The best spod rods

The Daiwa Basia X45 TT Spod Rod is about as good as it gets when it comes to a spod rod. With a 4.5lb test curve and lengths of 12ft and 13ft available, this rod will cast any size spod as far as you want. The Basia X45 takes over from its predecessor the Basia DF and it has improved a few key details to make this rod an absolute casting beast. 

The rod blank now features ultra-high grade carbon with Daiwa’s X45 wrap, coupled with the upgraded compression zones, it has unbelievable accuracy and even those anglers that aren’t the best casters will see distance added with no change of technique. The rod itself features Minima 4 guides to offer the least resistance possible to the line, this along with the new carbon creates a rod much lighter than before, allowing you to increase the speed in the cast to power the spod out there to the fish. 

The tip eye has an anti-frap ring, which all spod rods should have. The red whippings and understated graphics give the rod a really nice finish that will please even the most discerning carp anglers.

The Horizon range has a reputation to deliver what it says, casting to the horizon, and the Fox Horizon X4 Spod will deliver that performance and more. Made from the best high modulus carbon Fox can get, the blank has a whopping 5.5lb test curve, which can send even the heaviest spod out with ease. You can be sure that whatever the situation you’re faced with, the Horizon Spod can deliver your bait out into the lake. 

The lightweight carbon and 2K weave ensure the rod doesn’t twist when cast, which will improve your accuracy significantly. You will have far less wayward spods with one of these, and should the conditions change, you still have the power in the rod to hit the spot you're fishing. The rod, despite its 5.5lb test is surprisingly easy to load, so don’t be put off if you’re not the most powerful of casters, as the rod will still be a very useful tool in your armoury. 

The handle is a full shrink wrap and the 50mm butt ring comes as standard on both the 12ft and 13ft versions. If you really want the maximum distance and power, the 13ft is a great choice but it does require a formidable cast to get the best from it. We recommend the 12ft if you like to use medium to large Spombs and cast up to 130 yards ranges, which will suit most angling situations.

Despite being an entry level rod, the Shimano TX-A Fishing Spod Rod performs well above its price tag and is a perfect rod for those new to angling or those who really don’t want to spend a small fortune on a spod rod. The blank is built on Shimano’s XT40 carbon, which is very durable and stong, coupled with the Seaguide stainless Zirconia eyes and you have a rod that is built to be abused, which is often a consequence of spodding. 

The rod has a 5lb test curve, plenty powerful enough to cast even the largest spods a long way. The cheaper carbons are often a little softer and this rod is no different, however, in this case it helps maximise the distances you can achieve, as loading the 5lb rod is far easier than a stiffer rod. The simple finish on the rod gives a classic look that is really appealing, and the slightly shorter EVA handle really helps force the rod though the cast and get that spod moving.

Whilst Korda aren’t yet renowned for their rods and being relatively new to this market, we have to say the Korda Kaizen Platinum Spod Rod is a serious bit of kit. You can see why it took the company so long to release, as there is very little to dislike about it. The whole range of rods are designed as long-distance tools and the spod is no exception, it is truly a beast.

The rod is available in a 12ft model and every feature is tailored towards distance. The blank is built with Zero90 carbon which requires far less resin to construct the rod, making for a much lighter tool, and you can really feel it when using it, the rod is incredibly lightweight and super well balanced. A lighter rod serves two purposes, it will result in less fatigue when spodding large quantities of bait and it allows the rod to be forced through the air far quicker, resulting in more speed and a further cast. 

The rods are also built on a super-fast taper mandrel, this ensures a rod with a very 'tippy' action, that will bend into the butt when forced. It also makes for a rod that is easier to compress, helping those who can’t load it as easily still reach a fair old distance and those that can cast even further.

The rod doesn’t have a stated test curve, but it doesn’t really need it, you just know whatever spod you attach to the end, the Kaizen will make easy work of it. Seaguide TDG rings and a special paint have been added to the rods to ensure that they aren’t affected by water or UV, and make the rods especially resistant to scratches and bangs, making them very durable indeed.

The Nash Dot Spod Rod, named after their very successful version of the spod, has been designed to help you get the most out of your spodding. These rods feature an incredibly fast recovery rate, which stops the rod moving in mid-flight, reducing friction, thus adding distance to your casts with much more ease too. 

During testing, these rods when combined with the Dot Spod were able to achieve ludicrous distances of upto 220 yards. Whilst we know that isn’t in the capability of most anglers reading this, ourselves included, it just shows that the only thing that limits these rods is the user, ensuring whatever you want from the Dot Spod Rod, it can deliver it. 

The rod features American Tackle Reversed guides, with sizes ranging from 50mm to a 16mm anti-frap tip, everything being designed to reduce the potential of a crack-off, so you have full confidence when you punch the rod through the cast. The blank also features depth markers of 12” and 24”, so if you want to double the rod up for marker float work, then you can do so accurately. As with the majority of spod rods, the handle is a full shrink wrap EVA to increase grip when spodding with wet hands.

In recent years, retractable and short fishing rods have had a revolution and become incredibly popular, leading to the development of the Sonik Xtractor Spod Rod. The rods have been released in two sizes, a 9ft and a 10ft model, with both featuring a retractable butt section, so they pack down to less than 130cm, allowing them to fit into most small ready-made rods bags.

Despite its short stature, the rod boasts some great features and is built on a quality carbon blank. As less carbon is used compared to a 12ft rod, Sonik have been able to keep the price down, whist using an improved carbon to what they used to use on their 12ft models, which is great for performance. Both rods have a 4.5lb test curve and a fast taper to allow you to get the most power possible into the cast, without fear of breaking the rod. 

As the rods are smaller, the ringing is 40mm to 12mm, the larger rings that are normally seen on longer rods just unbalance it, so it’s the perfect choice. These rods aren’t designed to send a spod out miles, so everything can be a little more refined.

Renowned for producing some of the best rods available, the Free Spirit S-Lite SPM Rods are no different. For price, quality and performance, these rods do take some beating. The rods are built on a superb C626 carbon fibre, which makes them lightweight, durable and strong. As the Free Spirit rods are hand crafted, they are meticulously checked to ensure you’re getting the best product available. 

The rods have been built on their spine, this is where the carbon meets and is at its strongest, ensuring the rod will cast with far more power and much more accurately, as it stays true and straight during the cast.

The tips of the rod are very responsive, which allows you to quick load part of the rod, ideal when you’re spodding at short range. This involves a quick punch to accelerate the spod and allowing it to land much softer. The rod has an incredible amount of power lower down the blank and is much easier to compress than a lot of other rods on the market, ensuring you can get the spod way over 100 yards with relative ease if you’re a decent caster. 

These stunning rods can be purchased in 12ft and 13ft models and they can be customised how you want. Whipping colours, guides, handles, the choice is almost endless, to ensure you get a totally unique rod for you.

The Greys Prodigy Distance Spod is the latest offering in the new range of rods from Greys. The rod itself is 12ft 6” and as the name suggests, it is built for distance spodding work. The rod itself is strong but doesn’t feel overly difficult to compress. The longer length does aid casting slightly, so it will help reach those extra few yards when you need them.

The rod is well built with a durable 36T carbon blank and finished with Minima Seaguides, some of the lightest available, again aiding the angler to easily thrust the rod through the air when casting. The full JPS handle is very nice to hold and it prevents bits of bait getting stuck underneath, which is often a problem when spodding. The EVA handle aids with grip and is slightly longer for improved leverage when casting, which should help create more powerful casts.