Fox Rage PrismX rod review

VERSATILITY can be a difficult feature to find in a lure rod, but Fox Rage’s new PrismX range boasts an option that certainly fits the bill. 

Lure fishing with one rod for perch and another for pike is far too much hassle, so hats off to Rage, whose Medium Light Spin can tackle both species without the need for a second set-up.

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To put this theory to the test I headed to a predator hotspot on the Nene near Peterborough. 

Known locally as The Boathouse, this highly popular stretch is full of fry and, naturally, lots of predators too. Surely the perfect place to put a good bend in this rod…

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Being a fan of ‘matching the hatch’ I attached a Fox Rage Ultra UV Slick Shad in Motor Oil colour to a 5g Finesse jighead and cast this alongside some near-bank boards, which I know can be very productive for perch. 

At 6ft 11ins long The PrismX Medium Light Spin felt pokey to hand but when I hooked into several small stripeys I was surprised to find that the action was forgiving – I was enjoying fights from fish no bigger than 12oz! 

The stiffness meant I could keep a tight line between the lure and rod-tip – very important for imparting action into your lure and detecting bites – but none of the fight’s satisfaction was lost. 

After half-an-hour of ‘wasping’ I’d caught a dozen fish, but a large swirl on the surface around 15 yards from the bank signified that a pike was on the feed. 

I switched my jighead to a 10g version, attached a Lemon Tiger UV Slick Shad, and within seconds I’d despatched my offering to the area. 

A few casts later a hard thud signalled that a pike was hooked, and it was a good one at that. This gave me the chance to really test the rod’s strength as this powerful pike made every effort to shake the hook.

The progressive action and power in the butt section was outstanding, and ensured I remained in control at all times.

When the pike surfaced I could see the hook was just nicked through a sliver of skin, and before I could net it fish and hook parted company – gutted!

Despite losing what was easily a double-figure fish I was reassured that the Medium Light Spin had proved its mettle for predators both big and small. 

So if, like me, you’re tired of taking two rods fishing with you, why not give Fox Rage’s PrismX Medium Light Spin a look. 

Price: £85


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Tackle to try with this rod

Fox Rage Ultra UV Slick Shads in single colour packs

• In Stickleback, Lemon Tiger, Perch and Motor Oil colours

• 7cm, 9cm, 11cm and 13cm sizes

Price: £4 for packs of five or 80p each

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Fox Rage Finesse Jigheads

• 4/0, 3/0, 2/0 or 1/0 hooks

• In weights of 5g, 7g, 10g, 15g and 20g

• Features Arma Point technology for super sharp hooking

Price: £2.99 for packs of three

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Warrior Deadbait rods from Fox Rage reviewed!

When it comes to the purchase of a rod, striking a balance between cost and performance – in other words, getting value for money – is very important. 

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If that rod is cheap but not particularly cheerful your fishing will suffer. If, on the other hand, the price is ‘realistic’ enough to make an oil sheikh weep, you’ll be in trouble with the missus.

Fortunately, the new Warrior Deadbait rods from Fox Rage Predator are bang on the money on both counts. 

There are three options – 12ft 2.75lb test curve, 12ft 3.25lb tc, and a 10ft 3lb tc boat rod. The two 12-footers will set you back just £55.99 and £59.99, respectively, while the boat rod comes in at an even more modest £49.99. 

Now, given the kudos of the Fox Rage Predator brand, these are cheap rods. Score one for the Warriors. The big question now, though, is how do they perform?

Let’s be honest. For this money you’re not going to be getting the best pike rods ever made. However, if you’re on a tight budget, or a newcomer to predator fishing, these Deadbait Warriors will do everything you’ll need to put baits where you want them and catch fish with minimal fuss.

For a start, they cast well – an essential attribute of any deadbait rod is that it can fire out weight. All three blanks compress well and can handle the biggest of baits and the heftiest of leads. From that point they sit in the rod rests until they’re called into use, looking great with their subtle graphics, class-act gloss black blanks,
full-length cork handles (offering good grip for casting and playing fish in bad weather) and practical screw-down reel seats.

Lifting into a take, the actions of the two 12ft rods see the blanks’ tip section pick up line very quickly, before the power kicks in to set the hooks, even at range. They are quite powerful, too, giving you plenty in reserve for controlling larger fish, especially at the net, where you need that power to hold on to late lunges.

