Preston Innovations Pro Type 460 16m

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGE

Four Power top two kits
Match top three kit and one inside the pole
Kupping kit
Kups and adaptors
Half extension
Holdall

PAY AROUND

£799.99

Unbelievable value for money is what you get for with the Pro Type 460 – a 16m pole for less than £800 but super stiff, balanced, rigid and light; a top class pole that’s more than capable of handling big double figure carp in summer and roach and dace on the river come winter. Where spares are concerned the 460 packs a match top three kit plus four power top two kits, Kupping kit with Kups, a half butt and a dedicated pole holdall. This pole most definitely falls into the all-round category, and is ideal if you are looking to purchase a no-nonsense top class 16m pole without breaking the bank.

Preston Innovations Pro Type 360 14.5m

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGE

Four Power top two kits
Match top three kit inside the pole
Kupping kit
Kups and Adaptors
Half Extension
Holdall

PAY AROUND

£549.99

Most commercial fisheries require fishing at around 14.5m, be that into deep water or over to islands or snake lake far banks and that’s where the Pro Type 360 scores heavily, making the ideal main pole for the pleasure or club angler or perhaps the match man that wants a reliable second pole for out and out commercial carp work. Stiff-actioned with Easy Ship and alignment arrows on all sections, the pole is a joy to use and is fitted with a match top three and four power top two kits, the match kits built with a re-inforced area to allow the fitting of a Side Pulla kits and there’s also a Kupping Kit with Kups and a half butt extension.

Preston Innovations Pro Type 260 13m

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGE

Power top two kit
Match top three kit inside the pole
Kupping kit
Kups and adaptors
Half extension
Holdall

PAY AROUND

£399.99

This is the pole that’ll suit the pleasure angler right down to the ground! For a penny under £400 the Pro Type 260 is stiff and strong, ideally suited to both commercial and silverfish applications and comes with three power top two kits, all fitted with a re-inforced area to allow the fitting of a side Pulla Bush systems if required, a reinforced half butt and Kupping Kit with Kups –the ideal choice for anyone who wants to get serious about their pole fishing.

Preston Innovations Pro Type Power

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGE

9.5M package:
Pro Type Power 9.5m pole
Holdall
Top-three kit and one inside the pole

11M package:
Pro Type Power 11m pole
Holdall
Two top-three kits

PAY AROUND

9.5m package RRP: £199.99
11m package RRP: £249.99

Preston Innovations’ latest Pro Type poles are unashamedly aimed at the club match or novice all-round pole angler.

The very affordable series kicks off with the Power version (subject of our live test) in 9.5m and 11m lengths, followed by the 13m 260 (£399.99), 14.5m 360 (£549.99) and 16m 490 (£799.99). They may have different price points, but all poles, including the Power models, share the same traits. Reinforced butt sections are built to withstand the strains of elbow damage, joint areas are reinforced with an additional carbon wrap, and they are all finished with an easy-slide coating that makes for smooth, slick shipping. Alignment arrows on every section enable them to be assembled along their spines, so that they will perform at their optimum stiffness at all times.

Another feature well worth mentioning is that the three longer Pro Type poles have generic linear top kit configurations on both Match and Power kits. These are pre-fitted with an internal Preston orange PTFE bush in the Match kits, and a blue PTFE bush on the Power kits. It should be noted, though, that these top kits do not fit either Pro Power model – this is a shame should you wish to upgrade.

Both Pro Power poles are far stronger than any of the longer Pro Type models, a point that was brought home to me while live testing the 9.5m version at Makins Phase Three Outer Avon pool, where the carp run fairly large and are notably lively.

The shorter of the two Power models available, this 9.5m pole still has more than enough reach to make it acceptable on 99 per cent of all commercial fisheries, where fishing to the next platform, almost invariably less than 10m away, is all that is needed.

Because the pole is supplied with a spare top kit, you are able to set up a second rig to fish at the bottom of the near shelf, which is normally found out in front at around 5m or 6m on most commercial fisheries. This area can be targeted with bigger baits such as paste and catmeat (if allowed) and often results in much bigger fish.

The slimness and lightness of the Preston Power makes it very easy to hold for long spells without wilting under its weight, and because it is more of an all-round power pole rather than an out-and-out margin tool it still possesses a fair degree of stiffness and balance. This makes it slightly less bouncy when shipping out, something that can be best appreciated while attempting to ship out a toss pot full of loose pellets.

