The Next Generation Of The Family

Daiwa is very good at everyday luxury, something it’s proven over and over again as a purveyor of 200+-yard casting tools, super-forgiven, well-mannered floater rods and fit-in-your-rucksack telescopic jobbies for the discerning inner city park lake dweller.

But it’s when Daiwa decided to let its hair down that we really start enjoying ourselves. Need proof? Take a look at the stunning new Infinity X45—up there as one of our Scottish pals range-topping carp rods.

The Daiwa ‘Infinity’ sub-brand is one which is overflowing with credentials and heritage. Originally afforded to the 1991 ‘Long Cast’ model of the Amorphous Whisker and Whisker Kevlar rods that were designed with the close assistance of Kevin Nash. These models were incredibly popular and the acronym AKN was born—still to this very day those three letters evoke great memories for plenty of ‘seasoned’ carpers. 

However, the first true Infinity collection was launched in 1995 in the shape of Infinity X, with two conventional actions and four ‘LD’s’. The four most popular models all shared one common denominator: long distance. 

The range evolved yet again in the mid-Noughties, establishing two distinct classifications of rod blank profile: Magnum Taper (for distance work) and Slim Power (for mid-range and through action). And in 2021 we have the next generation to the family: Infinity X45.

So what’s so good about it? The mad scientists from Daiwa (they genuinely wear white coats and have about 8 computer monitors each) have twiddled their X45 technology and HVF and combined it with the epic Magnum Taper profile to create a super accurate, super fast action blank, meaning even the most mediocre of casters can tickle the 150yd mark—and if you’re a casting pro (think Darrell Peck), then 200+-yards is within your remit. 

And because this is Daiwa Sports, you can still use them every day. As you’d expect from rods made in the UK, the range will cover you for fishing intimate pools, right up to the very biggest, most challenging waters we have. They’ll also deal with the rigours of Continental angling too, whether you’re banging out baits on Gigantica, or towing them out on The Orient or Rainbow.

Now the secret to this supreme power and accuracy lies in the carbon skeleton of these rods—that X45 construction (hence its product name) we touched upon earlier. Those carbon technicians discovered that, by wrapping their blanks with fibres running at 45-degrees to the blank, they could practically eliminate twist (two sheets of 45-degree fibres, crossing over each other to create the X-shaped configuration gives the rods their name). The HVF element—that stands for High Volume Fibre—which coupled with Daiwa’s neat V-Joint, improves rigidity and reduces even more twist in the blank which not only increases casting accuracy but gives you untouchable fish playing performance.

With the guts of the rod built, Daiwa have then bolted (whipped with utter finesse would be more apt) on all the bells and whistles: SeaGuide TDG Rings which make the rod feel ultralight (imagine you’re holding a 12ft float rod to visualise the experience) and extremely responsive. These also aid casting distances as they allow you to whip the rod through the air even quicker, and aid in that all-important recovery. 

Along with that customary flawless, smooth, black and understated finish, Daiwa have fitted the Infinity X45 range with the ALPS ARD: a hard-nose reel seat which looks like it’s been attacked with an axe (with the greatest level of precision we hasten to add)—if 007 took up carp fishing, he’d 100% have a set of these. 

There are six models in the range: two 12ft 3.25 and 3.75lb; two 13ft 3.25 and 3.75lb test curves, plus dedicated 12ft Spod and 12ft Marker editions to complement the range. 

Daiwa are like Bentley and Aston Martin: don’t make bad products, but every now and then they make something spectacular, and that’s exactly what they’ve done with the Infinity X45 collection. Take a bow, Daiwa.