2019 ICON shore rods explained
With a large selection of shore rods in our 2019 catalogue, here’s the lowdown on what each range does and where it fits into the pricing hierarchy…
Name: FXD Sport & FXD Elite
Type: Continental shore rods
Uses: Multi-range fishing over clean ground
RRP: from £269.99 for the Sport; from £349.99 for the Elite
Launched in 2018, the FXD range comes in 4.2m and 4.5m lengths across both the Sport and Elite models. If you’ve not guessed already, they’re designed for fixed spool reels (hence the ‘FXD’ name). Moving away from multiplier reels has become popular with many UK anglers, taking a leaf out of the European shore fishing book where this is the preferred way to tackle up for clean ground.
The beauty of a fixed spool reel combined with a long, soft-tipped rod such as the FXD, is you need less out-and-out power to launch a rig to distance, you can get a lightweight blank despite the overall length, and tip sensitivity is also increased because the rod is thinner. The action is also more conducive to helping newcomers cast better, because a standard overhead thump is all that’s required.
The 3-piece FXD rods also feature a weight system in the butt that helps to balance the rod and refine a caster’s feel of the rod, and they’re equipped with the high quality Fuji components. The hybrid tip (spliced solid carbon) is super-sensitive, making these perfect for small species.
Name: FXD Super Sport & FXD Super Elite
Type: Continental shore rods
Uses: Multi-range fishing over semi-clean ground
RRP: £279.99 for the Super Sport; £369.99 for the Super Elite
Only available in 4.2m lengths, this duo of rods take the existing FXD ethos and puts it into a 2-piece design that features an uprated full tubular carbon tip for increased power throughout, making it more of a crossover from standard UK shore rods. This additional power makes them perfect for holding bottom in heavier tides, targeting bigger fish or when you fish in rocky, weedy areas. There’s same high level of finish as on the standard FXD rods in addition to the removable weight system in the butt and of course, guide spacing is designed for fixed spool reels such as the FXD FD range.
Name: M-Sport
Type: Traditional shore rods
Uses: Beach, pier and rocky ground is covered by this range
RRP: from £179.99
When we launched the 4.2m M-sport range some years ago, we weren’t prepared for the impact they made on the market; the originals brought high-performance casting blanks to the a price point that made them a huge hit with anglers around the UK.
The latest iteration of the M-sport carries on the tradition of offering three levels of blank; Match is for lighter work, fishing over clean ground or when targeting small species such as flounder or pouting. Then we have the popular Power, which is the ‘do everything’ rod in the range, equally at home catching bass on the south coast as it is hauling cod through kelp beds in Yorkshire. The Ultra Power ups the ante even more offering up a blank that’ll stop big tope, conger or just handle huge balls of weed in big tides that would ruin other lesser rods.
Designed for multiplier rods all versions are a 2-piece design and feature coasters and a shrink wrap butt section so you can set your own reel position. There’s even a 14-inch reducer if you require (£24.99) that will fit into the specially reinforced butt section.
Name: M-Sport Elite
Type: Traditional shore rods
Uses: Beach, pier and rocky ground is covered by this range
RRP: from £209.99
Taking the M-sport mantra to a new level, the M-sport Elite trio offer the same blank characteristics to cover a multitude of fishing situations faced by shore anglers, but with a more refined 4.2m, two-piece blank and the option of a sliding reel seat and coasters, depending on how you want to tackle up. These rods will also accept the A3033 reducer.
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Name: MPR
Type: Versatile shore rods for multi-species fishing
Uses: Shorter rods that excel in bite sensitivity
RRP: from £84.99
Featuring a sliding reel seat and ring spacing that suits both fixed spool or multiplier reels, the MPR range is very much about offering ‘do anything’ capabilities. These aren’t rods for heavy-duty fishing, more days on sandy beaches, estuaries or fishing over light weed where a 12ft or 13ft rod capable of casting up to 6oz is the norm. They’re 2-piece so have no compromise on power thanks to a fast action with sensitive tip.
There’s also a dedicated 11ft 9in bass model, which is perfect for when you need to ‘send it’, thanks to a rating of up to 5oz casting weight.
Name: Bass Sport
Type: Specialist bass rod
Uses: Lightweight option for mobile fishing or estuary fishing
RRP: £134.99
Dedicated bass rods have a strong following from UK anglers who want something that’s light in the hand for when you need to either feel for bites as leads are moved around, or when you’re wading and need a rod to that’s comfortable to be held all day.
Full lined SIC guides that are set up for multipler use compliment the 22mm shrink wrap butt and moveable reel seat that allows you to position your reel wherever you feel most comfortable. Although rated up to 4oz, this is a rod that has plenty of power low down for hitting that mythical ‘third breaker’, although a soft tip means those fish we all know are close in will show themselves when they take an interest.
Name: Light Lure
Type: Multi-tip lure rods
Uses: LRF fishing, soft plastics and small lure work
RRP: £49.99
Two rods make up this range, a seven-footer and an 8ft model, both with interchangeable tips that enable you to really tailor the rod to the size of lure (and fish) you’re likely to encounter. These push-in carbon tips means you can have one rod to suit everything from tiny LRF lures right through to spinners and hard plastics.
Along with a comfortable EVA handle, short butt section hook keeper ring, there’s a printed measure so you can quickly record your catches through the session.
These two rods are also accompanied by 10FD and 20FD reels, lightweight front drag fixed spool models that feature aluminium spools and 10 bearings (£29.99rrp)
