Best fishing rods for beginners

Daiwa’s Matchman range has always been built around proper value, but the latest Matchman Feeder Rods show just how far affordable tackle has come. The amount of rod you now get for the money is genuinely surprising, with a level of finish, response and fish-playing performance that would have been hard to imagine at this price point not too long ago.

This second-generation of feeder rods feature HMC carbon blanks, with X-WRAP reinforcement through the butt sections to add strength and stability where it matters most.

That X-WRAP does more than reinforce the blank. It gives the rod a much sharper look, with the silver finish through the butt section lifting it well beyond the plain, understated appearance of the previous Matchman range. There is even a hint of the old Daiwa Yank ’N’ Bank rods about it, a range many commercial anglers will remember fondly, but this time at a far more accessible price point.

There are six models covering everything from short-range work to more conventional distances.
The 7ft, 8ft and 9ft versions are ideal for close-quarter mini Method fishing, where accuracy, control and quick reactions are vital. Despite their shorter lengths and slim blanks, they are not toys. Load them with sensible tackle and they have the strength to cope with proper carp.

For anglers who need a bit more range, the 10ft, 11ft and 12ft models cover 40g, 50g and 60g casting weights respectively, giving you a sensible step-up through the range depending on the venue and distance you are fishing.

Finished with Armlock handles using a smart mix of hybrid cork and Duplon, the new Matchman Feeder Rods are a strong reminder that you do not have to spend heavily to get a capable, well-finished commercial feeder rod.

The 13ft Daiwa Matchman Float Rod gives the latest Matchman range a proper conventional float option, and for anglers who still enjoy waggler fishing on open water, bigger commercials or even running a float down a river.

This is a three-piece rod, so it has that more traditional 13ft feel, with the extra length helping with line pick-up, float control and presentation. Ideal when you are fishing at range, especially when you need to mend line, and lift into bites quickly and cleanly.

Like the rest of the updated Matchman range, the amount of rod you get for the money is impressive. The HMC carbon blank feels crisp enough for accurate casting and positive line control, but it still has the progressive action needed to cushion lunges and protect hook holds when fish are under pressure.

The X-WRAP reinforcement through the butt section adds strength and stability, but it also lifts the finish of the rod. The silver detailing gives it a sharper, more refined look than the plainer previous Matchman models, making it feel far more polished than the price would suggest.

Finished with an Armlock cork and Duplon handle, the 13ft Matchman Float Rod is a capable, well-balanced option for anglers wanting a longer float rod without spending heavily.

The Preston Dura Carp Feeder is a range of affordable, yet high-quality feeder rods designed to meet the demands of modern commercial fishing. With a range of lengths and casting weights, these rods offer exceptional value and performance.

This rod is perfect for beginners who want to catch carp on their local commercial fishery!

The blank was light, and soft enough to prevent the minimalist cast feeling too cumbersome and the little extra length wasn’t an issue either, and had very little effect on my accuracy.

On my second cast during testing, which clipped the overhanging grass, the rod whipped forward. Instinctively picking up and winding down, it bent right down to the reel seat as a very solid weight slowly thumped on the end, signalling a big carp! Although the fight got me excited and was great fun, in reality, I felt very much in control the whole time, and I netted near double figures of surprised carp on a slightly under-gunned 18 hook.T

he rest of the morning followed the script. Regular mini carp and baby F1s graced my net, giving the 10ft Carp Feeder an entirely different challenge. These scrappy little things are expert escapees, and regularly bounce off a barbless hook when faced with an unbalanced set-up. 

Despite the bargain pricing of my weapon of choice, surprisingly few of them managed to get away. Although it’s possible to buy an adequate 10ft feeder rod for less, is it really worth it when £10 to £15 more delivers so much extra in terms of performance? A £55 rod is never going to give you what a £200 rod will, but an extra few quid spent at the budget end makes a huge difference.

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Read our full Preston Innovations Dura Carp Feeder review._

If you want to delve into the world of feeder fishing, the Guru A-Class 13ft Distance Feeder rod is an exceptional rod for the money and a great rod for targeting bream, carp and tench on a variety of waters.

I took the rod out to Barston Lakes, which for those that don't know it, it is a big commercial perfect for casting a feeder out as far as you can, plus it is packed with big carp and skimmers.

I will say, I am not the best caster you will meet on the bank but that may be because I've never had the correct tool to punch a feeder to the horizon. After using the Guru A-Class 13ft Heavy Feeder Rod I do feel as though my casting improved in just the short time I tested the rod, and I can confidently say if I was to use the rod and get more familiar with what it is capable of, I would have no issues casting a method/hybrid style feeder upto 100m comfortably.

While I don't expect a beginner to be able to cast that far, it is nice to know as your technique improves, you won't have to upgrade your rod!

