(This article is produced in partnership with Shimano)
Most anglers can see how a pole can give an advantage over a rod and line in the right situation. Pinpoint accuracy, ultimate rig control and being able to use lighter and smaller floats have obvious benefits, but what does a top-end pole do that a budget 16m model doesn’t and why are they so much more expensive?
Quality Carbon
All poles cost money to design and produce, but the key thing that sets them apart price wise is the quality of the carbon used. Cheap carbon might be very strong, making it ideal for margin poles, but it is heavy and lacks rigidity, which becomes more noticeable the further out you fish.
A pole made out of cheaper budget carbon will be heavier, will wobble around more as you try to hold it and will have far more recoil when you strike at a bite or gets caught by the wind.
Most poles in a range will be produced on the same mandrel, which means all the sections will look the same and will interchange – what sets the top end ones apart is the use of progressively better carbon, making them stiffer and lighter.
billyclarke.co.uk
The perfect tool for commercial fisheries, Shimano's Aero X5 Competition 16m Pole is built on the same mandrel as the top of the range options in the Aero pole series, but is constructed with a stronger carbon fibre, giving it increased power for handling bigger carp.
The pole is nicely balanced and feels great in the hand, thanks to Shimano's advanced taper design. It's simple and easy to use too, with the alignment system ensuring you're always fishing at peak stiffness and responsiveness. The top kits also include depth markers, again, making fishing with this pole super easy.
The package is supplied with 4 Power Kits and 2 Match Kits, which are compatible across the rest of the Aero range, plus a Cupping Kit, extensions and a premium Aero pole holdall.
If commercials are your regular haunt, this is the pole for you.
Pros
- Increased strength for carp on commercials.
- Top kits interchangeable with the rest of the Aero range.
Cons
- Not as light as the more expensive options in the range.
Marginal Gains
There are multiple advantages to a better-quality pole other than not needing to eat your Weetabix before fishing with it!
Many venues have islands, far banks and features to fish to, where precisely placing a rig right into a fishy looking area will get you more bites and catch bigger fish. A top-end pole makes this a lot easier as not only is it lighter to manoeuvre, but its extra rigidity allows you to carefully place your rig with less likelihood of hooking a branch or reed. A cheap wobbly banana of a pole bouncing around is a recipe for disaster!
Exactly the same principle applies when fishing in the wind. A light and stiff pole will remain fishable in all but the worst of conditions, whist a budget model will see it waving around so much that you have little chance of keeping your float still… that is if you can hold its extra weight against those sudden gusts at all!
Whilst it’s true that fish can often be caught at close range or very near to the bank, this isn’t always the case. Angling pressure on a busy venue or during a competition will see fish tend to sit further out from the bank, with more anglers trying to reach them. In these situations, fishing further out than your competitors will see you catch more. This is especially true in winter or when fishing shallow, where the angler able to fish 16m will normally outscore the anglers around them who can only fish 14m.
Being able to fish further out, however, is of no use at all if you cannot hit the bites. A top-end pole has far less recoil on the strike, meaning less delay in moving the float. With fast biting species this can make all the difference. Even when fish are hooking themselves, a more rigid pole will see you hook more, as the lack of flex ensures the hook is driven home. The cushioning effect of a softer pole can see more fish bumped off.
Pole pots are also a lot easier to use on a top end pole. The lack of bounce and wobble will make it a lot easier for you to empty your payload on top of the float, rather than prematurely spilling it whilst shipping.
The final advantage is speed. Not only is a more expensive, lighter and stiffer pole quicker to ship, but it gives you extra control, meaning you are less likely to suffer a tangle when trying to fish quickly. In a match where large numbers of fish are required to win, these extra seconds soon add up.
www.bobcotackle.co.uk
The Shimano Aero X7 Competition Pole exceeded our expectations when we tested it.
There are some really interesting features that just make the pole that little bit special. The diamond finish on the Aero joints are phenomenal, they will just not allow themselves to stick together, believe us we tried every known method of getting a section to stick together (apart from superglue obviously) and the sections just slipped apart effortlessly. This will serve two purposes, you'll never get a section stuck and risk damaging it pulling them apart, plus you'll never have an issue getting a section apart when playing a fish, meaning you will land more fish, its as simple as that. The female has a 1K weave at its base to prevent chipping too.