The thick section walls have enough about them to withstand the odd knock or wayward strike. But best of all, the Preston Power Pro generates a deceptive amount of pulling power. The main stopping action is spread over the top three or four sections, rather than along its full length. This does impart a half-decent ‘long pole’ feel, and helps to make it an extremely good choice for the newcomer or junior pole angler.

Maver Grim Reaper Power Carp

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGES

Maver Grim Reaper Power Carp 14.5m package:
Maver Grim Reaper Power Carp 14.5m pole
Three pre-bushed power top kits with side puller slot
Mini extension
Cupping kit
Pole holdall and protective tubes
Informative DVD

Maver Grim Reaper Power Carp 13m package:
Maver Grim Reaper Power Carp 13m pole
Three pre-bushed power top kits with side puller slot
Mini extension
Cupping kit
Pole holdall and protective tubes
Informative DVD

PAY AROUND

13m pole RRP £600
14.5m pole RRP: £699.99

Few poles on the market were as strong as the original Grim Reaper, loved by anglers fishing commercial carp waters but for 2015 Maver have upgraded this legendary model and added the Power Carp tag to its name – and as you’d expect, there’s plenty of strength to go with that label!

New carbon materials have been used to enhance the performance of this popular pole, the high modulus carbon substantially improving the weight and balance but above all, the overall rigidity of the pole, the 13m model weighing just an incredible 975 grams. Fished at its full length the pole has a wonderfully slim profile with super strong carbon walls and joints and a poker stiff action with all sections numbered for easy identification when putting it together.

On the top kit front, you’ll find Maver’s Easy Flow power kits pre-fitted with top quality PTFE bushes meaning that no cutting back is needed and ceramic side slots for modern side puller kits systems and both models come housed in a pole holdall complete with protective section tubes.

Maver Elite Carp Margin 8m

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PAY AROUND

RRP: £399.99 SSP £299

With margin carp getting bigger and bigger, it makes sense to carry a dedicated margin pol in your holdall for just that occasion and Maver’s new Elite Carp will stop the biggest of whackers dead in their tracks in 2015!

Manufactured from high modulus carbon to produce an extremely strong margin pole with fearsome wall strength thanks to its creation on an entirely new mandrel, the pole can be fished with thick 20+ Maver Dual Core elastic without any danger of breaking; serious kit for serious fishing.

Packing shorter than normal sections, which gives you improved speed on the strike but still great overall balance, the extras package sees one Powerlite power top kit inside the pole plus one additional kit, which can interchange with the new Maver Elite Carp and Signature Series ranges. Top kits are pre-bushed and pre-slotted to accommodate Maver’s Easy Flow side puller kit system and it also means no cutting back and loss of length. Other nice touches are Suncore finish, Teflon-coated joints on sections three and four, Fusion technology, Magic Steps and anti-friction surface.

Maver Enigma Series

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGES

Enigma Series 101 13m package:
Maver Enigma Series 101 13m pole
Three Powerplay pre-bushed power top kits with side puller slots
Mini extension
Cupping kit and cups
Deluxe pole holdall and protective tubes
Informative DVD

Maver Enigma Series 101 16m package:
Maver Enigma Series 101 16m pole
Three Powerplay pre-bushed power top kits with side puller slots
Mini extension
Cupping kit and cups
Deluxe pole holdall and protective tubesInformative DVD

Maver Enigma Series 201 16m package:
Maver Enigma Series 201 16m pole
Five Powerplay pre-bushed power top kits with side puller slots
Mini extension
Cupping kit and cups
Deluxe pole holdall and protective tubes
Informative DVD

Maver Enigma Series 301 16m package:
Maver Enigma Series 301 16m pole
Five Powerplay pre-bushed power top kits with side puller slots
Mini extension
Cupping kit and cups
Deluxe pole holdall and protective tubes
Informative DVD

PAY AROUND

Enigma Series 101 13m package
RRP: £799.99

Maver Enigma Series 101 16m package
RRP: £1,065

Maver Enigma Series 201 16m package
RRP: £1,335

Maver Enigma Series 301 16m package
RRP: £1,599

When you’re onto a good thing it makes sense to carry on in the same vein and that’s just what Maver has done for 2015 with the launch of their new Enigma series of poles, built around last year’s best-selling 1 and 2 models.

Boasting three models, all represent a substantial upgrade on the older Enigmas, adding more power and rigidity to help take on the stresses and strains of day to day commercial carp work, something that’s been achieved by using high strength, ultra-high modulus carbons in the manufacturing process to lock in the power within section walls and joints without adding to the final weight or affecting the overall action.

