It’s amazing, but even anglers who have been fishing for many years sometimes miss the point on why rods are built a certain way and consequently fish with unsuitable models.

There are always sound reasons why a rod is built at a certain length - 11’ or 12’6”, or even longer, in the case of our new Dutch Master. But let’s start with the shortest of the lot – the 10 foot CarbonActive Mini Series Carp. This rod is this short because it is designed for tight commercials where precision casting might be needed to put a bomb or feeder tight to an island 20 metres away. Alternatively, you might need to fish at 35 to 40 yards range but the target fish might run to low doubles. The 10’ Carp was tailored for all these things – and with the fine glass tip in place, it is a super sensitive winter rod, whether it is carp or silver fish you are catching.

The key to the rod is power in the butt, so that the feeder (or bomb) goes exactly where you want it, but enough action in the top and middle section to cope with carp that are pulling back hard under the rod tip.

The Sentient 11’6 and 12’6 are perfect examples of all-round rods for bream or carp fishing. The 11’6 is the right tool for a water like Carr Mill Dam, for instance, in the North West, where skimmers are the target, casting anywhere between 25 and 40 yards.

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