When it comes to depositing bait at range, you can't beat a spod. They can be filled with pretty much any free offerings from maggots and boilies, to particles and liquids. Due to their aerodynamic design they can be cast much further into the lake than a catapult can deposit bait and they are far more accurate and versatile than a throwing stick, as that can only feed boilies.
Early versions were little more than a castable cylindrical tube, whereas modern spods have more sophisticated release mechanisms. The problem with original spods was their inability to keep all the bait locked in during the cast. Many anglers will have suffered from "spod spill", even when plugging the back with groundbait. They also took a while to release the bait, so on a windy day they could cause bait to spread as they drifted.
Best spods and Spombs at a glance:
Whilst all spods and Spombs deliver bait in the same way, they do all vary on the way they open and load. Some spods can be pushed into the bait to scoop it up, where others must be filled manually. You will find the manual loading ones do take more bait, however. Spombs do vary quite a lot in size, you may find a medium size is easier to cast than a large at long range due to the weight difference. Here is a guide to some of the best available on the market currently...
How we test the best spods and Spombs
These spods were tested by experienced members of the Angling times team. We have been using and abusing tackle like this for decades and have probably used most, if not all of them during our time on the bank, so we know the best from the rest!
Team members, Mark Sawyer, James Furness and Aidan Bordiuk have been testing a variety of spods for both carp and specialist fishing, to ensure they perform and get a thorough testing.
Our decision process of what makes the best spods takes into account various factors including price point, build quality and usability to ensure we can give you the best advice on factors that will make an actual different to your angling, rather than confuse you with a load of specifications.
The following list includes a mixture of our favourites for long-range carp and match fishing to help find a reliable item for you. Find out how we test our gear, HERE.
1.
Spomb
Let’s not underestimate the importance of the Spomb as a product. It may not be as revolutionary as the hair rig, but it completely changed the game following its launch in 2010. The unique design eradicated spod spill and the time it would take bait to exit a traditional spod, and they quickly became the ‘go to’ baiting tool of choice for many carpers.
The nose-mounted release button operates almost flawlessly, bar the odd non-opening due to misjudged casts. Available in Large, Midi and Mini versions, they can be used to quickly put out a large bed of bait at range, or top up your swim discreetly. We’d love to see a version with an integral float, rather than having to buy an external one to meet some fishery rules.
Personally, this is the spod I use for my fishing. Simple to use, effective, and relatively inexpensive to replace if you lose one. They cast well and retrieve easily too making them great for beginners or experienced anglers alike! The fact the bait is enclosed adds to the versatility of what you can add into the swim. Baits like maggots and sloppy spod mixes that would normally crawl or fall out before casting in with traditional spods, can now be deposited with minimal fuss!
The only minor issue is that they occasionally fail to open, which can be a bit of a pain, especially when it happens on your most accurate cast of the day! That said, it doesn’t happen often enough to be a real problem.
Pros
- Accurate and reliable.
- Available in multiple sizes.
Cons
- Don't come with floats and they will sink.
If accurate, long-range casting is top of your priorities, the streamlined Dot Spod – distributed by Nash – takes some beating in the aerodynamic stakes. It casts magnificently, with zero spillage, and releases the bait every time, even if it lands on it side, which is an advantage over alternative models which have to land nose first for the release mechanisms to engage.
The Dot Spod allows you to scoop bait into the hatch, something no other spod really allows as the mechanism can get filled with bait causing issues closing it, yet this model seems to have overcome this. If you like to put a lot of bait in quick and efficiently, this is the spod for you and it opens every time, flies like an arrow and is really durable too.
No more getting messy and covered in bait filling a spod with one hand and closing it with the other, just scoop the bait in, close the hatch and cast it in!
The load capacity is slightly less than the other in the list, but the ease of loading makes up for that.
The black and blue version is for temperate climates and maximum visibility at range, while the white one reflects heat, making it perfect for any hot and sunny carping holidays you may have booked.
Pros
- Incredible casting performance
- Opens every time without fail
- Incrdibly easy to load
Cons
- Low load capacity due to design
You can look at the 2015 launch of the Impact Spod as the moment the Spomb finally had a domestic rival, or, seeing as it is produced under licence from Spomb, as a sort of MK2 version of the market leader.
We like the clever hatch system design of the Impact Spod, which allows for rapid one-handed loading – perfect for when you quickly want to top up your bed of bait on a fast and furious bagging session!
The nose-mounted push-button spring seen on the Spomb has been sealed away, eliminating any annoying clogging issues, and the stabilising fins stand off the body to create a more tapered profile.