The poles finish is also superb, utilising Shimano's Ultra-Sound sanding system its unlike anything we've felt before, the pole simply glides through your hands, it doesn't matter if they are wet or dry, it will ship out with the utmost ease, it really is fantastic.
The pole is built on a new fast taper mandrel, this has really added to the performance of the pole and especially with the short 3 added, the pole is very stiff and very responsive at its longer lengths.
Pros
- Superb finish to the pole makes shipping in and out effortless.
- A true 16m all-round pole.
Cons
- Top kit package could be slightly more comprehensive (but that's being picky).
What to look for in a top-end pole
More expensive carbon has performance advantages over cheaper carbon, but there is a trade-off, as top-end carbon is weaker and more brittle. This is where carefully looking at a pole, especially an expensive one is very important. You want to see solid, thick sections giving you that extra bit of strength and a buffer to counteract its brittle nature. Thick sections are less likely to crack or split should you accidently give them a clout.
For particularly demanding situations, you might want to consider a margin pole or carp pole on the same mandrel as your top-end pole to avoid putting it through any unnecessary stress.
Don’t let this put you off, however, as all experienced pole anglers know how to handle a pole, so unless you are exceptionally clumsy or try to do anything silly with it, you should get many years of mishap free service from your top-end pole.
todbermanor.co.uk
The flagship Shimano pole and the top of their latest range. The Shimano Aero Pro Competition 16m ticks all the boxes for any angler. Balance, rigidity, strength, you name it, this pole can do it.
Just as at home on natural venues as it is on commercials, the Aero Pro Comp is truly a thing of beauty that has had some serious thought put into its development. It is just so responsive and stiff, there is no movement or recoil on the tip at all. When you see one in action it becomes obvious why it is Nick Speed's first choice.
The Aero Joint System on the poles protects the pole and makes it incredibly easy to pull the sections apart, even in wet weather conditions. This means it will still look brand-new even after years of usage.
The Ultra-Sound finish on this pole ensures it just glides through the hands effortlessly, whilst the Aero alignment system guarantees you will always be assembling it correctly for peak performance.
The package is supplied with an incredibly generous set of 5 Match, 4 Power Top Kits and 4 F1 Kits, as well as a cupping kit, holdall and tubes. You also get two short number 3 sections which are useful for making your pole more responsive when fishing to cover on commercials or in windy conditions.
Pros
- Superb performance.
- Comprehensive top kit package.
Cons
- Flagship products come at a high price.
Get The Right Kit
When you start pole fishing you may well make do with a few top kits, maybe one for carp and a couple for silvers. But as you climb the pole fishing ladder and bump up the quality of your pole, more and more top kits not only become useful but essential in allowing you to mix it up with your elastics. Most brands now produce comprehensive ranges of top kits to suit all styles of fishing, from match kits for silvers and F1s, right up to power kits that can house the big elastics capable of landing monster carp.
You might want to think about top kit colour too, with greys and whites now available to prevent spooking fish when the pole is over their heads.
Shimano top kits explained...
Match Kits are all 250cm in length and rated to No12 elastic, making them perfect for all silverfish and F1s. Available in ultra-premium AERO PRO MATCH, AERO PRO GREY SHALLOW MATCH and premium AERO SUPER MATCH. Fitted with a PTFE tip with an internal diameter of 3.8mm.
Power Kits are all 250cm in length and rated to No18 elastic, making them perfect for all sizes of match-sized carp. Available in ultra-premium AERO PRO POWER, AERO PRO GREY SHALLOW POWER and premium AERO SUPER POWER. Fitted with a PTFE tip with an internal diameter of 4.2mm.
F1 Kits are all one-piece, 183cm in length and rated to No14 elastic, making them perfect for F1s in commercial venues. Available in ultra premium AERO PRO F1 and AERO PRO GREY SHALLOW. Fitted with a PTFE tip with an internal diameter of 3.8mm.