That means that the Enigma Series is at home crashing out big carp shallow with small floats and banded pellets as it is being thrown back at high speed with small roach on the other end on a narrow canal. The responsiveness to the quickest of bites is impressive with little droop or bounce and thanks to the special easy-slide finish, shipping in and out in rain or shine is a comfortable process, without a trace of the squeaky sticking that can happen with other poles!

Pre-bushed match kit fitted
Two pre-bushed power kits
Rigid cupping kit and cups
Re-inforced mini extension

PAY AROUND

£479.99

A couple of months ago my Angling Times colleague and aspiring matchman Tony Grigorjevs live tested the latest MAP TKS Power Carp 1 13m pole and gave it a big Northern thumbs-up.

That model, and its slightly more expensive team-mate the TKS Power Carp 2, stepping up to the plate this time around, are not only super-strong carp poles, perfect for commercial match duty – they are also rather handily interchangeable with many of the more expensive TKS models.

The Power Carp, 2 for instance, has every section fitting the 701, 801, and flagship 901 models for occasions when, let’s say, discretion is the better part of valour – when you wouldn’t want to risk smashing a prized pole that has set you back several thousands of pounds in a snag-strewn swim full of units.

The very fact that this type of generically fitting pole is available at such reasonable prices (the Power Carp 1 can be bought for around £399.99, the Power Carp 2 will set you back as little as £549.99 if you shop around) makes them viable stand-ins for anglers who own expensive top-end poles. And of course, these new models are more than handy in their own right.

So what do you get for your money with the MAP TKS Power Carp 2?

First, it comes with a couple of Power kits rated to carp-crunching solid 20 elastic, as well as a Match kit, suited to lighter elastics up to around a size 12.

There’s no need to get the hacksaw out and cut your kits back to a suitable size, as they come pre-fitted with PTFE bushes that handily have a large enough bore to allow for anything up to Red Hydro elastic to be fitted.

The spares package continues with a mini-extension that fits into the end of the 13m butt section and provides you with that little bit of extra reach for when those fish-holding snags are just a few extra inches away. It also makes a rock-solid elbow saver section if you are prone to the occasionalt excitable striking moment.

During the live test the Carp 2 showed no sign of weakness or joint dysfunction, and handled some very big fish without a creak or a murmur. At no time did I find it wanting in any way. Each of its nine sections has enough wall strength to cope with heavy elastics, big fish and hefty rigs and, unlike many poles of this ilk, it remains nicely stiff and easy to use all the way up to its full 13m.

There’s none of that bouncy and unwieldy top-heavy action that so often accompanies power and carp poles.

Like all TKS poles, this one has superb, silky-smooth section for effortless shipping in all weathers. Perfect for all commercial fishery work, from fishing long and shallow to plundering the margins or targeting the bottom of the near shelf with big baits, the Maver TKS Power Carp 2 is the ideal pole for the club match or pleasure angler.

MAP TKS 101 13m

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGE

Pre-bushed match kit fitted
Two pre-bushed Power kits
Re-inforced mini extension

PAY AROUND

£379.99

The introductory MAP TKS model is sure to prove hugely popular with the pleasure angler. Rated for use with up to a No 20 elastic it will handle the largest of fish.

MAP TKS 901 16m

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGE

16m MAP TKS 901 pole
Nine pre-bushed match top kits
Four pre-bushed power top kits
Three short No 4 sections
Rigid cupping kit with cups
Re-inforced mini extension
Deluxe holdall
12-month guarantee

PAY AROUND

£2,999

Released to an expectant public in 2013, the 901 didn’t disappoint and soon cut through the hype and bluster to show what a stunning pole it was in terms of performance, balance, stiffness and extras available. Weighing in at just 1,352g at full length, the 901 is among the lightest top end poles on the market that’s down to a new carbon material with a reduced resin content and strength just as important as weight, with the ple capable of doing battle with carp on a regular basis.

Each section of the pole has superb anti-ovaling section wall strength which means when pressure is applied, it won’t be on the section walls and added joint re-inforcement gives you supreme confidence. The super smooth finish makes unshipping a dream and as for the extras such as top kits, you’ll not be left wanting in that department.

Thirteen top kits come with the 901, nine match and four power and all are pre-bushed so you don’t need to do any cutting back and for commercial carp anglers out there, three short No 4 sections are added to beef up the fighting quality of the pole. A super stiff cupping kit and cups some as standard along with a re-inforced min extension all stowed away in a deluxe pole holdall.