The bread-and-butter model will undoubtedly be the 2.75lb test curve rod. This is a great
all-rounder that’s forgiving, but with enough power to chuck big baits and land good fish. For those requiring a bit more casting range and/or the use of larger baits such as whole mackerel, the 3.25lb test curve model delivers even more grunt, which you’ll need if you want to set hooks at extreme range. 

The boat rod is fit for purpose, and is also a great option for tight swims and river work, where its 10ft length is a real help.

Price: 12ft 2.75lb £55.99 | 12ft 3.25lb £59.99 | 10ft 3lb £49.99

fox rage prism pike rod review

If you’re after a simple yet effective lure set-up for big pike this Christmas, Fox Rage certainly has the tools for the job. 

Get your hands on all the latest rods, poles, reels and accessories at this year’s Big One Show

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Catching double-figure fish requires a rod with plenty of grunt – not only to handle the powerful runs of each specimen hooked but also to cope with the regular casting of baits of 30g or more. 

So you’ll be happy to learn that Rage’s latest Prism Pike Spin outfit ticks both these boxes with ease. 

At 7ft 10ins long and rated to chuck lures in the 30g-100g range,  it’s compact enough to fold down and fit into the boot of a car – but when it comes to the fishing you won’t be let down during the fight or while frequently casting your lure. And speaking of lures, the Fox Rage’s Loaded Natural Classics 2 patterns are the perfect accompaniment to this rod. 

These paddle-tailed beauties have a superb swimming action combined with a realistic finish – and considering they come in weights of 15g and 20g, they’re a fine fit for the Prism Pike Spin. 

When I was tasked with testing the two components together I couldn’t wait to see the outcome.

Lure tackle of this calibre is generally suited to gravel pit or reservoir fishing, but a lot of big pike inhabit our river systems – including the Soar in Leicestershire, home to twenties. 

On the stretch I fished there are canal boats moored on the far bank and beds of water cabbages along the near bank – with a 9ft-deep track down the middle. 

I clipped on the 14cm Loaded Natural Classic in perch colour and flicked it as tight to the far-bank boats as I could – allowing the lure to sink to the bottom of the shelf and retrieving quickly before it reached the cabbages. 

In two hours I roved up and down the bank employing this tactic, and a number of pike between 5lb and 8lb made their way into my net. 

The rod, although not tested by a true monster, was strong with a hint of softness, so none of the satisfaction of the fight was lost – a unique element considering it’s primarily intended for fish that go into double figures and above. 

When a pike did try to make an escape to some near-bank lilies, the Prism Pike Spin had more than enough guts to turn its head with no creaking of the blank whatsoever. It also cast the lures effortlessly throughout the day without showing signs of struggle.

In my opinion, the lures under review should be included in any serious pike angler’s armoury too. 

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They come in three different sizes and four realistic colours, but it’s the fact that they’re fully loaded and ready to fish straight from the packet that will see them shoot off the shelves. The already fitted harness system includes two razor-sharp Armapoint trebles connected to a strong wire trace and screw-in jig head. 

When a pike grabbed hold of the lure there was no way it was getting off – every bite resulted in a firm hookhold.

The swimming action is also phenomenal. The big paddle-tail kicked out lots of vibration and the sleek body enabled the lure to wobble enticingly on a quick retrieve, something that the pike simply could not resist.

Although no huge fish were caught on the day I left with no doubt in my mind that this combination of Fox Rage products could hook and handle pike of record-breaking proportions.

Our Verdict: A perfect tackle combination for all predator anglers wanting to catch monster pike. The Prism Pike Spin is a proper big-fish cruncher and the lifelike lures are the ideal match. I just wished I could have hooked a proper pike to really put the rod through its paces!

Price: Fox Rage Prism Pike Spin rod £94.99

Fox Rage Warrior 2 rod review

Catching predators on big reservoirs can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t have the right gear for the job – but with Fox Rage’s latest Warrior2 rods you’re in safe hands from the off.

Get your hands on all the latest rods, poles, reels and accessories at this year’s Big One Show

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Anyone who fishes big waters like Rutland or Grafham will know that a fast-actioned rod is needed to stay in touch with your lure, especially in depths down to 90ft or more. 

So when I was tasked with testing Rage’s newly-released Warrior2 Vertical 185 and Spin 240 rods, I was eager to get down to Rutland Water to see if they were up to the mark.

Having vertically-jigged Rutland for zander with the wrong rod in the past, I was a tad apprehensive when I made my first drop with the Vertical 185, but was swiftly reassured when my 25g jighead and lure hit the reservoir floor in 65ft of water with very little bend evident in the rod-tip.