The rod delivered the rig with ease and then gave the fish no chance of escape during the battle, even with the big, powerful fish hooked on the test, the extra power and lovely action helped tame them with minimal fuss.

The extra length may feel a little unusual to those who often use a shorter rod but once you are familiar with how it loads and performs, it will help those anglers, like myself who often struggle to get the distance.

That’s the aim of the game, and for a rod priced at less than £70 it’s fair to say that Guru has released yet another gem on to the market and made this style of angling far more accessible to everyone as you no longer need to spend £100's on a rod to get out to the fish.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE A-CLASS 13FT DISTANCE ROD

What the market needs is a rod that has the attributes to  handle some hectic pellet waggler work during the heat of summer, and yet still has enough finesse to transition to the old-school style once it gets cold.  There are not many options on the market, but the new Daiwa 11ft Ninja EXT Float appears at first glance to fit the bill in every department. 

Not everyone has the luxury of being able to bundle everything into the back of a van, and for those of you, like me, who need to place your kit strategically inside a hatchback without it getting in the way of the gear stick while driving, this is a brilliant idea. 

The guides stand well off the blank to prevent the mainline sticking to it in wet conditions, and the rod has all the little finishing touches you’d expect from Daiwa, including a flattened area on the EVA handle to make for comfortable fishing all day long , and the usual eye-catching graphics. The butt seemed to have more than enough power to allow me to lean into any carp intent on heading off in the wrong direction. 

A 3g loaded waggler was hooked on to the quick- change float adapter, and a couple of light droppers were spread down the line before I cast the rig just shy of the island around 40m out. 
The rod propelled the rig to the target zone with consummate ease, and this feat was repeated time and time again. I also took the opportunity to have a few casts with a pellet waggler float that was double the weight to see if it could deliver the same result, and it did so without breaking sweat.
 
Daiwa states it can handle floats up to 15g and, as someone who can’t remember the last time I chucked a pellet waggler of more than 10g, I’d say it would cover me quite comfortably for this style of summer angling. It has a casting action that can flick light floats out effortlessly, yet it has the necessary ‘oomph’ to launch out big pellet wagglers. 

So, if you’re looking for a rod that will be just as useful on commercials during the height of the bagging season as it will be when you’re scratching around for a handful of carp bites in winter, the 11ft Daiwa Ninja EXT Float needs to come into your thoughts. It’s an awful lot of rod for not a lot of money.

The Sonik HeroX Carp rod is the ideal choice to kickstart your angling journey. These rods are designed to be easy to use without sacrificing performance. They're lightweight and perfectly balanced, making them comfortable for hours on the bank.

Modern day carp fishing often requires you to be able to cast a decent distance, and have the power in the rod to play carp that are getting increasingly bigger. These rods are perfect for a whole manner of carp fishing and for under £50, they are great for beginners looking to get into carp fishing.

Usually anglers will use two/three rods for carp fishing and because of that, it can become costly to buy multiple setups, thankfully the Hero X rods are really versatile so you can take these to runswaters where you are likely to catch lots of 10-20lb fish or take them to more difficult waters for larger carp.

If you are just starting to take bream and tench fishing a bit more seriously, the updated Black Widow Twin Tip is a very friendly place to begin. It keeps the price sensible, feels light in the hand and has enough backbone to cope with proper specimen tactics without feeling like a broom handle.

You get two tops. The quiver tip is ideal when you are fishing feeders or small leads for bream at range and need to see shy liners and little knocks as fish move over the bait. Swap to the full tubular top and you have a more positive tip for heavier leads, PVA bags or fishing tight to reeds and pads for tench.

The 1.5 lb and 1.75 lb test curve options cover most typical stillwater work. The slim mid action helps you cast feeders and Method rigs accurately, but more importantly it bends smoothly right through when a fish is under the tip. That gives you a nice safety net as a beginner, helping to prevent hook pulls when a good tench turns under the rod or a big bream nods its head as you glide it toward the net.

Engineered for longevity, Korum Barbel rods are equipped with robust SIC guides to prevent line damage and anti-frap rings to eliminate tangles and tip breakage, which is great if you're new to angling. The secure, screw-in reel seat maintains stability during intense battles whilst the high-visibility white tips ensure clear bite detection in challenging light conditions.

Not only do they perform well, they look the part too, with modern styling making them appear way more expensive than they actually are. The 11ft, 1.75lb test curve model is suited to smaller rivers and casting weights up to 5oz, while the longer 12ft option makes the perfect all-rounder.

There’s also a 2lb test curve 12ft model, capable of tackling floodwater with heavier feeders of up to 6oz, while the 2.5lb model is capable of handling the biggest rivers the UK has to offer.