It seems like only yesterday that my much-missed mate Ricky Teale, who was responsible for launching Matrix as a brand, was standing in my back garden waving the then flagship Nemesis pole around while extolling its virtues at catching right proper big ’uns, as he called them.
Time moves on, though, and I’d like to think that Ricky would be delighted with how the Matrix brand has developed into a major name in modern match fishing.
All of which brings me nicely to the technically advanced new seven-model Matrix XTR pole range, but before I add my two pennyworth into the mix, this is what Matrix has to say about its latest offering:
“We started this project from the ground up, investing in completely new mandrels and working closely with our trusted manufacturer to develop what we believe to be our best range of poles yet.
“Expert knowledge has been imparted into improving the strength and balance across the whole range, and it really does push carbon production to new limits.”
The fact that Matrix has developed a brand-new mandrel with improved specifications shows that these poles are not just upgraded versions of last year’s models.
Take it from me, a new mandrel is not a cheap investment for a fishing firm. The work that then goes into designing each section so that the pole’s forward weight, down force, rigidity, responsiveness, and overall weight – not to mention its linear strength and balance – are not mere ‘blink of the eye’ creations with regard to the end product.
The single build mandrel does make the XTR range wholly interchangeable, a good thing in my book.
Obviously, all the new poles share the same new fast taper design, which works in two ways. First, it allows for smaller diameter and new length choices of top kits at (2.5m, 2m and 1.7m) which provide more big-fish flexibility and an improved performance in windy conditions. Second, it allows for the use of parallel butt sections. These are a bit ‘swings and roundabouts’ for me, but are very strong thanks to increased carbon levels.
The XTR also boasts new SLG joints that are incredibly tough and durable, reduce the pole’s overall weight and increase responsiveness. To that little lot you can add the latest X Graphene resin – offering superb section wall strength – a glide tape finish, factory-fitted PTFE bushes and side puller kits, plus printed depth markers running the full length of all the top kits. All in all, this is a seriously impressive, cutting-edge pole range with prices to suit every depth of pocket.
The verdict
That just leads me to the few hours’ fishing I enjoyed using the new 14.5m XTR400 Ultra Power model, which costs under a thousand pounds.
As its name suggests, it isn’t best put to use for bleak bashing! Nope, this is a rumbustious lout of a pole, full of brutish attitude and packed with the sort of stopping power that wouldn’t have looked out of place as a gladiator’s weapon.
Stiff as you like, and with little post-strike tip recoil, it could, in my opinion, be safely used with the heaviest of hollow elastics. It ships a treat without sticking, even in the rain – as I found out. The side puller kits are faultless in performance, and for me this is an outstanding pole and ideal for use in any commercial Colosseum.
As Ricky Teale would have said.... “It’s right proper for catching big ’uns!”
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT AND OTHERS FROM MATRIX HERE.
Tech spec
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Unique carbon weave joint protectors on male joints
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MST Carbon layering technology
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Glide tape finish
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SLG joints
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3D printed artwork on the butt sections
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All kits fitted with UK manufactured PTFE bushes
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Matrix Revolve side pullers come fitted
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All top kits feature printed
depth markers -
Supplied in XTR holdall
Pros
- Incredibly strong, ideal for heavy elastic and big fish
- Arguably the best commercial stlye pole at this price point
- Cupping kit is best we've seen
Cons
- Marginally better at 13m than at 14.5m
- Maybe limited to commercial fishery use
Our pick of the alternatives
Best All-Round Fishing Pole (2024 National Angling Awards Winner)
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
When Daiwa started its social media tease that a new G90 was on the way, I had mixed feelings of excitement and concern. Daiwa must believe it can better the G90, but why would the company want to meddle with not just a winning formula, but a magic alignment of variables that makes the G90 so legendary?
The Super MSG Nanoplus carbon has been tweaked and V-Joint alpha refined, making the pole a little stiffer and slightly lighter. The ITS taping has been extended, and runs from the No4 to the No8 sections, which makes all the black sections as slick and easy toship as the Diamond Satin painted butt sections.
As expected, the packages have been upgraded to include the new professional top kits. The choice is either More Power or More F1, theformer coming with a selection of full-length top kits while the latter boasts two types of short one-piece F1 kit and a short fourth section to complement them.Both come with the relevant length cupping kit to match the supplied top kits, a Match kit inside the pole, a reversible Super Light PHEX extension and a holdall. For current Daiwa pole owners, it can also be bought ‘Pole Only’, so you can take your top kits with you.
