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Retractable rod options (34 posts / 4,825 views)
reubenmills reubenmills
Posts: 1,067
Post #1 13 Jul 2025 12:58
0
Have been looking at some retractable rods lately but wondered if there are any slightly better ones I've missed?
All seem to be of a similar build and cost around £50-£100 a rod
Looked at Scopes ( would rather not have Nash but they seem to get well reviewed )
Also ESP quickdraw 4k but not a big fan of the cork at the top, and know Whychwood / Fox / Sonik / Daiwa / Avid etc all gave them for sale but all seem to be slightly on the budget end (most are £40-80 a rod )
Any better ones out there? Know scope do black ops version but they are at the other end of the price range at 350+
carpy09 carpy09
Posts: 14,236
Post #2 13 Jul 2025 13:16
0
In reply to Post #1
Lee Preston custom rods has started custom building his own retractable rods range also Cotswold rods do a retractable rod Pace compacts 10ft 3.5lb £120 a rod . Also trakker now do their Propel in retractable rods
LochLondon
Posts: 194
Post #3 13 Jul 2025 13:33
0
In reply to Post #2
I've just picked up a set of 4 custom retractables from Chiltern Rods, you can see the examples on their FB page.

Awesome rods & a great finish, done exactly to what I wanted and with the whippings etc., cannot fault them. The communication was also spot on, received updates at each stage on the rod build & consistently kept up to date with a likely completion and collection date - excellent customer service.

Check them out, won't be disappointed
0nslow 0nslow
Posts: 1,619
Post #4 13 Jul 2025 15:59
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I've been using Sonik xtractors for about 8 weeks now. Quite incredible how good a rod they are for £45 quid each. Mine are 3.25tc and can cast them about 80 yards and have a lovely action when playing a fish.

These were my first dabble with telescopic rods so didn't want to spend loads, but I can't find a justification to buy anything more expensive, so I've bought a 2.25 one for surface fishing as well as a utility rod. All in for less than 250 quid 👍.

Appreciate, you might want to spend a load on your rods but have a look at the Soniks, you might be pleasantly surprised.

The-Heff The-Heff
Posts: 3,404
Post #5 13 Jul 2025 17:36
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In reply to Post #1
Think nash have just re done their range and have a top middle and bottom range coming. Alan blair goes through it on a recent social media post. Ill try and find it

Found it,
Scope
Scope ops
Scope black ops

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLXySQphbUz/?igsh=MXBpZmUzdmpzNzB0MQ==
fishybarney fishybarney
Posts: 1,289
Post #6 13 Jul 2025 20:20
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In reply to Post #2
I've got the Cotswold pace compacts. Which are nice, but I needed a 4th and if you go on fishdeal you can buy the bionic 10ft retractable which are exactly the same in everyway apart from the logo for £58.
MrFrosty
Posts: 637
Post #7 13 Jul 2025 20:48
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In reply to Post #2
Don't go Cotswold route. You can get the same blank etc on the ultimate Bionics for £50 a rod. Brought a set to see what they're like and prefer my old scopes (wanted 10 foot rods my scopes are 9). They're nice rods for the cheaper money, definitely not worth what Tom tries to sell them for.
reubenmills reubenmills
Posts: 1,067
Post #8 13 Jul 2025 22:27
0
In reply to Post #7
May just try some of the cheaper ones for now, just to see if I get on with them. new ESP ones look OK.
I saw the other post on the cotswold rods when looking into them which was enough to put me off!

Don't suppose anyone has the new esp quickdraw 4k rods yet?
Spod Spod
Posts: 13,415
Post #9 14 Jul 2025 06:24
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In reply to Post #3
+1 for Chiltern rods, superb work, great comms and a lovely blank.
LochLondon
Posts: 194
Post #10 14 Jul 2025 09:17
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In reply to Post #8
If you're going to go down that route, I can't recommend the Sonik' highly enough, had a set for a number of years & they've been great - only reason I upgraded to a set from Chiltern Rods was I wanted to a set made to my taste.