Cupping Kit is 250cm in length, is supplied with two quality cups and is pre-fitted with a connection screw.
www.fishingspares.co.uk
The Shimano Aero Pro Grey Shallow Match Top Kit is a 2-piece kit rated up to a 12 elastic. At 250cm in length and fitted with a PTFE tip with an internal diameter of 3.8mm, these kits are perfect for all silverfish and F1 carp.
Pros
- Grey colour to avoid spooking fish.
- Superb quality and performance.
Cons
- Not fitted with side pullers.
www.bobcotackle.co.uk
The Shimano Aero Pro Grey Shallow Power Top Kit is the perfect choice for catching all sizes of commercial carp. Fitted with a PTFE tip with an internal diameter of 4.2mm, this kit is rated up to an 18 elastic.
Pros
- Strong kit for carp fishing.
- Grey to prevent spooking fish.
Cons
- Not pre-fitted with side pullers.
www.todbermanor.co.uk
The Shimano Aero Pro Grey Shallow F1 Kit is a 183cm one-piece top kit rated up to a 14 elastic. Fitted with a PTFE tip with an internal diameter of 3.8mm, these kits are perfect for F1s on commercial venues.
Pros
- Quality kit for F1s and larger silverfish.
- Grey to avoid spooking.
Cons
- Not pre-fitted with side pullers.
Extras that will make your pole fishing easier...
There's no point splashing out on an expensive pole if your other kit isn't up to the job. If you're going to take your pole fishing to the next level you will need to invest in a good seatbox to fish from, as well as some useful accessories and attachments for it.
It's also worth thinking about the rest of your kit around the box, that includes everything from pole rollers to keepnets, landing nets and more.
As this article has been sponsored by Shimano, here are a few more of their products from the new Aero range that are well worth a closer inspection...
www.outlawpro.co.uk
There are three handles in the Shimano Aero Pro range, Light, Power and Multi. The Light is a two section 3m handle which is ideal for speed fishing for small silverfish. The Power, as the name suggests, is better suited for commercial carp, whilst the Multi is the flagship handle in the Aero Pro range and comes in at 3-4.5m in length - a superb all-rounder.
Pros
- Quality landing net handles.
- Good aesthetics.
Cons
- Slightly more expensive due to their premium quality.
www.outlawpro.co.uk
Available in 14", 16" and 18" the Shimano Aero Pro Landing Nets have been manufactured to high fish welfare standards.
The aluminium frame is strong, lightweight and durable, whilst the net itself has a two size mesh of 5mm on the side wall and a finer 3mm bottom mesh to reduce snagging.
Combined with the Aero Pro handle, these are perfect match fishing landing nets.
Pros
- Quality fish-friendly mesh.
- Lightweight.
Cons
- Could be a wider range of sizes (but that's being very picky!)
www.bobcotackle.co.uk
The Shimano Aero Pro Keepnets are the ultimate match fishing nets, designed to cope with the stresses of modern angling in a fish-friendly manner.
External rectangular rings on the net are constructed with anodised aluminium tubes, which retain their shape to increase the longevity of the product. The top ring is then fitted with an ultra-strong polycarbonate block with a screw tight multi-position design, so you can set your net exactly as you need it.
The mesh is super-fine and ultra-soft, making it incredibly fish-friendly and reduces the chances of it snagging, even in harsh conditions. There is extra stitching in the stress areas of the net too to further increase its lifespan.
The Aero Pro Keepnets have a diameter of 50cm x 40cm and are available in 2.5m and 3m sizes.
Pros
- Fish-friendly mesh.
- Available in two sizes.
Cons
- Most matches these days require multiple nets, we would like to see a pack/set deal.
For more superb advice on pole fishing and tackle be sure to check out our Tips & Tactics pages.
WANT TO TRY & BUY A SHIMANO POLE? HERE ARE THE STORES TO VISIT...
Author Dan Webb first became involved in angling journalism in 2015 and has worked as Tackle Tester at Angling Times since April 2021. He is a fanatical all-round match angler and former England Youth International.