The best carp fishing rods under £100
If you're going to go carp fishing seriously you'll need two or three rods which are up to the job. Your choice of test curve really depends on the distance you'll need to cast, with around 2.5lb/2.75lb at the lower end of the scale, and up to 3.5lb if you need to really give it some welly. We've selected some of the best rod choices to go for on a £100 budget!
Daiwa Mission DF carp rods
BUY NOW for £99.99 at Chapmans Angling
WE SAY
A range of 12ft rods with high performance blanks which carry the cult Danny Fairbrass name. We love the slim diameter and finish of the Mission DFs, a great sub-£100 choice.
TECH SPEC
•Slim high quality blanks
•Low profile shrink tube handle
•50mm butt guide
•Matt finish
•2.75lb, 3lb and 3.5lb test curves
Fox Warrior S carp rods
BUY NOW from £69.99 at Chapmans Angling
WE SAY
Original Fox Warriors were a huge hit and the S range ensures that this rod continues to evolve with the times. With a great progressive, through-action whatever the test curve, a true all rounder with a low-end price point but a high-end feel!
TECH SPEC
•Fox SLIK guides
•Gun-smoke butt cap and laser-etched Fox head
•18mm DPS reel seat
•Nine different versions, including spod and marker
Free Spirit CTX 9ft Creeper rods
BUY NOW for £99.99 at Chapmans Angling
WE SAY
Free Spirit rods are iconic in 'carping' circles and you'll struggle to find a version for less than £100. There is one however, the baby of its carp range, the 9ft Creeper with EVA handle. As its name suggests its perfect for stalking at close range.
TECH SPEC
•Fuji DPS reel seats
•Stainless steel collars
•Full EVA handle
•Estimated test curve 2.75lb
•S-Lite rings
•Slim blanks
Nash 12ft KNX carp rods
BUY NOW from £69.99 at Chapmans Angling
WE SAY
Really good value rods in 2.75lb, 3lb and 3.5lb test curves, the KNX has a fantastic matt black blank and gloss black decals. Perfect for small to medium-sized carp waters where casts of up to 75 yards using solid PVA bag and mesh sticks are needed.
TECH SPEC
•Ergonomic soft touch rubber reel seats
•Full EVA Duplon handles on KNX Carp Rods
•Abbreviated Shrink grips on KNX Spod/Marker
•Exclusive Flexor guides for reduced blank distortion and greater power transmission
•50mm butts
•Isotope slot and laser etched decal in butt
•Spigot alignment markings
Shimano Tribal Carp TX 2 rods
BUY NOW from £84.99 at Chapmans Angling
WE SAY
Slim and powerful rods, typically Shimano. They're great for casting yet you'll find plenty of action in the top and middle sections too, to avoid hook pulls. A range of lovely-looking blanks with a few nice touches such as black cosmetic wrapping with pink tipping.
TECH SPEC
•Lengths 10ft to 12ft
•XT60 blanks
•DPS-type reel seat
•Shimano stainless steel SIC guides
•Thin rubber grip
•Plastic line clip
Wychwood C-201 12ft carp rods
BUY NOW for £84.99 at Chapmans Angling
WE SAY
A range of forgiving rods which are ideal for fishing at a variety of ranges, thanks to the test curve options, which run from 2.75lb up to a hefty 3.5lb for out and out distance work. With traditional high grade cork handles and an interesting combination of a 1k weave tip and a 3k weave for the rest of the blank.
TECH SPEC
•High grade cork handle
•Multi-Layer Technology
•Japanese sourced carbon construction
•3k/1k warbon weave finish
•Black screw lock reel seat
•Blacked Sea Guide Rings
•Laser engraved butt cap
•Line clip
•50mm butt ring
•Lifetime warranty from Wychwood
Avid Carp Traction carp rods
BUY NOW from £84.99 at Chapmans Angling
WE SAY
Avid has placed a lot of emphasis on the action of these rods and it shows as they boast a lovely progressive 'old school' style. Great value carp rods which get the thumbs up from us, with the softer test curve 2.5lb and 2.75lb available for considerably less than £100.
TECH SPEC
•3k weave with high quality matt finish
•Reactive parabolic carbon technology
•Matt black guides with 50mm butt ring
•Full length Japanese Shrink Wrap handle
•18mm Supa-lite reel seat
•Laser engraved butt cap
•Tapered line clip
A guide to the best polarised sunglasses for fishing
A pair of polarised sunglasses is one of the most useful accessories an angler can take fishing. The lens removes surface glare so you can see clearly beneath the surface and also makes it easier to see floats and rod tips in direct sunlight. Put on a set and you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them! Here are some of the very best...