For the price point, Sonik' are a great choice - if you're going to spend more, I can't see why you'd purchase a Nash mass produced rod when there's no price difference between those and a set of custom ones - not to mention the quality of the build is excellent
Bivvybug Bivvybug
Posts: 2,458
Post #11 14 Jul 2025 16:54
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In reply to Post #10
Totally agree sonik are at the right. Price scopes overpriced like all there gear poor quality compared to other brands
ip100 ip100
Posts: 12,494
Post #12 14 Jul 2025 18:43
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In reply to Post #11
You've not actually had scopes though have you...
Fivenil Fivenil
Posts: 2,037
Post #13 15 Jul 2025 08:17
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In reply to Post #11
Never had a problem with my scopes. Probably the best rods I have owned. I like the way i can store them behind my seats on trips instead of down the length of the car. Cast well and i have landed carp to over 50lb and catfish to over 60 on them.
nexus6
Posts: 172
Post #14 15 Jul 2025 09:57
0
Anyone got anything to say about the Fox EOS pro 8-10ft 3.5lbs rods? I'll probably never cast them, boat use only and I like the idea of a fixed 8ft in the boat to be extended when back on the bank. Even if the crap guides wear after a few years with braid at £70 a rod I won't care too much.
zinno
Posts: 1,381
Post #15 17 Jul 2025 10:03
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Not so popular but very good: Jrc Rova
Boots72 Boots72
Posts: 514
Post #16 22 Jul 2025 07:06
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Korum opportunist xtnd ive been using since they came out. Great rods
Bivvybug Bivvybug
Posts: 2,458
Post #17 22 Jul 2025 15:54
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In reply to Post #16
Which tc are they
whataclonker whataclonker
Posts: 365
Post #18 24 Jul 2025 09:06
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In reply to Post #16
I've been looking for these in 1.75 but they seem to be out of stock everywhere in all TC's.

I hope they haven't stopped producing them?
Smudge79 Smudge79
Posts: 2,737
Post #19 25 Jul 2025 15:11
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Have any of these retractable rods got rings with ceramic liners?

and not just the minima/vortex type guides?
littleian littleian
Posts: 1,505
Post #20 25 Jul 2025 15:36
1
In reply to Post #19
The new scopes have a ceramic option but only in the high testcurves i believe
Bivvybug Bivvybug
Posts: 2,458
Post #21 25 Jul 2025 15:48
0
In reply to Post #18
Just looked on
korum site not listed so looks like they stopped selling them
vossy1 vossy1
MODERATORMOD
Posts: 9,047
Post #22 25 Jul 2025 15:59
1
In reply to Post #18
I've found a couple of the 12' 1.75s post free on one
I won't post up here as I've been gazumped before by doing that
Smudge79 Smudge79
Posts: 2,737
Post #23 25 Jul 2025 18:06
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If I got some more they would need to have ceramic rings so I could use them with braid too for other species
Boots72 Boots72
Posts: 514
Post #24 27 Jul 2025 18:52
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In reply to Post #17
Ive got several. Ive got the 10ft xtnd rods in 2.25 and 2.75, also sets of the 8ft opportunist x rods in 2lb and 2.5lb
whataclonker whataclonker
Posts: 365
Post #25 28 Jul 2025 08:28
0
In reply to Post #22
I just did a search & found those - someone needs to go to Specsavers (again).

Thank you Vossy!
vossy1 vossy1
MODERATORMOD
Posts: 9,047
Post #26 28 Jul 2025 12:32
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In reply to Post #25
MrFrosty
Posts: 637
Post #27 29 Jul 2025 19:44
1
In reply to Post #25
If you're looking for a specialist retractable i've just ordered 2 of the Sonik xtractor specialists and they're spot on.
g4fne g4fne
Posts: 15,110
Post #28 29 Jul 2025 20:17
0
In reply to Post #27
Did you get the 1.75lb tc version of the Sonok specialist retractable? .... Ive been toying idea of a set of these for a while myself now. I want a set for Tench/Bream fishing .... Would you say the action is about 1.75lb or a bit pokier?
whataclonker whataclonker
Posts: 365
Post #29 30 Jul 2025 08:07
0
In reply to Post #27
I'm really after a cork handle & I like the old school look of the korum's.

I will take a look at the Sonik's though thank you.
Bivvybug Bivvybug
Posts: 2,458
Post #30 30 Jul 2025 08:40
0
In reply to Post #25
The thread is retractable rod options i answered the wrong post was talking about the korum xtnd retractables 10ft 2.25 and 2.75 tc there not listed on korum site as the person was asking about retractables
I am not the only one that needs to go to spec savers
whataclonker whataclonker
Posts: 365
Post #31 30 Jul 2025 19:29
0
In reply to Post #30
AndyCarper82 AndyCarper82
Posts: 2,541
Post #32 30 Jul 2025 20:15
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I've been using sonik Xtractor Recon 12ft, 3.5lb rods for a while now. Can't find a fault with them at all, not sure why they weren't well received as the 12ft versions have now been discontinued. If you wanted a premium version they also did an Insurgent recon rod that used a Toray blank.
All the benefits of a compact rod but with the usability and performance of a 12ft rod, no compromises.
MrFrosty
Posts: 637
Post #33 1 Aug 2025 20:31
1
In reply to Post #28
They feel a bit softer. I've got the 1.5 for my chub rod and 2lb for my barbel rod. The 1.75 definitely felt softer than a 1.75 rod.
g4fne g4fne
Posts: 15,110
Post #34 2 Aug 2025 17:56
0
In reply to Post #33
Thank you ... Softer than pokier would be my preference so I've ordered set of 3 in 1.75lb and will see how get on with them
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