild water fans hold Daiwa’s iconic Connoisseur Match rods in the highest esteem. Benefiting from some of the best carbon cloths and technical processes, these Daiwa Connoisseur Pro rods will perform at the highest level on any still or running water.
Light and comfy in the hand, they cast crisply and cleanly, and their somewhat tippy action will cast everything from the lightest of stick floats through to the heaviest of sliders.
Viper-fast line pick-up speeds make them ideal for long trotting, so it’s little wonder the Connoisseur has a fine river fishing heritage.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fast line pick-up.
- Plenty of power.
Cons
- Better for use with low diameter lines.
Price: £154.00
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
Daiwa Theory 14ft Speci Float Rod
Price: $116.99
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
If you like your float rods with a bit of backbone and a touch of class, the Daiwa Theory 14ft Speci Float rod is right up your street. It’s the sort of rod that feels deceptively light in the hand (240g to be exact), but carries enough power and poise to handle proper river work, think chub and barbel, not just dace and roach.
At 14ft, it gives you lovely line control and balance, whether you're trotting a stick float down a pacey glide or swinging out a heavier Avon. It’s got that flawless, progressive action that makes fish-playing feel smooth and steady, even when you’re into something solid. It’ll fish happily with mainlines from 4 to 10lb, and you can drop right down to 0.14mm hooklengths if you’re fishing fine.
The build quality is exactly what you’d expect from Daiwa. Fuji Alconite stand-off guides, a proper cork handle at nearly two feet long, and a secure screw-down reel seat with a neat EVA thumb grip. Classic on the outside, modern where it counts. A rod that’ll cover a surprising range of float work, and one that feels a bit special every time you pick it up.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent line control thanks to 14ft length
- Equally at home on resevoirs or rivers
Cons
- Too long for commercial pellet waggler work
Price: $116.99
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
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.
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