MAP TKS 501 16m

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGE

Pre-bushed match kit fitted
Two pre-bushed power kits
Two pre-bushed match kits
Rigid cupping kit
Re-inforced mini extension

PAY AROUND

£970

If you want to fish long and with ease then the 501 will deliver with performance and excellent handling to boot; has more than enough power to cope with commercial hauling techniques.

MAP TKS Carp Margin pole

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PAY AROUND

£89.99

Don’t fall into the trap of assuming that these poles are only for margin work – they make impressive bits of kit for fishing short at the base of the near shelf on commercial waters too, something that is increasingly becoming a key area in the swim for match and pleasure anglers!

Giving out-and-out power for targeting big double figure carp, the TKS Carp Margins can be punished time and time again throughout 12 months of fishing without so much as a flinch and are fully compatible with the TKS range of power kits and spares, plus they are built on the same mandrels as the longer TKS poles.

This means that they’ll fit directly onto the No 5 section of TKS 401 to 901 poles so if you do hook a big fish that starts to run, you can follow it out with the remaining sections of your pole and be in complete command.

With an elastic rating of No 20 and coming pre-bushed plus a competitive price, the poles make the ideal addition to any angler’s rod bag but they’re also great standalone margin poles for anglers who are looking for total reliability when a spot of specimen hunting is taking place.

There are two poles in the range, the Carp Margin 1 at 5.6m long and the Carp Margin 2 at the same length. The only difference between the two is the TKS poles that each one will fit into – the 1 model slots into the TKS 401 and 501 while the 2 is compatible with the 601 to 901 models. Each one comes with one pre-bushed power top kit but as it’ll take all available TKS tops, you can go armed with several tops ready for battle!

Drennan Acolyte 16m

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGE

16m Acolyte pole including standard A kit inside the pole
Eight spare top 2 A kits
Cupping top 3 kit
Two spare No 3 sections
Two reversible mini extensions
10/12 tube Match Holdall
Four Skid Bungs
Two Polemaster pole pots
PTFE bushes
EVA nose cone
Spare cupping kit adaptor

Commercial carp package:
16m Acolyte pole including carp kit inside the pole
Fourteen spare top two carp kits
Cupping top 3 kit
Two spare No 3 sections
Two reversible mini extensions
10/12 tube Match Holdall
Four Skid Bungs
Two Polemaster pole pots
PTFE bushes
EVA nose cone
Spare cupping kit adaptor

PAY AROUND

£2,795

A much-awaited release from Drennan a few years back, the wait was well worth it as the Acolyte quickly established itself as one of the best, if not THE best top-flight pole on the market and as it was designed in conjunction with Alan Scotthorne, you’d expect nothing else!

Lightness, strength and durability, it’s all here in 16m of absolute perfection with incredible stiffness as full length thanks to the use of an Ultra High Modulus carbon and resin blend for a rapid response on the strike with no droop or bounce. Admittedly not an out-and-out heavy-duty pole for commercial carp work, the Acolyte will still handle general work on these waters with the minimum of fuss.

Depending on your preference, you can pick standard or carp top kits or even a combination of the two and both styles are take-apart rather than telescopic at approximately 2.89m long. Standard kits are for light to medium elastics while the stronger carp kits will deal with bigger fish. They also have a re-inforced wrap on the No 2 section so you can drill to convert them into a puller kit system. Each kit is also pre-bushed with a top quality Drennan PTFE bush to fit snugly.

A strong and super stiff cupping kit is also supplied measuring approximately 4.47m long to help you tackle deeper venues when needed. Also supplied are two 250ml Polemaster pots. Added extras include two spare extra No 3 sections and two reversible mini extensions that fit every section from the No 5 right up to the 16m butt section. Also included is a full set of four Skid Bungs all packed away in a smart and spacious Acolyte pole holdall.

Drennan Red Range Carp 11m pole

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PAY AROUND

£225

The name Drennan always means quality but usually that comes at a high asking price – not with the new Red Range 11m pole though!

An incredible value package coupled with real top of the range performance, the Red Range Carp can wear many hats, from turning in a real shift fishing long down the margins on commercials to a good second pole for the experienced angler all the way down to the newcomer looking for a first pole that’ll be forgiving in clumsy hands.

With an eye on carp fishing, the Red Range can also handle silverfish work but it’s truly at home on the modern commercial fishery crunching out carp in any weather and supplied are two 2.3m long carp top kits that have been cut to fit the supplied 4.2mm Super Slick Internal PTFE bushes but if you want to fit a really thick powerful elastic then some cutting back will be needed to fit the wider diameter 5.4mm bushes that are also supplied with the pole.

