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Terminal tackle · Olivettes · Our take
Drennan In-Line Olivettes
In-Line Olivettes · 0.2g–12g range
A straightforward way to concentrate your float rig’s loading, with engraved sizes, a discreet bronze finish and enough weight options for delicate pole work through to much heavier setups.
- Weight range runs from 0.2g to 12g.
- Streamlined shape with a non-flash camo bronze finish.
- Each olivette has its size engraved for identification.
- Mainline threads through the centre; soft silicone tube is supplied.
Make sure it’s the right one. These are Drennan’s centre-threaded In-Line Olivettes, secured on the mainline using shot or float stops.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A useful, thoughtfully detailed float-rig component: strong on weight choice and easy identification, with the usual in-line trade-off when changing the bulk.
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance8.9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.1/10
- Ease of Use8.6/10
- Value for Money8.5/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Pole anglers fishing a positive bulk-and-droppers setup. Concentrates most of the loading neatly while leaving smaller shot to control the hookbait’s final descent.
- Anglers building rigs for deeper or moving water. The broad weight range gives you options for heavier float rigs when conditions demand more control.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers targeting fish feeding slowly through the water. Spread shot offers more freedom to create a gradual fall through a larger part of the swim.
- Anyone wanting instant changes to the main bulk weight. An in-line olivette can’t simply be pinched on and off like split shot.
The lowdown
Introducing the Drennan In-Line Olivettes
A straightforward way to concentrate your float rig’s loading, with engraved sizes, a discreet bronze finish and enough weight options for delicate pole work through to much heavier setups.
- Weight range runs from 0.2g to 12g.
- Streamlined shape with a non-flash camo bronze finish.
- Each olivette has its size engraved for identification.
- Mainline threads through the centre; soft silicone tube is supplied.
Quick verdict
A proper little rig-box staple
Drennan In-Line Olivettes make sense when you want a compact bulk rather than a string of shot. The engraved weights are dead handy, the range is broad, and the centre-threaded layout keeps things straightforward.
They’re less flexible than loose shot when you want to spread the loading or change the main bulk weight. For getting a pole rig down positively while keeping control over the final fall with droppers, though, they’re a cracking option.
A useful, thoughtfully detailed float-rig component: strong on weight choice and easy identification, with the usual in-line trade-off when changing the bulk.
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 8.9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.1/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.6/10
- Value for Money
- 8.5/10
The streamlined body, engraved weight and non-flash finish give this simple component useful practical detail.
The compact bulk and broad weight range suit positive float presentations across varied loading requirements.
It can help deliver the right presentation, but bulk position and dropper layout matter more than the olivette alone.
Marked weights and straightforward threading help rig building, although swapping the bulk requires unthreading.
Multiple weights per pack and useful identification details make a sensible rig-box purchase if you regularly fish olivette setups.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Drennan In-Line Olivettes
An olivette isn’t the glamorous bit of your tackle box, mate, but get the loading right and the whole float rig starts making more sense. Drennan In-Line Olivettes put a useful chunk of weight into one streamlined body, rather than asking you to bunch a load of split shot together. Your mainline runs through the centre, and you hold the weight where you want it with shot or float stops. Simple stuff, but properly useful when you want a positive, tidy setup.
The main reason to reach for one is control over how your rig gets down. A concentrated bulk helps take the rig towards the feeding zone, while smaller droppers below let you shape the final part of the hookbait’s fall. That can suit deeper swims, moving water or sessions where you want to get through upper layers more promptly. It isn’t a magic way to dodge every small fish, mind. You’re changing the presentation, not putting an invisibility cloak over your maggot.
There’s plenty of choice here, with weights running from 0.2g right up to 12g. That covers a broad spread of float loading requirements, rather than just one narrow style of pole fishing. The important bit is choosing for the swim and the rig, not assuming heavier automatically means better. Depth, flow, tow and where the fish are feeding all matter. If the bites are coming as the bait settles slowly, a hefty bulk charging down through them could be exactly the wrong move.
Drennan has kept the practical details nicely straightforward. The shape is streamlined, the finish is non-flash camo bronze, and each olivette has its size engraved on it. That last touch is especially welcome when you’re sorting rig bits and two weights look annoyingly similar. You can identify what you’re threading on rather than playing guessing games. The muted finish is a sensible bit of discretion too, although there’s no need to pretend a bronze weight alone is going to turn a blank into a bag-up.
For a typical bulk-and-droppers arrangement, leave yourself some loading to play with below the olivette. If you use up the float’s whole stated capacity with the main bulk, adding droppers can take you past the trim you wanted. Better to choose the bulk with the complete rig in mind, then finish the loading in water. A shotting tube gets you started at home; checking in the swim gets the float sitting how you actually want it. Don’t forget the hook and bait can affect that final trim.
Where you put the bulk matters as much as which weight you buy. Bringing it closer to the hook generally gives a more direct, positive presentation; setting it farther away gives the lower rig more room to settle. Neither is the automatic winner. Start with a sensible arrangement for the depth and species, then respond to what the float tells you. Missed bites, indications on the drop and changing tow are reasons to think about positioning, not just keep chucking another pinch of bait in.
The compromise is that an in-line weight isn’t as quick to swap as loose shot. You thread it onto the mainline before completing the lower rig, so changing to another olivette means some rebuilding. Soft silicone tube is supplied, and you’ll need a suitable shot or stop arrangement to retain the weight. Make sure it stays put without being brutal to fine line. If you regularly change between very different float loadings, carrying a few ready-made rigs is much less faff than rebuilding everything mid-session.
