Free Spirit Pike Tamer MR 3lb

RRP £119.99

If you mention Free Spirit to any carp angler in the know, the first thing that will come to their mind is the range of rods that the company have developed and introduced to the marketplace, but what about the predator angler? Free Spirit have a range of dedicated predator rods also.

When Simeon Bond first started the company just before the turn of the new century, the range was created and designed with input from a small select group of tackle shops (who were also the exclusive dealers for the brand) to develop a range of rods that were perfect for the UK market and would cater for the majority of budgets. Ten years later the brand has gone from strength to strength to become one of the leading brands within the specialist angling industry and well respected amongst their peers and anglers alike.

When Simeon offered UKMA the chance to review and put through their paces some of the Predator rods from the range, UKMA were only too happy to oblige.

Following on from the Carp and Specialist rods that Free Spirit have in the range, the Pike Tamer Multi-Range (M.R.) has the similar very low diameter blank. The blank is finished in a matt natural carbon finish, that again, like other rods in the Free Spirit range, gives the Pike Tamer M.R. a superb custom built look and feel. The 3lb test curve rating of the rod did not feel at all sloppy when waggling the blank, and recovered instantly.

The handle of the rod is finished in with full Duplon, and an aluminium butt cap. The DPS-18 style reel seat was one that was pleasing both to the touch as well as aesthetically, and it gripped the reel foot very securely indeed on both the Big Pit and traditional size reels that we used for the testing

At the top of the reel seat on the underside of the blank is a handy little "keeper ring" that will ensure that hooks are kept securely out of the way when attached to it during spells of no-activity or when roving. This saves damaging potentially expensive guides.

The guides are simply stunning, and not of the norm. Rather than being of the traditional 3 leg stand-off type ring that you find on most rods, the Pike Tamer M.R. is rung with S-Lite 4 leg rings that have a lower profile to the blank. The inner of the guide looks from a distance to be non-existent, but when you are close to the rod, you can see it situated seamlessly within the actual guide wire itself.

The Pike Tamer M.R. we were sent was rung with 6 guides + tip. The tip ring was one that most anglers would be used to seeing on very top end carp rods, in being of the "anti-wrap round" design. This works by the tip ring itself protruding out from the tip of the rod rather than sitting almost directly under the tube that the blank sits in.

These guides performed flawlessly with both braided and monofilament reel lines, and there was no rattling during the retrieve or the cast, with either type of line, that can be heard from some rods. Both power-gum tied stop knots and the small rubber slider stops flowed effortlessly through the rings on the cast with ease and with no signs of snagging.

The Pike Tamer is a tool that is capable of casting large dead baits in excess of 70 yards, a simple task you may say, however. We have all done the “give it some” cast only to watch our rigs disappear into the distance, closely followed by a 6 inch long Mackerel slapping the back of your head, normally to entertaining everyone around you.

Taking this into consideration, Free Spirit have designed a rod that has the power to cast your baited rig long distances but at the same time delivering the dead bait intact time after time. The Pike Tamer's progressive blank has the finesse to cast the softest of baits at range whilst still giving you total control of the cast.

After several weeks of rigorous testing and having now used the rod on all types of venues and under all situations you are likely to encounter and on your quest for predation. The UKMA team can confidently recommend the Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi-Range (M.R) to any angler who is looking for a top quality pike rod that will not break the bank.

For more information on any of the Free Spirit range, please click the logo below to visit the website.