Rods

• 7ft, two-piece stalking rod• Perfect for close-quarters stalking• Through-action blank helps to prevent hook-pulls when snag fishingRRP: £79. 99FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO: www. greysfishing. com.

When I first received the CAST’IZM I thought it had been sent in error. It looked and felt sublime but I wrongly assumed that it was a heavy-duty feeder reel, so I e-mailed Stephen McCaveny at Daiwa to ask where it needed to be. There was an apology, but not for having sent it, more for not having told me he’d done so. It turns out the CAST’IZM is the latest stunning reel that Daiwa has launched onto the carp market and it appears to be a revelation.

Of late, it’s become extremely fashionable to own a set of big-pit reels regardless of the venue that you fish, well these little black beauties are set to change the trend. This compact baitrunner reel offers bundles of features but without breaking the bank. Featuring S-Surve Oscillation, these reels possess great line lay to aid casting and are fitted with a front and rear drag system, plus an instant anti-reverse function. With a gear ratio of 4.

I have been using the XTs for six months now and they have been nothing short of fantastic. The faultless line lay and the large, coned spool really aid casting, especially during big chucks. With just one turn of the front drag, the XTs can be easily turned from free spool to locked up, so it’s easy to use and it feels strong and durable when cranking in fish from long distances or through heavy weed. Small features like the discreet spring-loaded line clip are kind to the line and easy to use.

The original Baitrunner Long Cast (LC), lovingly known as the ‘Shimano Big Pit’ among its many users, gained a huge following with anglers who appreciated its rugged build quality, cranking power and reliability. Very few serious carp anglers over the last decade haven’t owned a set of these and very many still do. A modernised version of the Long Cast has been introduced, boasting the same reliability but with engineering to bring it into the modern age. As well as this model, Shimano has also introduced a medium version with the same attributes but in a more compact size, much more manageable for anglers on small to medium-sized venues.

TC reader Phil Kirkham from Cardiff says: "I couldn’t believe it when Marc Coulson sent me two of these new reels from Daiwa. They are so new, in fact, that my local tackle shop doesn’t even have them in stock yet. "I’ve used them six times and they’ve been brilliant. I used to have some Daiwa Regals and I expected that these would be very similar.

The successor to the Tournament 5000, which achieved cult status and continues to appeal to many anglers, the Entoh brought a new wave of technology to the top-end-reel market when first launched. Now, the latest incarnation, the 5000QDA, takes what is an already brilliant performer to a new level altogether. It’s not just about the sultry new matt-black body either, although this is in keeping with modern trends as reels move towards this stealthy look and away from the ‘bling’ of silvers and gunmetal greys. It’s packed full of Daiwa’s leading features, including AirBail, Twistbuster, Infinite Anti-Reverse; boasts a HardBodyz construction for longevity and generally has a feeling of quality build and reliability.