Pack quantities step down as the weights get larger: six for the smallest sizes, then five, four and finally three in the heavier groups. Bear that in mind when stocking up for a rig-making evening. Overall, these suit anglers who know they want a compact bulk and appreciate clearly marked weights. They’re not a replacement for every shotting pattern, especially when fish want a slow fall through the water. But for a tidy, purposeful float rig with droppers doing the delicate work underneath, they’re a very sensible little purchase.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Weight range
- 0.2g–12g
- Shape and finish
- Streamlined; non-flash camo bronze
- Identification
- Size engraved on each olivette
- Line attachment
- Centre-threaded; secured using shot or float stops
- Included
- Soft silicone tube
- Pack quantities
- 0.2–0.4g: 6; 0.5–1.75g: 5; 2–4.5g: 4; 5–12g: 3, across the available sizes
Specs checked with Drennan, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Get the bulk right, then fine-tune the fall
The useful bit isn’t simply adding weight. It’s concentrating that weight where it helps your presentation, while leaving room for smaller dropper shot below.
Choose an olivette that leaves some of your float’s loading available for droppers and trimming. Matching the olivette alone to the number on the float can leave you with nowhere to go.
The setup
Closer look: one compact bulk, plenty of weight options
What you’re buying is a centre-threaded float-rig weight with a streamlined profile. It takes the place of a cluster of bulk shot, rather than replacing every smaller shot on the rig. The engraved size makes identifying it straightforward, and the non-flash camo bronze finish keeps the appearance understated.
Soft silicone tube is supplied, with shot or float stops used to keep the olivette in position. Choose retainers that suit your mainline diameter and check for movement after adjustment. On fine pole line, squeezing retaining shot harder and harder isn’t the answer; inspect the line and rebuild if it’s damaged.
Worth knowing. The float’s marked loading is a starting point, not a reason to skip checking the finished rig. Leave capacity for droppers and trimming, then check how much bristle remains showing with the complete setup.
On the bank
Who it suits: anglers who want a positive descent
These make most sense when a bulk-and-droppers pattern already fits your fishing. Think pole rigs for fish feeding lower in the swim, deeper venues where you want the rig to settle efficiently, or moving water where sufficient loading helps keep the presentation manageable. Pick the float and loading for the conditions first, then choose the olivette.
They’re also handy if you build rigs in batches. Clearly engraved weights take some of the fiddling out of getting the right bulk onto each one. Keep the smaller shot adjustable so you can change the final fall without needing to replace the olivette every time the fish get a bit fussy.
If you’re catching on the drop or deliberately feeding little and often to draw fish up, don’t force an olivette rig into the job. A spread-shot pattern may give you a better presentation. Equally, dedicated carp legering calls for its own loading arrangements; these are float-rig components, not substitutes for carp leads.
Rig-box questions
FAQs in full: fitting, loading and pack sizes
How do you fit one? Thread the mainline through the central opening before completing the lower rig, then retain it with suitable shot or float stops. Check that everything holds securely and that the line remains sound. Unlike split shot, the olivette has to come off the end of the line when you want to replace it.
Should its weight match the float? For a bulk-and-droppers setup, you’ll normally want the olivette to provide only part of the total loading. The remaining capacity gives you room for smaller shot and fine adjustment. There isn’t one perfect bulk-to-dropper split for every swim, so let the presentation you need guide the choice.
How many are supplied? You get six in each pack of 0.2g, 0.3g or 0.4g olivettes. Available sizes from 0.5g through 1.75g have five per pack; 2g through 4.5g have four; and 5g through 12g have three. Check the size you’re ordering rather than assuming every packet contains the same number.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Wide choice of weights for different float loads and swims.
- Engraved sizes make sorting the rig box much easier.
- Compact bulk avoids bunching lots of shot together.
- Discreet non-flash camo bronze finish.
- Can be positioned using shot or float stops.
Worth knowing
- Changing the olivette means unthreading and rebuilding the lower part of the rig.
- A concentrated bulk isn’t as adaptable as spread shot for a slow, natural fall.
- Larger sizes come in smaller pack quantities.
Want one?
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01How do you fit Drennan In-Line Olivettes?
How do you fit Drennan In-Line Olivettes?
Thread the mainline through the centre before finishing the lower rig, then secure the olivette in position using suitable shot or float stops. Soft silicone tube is supplied. Check that your chosen retaining arrangement grips properly without damaging the line.
02Should the olivette match the float’s stated loading?
Should the olivette match the float’s stated loading?
Not necessarily. For a bulk-and-droppers rig, choose an olivette that leaves room for dropper shot and final trimming. Check the completed rig in water rather than relying only on the number printed on the float.
03How many come in a pack?
How many come in a pack?
The 0.2g, 0.3g and 0.4g sizes come in packs of six. Available sizes from 0.5g to 1.75g come in fives, those from 2g to 4.5g in fours, and those from 5g to 12g in threes.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a proper little rig-box staple. The strongest reasons to choose it are wide choice of weights for different float loads and swims. and engraved sizes make sorting the rig box much easier.; the main trade-off is changing the olivette means unthreading and rebuilding the lower part of the rig..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Wide choice of weights for different float loads and swims.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Pole anglers fishing a positive bulk-and-droppers setup: Concentrates most of the loading neatly while leaving smaller shot to control the hookbait’s final descent.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “Changing the olivette means unthreading and rebuilding the lower part of the rig.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Drennan In-Line Olivettes
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Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Drennan In-Line Olivettes. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
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