Daiwa Longbow DF X45 Rods

Daiwa certainly need no introduction, and neither does that man Danny Fairbrass, but just in case you have been living under a rock for the past few years, or indeed maybe have only just found your way into the beautiful world of carp angling, here’s a brief nutshell history: Daiwa have been making rods forever, since 1977 in fact. Deep in the Scottish heartlands they are a thoroughbred company with the highest credentials. The mighty Kevlar Whisker and Amorphous blanks redefining what a carp rod could be and with critical input from the likes of Kevin Nash back in the 80s, they took charge of the carp rod market with their progressive design and manufacturing. Today, they still sit at the very peak of their game, and with Danny at the helm of collabs like these, it is little wonder they are still rolling out some of the very best carp rods on the market.

1. Danny knows his game
We all know Danny can catch a carp or three, that is without question, but fundamentally more important is that he is one of the most highly critical and ruthlessly efficient anglers out there. That translates into every aspect of his angling, and his rod set-up is no different, it simply has to do the job, and do it exactly, and precisely as Dan wants. 160 on a clip in a crosswind? No problem for the Longbow X45. The forgiveness to hold the lunges of a Gigantica beast under the tip? Sorted.

2. Slick as you like!
The DF X45 is genuinely a thing of beauty, with every aspect having a custom build finish and feel, given the diminutive price tag, you feel like your holding a rod that has caused twice the damage to your bank balance, and marriage… From the super slick matt, no-glare finish, to the low profile Minima 4 guides, through to the ultra subtle branding (on the side) and the Fuji seat and shrink wrapped handle, it is a seriously understated and classy piece of carbon to have resting on your set-up.

3. It’s all about the wrap!
When you get down to the real business and backbone of these rods, what you discover underneath that minimal finish, is a seriously complex piece of production. The X45 wrap gives the blank two wraps of carbon, at 45-degrees to each other; in simple terms that means that due to the elimination of twist during compression, wherever you point it, the lead will go!

4. Less is more, and bigger is (sometimes) better
All the range equipped with the highly impressive, and technologically advanced Minima 4 guides. With no old school ceramic inserts to fall out, the minima guides have an integral metallic based liner that is formed over the actual guide frame. Not only do they do the job better and more efficiently, they are lighter and slicker. The range all comes with a 50mm butt ring as standard to reduce and frap ups, except the 2.25lb Floater Special.

5. There’s not just one of them
Whether you are heading up to northern Germany to blast out singles to sets of great big chocolate brown head and shoulders nutting out at 160yds, or flicking a two-ounce lead down to a set of pads on your local estate lake, there’s something in the impressive Longbow range for you. From the 12ft 2.75lb model with all the credentials for some ‘under the tip’ small water angling, through to the 12ft 3.75lb beast that will cope with the most demanding of big water abuse, the range has it covered. And let’s not forget the spod and marker and specialised 2.25 ‘Floater Special’ for those lazy, hazy summer days with the Mixers. Prices start from £245.00.