Puller systems are all the rage at the moment and the Red Range Carp has a touch of luxury in this department with Drennan’s new Side Pull System, letting you use the Roller Cones and the revolutionary Side Pull System. Once fitted, the Side Pull System provides amazing performance and makes fish playing an extremely smooth process. These systems are also provided as part of package.

Additional bits and bobs include a pair of Skid Bungs, ready-fitted EVA nose cones for the No 2 (ready fitted) and No 3 sections, a Polemaster Pole Pot, Roller Cone extractor rod and eight Side Pull Beads and there’s even the option to turn one of the top kits into a cupping kit as threaded adaptors are included.

Drennan Acolyte Carp 16m pole

December 9, 2014 Bauer Xcel

PACKAGE

13m Acolyte Carp package:
13m Acolyte Carp pole
Four carp top two kits
Two double top two kits
Cupping top two kit
Two reversible mini extensions
Quality Drennan Match Holdall
Four Skid Bungs
Polemaster pole pot
30 PTFE bushes
EVA nose cones
Spare cupping kit adaptor
Roller Cone extractor rod
Six Roller Cones
Side Pull Beads
Visi Case

14.5m Acolyte Carp package:
14.5m Acolyte Carp pole
Four carp top two kits
Two double top two kits
Cupping top two kit
Two reversible mini extensions
Quality Drennan Match Holdall
Four Skid Bungs
Polemaster pole pot
30 PTFE bushes
EVA nose cones
Spare cupping kit adaptor
Roller Cone extractor rod
Six roller cones
Side Pull beads
Visi Case

16m Acolyte Carp package:
16m Acolyte Carp pole
Four carp top two kits
Two double top two kits
Cupping top two kit
Two reversible mini extensions
Quality Drennan Match Holdall
Four Skid Bungs
Polemaster pole pot
30 PTFE bushes
EVA nose cones
Spare cupping kit adaptor
Roller Cone extractor rod
Six Roller Cones
Side Pull beads
Visi Case

PAY AROUND

£995

As good as the Drennan Acolyte pole was (and it’s still pretty special!) it wasn’t made for the pitbull-style close quarters combat of commercial fisheries and given how many angler, both match and pleasure, spend all of their time on these heavily-stocked waters where bruising carp are common, Drennan knew they had to extend their range.

The result is the Acolyte Carp, built on the same mandrel as the Acolyte to give the pole a slim profile with a careful blend of ultra-high modulus (UHM) carbon and resins to make the pole impressively strong and powerful enough to put your shoulder into big carp with complete confidence.

There’s no lack of performance either, something that can be lacking when poles are beefed up to deal with big fish. The Acolyte Carp is stiff enough to hit bites quickly and there’s a great deal of rigidity and recovery to make the pole bang on for shallow ‘slapping’ tactics in the height of summer.

Available in three lengths (13m, 14.5m and 16m) there’s a mouth-watering array of spares with each pole, including a total of six strong carp top two kits, an extra-rigid cupping top kit and a pair of reversible mini extensions that can be used on the No 5 section all the way back to the main butt section.

Those carp pole kits have a brand new No1 Carp Plus tip section, an upgraded version of the original Carp No1, which you’ll find on the Acolyte pole. This gives you even more strength and security when catching proper carp and each kit is ready to fish without cutting back provided you fit small-bore PTFE bushes, but Drennan also supply larger diameter bushes to take thicker elastics if needed. A large diameter cupping kit adaptor is also supplied so you can also ensure that your cupping kit is the same chosen length as your top kits.

And just like the original Acolyte, each package contains Skid Bungs, EVA nose cones, a pole pot, five sets of different-sized PTFE bushes and a handy Visi Case but perhaps the Acolyte Carp’s greatest freebie is that each top kit comes with a factory-fitted Side Pull Slot and Drennan’s latest Roller Cone accessory.

This means that you can fish each kit with a puller system, which is proving increasingly popular on mixed fisheries where you can be catching F1 hybrids and skimmers one minute and big carp the next but want to use the same elastic and rig.

Fitted not the side of the No 2 section of each top kit is a white Side Pull slot made from a super-slick PTFE material. The elongated shape changes the angle of pull and sees elastic work more efficiently. Inside the top kit sits the Roller Cone device, a cone moulded to fit neatly up against the Side Pull Slot for perfect alignment with a precision engineered wheel that works brilliantly and ultimately results in fewer lost fish.