Drennan Pole Line Pellet Pult

How well is it built?

Is a pole-line pult worth fussing over? The build details matter more than you'd expect, because you'll fire it hundreds of times in a match.

The pouch is moulded in a top-grade polymer that's lightweight, tough and made for long-term use, so it shouldn't split or lose its shape the way a cheap cloth pouch can.

The elastic is a long-life type made in Drennan's own factories, and it lasts much longer than natural latex. That's a real plus, because perished latex is the usual reason a match pult gets binned.

There are twin swivels at both the pouch and frame ends, four in all, and they're there to stop the elastic twisting.

The frame itself is a plain moulded Y with a rubberised grip, so it isn't fancy. For a match pult at this price, though, an 8.0 is a fair score.

Accuracy & Range

So, how far will it go? The Medium version with black elastic is the one for maximum range, and its ideal distance is 16 metres, which covers pretty much any pole line you'll fish.

The Light version uses aqua elastic and a smaller swivel pouch, and it's built for tight groupings of loose feed at shorter range.

Tight grouping is what counts on the pole, because pellets spread over a wide area pull fish off the line. The swivels should let the pouch release cleanly rather than twisting off to one side, which helps each pouchful land in the same spot.

On a commercial, a tight spread also helps keep carp and F1s feeding over the hookbait rather than chasing pellets all over the peg.

It won't reach a long pellet waggler line like the Guru Incredible 'Pult can. For pole-line feeding, though, accuracy at 16 metres is what matters, and I think the 8.5 is well earned.

Ease of Use

The ergonomic pull cord gives you a firm hold on the pouch even with wet or cold hands, which is a real help on a winter match when your fingers are numb. The rubberised grip on the handle does the same job for your other hand, and the pult can be fired from any angle.

With twin swivels at each end, it's virtually tangle free, so you shouldn't be stopping to unwind the elastic between pouchfuls. That matters when you're feeding every put-in and your eyes need to stay on the float.

With aqua elastic on the Light and black on the Medium, it's easy to grab the right one from the side tray if you carry both.

To be fair, there's nothing to adjust, so you need the right elastic for your line from the start. Once you've chosen Light or Medium, though, it's about as simple as a catapult gets, and the 8.5 reflects that.

Is it good value for money?

What does a proper pole-line pult cost? Not much at all. It sits among the cheaper catapults you'll find, a little under the Preston Dura Slip, and you still get four swivels, a polymer pouch and long-life elastic that should outlast a latex one.

The Drennan Match Catapults cost a touch less, so you're paying slightly more for the swivel set-up and the tougher pouch, and I'd say that's money well spent if you feed pellets regularly. Long-life elastic also means fewer replacements over a season, which adds to the saving.

I'd recommend it to match and pleasure anglers who feed pellets, casters or other small baits on a pole line out to around 16 metres.

If you also need to feed a waggler line further out, add the Guru Incredible 'Pult or a Waggler Range model from the Drennan Match Catapults to the bag.