Spod and Spomb rods over £150

One of these rods in the right hands can have a dramatic effect on catch results; not only enabling the sometimes long-range dispatch of bait, but also maintaining a steady flow of bait to the ‘feeding-zone’ to hold fish for longer periods. To tolerate such heavy loads, strength within the rod is obviously a key factor, but is just one of many. A lightweight feel to the rod is also important, as you’ll often be casting the rod repeatedly for lengthy spells. So a good balance between elements such as strength, weight, feel or grip, plus rod recovery and action are vitally important where the ultimate accuracy of the cast is concerned.

We have 21 rods to trial, varying in prices from as little as £59.99 going up to a wallet-denting £299.99! Scroll to the bottom of the page for links to see how the rods on test under £100 and under £150 fared. As always, we began the test by taking a look at the rod features, things such as the ringing and guides, as well as other specifications like the test curve. Any names or graphics were then taped over to reduce ‘brand-association’ before we handed the rods over to our test team; three anglers who spent the day putting these rods through their paces, aiming at marker floats at distances of 50, 75 and 100yds. The guys then reported back their thoughts and findings.

Our team of testers, from left to right, John Rennie, Adam Spindley and Wayne Bateman

To ensure there was no ‘brand association’ to influence the team, we taped up all the graphics on the rods

Over £150

Fox Horizon XT Spod

Built on a full 1K carbon blank, the XT Spod Rod from Fox is built to match the appearance of the Horizon XT range. Designed with a 5lb test curve for casting heavy spods at long-range, it sports understated graphics, Slik guides, black cappings and tapered butt grip then complete the Horizon XT look.

The Statistics
Test curve: 5lb
Length of rod: 12ft
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: All-round spod rod
RRP £199.99; foxint.com

Key Tester Comments
Wayne: “This rod had a slightly softer tip than some of the other rods, but it didn’t affect the rod hitting all the distances easily with accuracy. I’m not sure the rod worked best with the heavier loads because of the tip, but that did add to the accuracy – you couldn’t fault it with a medium spod or Spomb.” “I liked this rod,” revealed John. “It was well balanced and therefore held very good accuracy. I like the handle feel… yeah, everything was good.” “I’d agree,” remarks Adam, “good feel and balance – just a little softer to some of the others, but that wasn’t a fault.”

Nash Scope 10ft 4.5lb TC

This rod sits at the extreme end of the Scope range of compact rods from Nash – not only suitable for tackling challenging situations as a carp rod, but also able to complement a set of softer versions of the Scope range as a dual-purpose spod and marker rod. Featuring a full shrink-wrap handle and Fuji reel seat.

The Statistics
Test curve: Not stated
Length of rod: 10ft
Butt ring size: 40mm
Suggested use: Compact dual-purpose marker and spod rod
RRP £197.99; nashtackle.co.uk

Key Tester Comments
“Bit of a weird one,” remarks Adam, “I’m not sure what to make of it, it’s a nice rod and I can see to a degree why you’d have one, I wouldn’t want to put it at any range, but it’s not made for that. The rod is very stiff so at 50 and 75yds the accuracy was very good.” “I agree with Adam,” states Wayne. “I’m not sure about this rod, but I was hitting the first two markers with pinpoint accuracy, and it did cope with the hundred-yards okay.” “I also liked this rod,” adds John. “I could hit the 100yd mark every time.”

Harrison Trebuchet Spod

This rod has been designed as an extreme range spod rod where distance outweighs any other consideration. To achieve this, the rod is built upon a 1K with overlaying unidirectional carbon and lightweight carbon scrims for added strength. A Fuji 20DPS reel seat and Kigan 3D ring set then add to this classy look.

The Statistics
Test curve: Not stated
Length of rod: 13ft
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: All-round spod rod
RRP £299.00; harrisonrods.co.uk

Key Tester Comments
Wayne: “This was an out-and-out, very powerful casting rod, it was difficult to control at 50yds, because it’s so powerful – it just wants to cast! Whacking it to 100yds and over was easy and super-accurate.” Adam adds, “Yes, it’s a heavy rod that casts very, very far. A very good blank with a nice finish, a little bit thick for my liking, but again, you expect that with a spod rod and because it’s stiff, the accuracy was there.” John continues: “For distance this was definitely the best by far, and everything was right – a good balance and a responsive rod.”

Lion Carp Spod Little Rod

As you’d expect of a rod of this price, the Spod Little Rod from Lion Carp is laden with top-end fittings and features: stainless steel, anti-fraps Fuji guides line and the 1K weave blank that also incorporates an ALP’s Trilok gunsmoke reel seat. The butt section is then finished with a full shrink-wrap handle.

The Statistics
Test curve: Not stated
Length of rod: 12ft
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: All-round spod rod
RRP £339.99; lioncarp.com

Key Tester Comments
Wayne kick-starts the comments: “Yes, I really like the rod, nice and light and the accuracy was spot-on. All the fittings and cosmetics of the rod looked really good too. The big draw back was the reel seat, which wasn’t comfortable with all for repetitive spod casting.” “I’d totally agree with Wayne,” remarks John, “a lovely light rod that casts well with accuracy – you could cast it all day, but it was let down by an uncomfortable grip of the reel seat.” Adam adds: “Yeah, not everyone’s cup of tea with the reel seat, but a very nice rod and casting tool.”

Overall thoughts from the test team

Adam:“The one that really stood out for me, not thinking about looks or anything like that, but just going on performance would the Harrison Trebuchet. The Lion Carp Little Spod was nice and I like the fittings, but it was the ALP’s reel seat that I just didn’t like the feel of with a spod. The Harrison Trebuchet Spod was well balanced – a really good rod.”

John: “The Harrison Trebuchet Spod is a cracking rod; it’s so good at getting a heavy load at range, which essentially is what I’d be looking for in a spod rod. Although the Nash Scope 10ft 4.5lb TC was a cracking little rod, really accurate, I’d have to say the Harrison Trebuchet was the best for me, a superb rod which just performed perfectly.”

Wayne:“You can see, or rather feel, that there is more money going into these rods, some really good performance. My favourite rod would be the Harrison Trebuchet that was very good and a really nice blank, although I did like the Lion Carp Little Spod, it was just that reel seat that let it down and made the difference.”