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[Tackle Reviews]
Warrior ES 12ft - 2.50lbPrice £59.99
Manufacturers Specifications
The Warrior ES continues the proven and incredibly popular Warrior series by providing an ‘entry level’ carp rod that offers amazing value for money and unparalleled performance. Featuring an abbreviated handle which uses a combination of Duplon and shrink tube to create a matt, non slip central section, the ES has the stylish looks and performance which have become synonymous with the Warrior range.
The Verdict
Whilst under test at Biggin Lakes in Northamptonshire I had the opportunity to really give it a beastin', I loaded up my Shimano XTE-A Super Baitrunner with 10lb Fox Soft Steel Camo Reel Line and set up for the night, and what a night I had. At the end of the 17 hour session I landed 62 carp, of which 19 where good doubles, NO PROBLEM!! The top result of the session was a stunning 21lb 13oz Common which tried every trick in the book, including trying to bury itself in a large bed of lilies just yards from the bank. When the fish tried this, I simply applied more Pressure onto the rod, it smoothly curved round and redirected the lump of muscle on the other end back to the security of open water. I would recommend these rods for any one looking for a rod suitable for short medium distance work with light to medium tackle. The reel seat is comfortable in the hand and felt very secure, comfortably housing an 8000 size Baitrunner with room to spare, so even the biggest of reels will fit. Whether your a beginner on a tight budget or a seasoned Carp Angler you'll really enjoy the playing action of the Warrior ES, loads of power in reserve and great fun when the fish is under the rod tip. In a nut shell, a great rod to use, at a great price.
Warrior Spod Rod 5.50lb TC
Product Code RD5870
FOX TB Spod Braid has been specifically developed for heavy duty bait rocket and spod work. Incorporating ultra strong bonded Dyneema filaments with a breaking strain of over 30lbs, TB Spod Braid is incredibly tough and hard wearing and can be safely used without a shock leader for all but long range casting with very heavy spods. The tight weave and low diameter allows smooth, extreme range casting with minimal wind knots and tangles. The buoyant fluorescent yellow filaments ensure the braid is highly visible in all conditions – this can prove invaluable when positioning rods around the spodded area, preventing tangles and crossovers. Care should be taken when casting heavy spods with braid. ALWAYS ensure the clutch is screwed up tight & cannot slip, For long range work a leather finger guard is recommended. Ray's Verdict
One of the Best value for money Spod Rods on the market at present has to be the Fox Warrior Spod 12" 5.50lb. The original Fox Warrior range built a reputation for being well manufactured Rods and superb value for money. With the release of the Warrior ES Range a couple of years later, the reputation has grown even stronger and after having a play with the Warrior ES 2.5lb test curves over the last couple of months, my expectations were very high. After seeking some quality advice from a very experience and respected carp angler [who shall remain anonymous] he advised me to use Braid for spodding, for 2 simple reasons. Firstly, with braid the diameters are far lower than conventional mono thus assisting you to cast greater distances, and secondly you don't require a shock Leader with Braid, which if used could potentially restrict your casting distances. So I decided that I would try the Fox TB Spod Braid, with a breaking strain of over 30lb it would give me an opportunity to see just how far this Rod could chuck. I loaded the Braid onto a mid priced Big Pit Reel and off I went to see how the Rod and Braid would perform. The spod I used for the test fully loaded weighed 6oz, the Island I was casting to was 85 yds away and even with a slight head wind I was able to reach the feature with an element of ease. You need to give this beast of a rod a real whack to get the compression required to chuck big distances, but the harder you hit it the better the 5.50lb test curve blank performs and controls the delivery of its cargo to the desired location. Having put it through it's paces on my last 2 sessions, I can say with no doubts in my mind that The Fox Warrior Spod 12ft 5.50lb will cast 6oz plus over 100 yds all day long, but still have power in reserve to cast even further if required. I found The Fox TB Spod Braid to be exceptionally strong, with a more than adequate strength to deal with the pressures of long Distance casting with big weights, a perfect combination of rod and line that if you shop around will cost you about £75.00 for the pair. Yet again Fox have got it Spot On!! Besty Caution Braided lines have a lower diameter than conventional Mono lines, they're are under extreme pressure when casting weight in excess of 5oz, even at short distances, so I would highly recommended that a good quality leather finger guard is worn for ALL casting when Braid is being used.
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I have put this excellent value for money Rod well and truly through it's paces over the past 3 weeks, on 4 different types of venue. I found that the Warrior ES 2.5lb could comfortably cast 3oz feeders up to 60 yds without feeling I was putting the rod under to much pressure, Another bonus was the accuracy achieved from a budget Rod, it was a far better than I expected and compared favourably to other Rods I had tested which cost a lot more money.
Spodding has got to be the most cost effective method of getting large amounts of feed into your swim at distance available to the modern day carp angler. To get the feed where you want it and accurately you need some heavy duty kit, a rod of 4lb test curve or more and a Mono or Braided Reel Line capable of coping with the riggers of casting weight in excess of 6oz long distances.