Spod and Spomb rods under £150

One of these rods in the right hands can have a dramatic effect on catch results; not only enabling the sometimes long-range dispatch of bait, but also maintaining a steady flow of bait to the ‘feeding-zone’ to hold fish for longer periods. To tolerate such heavy loads, strength within the rod is obviously a key factor, but is just one of many. A lightweight feel to the rod is also important, as you’ll often be casting the rod repeatedly for lengthy spells. So a good balance between elements such as strength, weight, feel or grip, plus rod recovery and action are vitally important where the ultimate accuracy of the cast is concerned.

We have 21 rods to trial, varying in prices from as little as £59.99 going up to a wallet-denting £299.99! Scroll to the bottom of the page for links to see how the rods on test under £100 and over £150 fared. As always, we began the test by taking a look at the rod features, things such as the ringing and guides, as well as other specifications like the test curve. Any names or graphics were then taped over to reduce ‘brand-association’ before we handed the rods over to our test team; three anglers who spent the day putting these rods through their paces, aiming at marker floats at distances of 50, 75 and 100yds. The guys then reported back their thoughts and findings.

Our team of testers, from left to right, John Rennie, Adam Spindley and Wayne Bateman

To ensure there was no ‘brand association’ to influence the team, we taped up all the graphics on the rods

Under £150

Fox Torque Spod

Aimed at bridging the gap between entry level and top end rods, Fox released the ‘Torque’ series at the beginning of 2015 and completed the range with both a marker and the spod rod. Features include a 18mm Fuji reel seat, Slik guides with 50mm butt ring as standard within the unstated cosmetics of the rod.

The Statistics
Test curve: 5.5lb
Length of rod: 12ft
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: All-round spod rod
RRP £119.99; foxint.com

Key Tester Comments
“This was a nice, light blank,” begins Wayne, “well balanced and felt nice casting at all ranges – it was very accurate. The rod ticked all the boxes really and picked up the spod nice retrieving it back quickly.” “I’d agree with Wayne,” says Adam, “it’s a nice looking rod, with a nice reel seat and feel to it… a little bit soft in the tip for me perhaps, but at all ranges it cast out fine; nice and accurate.” “This rod impressed me,” adds John. “The rod felt nice, responsive, and comfortable, I could stop a medium Spomb on a dinner plate, the accuracy was also good.”

Sonik SK4 XTR Marker

Similar to the SK3, the SK4 features a full Japanese shrink-wrap handle that really complements the cool-looks and appearance of this rod, along with eye-catching red tipping and bronze polished metal reel seat collars. That said, don’t be deceived by the glossy look, as the rod still packs a punch with a 5.5lb test curve.

The Statistics
Test curve: 5.5lb
Length of rod: 12ft
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: All-round spod rod
RRP £129.99; soniksports.com

Key Tester Comments
“This rod was okay,” comments Adam, “but it wouldn’t be my first choice I don’t think. The accuracy was fine, and casting at 50, 75 and 100yds was fine, but personally I don’t like the look of the rod.” John continues, “I’d have to disagree, as my first impression was this was a nice looking rod. I’m not sure it’s the best at the longer distances, I thought it was a little soft, but I did find it comfortable and accurate with the medium size Spomb and spod.” “Again a nice looking blank,” adds Wayne, “I liked the reel seat, it felt comfortable in the hand.”

Prologic The Spodder

ProLogic are aiming at providing bigger cast distances with this spod rod which is built upon a 12’ 6” 30T carbon blank that also holds a beefy 5.5lb test curve. Starting with a 50mm butt ring, deep press guides line the rod that also features an ergonomic bottom handle for extra grip and comfort when hitting big casts.

The Statistics
Test curve: 5.5lb
Length of rod: 12ft 6in
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: All-round spod rod
RRP £119.99; prologicfishing.com

Key Tester Comments
“I think it’s fair to say this rod is a bit of a tool,” states John, “I did struggle a bit on the 50yd range with this rod. I think it requires a heavyweight to make it work best, it’s really a distance rod with quite a thick and stiff blank, so you did really have to compress the rod to get the most out of it.” “Yep, this is an out-and-out range rod,” adds Wayne. “It was fairly good at 50 and 75yds, but more at home at 100yds plus.” Adam continues with similar thoughts: “When you pick up this rod you can tell it’s built for one reason: casting spods/Spombs a long way.”

Greys Distance Spod Plus

Fitted with G-Lite SIC guides including a 16mm tip ring and a 50mm butt ring, the Spod Plus from Greys is geared-up for casting greater distances, an element again reflected with the 12’ 6” upgraded blank. To complete the ‘good looks’ of the rod, a 20mm NPS Fuji reel seat is fitted to easily accept big pit reels.

The Statistics
Test curve: Not stated
Length of rod: 12ft 6in
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: All-round spod rod
RRP £119.99; greysfishing.com

Key Tester Comments
John starts off by saying, “I thought the rod was a bit heavy and after a few casts my arms were beginning to ache, but the rod looked good.” Wayne begins to agree with John saying, “Yes, this was a thick blank, heavy at the butt, which was okay at the shorter-ranges, but I could feel it at the longer-range, although it could hit the range and was accurate. Cosmetically I’m not a fan on the unground look, I prefer a smooth finish.” “Like John I like the looks,” adds Adam, but I’d agree with both lads in that the rod felt heavy.”