AVID CARP BLAZE SUNGLASSES
BUY NOW for £18.49 from Amazon.co.uk
These glasses incorporate a tinted, bi-focal magnifying panel with a dioptre of +2.50 so you can see clearly when undertaking fiddly tasks close up.
Lenses available: Amber, grey
E-S-P CAMO SUNGLASSES
BUY NOW for £14.99 from Amazon.co.uk
The large grey tinted lenses make spotting fish on bright sunny days much easier. The frames have a dark camo finish and are supplied with a woven E-S-P neck cord, cleaning cloth and protective case.
Lenses available: Grey
EYE LEVEL DYNAMIC BLUE SUNGLASSES
BUY NOW for £14.99 from Amazon.co.uk
These sporty wrap-style glasses feature charcoal grey frames with a satin finish and flexible thermo-grip temple tips and nose pads for a comfortable fit and to prevent slipping.
Lenses available: Mirrored blue
EYE LEVEL GRAYLING SUNGLASSES
BUY NOW for £17.17 from Amazon.co.uk
These glasses feature black and grey carbon effect frames in a durable wrap design. The inlaid rubber temple tips provide a non-slip and comfortable fit.
Lenses available: Brown, grey
AVID CARP SUNGLASSES SAGE GREEN
BUY NOW for £18.99 from Amazon.co.uk
With ‘carpy’ green frames and high quality Revo lenses with a green tint these stylish glasses look the part both on and off the bank. Ideal for overcast and low-light conditions.
Lenses available: Revo green
FORTIS WRAPS
BUY NOW for £19.99 from Amazon.co.uk
Wraps have been designed to fit perfectly around the face and eliminate unwanted light penetrating from the side. A unique vent system at the top increases airflow and prevents mist/fog build up.
Lenses available:
Brown, amber and Switch
GARDNER HI-LO SUNGLASSES
BUY NOW for £17.99 from Amazon.co.uk
Hi-Lo glasses offer you the dual benefit of having interchangeable amber and grey lenses to suit varying light conditions. The amber are perfect for overcast days and the grey for bright sunny days.
Lenses available: Amber, grey
AVIC CARP MOCHA SUNGLASSES
BUY NOW for £18.99 from Amazon.co.uk
The brown tinted lenses are great all-rounders and work well in both dull and bright conditions. The arms and nose pad have ergonomic rubber grips which means these shades can be worn comfortably for long periods.
Lenses available: Brown
NASH MICRO-PAK FOLDING SUNGLASSES
BUY NOW for £19.99 from Amazon.co.uk
The unique design of the Nash Micro-Pak glasses means they fold down into a compact package capable of fitting in the smallest of pockets.
Lenses available: Amber, brown
WYCHWOOD AVIATOR SUNGLASSES
BUY NOW for £17.89 from Amazon.co.uk
The Wychwood Aviators have been retro-styled to mimic the look of the classic, long-lived Aviator design. Equipped with Category 3 TAC lens they perform best in really bright conditions.
Lenses available: Grey
Best barbel fishing rods, £100 and under
Barbel fishing is definitely one area where you can't compromise on rod choice. If it's not up to the job you simply won't land this hard-fighting fish! Here's our guide to the best barbel blanks to go for on a £100 budget.
KORUM BARBEL ROD 13FT 2.5LB, £83.99
WE SAY: At its 13ft length and with power in abundance, this is the ideal big river rod for somewhere like the Trent or Wye for example, where powerful flows and big feeders are the order of the day. With a highly visible white tip for excellent bite indication.
TECH SPEC
•2.5lb powerful tip section
•High modulus carbon blank
•Low profile silicone lined guides
•Full cork handle
•Maximium casting weight: 8oz
•Line rating: 10lb – 15lb
DAIWA POWERMESH BARBEL 12FT 2.75LB, £100
WE SAY: A rod which is at the more powerful end of the barbel spectrum with its hefty 2.75lb test curve rating. It will cast 4oz weights with ease, we recommend this one for big fish, big rivers and even floodwater conditions.
TECH SPEC
•High grade carbon blanks with 1K woven carbon
•Fuji DPS reel seat
•Full cork handle
•Stainless steel frame guides
•Lightweight LS ceramic rings
•Aluminium butt cap
•Supplied in padded rod sleeve
SHIMANO ALIVIO AX BARBEL CLASSIC 12FT 1.5LB, £74.99 |
WE SAY: Fantastic action but definitely one for smaller rivers and close range work, due to its soft middle. Fantastic action, this is a lot more than just a barbel rod as a 1.5lb test curve makes it ideal for chub or stillwater bream and tench work too. We love the choice in tips too and a power version of the rod is also available.