At just 6ft (185cm) long, it was stiff enough for great bite indication but not so stiff that it took the sting out of the fight. 

My lure remained in direct contact with the bottom at all times, which is essential if you want to spot bites when fishing from a drifting boat.

The Vertical 185 is labelled to handle weights of 14g to 28g, so when drifting over deeper water I thought I’d test a 30g jighead – and I’m pleased to say this heavier weight had little effect on the playing action of the rod.

When the zander finally revealed themselves on the fish finder at mid-depth it was time to switch to the Spin 240 and really cover some water.

This rod is a big-fish cruncher, rated to cast weights from 10g-30g, so I was happy to see that my 35g jighead wasn’t a step too far – the braided mainline slipped through the sleek guides effortlessly with no creaks of protest from the blank. 

For me, the real quality of the rod revealed itself while retrieving the lure – I could feel every twist of its paddled tail vibrating down the blank. As with the Vertical 185 there was an element of stiffness in this rod, but as soon as you hooked a zander it was forgiving, and could cope with the most powerful lunges without sacrificing the thrills of the fight.

The verdict: These are perfect rods for deep-water reservoir fishing that give unfailingly excellent bite indication and playing quality. The sleek grey high-modulus carbon blanks and cork handles add a touch of class, and considering you don’t need to break the bank to buy them you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. The Spin 240 is as much at home on any river, canal or lake as it is on a reservoir.

Price: Fox Rage Warrior2
   Vertical 185  £39.99

Fox Rage Warrior2 Spin 240
    £44.99

Rage Prism 5-21g 210cm Dropshot Rod Review

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Fancy keeping fit and healthy while you fish? Then have a wander round your local canal, lake or river with a light lure outfit – it’s better than the gym and a good deal less sweaty. 

Pack rod, reel, landing net and a few lures and you’re ready to go. If you’re an urban angler it’s a given that there’ll be some free fishing close to your doorstep.

Listen up, then, while I tell of a recent drop shotting session I had while running the rule over a rod, reel and lure combo from Fox Rage’s latest Prism range. Lincoln seemed the ideal destination, riddled as it is with small waterways including the upper River Witham, the Fossdyke Canal and Brayford Pool. 

All hold huge shoals of small silver fish, not surprisingly preyed upon by pike and perch. 

The day got off to a very slow start on the normally pike-prolific Brayford Pool, which lends itself well to a jigging approach. Even the latest Rage Fish Snax Dropshot Fry lures, with their colourful multi-fibre tails and a provocative ‘eat me’ wiggle, failed to bring a take as I worked them across this large expanse of water. 

On, then, to the Fossdyke Canal, usually nailed on for a few ‘wasp’ perch at least. By now I’d changed to a drop shot set-up, using a small-bodied Rage Fly multi-fibre tail lure that can be made to dance and jiggle in a most enticing manner. I twitched this for a good hour, but the perch had clearly done one. 

Then, right before my very eyes, surfaced the reason for this fish famine – a fully grown dog otter with a head the size of a cocker spaniel and jaws to rival those of a shark. He and his missus, completely unfazed by the hordes of onlookers, worked their way back down the Fossdyke and into Brayford pool, feasting on hapless perch as they went. 

I don’t blame the otters – they are only doing what comes naturally. Problem is, the fish are Lincolnshire born and bred, but these otters are not!

Despite the lack of fish during the live test, I can happily report that the pencil-thin, 210cm 5-21g two-sectioned Rage Prism Dropshot Rod is light in the hand, with plenty of ‘feel’, and will whip out the lightest of lures without a problem. The classy understated white whipping on the two top guides impressed me no end, although you normally feel the pluck of a bite (especially when using braid) well before you see the tip move. 

The tip section has just the right blend of stiffness and cushioning to drive a small hook home, neither too pokey nor too flimsy – many other modern drop shot rods can’t do this but still seem to satisfy the tackle tarts who think slimmest is always best.

Price: £79.99     

The Verdict

Exceptionally light and comfortable in the hand, the 210cm (6ft 10ins) Rage Prism makes an ideal small-water roving rod. There are also 240cm 5-21g and 270cm 7-28g versions. 

The one on test had a fast, crisp casting action yet retained plenty of sensitivity where it was needed. The high modulus carbon blank has a softly parabolic fish-playing curvature, perfect for smaller perch and zander, although there’s enough mid-section backbone to cope with the odd larger fish too.