Fishing Rods

Advantages: Toughest freshwater spinning rods money can buy, well made, doesn't cost a fortune
Disadvantages: Nothing (yet)

Shakespeare have been making fishing tackle since 1897 when William Shakespeare (no, not that one... an American with the same name) starting making reels. The company also includes an even older tackle manufacturer, which started in Redditch (Worcs.) in 1880..... but if you want the full history you can get it at the company's website (shakespeare-fishing,co.uk); In the mid 1970's, they introduced the "UGLY STIK" rods which took the UK by storm....... ...
...first saw one in a Shakespeare Catalogue in 1993 / 1994, it wasn't long before I bought one of these spinning rods. The following year (2003), my Cousin's son James wanted me to teach him to fish....... and he ended up getting a cheapo Rod & reel combo, which not to put too fine a point on things, was crap. Sometime around April / May 2004 came his first Freshwater fishing session (all other previous sessions being next to Whitby Swing Bridge)....... ... Read review

Advantages: Easy casting, excellent bite detection, robust,
Disadvantages: Difficult to load the power version during cast for massive casts

The Daiwa Supercast beach rod is made in the UK. It has a powerful butt construction and a lightening quick recovery. It comes in multiple versions. The rod has been quoted by sea angler as "destined for classic status amongst UK sea anglers". Features - Exclusive individual design - High grade carbon butt - Blended tip - Fuji 'shock ring' Aluminium Oxide guides - Superb balance and handling - Cross textured shrink grips - Daiwa stainless ...
...i have been using the STS13PM for all my beach fishing. It is capable of casting 6oz and mackeral flapper with ease. The STS13PM is rated at 4-8oz and is ideal for areas with a strong tide. The bite detection is also very good, on the STS13PM it has a stiffer tip which allows more sensitive bite detection in flood tides. However due to this when you are playing smaller fish it can be difficult to have a true feeling of the fight. This is only a ... Read review

Advantages: High quality for a budget price.
Disadvantages: none.

The Shimano hyperloops are an excellent range of specimen rods especially for those anglers who are trying to keep to a budget. In my opinion the quality of these rods is second to none for any rod priced bellow £50. The rods are 12foot long and have 7 rings to guide the line. They are also available in four test curves 2.25, 2.50, 2.75 and 3.0lb which make these rods extremely versatile. The rods are very sensitive to the movement of the fish allowing ...
...the fish. This makes playing the fish a pure joy. Personally I own three of these rods. Two 2.75lb test curves for my main set of rods used for ledgering, and one for 2.5lb which is used for surface fishing. Combining these rods with a good quality reel and this is more than adequate set up for any level of fishing. ... Read review

Advantages: Takes alot of stick!
Disadvantages: Not much

A great all round speciment/coarse rod. Unlike bulky, clumsy carp rods, the Hyperloop Barbel is smooth and gentle. I have used it in many situations including light bream fishing, carp and medium/heavy river fishing aswell as light/medium float fishing. This rod has also been used for spinning, including light sea/estuery legering/floating giving great results and coping well. It is a great all round rod that I would not be without. I am not into ...
...suited to me. It incorporates a great reel seat, providing a strong base a comfortable position. Nice big eyes on the rings give a good line feed. This rod also has a very nice through action. It is suitable for nearly all sorts of fishing and I sincerely recommend it to anyone not wishing to fork out loads on some fancy, higher priced rod. ... Read review

Advantages: Good balance, light and fast.
Disadvantages: None that I can see.

...with my opinion on the Shakespeare Gold Odessa Match Rod. I purchased this rod for around £50 from my local tackle shop, in June 2000 as a gift for my wife's Birthday, but I found it to be so good that it found it's way into my rod bag and not hers. If and when she reads this I will probably be in deep trouble yet again. Well the rod is 13 foot long with 15 single leg lined rings and screw reel fittings, with a half cork and hyperlon handle. Balance ...
...very fast action with a soft tip that picks up line like a dream, yet is soft enough to stop you smashing off at distance. I have used this rod for fishing with small floats under the rod tip to large 2 swan wagglers casting up to 40 yards and fishing in 12 feet of water. I have a shimano ultgera rod which was very expensive but when it comes to fishing the waggler on a still water then Odessa is the one I reach for every time. I have landed carp ... Read review