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Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole review: The true 16m pole that can do it all

Drennan's new flagship Rigidex Pro pole combines exceptional rigidity, strength and versatility with a true 16m length. We put the all-round pole through its paces on the River Trent and discover just how adaptable it is.

from Drennan

RRP  £2499.99

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Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

© Angling Times

by Dan Webb |

Updated on22nd October 2026 at 11.43am

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Last year, I live tested a unique pole – a pole completely different from everything else available on the market.

In a country where commercials are king, this 13m breath of fresh air looked to me to have been designed just as much for natural water fishing as commercials. The most ‘all-round’ pole I think I’d ever seen. And it left me wanting more of the same!

Thirteen months later, my wish was granted.

The Rigidex Pro not only carries forward everything I loved about the original Rigidex, but Drennan has built on it and brought in a flagship 16m model.

For commercial fishing, you get 2.4m top kits in a choice of either Match or Carp and 1.7m shallow kits – the optimum lengths for hollow and hybrid elastics when used with pullers.

For natural water fishing, you could use the 2.4m Match kits, but you’d be best advised to use the specially designed 3m ones that come with the natural water packages.

Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

The Rigidex Pro survived its Trent ordeal unscathed © Angling Times

Not only does this longer length help when tackling deeper venues, it also changes the feel of the pole, making it lighter and faster handling for catching smaller species.

Is the pole still 16m with a carp kit in, though? The answer is yes, and for a very clever reason!

The commercial packages come with a longer No3 section than the natural water packages, meaning that no matter which option you choose, the pole is still 16m without a dolly butt. Hardly any poles boast this. In fact, I measured the length of the dolly butt, which at 60cm, means that once fitted, it gives you a huge 16.6m pole!

With a short No3 also available, that gives the angler plenty of options. To keep things simple, most anglers will probably use the No3 that is supplied with their pole, but there is nothing to stop you using one of the different length ones.

Using the commercial No3 with a long Match kit, for example, not only gives you an even longer top-3 for very deep water, but also makes the pole feel a little lighter, though ‘whippier’ at the top end – an action that some anglers like.

Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

In terms of stiffness, the pole lived up to its name! © Angling Times

In reverse, you could use the standard length No3 that comes with the Match packages with your Carp kits.

This will make the pole feel a little stiffer, but not reduce its length as much as using the short 3.

The final advantage of the trio of No3 section length options is for the river or deep water angler, who will be able to use 3m Match kits and 2.4m Carp kits on the same line, by using the correct length third sections with each.

I reviewed the original Rigidex with the Carp kits on a weedy lake full of tench. The Pro takes the same top kits, although it has a different taper after this, meaning it is not interchangeable. It does, however, have the same recognisable feel. I saw this as an excuse to take the Pro to the Trent at Burton Joyce to give it a go in the 3m Match kit configuration.

Balling in some groundbait at 13m with a dolly butt inserted – which, due to its true length, would mean fishing with the 14.5m section attached on many rival poles – I then loosefed heavily with bronze maggots.

Using long lines to explore the peg, I found I could catch decent-sized dace shallow. Unshipping at the top-4, which is a substantial 5.85m length, I was having a fantastic day. With rigidity to rival some of the most expensive poles on the market, and loads of strength in those middle sections to withstand substantial strikes and big section shipping, the pole was ticking every box... until a huge pike engulfed my dace, that is!

Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

Balling in groundbait with the pole sat safely in its rests © Angling Times

Holding the full 13m, plus dolly, in the air, I managed to keep it out of the weed before it bit me off mid-river. A scary experience with a pole, but even with a lightweight Match kit attached, the Rigidex Pro was more than up to the job.

Continued pike activity spoiled my chance of catching any bigger roach over the groundbait, so I continued with the dace shallow, catching around 12lb in three hours’ fishing.

If you are a natural water angler reading this, you might already be sold. But does the Rigidex Pro offer anything different for the commercial-focused angler? Well, yes. The obvious is the 16m length without a dolly butt. The second is the feel of the top kits. Most 2.4m top kits on the market are quite narrow, while the base of the Rigidex kits are quite chunky – much like holding a No3 section on many poles. This really fast taper gives the kits a stiff and very strong feeling.

As for an angler who does a bit of everything like me, you’ll love that it’s a pole that can not only be used anywhere, but one where you can swap the top kits and even the feel and action with the multiple No3 sections to suit the venue and your personal preference – a level of function and adaptability that the serious angler will find invaluable.

Big fish or small, commercials, lakes or rivers – this is a pole that can do it all.

Price: £2,499.99, www.drennantackle.com

Our verdict

Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

© Angling Times

Choice of 1.7m, 2.4m and unique 3m top kits.

Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

© Angling Times

Choice of three lengths of third section.

Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

© Angling Times

EVA capped extra-strong reversible dolly butts are provided as standard.

Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

© Angling Times

Joint alignment system.

Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

© Angling Times

Roller puller system fitted on carp and shallow kits.

Bankside test verdict

+ Massively strong with superb rigidity, it’s a modern pole for all disciplines
+ A true 16m pole – add the supplied dolly butt to fish at 16.6m
+ Change action and use with a choice of three lengths of No3 section
+ Multiple package options in 13m, 14.5m and 16m lengths and top kit finish choices – an incredible 16 in total!

- While Carp and shallow kits have pullers fitted, Match kits are wrapped and ready for fitting if required

Tech specs

Drennan Rigidex Pro Pole

This bag of dace came to the Rigidex Pro fitted with a light Match kit © Angling Times

Packages - Due in shops early November!

MATCH PACKAGE: 13M, 14.5M OR 16M

DEEP WATER PACKAGE: 13M, 14.5M OR 16M

CARP PACKAGE: 13M, 14.5M OR 16M – IN EITHER STANDARD OR GHOST

SHALLOWPACKAGE: 13M, 14.5M OR 16M – IN EITHER STANDARD OR GHOST

SPARES AVAILABLE:

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