Call me old fashioned, but the sight of a big, brassy chub lying in the bottom of the net, all glistening scales and pristine fins, is one of the best rewards for spending a winter’s day on the river.
Yes, I’m aware that many stillwaters also hold chub, and some big ones at that, but let’s be honest, little comes close to a running-water chevin at this time of the year.
Historically, my tactics for chub fishing pretty much revolve around river colour, with maggots, maggot feeders, bread and bread feeders, as well as cheesepaste, boilies and pellets all coming into play if conditions suit.
Personally though, I really like the bread feeder approach, as it’s the one I have had most success using and feel most at home with, especially on a small river, when it’s clear or dropping.
Most winters I manage to arrange a trip or two to a small river to live-test a new rod suitable for chub fishing, so when the guys at Korum were gracious enough to send in their new ‘cheap as chips’ Limitless rods, it was just a matter of coordinating my diary and then keeping one eye on the weather forecast.
All I needed was a settled period of weather. Frost on the ground doesn’t bother me, as I don’t think chub are bothered by the cold one jot. In fact, I’d go as far to say that they look fitter, fight harder and bite better when it’s a trifle icy!
Monday December 15 was looking ideal. It hadn’t rained all weekend following a deluge the previous week, so the river should be clearing and dropping. Perfect!
I called upon the knowledge of Angling Times’ resident chub fanatic Steve Stones for a bit of guidance as to where I could go locally to catch a chub or three in short order.
Steve told me about a stretch of river near Stamford that would be nailed on for a few bites, and what’s more they would come on bread. It was music to my ears.
Arriving at the river by 8am, I was pleased to see that it looked to be in good nick, with just a hint of colour. Steve duly pointed out a couple of swims that he thought were the bankers, and left me to it, as ‘proper work’ beckoned for him.
The verdict
I’d opted for the shortest, 10ft Korum Limitless rod, which has a 60g max casting weight, as the next one up power-wise was the 11ft, 90g model which would be a little bit over-gunned for a small river like the one I was fishing.
The full Limitless range also boasts 13ft (200g) and 14ft (220g) models, which are aimed toward the biggest of rivers and heaviest of flows.
All the rods though are purpose-designed for casting heavy feeders, and as such are better suited to out and out feeder tactics, rather than straight lead work. Although I was using a 20g cage feeder, I felt that the rod could have easily coped with treble that casting weight.
The blank’s fish-playing action and reaction times are slightly encumbered by its powerhouse weight-casting characteristics, and while it does produce a slow, progressive action, it would definitely have been quicker into a bend if it was accompanied by the weight of decent-sized feeder.
So, if you’re looking for a short rod to use for close-quarter work on a big or fast-flowing river using any type of feeder, then both of these new rods are well worth a long hard look, especially as their price belies their inherent workhorse abilities.
Tech spec
Purpose built for casting heavy swimfeeders
Built using anti-frap guides
Ideal for mono and braided main lines
K-Flex carbon fibre technology incorporated for a progressive curve
Full cork handle
Line rating 6lb to 15lb
Comes with two graded quivertips with oversized guides
The Korum Limitless 10ft 60g Feeder is the baby of the range, but don’t mistake that for soft. It’s built for one job: feeder work where you need proper control and enough power to keep things steady, even when the river’s pushing through.
At 10ft and rated to 60g, it makes a lot of sense on smaller rivers and tight swims where a longer, heavier rod would feel over-gunned. In use it’s got plenty in reserve too. Even fishing a 20g cage, it feels like it could comfortably handle a fair bit more when you need to step up the feeder size or add a bit of extra payload. The action is slow and progressive, but it’s clearly designed around working with a feeder. You can feel that it’s happier once there’s some weight on the end, and it loads in a more natural way when you’re casting something heavy.
Because it’s purpose-built for feeders, it’s not really a straight-lead rod. The blank’s casting character slightly dominates the fish-playing feel, but you still get a controlled cushion under pressure, which is what you want on rivers.
It’s finished with anti-frap casting guides that suit mono or braid, full cork handle, and Korum’s K-Flex carbon tech to keep the action progressive. For close-quarter river feeder fishing, it’s a proper little workhorse for the money.
Pros
- Great rod for the roving angler
- Ideal floodwater rod when fishing close in the nearside
Cons
- Slow getting into its fish playing stride
Our pick of the alternatives
Total Fishing Tackle
The Daiwa Matchman 10ft Method is a gem of a rod. After carefully looking over the minimalistic ceramic-lined stainless steel guides, screw down cork reel seat with cork handle and EVA lower, all appeared to be what I’d expect for a sub-£100 rod, let alone a sub £50 one.
In fact, the 10ft Method Feeder rod was indiscernible from many high-end rods just from a mere inspection and a waggle. It was at this point that the names troubled me a little, as pigeonholing these rods into a ‘Method Feeder’ category is a shame, as the range would make ideal all-round feeder rod for any kind of venue, not just commercials.
Read our full Daiwa Matchman 9ft Mini Method review.
Pros
- Lovely fish playing action
- Perfect for commercials
Cons
- Will struggle to cast a larger feeder any distance
| Casting weight: | 30g |
| Tips supplied: | Carbon 1oz and 1.5oz |
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
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.
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.
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._
Pros
- Affordable yet high quality
- Durable and capable, with the ability to cast distance if required
Cons
- Lacks a lighter quiver tip
| Casting weight: | 20-60g |
| ps supplied: | 1oz and 2oz |
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
The XP version of the Daiwa Airity Slim 10ft feeder rod, rated to 50g and with a bit more grunt in the butt. It’s ideal for venues where the average stamp of fish is a size up or for tackling intimate flowing water. It handles the extra weight and power with no fuss at all.
What really stands out, though, is how slim these blanks are. Seriously slim. You pick one up and it instantly feels like it’s going to do something special. And it does. The HVF Nanoplus and X45X Full Shield tech isn’t just for show, it translates into a rod that’s lighter, quicker, and more accurate.
The handles are tailored to suit each model, and it makes a noticeable difference. You’re not overreaching or fighting the rod. The Tournament reel seat locks the reel in beautifully, and the two-tone EVA handle finishes it off nicely. It’s secure in the wet, comfortable in the dry, and there’s a subtle touch of class with the laser-cut Airity logo on the Armlock. A posh touch, but not over the top.
They come supplied with three Megatop tops, two with standard guides and one with a ‘big guide’ version, which is ideal if you’re using shockleaders. All of them are sensitive but strong, and the anti-tangle stainless Zirconia guides genuinely help keep wrap-overs and tangles to a minimum.
Daiwa say these are the ultimate rods for commercial fishery tactics. And for once, I think they might be right. I use them every week, not just testing, they’ve fully replaced my old “tournys’ and I couldn’t be happier with the switch.
Pros
- Super slim profile blank giving precision and control
- With X45X technology the rod is ultra rigid aiding accuracy
Cons
- The handle may not be to everyone's liking
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.