Pop The Corks
Stylish, competent and versatile—that’s Sonik’s stunning VaderX RS Cork rods summed up in a nutshell.
1. VaderX RS Cork 10ft 3lb
We’ve chosen three different models here to give a feel for the breadth of the range. This is the sole 10-footer available and it has a 3lb test curve. It certainly doesn’t feel like an after-thought and is built on the same blank with the same cosmetics as the longer rods on test. Being a 10ft rod, it has a shorter packdown size and is lighter, but it still has enough power for most situations your average carper will encounter. If you’re fishing relatively small waters, it’s more than up to the job.
2. VaderX RS Cork 12ft 3lb
I’d happily use the 10-footer for general day-ticket carp fishing, but stepping up to the 12ft 3lb model will have advantages in certain situations. Like all the rods here it has that black armoured finish, with carbon-weave detailing near the handle, and a very useful in-built line clip and that all-important cork handle. What it offers over the 10-footer of the same test curve is greater casting ability and that extra length to manoeuvre fish away from snags and close-in obstacles while retaining an enjoyable, forgiving playing action.
3. VaderX RS Cork 12ft 3.5lb
This one is a step up from the other two rods on this page. That extra half a pound of test-curve clout is very noticeable. This is a caster’s tool. The super-light M-Series guides—which adorn all the rods here—really show their worth when winding up big casts. Their lack of weight means the blank can snap back into shape a fraction quicker, aiding accuracy and distance. These are beefier than the 3lb 12-footers, so you need a bit of welly to get the most out of them, but if you have that technique then, for distance or big-PVA-bag work, these are the ones for you.