TECH SPEC
•XT30 blank
•Stylish cork handle
•Three push in quivertips
•One Avon tip
JOHN WILSON QUATTRO 12FT AVON QUIVER (25TH ANNIVERSARY LTD EDITION), £99.99
WE SAY: We'll never tire of the sight of John's Avon rod bending into a barbel in his famous Go Fishing videos, followed by his infectious laugh! In all seriousness his Masterline range of rods are worth a serious look and this limited edition 'traditional-style' Avon is a good choice for smaller rivers and short chucks. Definitely fit the heaviest 1.75lb supplied tip for barbel though.
TECH SPEC
•Two piece construction
•Spigot joints for improved actions
•Quality AAA cork handle
•Four full length 6ft tips included
•1.25lb and 1.75lb Avon tops
•1 3/4 oz + 3oz spliced quiver tips
•Fully lined guides
FOX ROYALE SPECIALIST BARBEL 12FT 2.25LB, £84.99
WE SAY: A real powerhouse of a barbel rod, perfect for when you need to cast large feeders, big PVA bags or heavy leads to hold bottom in strong flows. Another plus point we noticed is the large and evenly-spaced SLIK guides, which will go some way to stopping debris jamming the guides in flood conditions.
TECH SPEC
•Lightweight low resin carbon construction
•SLIK guide system
•High quality 17mm reel seat
•Understated cosmetics
•Gunsmoke cappings
•Matt black finish
•High grade cork handle
JW YOUNG BARBEL MULTI TIP TRAVEL 12FT, £99.99
WE SAY: A handy little travel rod for anyone thinking about sneaking in a spot of barbel fishing when they’re on holiday or short on storage space. Ideal to tuck away in the boot of the car, the five-sectioned 12ft carbon blank has a powerful through action, able to deal with good-size barbel. A standard non-travel version is also available at the same price.
TECH SPEC
•Slim and lightweight blank
•Full cork handles and fore grips
•DPS style reel seat
•With quivertips of 2.5oz, 2oz and 1.5oz
•Avon-style tip
•Fully lined guides and hook keeper ring
•Rod tube
•High quality guides and overbindings
The best Method feeder fishing rods that money can buy
Method feeder fishing is one of the most popular ways of catching larger coarse fish such as carp and bream.. Here's our pick of the very best 'match-style' rods to choose for this great technique...
DAIWA AIRITY FEEDER 10Q, £320
Available in lengths starting at 9ft but running up to a 12/13ft combo. It's 10ft version is perfect for all but long range work. Total class in a feeder rod.
TECH SPEC
•X45 compression zone for accuracy / power
•Quicker blank recovery
•Hybrid tip and multi length editions
•Megatop carbon quivers
•Unique Tournament reel seat
•Shaped EVA and cork for comfort
•Line rating 2-8lb
BROWNING SPHERE BOMB, £219.99
A Method feeder rod doesn't have to be long, stiff and powerful. At close to medium range for smaller carp and F1s a blank such as this one, with a soft progressive action, is bang on. It means less hook pulls and more fun!
TECH SPEC
•Length: 3m (9ft 10ins)
•Sections: 2
•Max recommended casting weight: 50g
•Spare quivertips: 0.5oz, 0.75oz, 1oz, 1.5oz
•Weight: 133g
SHIMANO SPEEDMASTER AX COMMERCIAL 9-11FT MULTI FEEDER, £124.99
An very slim and lightweight blank with an incredibly responsive action, typical of the Speedmaster range. The beauty of a 9-11 style rod, which Shimano has really made its own, is that you can choose the length to suit the distance required. At 9ft it's a great little rod for short distance.
TECH SPEC
•Nanoalloy carbon technology
•HPC 100 carbon fibre blank with added Biofi bre for strength
•Fuji guides
•Shimano custom reel seat
•Split cork/EVA handle
•With three carbon quivertips
PRESTON CARBONACTIVE MINI PLUS 11FT 6INS METHOD, £149.95
If you need a bit of power to contain large carp, or you need some backbone to punch a feeder out a little bit further in the 40 - 60m range, a Mini Plus such as this is perfect. Mini rods offer great actions at very comfortable, manageable lengths.
TECH SPEC
•Line rating 3-8lb
• EVA handle fitted with a soft-touch reel seat
•With a glass tip rated 2oz and a 2.5oz carbon tip
•Non-locking action
•Two-piece
•Fold-down keeper ring
GARBOLINO ALTIMA COMMERCIAL PICKER, £129.99
Garbolino has long made some great short feeder and bomb rods, offering superb value too, rods. The latest, the Altima Commercial Picker, features a really lightweight, slim blank and a great action to boot.
