Smart Baiting
Launched last year to high-acclaim, the Bushwhacker Pro and its sister Pro XL, add yet more innovative features to help you outsmart even the cutest of carp. Here’s what we’ve made of it…
Like an electric barrow or Ridge-Monkey Toaster, you can only really appreciate how epic a Nash Bushwhacker Baiting Pole is until you’ve actually used one. Of course, we could wax lyrical about the original advantages of this product all day (and we will in this review), but this new version comes with a plethora of new features, all of which only make it even better.
Let’s start with the poles themselves. Whilst the streamlined rear profile, which now makes them easier for reverse shipping, may be new, the tried, trusted and fully tested joining pins remain the same. These are fast-fit spring buttons which allow for easy assembly, breakdown and shopping out of the rigid 1.5-metre fibreglass sections.
The spoon has had a couple of small design tweaks, mainly to the twin built-in buoyancy floats which are now more streamlined to help with shipping at long distances. Nash still leads the way when it comes to the design of said spoon. The first massive advantage is it won’t flip/tip over if you have to put the pole down for a moment. You can just leave it floating without any fear it will turn over—something which does happen with other brands. The second also relates to its overall stability. Whilst shipping out 15m in choppy conditions is tricky (if you’re brave enough to attempt it, be prepared to get stressed, as it will go off-course!), you can rest assured that said spoon doesn’t require any additional net floats and will house upwards of a 1.5kg of bait in the XL model. Yes, you did read that correctly: 1.5kgs! That’s an incredible amount of bait but the Pro handles it totally fine.
We suppose the biggest difference between the original and these Pro models is the Deeper Mount. This really is game-changing for those who like to use sonar devices. Using the neat accessory bracket which sits on the front of the spoon, it holds the Deeper ahead of the baiting pole to scan the depths and features.
What’s that: you need to assess what the lakebed is like directly below the end of your baiting spoon? Cue: the Leading Bridge. This clever clip fixes to the rear of the Pro spoons and by turning the pole one way it allows you to lower your lead (or complete rig) up and down onto the spot. Happy with how it feels? Then rotate the pole in the opposite direction and the line will be released from the clip, leaving you with a perfectly placed rig!
And finally, there’s the Moonshine Multi Lite Mount. This simply clips to the front of the spoon itself, giving you car-like headlights and unbeatable nighttime navigation out to your drop zone.
A bit like Red Bull’s RB19, the Nash Bushwhacker Baiting Pole is just head and shoulders above anything else in this sector. Yes, it does cost more, but that cost is so justified—it’s just on another level and will give your angling a huge edge.
