Way out front
Taska don’t do things by halves – as proven by their new ‘A’ Range
Don’t panic. CARPology knows exactly what it’s like. You want top-end, classy looking, well-made, all the bells and whistles rod support system, but your missus/bank manager is having none of it, highlighting there’s a strong chance you’ll then have to sell a vital organ to buy the rest of the items to complete the set-up: buzzer, indicators, butt rests – you know the score.
But there is another way. Taska. Trust us: this new range of rod support products – named the ‘A’ Type – is all of the above (and more) but is well and truly missus/bank manager-friendly.
As we’ve come to expect from our friends at Taska, the new ‘A’ range is a complete set: there’s banksticks, buzzers bars, indicators, butt rests and the star of the show is the new Rod Pod, but more on that one later…
It looks very different; what’s it made from?
It’s made from a reinforced aluminium and finished in a grey ‘low-glare’ anodised finish. It looks sleek, uniquely different and, better still, it’s incredibly light but thankfully still amazing strong.
So it is really strong then?
In a word: yes. You’ll notice on the buzzer bars that they have been fabricated in a vertical oval-like shape for increased strength. There’s no way these rod supports will bend, not even under the pressure of pushing attached banksticks into extremely hard ground. And talking of rock-hard terrain, Taska has an answer for that, which we’ll talk about shortly.
Sounds interesting… So how good is the engineering?
Very impressive. The whole range is excellent, but it’s on the pod where this precision engineering gleams through. All the legs are sprung-loaded, as are the upright bankstick holders and the cam-locks really bite down, ensuring a firm and solid hold.
Any clever features?
For sure. Just going back to those locking collars, they’re chunky to give you a good solid point of contact for opening and closing. There are two bankstick options too – one comes with a standard point and the other features a screw point to make easy work of rock-hard grounds.
What’s in the range then?
Plenty. There’s culty-looking Two-Rod Fixed buzzer bars (a set retails for £33.99); a Three-Rod Fixed option (£43.99 per set); Three-Rod Fixed Snag Bar set (£53.99); banksticks in various lengths (from £13.99); Stabilisers (£12.99); and of course the pick of the bunch: the new ‘A’ Type Rod Pod (£329.99).
Is there anything else to follow?
Yes – and there’s more to follow in the future. On top of the sticks and bars, Taska have launched these truly beautiful butt rests (£4.95) – again, in the same grey ‘low-glare’ anodised aluminium finish. Adding to their Sensalite Indicator range, the Essex-based company have produced a bobbin head in the same finish (£12.95) – and that includes the hockey stick arm and chain. Combined altogether it looks stunning – but it’s just missing one key element to complete the set-up: a bite alarm head… (we wait with bated-breath).