TECH SPEC
•HM carbon construction
•Ultra slimline blank
•Quality lined guides
•High density Eva/duplon handle
•Screw down reel fitting
•Three push in tips
MATRIX CARP MASTER 10FT MK2, £149.99
The Mk2 version of Matrix's popular Carpmaster feeder rod retains its same classic long section design and outstanding fish-playing action. But there’s a little more steely backbone through the mid-section. The handle is longer, making for easier casting up to a range of about 40m.
TECH SPEC
•High modulus carbon blank
• Semi-parabolic fish-playing action
• Optimum handle lengths for fish-playing and casting
• Quality guides
• Cork/EVA handle with soft-touch screw down hood reel seat
• EVA transport holder block
• Interchangeable tips
MAVER DIAMOND FEEDER, 10FT 6INS, £189.99
A flagship model which is highly versatile, for most coarse species. Ever since the rise of the Reactorlite series, Maver rods have become synonymous with thin sensitive tips and blanks, yet a deceiving amount of power. The Diamond is no different and its 10ft 6ins length is perfect for lots of Method fishing situations.
TECH SPEC
•EVA twist grip
•Top quality full cork handle
•High quality lined guides
•Quality graphite screw reel fitting
•Folding hook keeper ring
Best mid-range fishing bite alarms
No carp or specialist angler fishing multiple rods would be without a reliable bite alarm. Likewise you can use one to fish a 'sleeper rod' to one side of you while you enjoy float fishing with a main rod for example. Here's a pick of the best mid-range models...
DELKIM EV PLUS, £64.49
Delkim is the holy grail of bite alarms and its mid-range version is packed full of buttons and features, with six choices of LED colour. Uses its piezoelectric, digital and microcontroller technology. It might sound complicated but Delkims are surprisingly simple to operate.
NASH SIREN SR5, £49.99
Wireless alarms with very good build quality, common to all the Siren series. The SR5 is very sensitive and accurate, with extreme range remote performance. Excellent value for money.
FOX MICRON MR+, £64.00
Top quality digital circuitry and also features Fox's unique D-Tec Sensing System and CNC Machined Tru Run roller wheel, which is found on the company's top-end N-series of alarms. With its own dedicated receiver and weatherproof sealed case. Incredible 200m signal range, not that you should ever be that far away from your rods!
JRC RADAR CX, £45.99
Great array of features for a sub-£40 alarm, including volume, tone, sensitivity, travelling LED and digitally amplified sound. Receiver compatible with a choice of four bright LED colours. All weather proof, with double sealed electronic parts.
WYCHWOOD AVX-S, £45.99
A really interesting design which uses Wychwood's in-built snag ear system. The purpose designed snag ears can be extended for use then collapsed within the alarms robust and weatherproof casing. All volume, tone and sensitivity settings can be changed at the touch of a button.
Top 5 coarse fishing reels, £50 and under
We've racked our brains to bring you the best coarse fishing reels on the market for £50 or less. Don't open your wallet until you've checked these five crackers out!
DAIWA NINJA FD, £49.99
Incredibly smart and striking, this is a reel which looks and performs like something twice its price. Super smooth and benefits from a host of Daiwa features such as Twistbuster, Infinite Anti-reverse, a graphite body and an Air Rotor.
SHIMANO BAITRUNNER ST FB, £49.99
With the world-famous Baitrunner lever feature, which puts the reel into freespool, paying out line after a bite until you are ready to pick up the rod. The XT-7 spool has Varispeed for better line lay and casting accuracy and Power Roller gears to reduce line twist on the retrieve.
BROWNING COMMERCIAL KING CK, £49.99
Small sizes and shallow spools, perfect for short to medium casts on modern stillwater fisheries. One-touch folding handle, sensitive 'click-stop' vernier front drag, safe nylon line clip in a lined recess. In a striking white.
OKUMA CEYMAR C FIXED SPOOL, £30 - £44.99
A really solid reel featuring a corrosion-resistant graphite body, Precision Elliptical Gearing system and heavy-duty, solid aluminum bail wire. With a narrow Blade Body design and a skeletal spool to reduce overall weight.
MITCHELL 300 PRO FD, £50
Mitchell has taken its hugely popular 300 series and elevated it to new heights. A carbon hybrid drag, open rotor, machined aluminium spool and a staggering 10 bearings give this high performance features. The front drag and handle closely resemble the original.
