Rods and Reels
Rods & Reels - 2025
Rods: 3x Sonik SK-47 Carp Rods 12ft 3.5lb Test Curve
Reels: 3x Sonik SK-47 10000 Big Pit Reels
Line: Korda Longchuck Tapered 15-30lb
Rods: 3x Sonik Vader X Carp Rods 12ft 3lb Test Curve
Reels: 3x Sonik Vader X 8000 Big Pit Reels
Line: 20lb Diawa HyperSensor
Rods: 3x Sonik Xtractor Carp Rods 9ft 3.25lb Test Curve
Reels: 3x Sonik Xtractor Reels
Line:15lb Wychwood Purple Line
Spod Rod: Sonik SK-47 Spod and Marker 12ft
Spod Reel: Temu 10000 Beach Caster
Line: 40lb Banana Braid
Fun Rod: NGT Carp Stalker Pink 6ft 2lb Curve (2023)
Fun Reel: NGT 4BB Pink Twin Handle Carp Runnel Reel (2023)
Line: 15lb Fox Zig and Floater (2023)
Five years in, I’m still learning—gear choices evolve as you figure out what actually matters to you. Right now, my setup balances practicality, budget, and a bit of fun… with room to grow when the time comes.
Reviews
Sonik Subsonik Line Review – A Disappointing Experience
As a loyal Sonik fan, I was really excited to try the Subsonik Line. I bought it, spooled up, and couldn’t wait to use it—but unfortunately, it turned out to be the worst line I’ve used so far.
The problems started right away. The line was twisted and felt weak, and after just one day of use, I could feel it getting rough and damaged as I reeled in. It almost seemed like the line was degrading with every cast.
At first, I wondered if it was my spooling technique or just a bad batch, but the overall quality just wasn’t there. For a trusted brand like Sonik, I expected much better.
Verdict: Would not recommend in its current state. Hopefully, Sonik improves this line in the future.
My Carp Fishing Gear Journey
When I started carp fishing five years ago, I deliberately aimed for low-to-mid-range gear—partly to keep costs down, but mostly because I wanted to learn the basics before splashing out on premium kit. What I quickly realised? Carp fishing hardware is easily the most expensive fishing gear I’ve ever bought! To keep things simple, I stuck with matched sets early on, avoiding the rabbit hole of mixing and matching high-end rods and reels right away.
Rod & Reel: The Sonik Vader Set (A Solid Starting Point)
The Sonik Vader combo did everything I needed while I figured out why someone would spend £400 on a single rod or reel. Honestly? I still haven’t felt the need to upgrade—it just works.
The 2025 Upgrade: For my France trip this year, I switched to an SK-47 setup with Longchuck line—mainly because long-distance casting and big carp demanded something a bit more heavy-duty.
Spod Set: Cheap Thrills & Lessons Learned
Spodding is my favourite part—it’s basically beach casting with bait rockets, and I love it. I started with the cheapest set I could find, but after one session, I knew I had to make changes:
The line was destroying my fingers on maximum casts.
Solution? Braid + a finger stall (lesson learned the hard way).
The 2025 Setup: I’ve now got an SK-47 spod/marker rod paired with a budget beach-casting reel from Temu. Why? Because spod reels take a beating—no point spending big on something that’ll wear out fast.
The "Fun Rod" (Because Carp Fishing Doesn’t Always Have to Be Serious)
Most carp fishing is cast-and-wait, but on clear days, when fish are cruising near the surface or hiding under tree lines, I wanted a short, agile rod for quick flick casts.
Enter: The Pink Rod (Yes, Really).
I bought it on eBay because the colour looked sportier than the usual black stick… though it lost some of that charm in person. Still, it’s light, fast, and perfect for surface fishing with a trimmed pop-up or imitation bait.