I think this just sums up what the G90 Pro is–a pole that can handle anything a commercial water has to offer. It has the rigidity to fish at 16m, the response to catch F1s against islands, the strength to handle slapping or edge fishing , and enough power to make your margin pole redundant. In fact, take it out for a pasting on a big demanding natural venue if you want. It will lap it up!
SEE OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE G90 PRO ON THE ANGLING TIMES YOUTUBE CHANNEL, CLICK HERE!
Pros
- 2 spares package to help tailor to your needs
- Compatible with all UK made Daiwa poles
Cons
- F1 Package is supplied with all one piece 1.8m top kits, would like to have seen an inclusion of more than just the match kit inside the pole at 2.4m.
| Length: | 13m |
| Top kits: | Three plus cupping kit |
| Compatibility: | Top kits compatible with the whole TKS range, past and present. Larger sections compatible with 201 and 301 |
Drennan claims the Rigidex, at £1,000, is stiffer than a lot of poles costing £2,000 or more. Although this sounds absurd to start off with, Drennan may well be right! The company has discovered that designing it to be best at 13m, it can make the pole stiffer than designing it at 16m, then simply selling it without butt sections. It’s all down to the taper or, put simply, how wide it gets along its length, and how quickly.
To sum up, is the Rigidex a natural water or a commercial pole? With the carp package, it’s a blinding commercial pole, more than a match for its rivals in the same price range. For the natural water angler however, it’s almost a no-brainer, as it has so few rivals in its price range. With almost every other pole package being so heavily geared toward carp, you’ll find it very hard to think of a reason not to buy one.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE DRENNAN RIGIDEX HERE...
Pros
- A stunning level of rigidity considering its quite modest price tag
- Features a fantastic, smooth and easy-to-ship finish
Cons
- Anglers looking for 16m will have to look elswhere
- The striking graphics might not be for everyone
Aiming to provide quality kit at affordable prices, Guru have released the A-Class range of poles that come in five different lengths – 5.5m, 8m, 9.5m, 11.5m and 13m. I wanted to give the longest of the lot a thorough workout, and with the word ‘Power’ proudly emblazoned in unmissable writing across the butt section, I headed for a commercial where the carp will test your tackle to the limit.
On unzipping the bag, I was immediately impressed at just how much kit you get for £600 – four top kits, a cupping kit, and two mini sections as well as the pole itself. Impressively, Guru offers the option of a Match or Power pack, meaning you get top kits that are best-suited to the style of fishing you do most often.I’d gone down the Power route, which came with two 5.8mm kits capable of housing the thickest of elastics for fishing down the edge or close to snags, along with a pair of 4.7mm match power kits that would comfortably take up to a black Hydrolastic for open-water work.
This kind of versatility is pretty much unheard of in the budget pole market and makes sure you don’t end up with kit that you’ll never make use of, it also saves buying a margin pole and a main pole for shorter distances.
The range is going to appeal to anglers looking for their first ‘proper’ long pole and, most users will dabble at the full length for short periods before coming back closer. It is as stiff and responsive as anything else on the market in this price bracket, and the finish on the A-Class is impressive too – when I needed to ship quickly, it glided through my hands with the absolute minimum of fuss.Strength is key with any budget pole, as users are likely to have the odd mishap.
But there are no fears in that respect with this pole, such is its robust build quality. Add to that a solid performance on all major bases and you’ve got a pole that’s going to be extremely popular, and for good reason – it’s a belter for the money! It’s also worth remembering that the package for this pole is better than many others in the same bracket – supplying it with four top kits, a cupping kit and mini sections is impressive.
SEE OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE GURU A-CLASS 13M POWER POLE HERE
Pros
- Available as a match or a power package you can tailor to your requirements
- Section alignment system further increases rigidity
- All kits come fully bushed
Cons
- Does not include a holdall
| Length: | 13m |
| Top kits: | Four, plus cupping kit |
| Compatibility: | Fully interchangeable with MTX range and older Nemesis poles |
Author Mark Sawyer holds the position of Tackle Editor at Angling Times, boasting more than thirty years of experience working within different fields of the angling industry.