Tackle Box CF-X Spod

This rod has been designed as a fast action blank aimed at casting spods a long way, but without neglecting features or appearance. The blank itself is created from a multiple blend of carbons to provide a distinctive and attractive 3K weave and is finished with a stainless steel butt cap and green whippings.

The Statistics
Test curve: 4.75lb
Length of rod: 12ft
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: All-round spod rod
RRP £130.00; tacklebox.co.uk

Key Tester Comments
Adam: “Again, this rod was an animal, and in the right hands it would hit 140-150yds easily and was super-accurate when casting at our three marker floats – effortless at hitting the 100yd spot and a very nice looking rod too.” “This was a really nice, well balanced rod,” adds John. “It was light, comfortable, responsive and looks great – coping with all the distances and further easily.” “I really like the look of this rod as well,” agrees Wayne. “The blank and the fittings, and the rod was very well balanced and accurate – I was casting within inches of the markers; one of my favourites so far.”

Free Spirit E Class Gold Launcher

With a Fuji DNP20 reel seat, shrink rubber butt grip and S-Lite guides, the L.R.S. spod rod is very pleasing to the eye cosmetically – an aspect of the rod enhanced by the gold tippet whippings and depth markers at 1’ and 2’, meaning this rod isn’t just for distance spodding, but can also double as a long-range marker rod.

The Statistics
Test curve: 5lb
Length of rod: 12ft
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: Dual-purpose spod/marker rod
RRP £139.99; freespiritfishing.com

Key Tester Comments
Adam starts the comments: “This rod was very pleasing on the eye and very pokey as well – it really was a tool. It was also well balanced so the accuracy was good at all three ranges, but if you wanted extreme-range it was also possible with this rod.” “Yes, this was another good looking rod,” Wayne remarks. “Cosmetically very nice, I like the carbon weave and it could cast a very long way, but also coped with the shorter distances and accuracy very well; even with a heavy Spomb the rod still felt well balanced.” “Yep, good build and coped with heavy weights,” signs off John.

Free Spirit E Class Spomb

As the name suggests, ‘The Spomb Rod’ has been purposely designed at Free Spirit to be used with the extremely popular Spomb and is geared to the aerodynamics of these bait carriers. The basics of which being a soft, easy load tip section combined with a much stiffer butt, in both 40 or 50mm butt ring versions.

The Statistics
Test curve: Not stated
Length of rod: 12ft
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: Dual-purpose Spomb/marker rod
RRP £139.99; freespiritfishing.com

Key Tester Comments
This was a fairly stiff rod,” says Wayne, “so I did struggle a little on the 50yds marker, but over that you could cast this rod all day. Medium- to long-range and with heavy loads you could put a lot of bait out no problem.” “Yeah, I would agree,” says Adam, “This was again a very nice rod, well designed and accurate.” John finishes with: “Yes, this rod had a nice responsive tip, a good balance and a good feel – you could cast it all day long, easily. The heavier loads weren’t a problem either. A cosmetically simple, well designed rod.”

Nash Entity Duo Spod/Marker

Designed to combine power with transition to cope with large payloads such as spods and long-range feature-finding work, the Entity Duo Spod/Marker is another of multi-functional rods on test. With a Fuji reel seat and high-modulus carbon weave, the rod certainly looks the part and matches the appearance of the Entity range.

The Statistics
Test curve: Not stated
Length of rod: 12ft
Butt ring size: 50mm
Suggested use: Dual-purpose spod/marker rod
RRP £142.99; nashtackle.co.uk

Key Tester Comments
Wayne liked this rod. “It feels comfortable at all distances and was nicely balanced in the hand. I also like the look of the rod and all the fixtures and fittings. John added, “The Entity isn’t a broom handle but does have the power for distance when it is required and needed,” and this was followed up by Adam who echoed John’s words and also commented on how comfortable the rod felt – especially after spodding for a reasonally long period of time, so overall, a thumbs up from the Test Team, with the Entity Duo Spod/Marker rod.

Adam: “You can see a difference in the build and performance of the rods, so if you can, I’d say it’s well worth spending the little extra. There were four I really liked in this bracket: the Tackle Box CF-X Spod, Free Spirit E Class Gold Launcher, Free Spirit E Class Spomb and the Nash Entity Duo Spod/Marker. I couldn’t find any difference between them, but if I had to pick one I would go for the Tackle Box CF-X Spod… But only just.”

John:“I thought the Tackle Box CF-X Spod really stood out, it’s such a balanced rod. From 50yds right up through the distances it was absolutely superb. I do feel the Nash Entity Duo Spod/Marker is also a good rod, personally I think I’d have liked that model a bit longer, at 13ft, but if I have to choose one, it’s got to be the Tackle Box CF-X Spod.”

Wayne: “My favourite was the Tackle Box CF-X Spod, it ticked all the boxes for me – narrowly preferring it over the Free Spirit E Class Gold Launcher L.R.S. Spod which was my second choice. Stepping-up into this category, the build quality is notably better, so I’d also suggest trying to spend more if you can.”

Overall thoughts from the test team