If there was an industry standard definition of a margin pole it would probably read something along the lines of: “A cheap and short pole, made with budget-priced yet strong carbon fibre, primarily used for crude margin methods where a premium-priced pole could easily get damaged.”
But does it really have to be a clumsy alternative to a ‘proper’ pole? Not according to Guru!
Buyers of margin poles fall into two main camps. The first are anglers who don’t want to risk damaging their expensive main pole. They want something cheap and cheerful, yet outrageously strong. Sure, it might be a tad heavy and wobbly, but it does the job at hand.
The other customers are those who don’t want, or need, a long pole, as they rarely fish beyond 10m. They don’t just want something for hauling out big carp from margin ‘jungle’ spots – they want to fish paste, meat or hard pellets in front of them, catch a few fish shallow or fish for a little bit of everything that swims on maggots.
Their choice at this shorter length is limited – either buy a top-end pole and leave the butt sections in the garage, or buy a margin pole knowing that, for around £300, they will have something strong, if not a bit clunky.
This is where the new 10m Guru Aventus Zero 600 Margin pole comes in. As expected, this pole is incredibly strong, with thick sections and a solid feel, yet it’s far lighter and stiffer than its cut-price cousins.
By boldly pricing it at around £700, Guru has been able to use better quality carbon and top-end finishes like Super Glide matt paint, and friction-free matt tape on the smaller sections.
It’s worth mentioning at this point that the Aventus Margin doesn’t just have top kits that fit the top-end Guru poles… they are the SAME top kits. This gives you loads of options when it comes to elastication and, ultimately, how you can use the pole.
My quite strong opinions on this new Guru pole were formed while catching plenty of fish out on the bank at Kiveton Waters, near Sheffield. Besides hosting coaching and starter sessions for children all summer, it holds plenty of decent-sized carp to give the Aventus Margin a great workout.
Elasticated with Red Hydro, it handled everything from slow-moving yet heavy mirrors to a turbo-charged common that seemed all set to leap into the next lake!
I fished the pole at its full 10m length with its True Extension attached – not that you’d know.
CHECK OUT OUR PICK OF THE BEST MARGIN POLES IN THIS BUYERS GUIDE.
Verdict
Almost every other margin pole I’ve used feels as if it’s reached its performance limit at full length, whereas this magnificent beast felt as though it would take even more sections and still feel great. Fully loaded pole pots and short lashes were not a problem, as I was still able to manoeuvre and control my float with great precision.
It’s reminiscent of an Aventus Zero 700 when used at 10m or less. Indeed, if you already have one of these, costing £2,850, you probably won’t need to buy a margin pole, as the 700 is insanely strong. However, if you want that level of performance but not the length, the Aventus Margin is the ideal choice.
In fact, hide the white butt sections away and fish at just five sections out and I’d challenge anyone to be able to tell the difference!
Although rightly billed as a margin pole – it’s certainly strong enough – the Aventus Zero 600 is a bit more than that. It’s very much a short pole, but one that could well serve as a very fine ‘main’ pole for any angler who only needs to fish at 10m or less.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT AND OTHERS FROM GURU HERE...
Tech Spec
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Zero 600 Tensile Carbon construction
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Ultra-fast taper
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Super Glide matt paint finish
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Friction-free matt tape finish
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Performance Point alignment
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Rigid joint system
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Protective EVA caps
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All top kits fitted with UK manufactured PTFE bushes
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Total weight without extension 560g, with extension 770g
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Total length without extension 8.7m, with extension 10m
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Closed length 170cm
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Seven sections with extension
Made from high-grade Zero 600 Tensile Carbon. The Guru Aventus 600 10m margin pole blends brute strength with serious responsiveness. Whether you’re hauling carp from tight margins with short lashes or fishing maggots at its full length for silverfish and F1's it handles both ends of the scale with confidence.
Despite its name, this is more than a margin tool. It’s a compact, high-performance short pole that could comfortably serve as a main pole for anglers who choose to fish at 10m or under. It ships smoothly thanks to Super Glide matte paint finish on the butt section and Friction Free taped finish on the rest of the sections. The pole stays stiff at its' full length, and includes a precision-engineered True Extension to ensure it’s a genuine 10m without losing performance.
Performance Point Aligners and a Rigid Joint System keep the pole responsive, while the top kits, identical to those on the flagship Aventus 700 and 900, come fitted with UK-made PTFE bushes for smooth elastic flow.
