I'm looking for a spod rod and reel, low cost, that will perform to an acceptable standard. My main use for it will be distance casting spombs, the further it is capable of casting the better.

Would i be correct to say the longer the rod the better, so 12ft or 13ft, and the higher the test curve rating the better, so 4.5lb or 5lb?

I figure the reel plays a very minimal role, though i wonder if the type of line being used can have a serious impact on distance achieved?

So far i have this setup in mind, but would appreciate some feedback on the subject, if this setup looks good enough, or if anyone can recommend better at this sort of price range.

Rod - Fox EOS 12ft 5lb 2pc
Reel - NGT SMR 8000 Spod reel (comes with spool of 18lb nylon).

I can get that setup for around £60 all in. I'd prefer a 3pc rod, but will go with 2pc if neccessary.

All feedback welcome.

Thanks

In reply to Post #1
Total fishing are doing fox TT spod rod and sonik Vader spod reel with braid £85 in there sale section. That's a good buy

In reply to Post #2
It does look like a good deal that, thanks for posting, though i live abroad and dont really want to import from the UK. Warranty becomes of little use, cost of international delivery, and there is lots of turmoil with shipments from uk to Europe just now due to Brexit.

In reply to Post #1
Does anyone have any experience of either of these 2 spod rods:

Delphin Apollo Spod 13ft 5lb 3 piece

Prologic C1a 12 4.5lb 3 piece

I want a 3pc, and these are the only 2 budget spod rods i can find that are 3 pc. Has anyone used either of them?

In reply to Post #1
I've got the Wychwood Riot Utility Rod - its relatively cheap and works really well

Define "acceptable standard", what does that even mean?

Spod/ Spomb rods:

Like most things, the more you pay, generally the better (lighter, tougher, longer lasting) you get like rings and fittings etc. The Spod/Spomb rod is your most important piece of equipment you have in your armoury, unless you're wanging out singles. With that in-mind, save your money up and get the best as you possibly can. As a rule of thumb, buy cheap, get s_hit.

A 13ft rod will cast further than a 12ft rod.

Spod/ Spomb reels:

If you're putting out big beds of bait at range, say 150yds plus, you're going to put your choice of reel through an awful lot of abuse if used regularly at said kinds of ranges. Whatever you choose, make sure it's not going to blow up and sheer gears and have to buy better to replace broken/ knackred/ pony reel.

I'm sure there will be poster's who'll say 'ive had my el chepo rod/ reel combo and it's lasted years', maybe so, but what they'll fail to tell you is they're not baiting up at long range very often/ if at all and that said combo weighs a metric ton which is exhausting just putting out 5kg @100yds; horrible and will piss you off muchly.

In reply to Post #5
Is it a 2 pc or 3 pc? I have found it online, but cant see that information?

In reply to Post #6
By acceptable standard, i mean something that is not sh*t, it does not have to perform like the high end rods but it will do a good enough job.

I've been fishing for as long as i can walk, all kinds, fly fishing is my main passion. I'm well versed in the saying 'you get what you pay for', in fishing i would be careful with that, most of the top end gear is so over priced it is al.ost criminal to sell at such rediculous margins.

Anyway, i just started carp fishing kast year, over the last 12 months i have amassed an impressive amount of kit, this spod rod and reel is just to get me up and running, if it does me a few seasons i'll be ok with that.

I honestly dont see the complexity in spodding, the rod has a simple job to do, and the reel, c'mon, surely it just has to be robust enough and have a good retrieval rate, nothing else is required from it.

In reply to Post #8
Have a look on Facebook mate. I picked up a TFG spod rod and spod reel with new Nash braid for £40 this week. Both like new too

In reply to Post #9
Thanks mate though i live abroad. Where i reside i'd rather stick to new gear.

In reply to Post #8
"I honestly dont see the complexity in spodding, the rod has a simple job"

Absolutely, but as I explained, you get a better and easier tool (read as lighter and less fatiguing) to use/ greater accuracy the more you pay generally speaking, although there are exceptions.

Take the rod that I've got which I've bleated on about here a fair few times ad nausium, the Grey's XSM rod, cost me about £130 and has the worst eyes I've come across in a long time as they love to just fall out ( before I glued them all back) leading to crack offs. I'm not claiming that all cheaper rods are the same build quantity as mine, as I've said, generally the more you spend, the better the tool.

Edited to add:

I did give a somewhat extreme example of where a cheaper rod might be a ballache to use. If you're just going to be wanging out the occasional 1kg of bait in a day and at much shorter ranges, say 80 to 100yds, then I'm sure you won't have to break the bank and get an all singing and dancing rod and reel combo.

In reply to Post #1
Thanks for all the input folks. I have just ordered the Sonik Vader X 12f 4.5lb 2 piece. Normal RRP is around 70 gbp, i found it on sale at 40 gbp so went for it.

I will buy the Sonik Vader X 8000 RS Spod reel to go with it, which comes preloaded with 30lb braid. The braid is not getting great reviews, but by all accounts the reel is good.

In reply to Post #7
2 piece mate. I also use a wychwood riot reel which everyone except me hates

In reply to Post #13
As long as you like it thats what counts.

No idea why there are so few 3 pc spod rods availabke, on the budget end anyway, the manufacturers need to get that sorted, there is a nice little gap in the market to be filled out.

In reply to Post #12
Alistair, AFAIK the Sonik Vader X 8000 RS reel is the same as the spod reel but comes with two spools for the same price.
As you will more than likely be binning the crap braid , it may be something to consider.