Rods

There is no hiding away from the recent trend in getting up close and personal with your quarry utilising time and space-saving short compact setups. At the forefront of this recent craze were without doubt the Dwarf and Scope ranges from Nash. Well, furthering its claim on this market, it is proud to release the new versions of the Dwarf rod range. Starting from a miniscule 6ft 2lb model they are also available in 9ft and 10ft lengths with test curves up to 3.

TC Reader Matthew Rynor says: I recently received the Dwarf rods for my 13th birthday present and decided to send my review in to Total Carp. Due to my small size I find 12ft rods a bit of a handful, so the Dwarfs are great. I have fished up to 50 yards with a baited rig, as they lend themselves much better to the small waters I fish. I couple them with small Baitrunner reels, making the setup lightweight.

Compact free-spool reel ideal for stalking, surface fishing and small-water carping. It features twin bearings, double handle and comes complete with free graphite spare spool. £29. 99For more information go to www.

Marc Coulson’s verdict. . . very impressive and exceptional value for money.

The new 10 and 12ft 3.5lb CP rods boast power and control with a crisp fish playing action!

A superb starter reel, featuring six ball bearings and a free-spool facility. Supplied with two spare spools. £49. 99For more information go to www.

Since Fox’s Warrior blazed a trail some seven or eight years ago, carp rods at the lower end of the budget spectrum continue to get better and better. This is one area where you can definitely get some real value for money, some bang for your buck, if you like. Shimano’s Alivio DX is a classic case in point, with the tackle giant’s ability to produce its own blanks and completely control the quality of what comes out as the end product. In this case, that end product is a great-looking rod that boasts all the casting and playing characteristics that 90 per cent of carp anglers need.