Pros
- The same top kits and mandrel as the Aventus 700 & 900 poles
- A true 10m length thanks to the supplied true extension
- Performance to rival any long pole at 10m
Cons
- Althoiugh reinforced, puller bushed are not supplied as standard in the top kits
Our pick of the alternatives
The Preston Dura Carp 600 Margin Pole is a robust 6-meter pole engineered for durability, balance, and stiffness.
Once out of the bag and put together, a quick squeeze of the sections revealed the inevitable – they’re super strong! It instantly felt like something that a newcomer could put in some weird and wonderful shapes, or drop off the roller on to concrete, without fear of a breakage. There’s no reason why an experienced angler wouldn’t lean on one in the right situation. After all, who wants to use their expensive pole in a snag pit, or at somewhere like Larford’s Specimen Lake where you’re likely to encounter 20lb lumps? I know I wouldn’t!
I headed to Birmingham’s Marston Fields to put it through its paces, settling for Sycamore Pool, where I'd heard that any bite down the edge could lead to a 10lb-plus donkey going into the net.
But there were no signs of the pole struggling. I even hoisted it in the air a few times and held it in position, allowing the thick and well tensioned elastic to put plenty of strain on the sections. Again, it didn’t flinch and, once back to the top kit, I used the side puller to tighten the elastic further. Yes, you’ve guessed it, the strength shone through.
At just 6m, it isn’t heavy, and stiffness doesn’t come into the equation at such short lengths. The finish is decent and, for the price, you’ll struggle to be critical.
Pros
- Super strong, lightweight and compact
- Budget friendly margin pole
Cons
- The sections don’t interchange with Preston’s longer poles
Be in no doubt, the Aero Power Margin is an incredibly strong 8.5m carp cruncher, made to cope with the largest of fish in any situation.Ideal as a stand-alone margin pole when strength is of the utmost importance, it is also compatible with Shimano’s latest and affordable Aero X3, X2 and X1 poles, which are ideal should you require extra length.
The pole is built from a high-quality lightweight carbon that makes the Aero Power Margin easy to use at its full length for extendedspells without causing arm ache or back pain. Its awesome power is made possible by a clever combination of high-tensile carbons, advanced tapered section design and some serious joint reinforcement. Moving on from the build technology, there’s a range of features that emphasise Shimano’s commitment to producing the very best.
Aero Joint is a reinforcement that improves longevity, the Aero Alignment System maximises stiffness, while Shimano’s Ultra Sound Finish delivers super-smooth shipping under all conditions.So that you can choose your preferred puller kits, a reinforced band is positioned on the second section of all the top kits.
For me, this is the pole’s only fault – I really would have liked a pre-fitted side puller kit. However, it’s not a deal breaker, and your local tackle shop could have it sorted out for you in a jiffy.
As for performance, this super-modern and super- lightweight margin pole is one heck of a lot better than anything that went before! If I was a regular on any small commercial water where it’s all about filling your boots, I would definitely buy this pole. It’s easy to fish with, and bulletproof.
CHECK OUT OUR REVIEW OF THE SHIMANO AERO POWER MARGIN 850 HERE!
Pros
- Lightweight and very easy to use
- Bucketloads of pulling power
Cons
- Needs fitting with a side puller slot, although reinforcing band is built in
If margin fishing is your game, or you already own a Daiwa pole, the Daiwa Pro Margin 103 is the pole you need for a margin battle. Supplied at a manageable 10.3 metres, this is a proper power tool designed to tussle with the angriest of commercial carp in the snaggiest of pegs.
It’s stiff, responsive and built to soak up pressure without sacrificing control, essential when presenting baits tight to snags or margins where the fish fight dirty. The MSG carbon delivers solid wall strength, without making it feel like you’re holding a scaffold pole. It’s content handling Red Hydro, thanks to the Pro Power Kit supplied, already bushed and with side puller-fitted.
But the best bit? Compatibility. This isn’t just a standalone margin pole, it’s built on the same mandrel as Daiwa’s flagship UK poles, meaning it’ll take all your existing top kits without fuss. Need to fish longer? Stick on your 8/9 PHEX or butt sections from your long pole and crack on. It’s the perfect companion pole, a tough, ready-for-anything extension of your existing Daiwa setup, giving you extra power down the edge without putting your flagship pole at risk.
SEE WHAT MARK THOUGHT OF THE DAIWA PRO MARGIN IN OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO
Pros
- An exceptional margin pole.
- A perfect option to back up top-end Daiwa poles.
Cons
- Targetted more at current daiwa pole users
- Only supplied with one kit
Author Dan Webb first became involved in angling journalism in 2015 and has worked as Tackle Tester at Angling Times since April 2021. He is a fanatical all-round match angler and former England Youth International.