It’s by far the easiest to fill and flies just as well as the Spomb. Its asymmetrical design, however, does mean it snakes a bit on the retrieve.
Pros
- Really easy to fill.
- System can't clog.
Cons
- Not the easiest to retrieve from range.
Best for flowing water
While these are probably more geared to river anglers looking for a more modern version of the traditional bait dropper, we’re sure they’ll also find a place in a carp angler’s armoury.
The Bait Bopper features a clever system inside the nose cone, where interchangeable weights can be used to alter its diving speed and weight.
Unlike other spods which open on impact, this one doesn’t until it hits the lake or riverbed, when the stainless pin pushes up and forces the spring-loaded system to open. This is essential when fishing on flowing water, as if it opened on impact with the surface your loosefeed would have been washed downstream by the time it reached the bottom.
The body itself has holes in it which make it much easier to retrieve in running water conditions.
Pros
- Great for running water
- Interchangeable weights for different situations
Cons
- Not ideal for lakes, particularly those with weed
We couldn’t do a buyer's guide and not include a traditional spod.
In the right hands, the Korda Skywinder can be cast more than 150 yards thanks to its nose-heavy and tapered design. The large profile holes allow the contents to empty out relatively quickly, but it may need a couple of flicks of your rod to ensure everything has exited as it should.
The stiff spod tail helps to keep it stable in the air, and the curved rear fins help to prevent the spod from being pulled off course when casting in a crosswind.
The simplicity of this traditional style of spod means it costs a lot less than some of the other models with more complex opening mechanisms, so if you’re watching the pennies, this one could well be worth a second look.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Casts well
- Relases bait quickly
Cons
- Bait can spill out the back on casting
Best for capacity
www.ebay.co.uk
The X-Spod Performance is perfect for when you need to quickly get large amounts of bait out at range. Being naturally buoyant, retrieval is a doddle, and each payload can hold around twenty 20mm boilies or 155g of mixed particles.
Unlike rival products, the X-Spod opens in quarters rather than in half, giving you the option of either loading it conventionally or prising open just one quarter to use it like a scoop and quickly fill it one-handed. A total of 24 strong magnets hold the sections together on the cast but will open up to provide instant bait release on impact.
Available in a choice of black, white, or red and black.
Pros
- Naturally buoyant
- High capacity
Cons
- Magnetic closing design can cause issues when bait covers it
What to look for when choosing a spod
A good spod or Spomb needs to be light and aerodynamic, this will ensure you can cast it to the spot you want to deposit your bait on. It also helps if it has a good loading capacity, so you don't need to make a ridiculous amount of casts to get some bait in the swim.
Finally, and this is one regular spod and Spomb users will all agree on, it needs to be reliable! There's nothing worse than making that perfect cast to a spot, only to find your bait rocket hasn't opened and is now a dead weight full of water. It's pretty embarrassing when they open in flight too, sometimes covering the user in 'Munga' mix. This is why choice of product is vital.
Glossary
Spod: A cynlindrical tube that is filled with bait and has the ability be cast into the lake
Spomb: A bait rocket that has a tapered shape to aid casting. It is filled and locked shut via a clip on the front that, on impact with the water, opens and releases the bait.
Spod Spill: Where bait exits out of the back of the spod on casting resulting in bait spilling out everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What is better a spod or a spomb?
Whilst both items still have a place in angling, spombs are far more popular nowadays thanks to the benefits they have over a spod. They cast more accurately and further, they don't lose any bait on the cast like spods do and they release all the bait on impact so you can reel in straight away unlike a spod where you have to wait for it to fall out.
Which rocket-style spod is best?
With a lot of manufacturers following Spomb's lead, there are quite a few baiting up tools that perform in a similar way. None of them will lose bait before they impact the water but they all have different features. Some allow you to fill up without getting your hands dirty, whilst others are designed to hold less bait and be cast further. It is all down to what you want from the spod, if you regularly fish around 70-80 yards and want to apply lots of bait, then a big spomb would be great, if you want to cast 100+ yards with relative ease then some other manufacturers may be more suitable.
Does spotting scare carp?
This depends on the venue, on lower stocked waters it can indeed spook the carp but on high stock runswaters, spodding can actually attract the carp as they associate the noise with food. This is often referred to as 'ringing the dinner bell'.
How do you cast a spod accurately?
Firstly you need to use a strong rod of around 4lb test curve or more. Take your time, get the loaded spod positioned about halfway the blank of the rod, position it behind your head, let everything settle then power through into the cast. You really need to be forceful at this stage as this will ensure it punches out to the spot, which will make the cast far more accurate!