Anglers are always on the look out for the next vogue tackle company and products to rest their expensive rods and reels upon. With an upsurge off custom manufacturers hitting the market in recent years, to buck the trend against low grade stainless products flooding the tackle shop's shelves from the Far East, the English manufacturers that manufacture in-house have been taking a big share of the market with their products.

Most of the custom manufacturers have stuck to the standard stainless steel products to be the staple items that they supply, Nbrice have hit the market in a big way with both stainless steel products and their range of carbon fibre equipment.

As we have already reviewed the Nbrice buzzer bars and banksticks, it was forthcoming that we would get to take a look at the carbon rod pod that is also available.

The Nbrice carbon pod is supplied in a kit form which means it can be used straight away with no additional parts required to be purchased so it can be used. As a standard form it is supplied with the pod base, 2 x 6" carbon banksticks, 2 x 8" carbon banksticks and a pair of goalpost type adjustable 3 rod carbon buzzer bars (10" & 11" closed width). The bankstick lengths can be changed at time of order for different lengths should the standard lenghts be not to your style of angling.

The Pod base itself is constructed from a mixture of both stainless steel and carbon components. The centre boss is made from stainless steel and allows the four arms to be adjusted to suit the anglers needs. The arms simply swing out into place and due to the precise engineering, they are self setting requiring no other means to lock up tight..

Top Tip: It is recommended that due to the nature of the mechanism where the arms swing out that it is essential maintenance to keep it clean and to give it a spray of WD40 occassionally to expell any water that may have found its way into the centre boss and once in a while, a light oil or grease added to keep everything silky smooth.

Each of the carbon arms are length adjustable in the same way as an adjustable bankstick using a thumb screw that is easy to get a grip on even in cold weather. Both the inner and outer of the arms are constructed from the same carbon material as the banksticks and do not go all wobbly even at full extension. The end furniture of the arms are finished off with high grade stainless fittings to keep everything nice and tidy as well as functional. When the thumbscrews are tightened lightly, the whole setup is as solid as a rock.

The buzzer bars are width adjustable in the traditional way of a inner and outer and secured by the same thumbscrews as used on the rest of the pod and banksticks. Where these bars are different to some others available is that they are truly multi-purpose in their use. Instead of just having threads at either end of the bars to secure as a goalpost setup, they also have a centre thread so they can be used with a single bankstick when a pod may not be required (ideal for those days where you may end up moving multiple times to stay on fish and wish to get setup as quickly as possible). So with one set of buzzer bars with no optional extras required, you have a single stick setup, goalpost setup & used with the pod.

As a set (minus buzzers, indicators and back rests) the complete pod kit weighs in at a lightweight 4lb!

Top Tip: UKCA recommend the Cotswold Aquarius pod bag that Nbrice can also supply to keep everything protected in transit.

Final Thoughts

As with all rod support systems, it is down to angler preference at the end of the day to what you use. A lot of people sneer ar rod pods (mainly those that think they are the "elite" but are generally far from it), but they have their uses where nothing else will do the job asked (such as on concrete). The cost of the Nbrice Carbon Pod is not the cheapest available at £299, but for a piece of kit that has been made in England on an individual basis (rather than mass produced) with the materials used, it is actually a bargain. As already mentioned, no other parts are required that the angler wouldn't already owned. Simply screw in your buzzers, indicator brackets and back rests, and you are ready to go.

The weight is also something that the angler that fishes venues were they could be on soft grass banks one minute yet on moving could end up on a concrete mooring or similar, the Nbrice carbon pod is not going to cripple the angler on a long trek from one end to the other of the venue.

The Nbrice carbon pod is stable, solid and extremely well made. Even with the lightweight nature of the product, it doesn't move when you get a fast take.

Would I like one myself? Of course is the answer!! I hope Santa thinks I have been a good lad this year !!!!!!

For more information on the NBRICE Stainless range of products, please click the image below to visit the website.