Rods

With three ranges of carp rods on the market, how long before you join the Wolf Pack?

We give you the lowdown on arguably the best rod of 2018.

The Tackle Box’s Lee Jackson says: A good quality and very affordable carp rod range built on natural gloss grey carbon blanks with classic cosmetics, including full-length cork handles and ‘fold-friendly’ ringing for safer and more convenient storage and transportation. All of the rods in the range have a progressive action for crisp handling and all-round casting and fish-playing performance and benefit from The Tackle Box’s exclusive lifelong warranty. The range comprises 12ft, 10ft and 9ft rods, all of which have a 3lb test curve, and a 12ft 4lb test curve spod/marker rod. LEE JACKSON’s VERDICT “An awesome rod for quality and affordability” 9/10 £44.

There is no hiding away from the recent trend in getting up close and personal with your quarry utilising time and space-saving short compact setups. At the forefront of this recent craze were without doubt the Dwarf and Scope ranges from Nash. Well, furthering its claim on this market, it is proud to release the new versions of the Dwarf rod range. Starting from a miniscule 6ft 2lb model they are also available in 9ft and 10ft lengths with test curves up to 3.

When you think custom-built rods, or even quality rods for that matter, Harrison has to be near the top of your list and with a prestige and undisputed reputation in the field it is clear to see why. Designed under a strict set of guidelines from the dedicated team members at Planet Carp, they have done all the hard work for you and these easy to use casting rods are not only a concept but have been finished surpassing all expectations and really are items of beauty. Unlike the big boys of the casting world, the likes of the untameable Torrix and the insane Trebuchet, these rods can be compressed by the average carp angler to help put yards on their cast and could even offer ranges in excess of 180 yards plus. Once you’ve got to grips with them it will seem so effortless you will wonder why you never tried them sooner.

This year has seen the rise of the mobile angler, creeping around urban settings, catching the bus or just in a bid to travel light and keep on the move. Well Kodex have answered back with this tidy four-piece compact rod. With a test curve of 3lb it is ample for the majority of fishing situations you will be faced with and will deal with the rigours of modern carp angling thanks to the quality of fittings used throughout. Breaking down to a minimal 42 inches, the rod can be transported with ease and set up to a 9ft length or with the extra section a wholesome 10ft.

GREAT VALUE! This abbreviated-handle variation of Wychwood’s hugely popular 101 series of rods is available in a limited run and only for a certain period of time. Once they’re gone that’s it, so I guess they are a limited edition carp rod, and all for under £60 each. As with the C-101 and D-101, with their cork and Duplon handles, respectively (see what they’ve done there?) they boast extremely impressive blanks for a carp rod in this price range. Never has a carp rod represented more obviously the boundaries that are constantly being pushed in this ‘budget’ price bracket and the results are extremely impressive.