Fishing Rods > Shakespeare 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: 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

Advantages: Cheap and very effective
Disadvantages: none

...such as fox. Having brought fox products before I have never been disappointed by the quality so when I realised fox where producing such a cheap rod I felt I had to try it. To be honest it was so inexpensive that I doubted it at first when I definitely shouldn't of but now I have it I have caught many carp on it the biggest being 36lb. It handles all fish exceptionally well as absorbs most of the pressure so you don't have to. Casting wise again ... Read review

Advantages: Very good flex distribution for multi-piece rod
Disadvantages: Handle and guide could be better for its price

...vey good achievement for the Shimano research team. It almost feel like 1 piece rod. I have taken this rod for crappie coarse fishing, spinning, carp fishing and even casting for mackerel from shore. It serve me best on my spinning session where I hooked up bunch of double figure pike. Due to its stiff flex, it is nice to use this rod to give a reasonable hard strike to hook the fish, but I am always struggling on landing carps on this rod. I paired ...
...me 2 quid to repair) and the handle is not firm enough for my liking. But for such flex distribution on multipiece rod, I guess that is not much better option out there. I wish that Shimano will improve this aspect and perhap put SIC guide rather than aluminum oxide. ... Read review

Advantages: great for playing fish on
Disadvantages: Quite soft butt section

Terry Hearn 12ft 2lb 9oz The rod: built with a full length duplon handle and fuji real seat, stainless steel collars cap the reel seat and handle of, a line clip is neatly whipped onto the blank, and silicon carbide rings anre used from a three legged butt ring to 2 legs to save weight on all other rings. An absolutely cracking rod to play fish on, with a nice through action and forgiving tip to prevent hook pulls. Optimum casting leads are around ... Read review