If you’re just getting yourself into carp fishing, kitting yourself out with multiple rods, reels, bite alarms and other essential items can, at first, appear to be a frighteningly costly experience.
Thankfully, advancements in technology mean that there’s no longer a need to spend a small fortune on kitting yourself with good quality kit. Not so long ago, carp rods at the budget end of the spectrum left little to be desired in terms of casting and fish-playing performance, and the reels didn’t feel you with the confidence that they’d last more than a few sessions.
But what if I told you that you could kit yourself with pretty much everything you need to get out and start catching for less than £400? Yes, it’s still a fair expenditure, but when you consider that you could easily pay more than that for a single rod, I think it’s fantastic value.
The carp tackle I'm talking about is Sonik’s new HEROX range. This comprises rods, reels, landing nets, rod pods and bite alarms at prices which make you wonder quite how they manage to produce something that good for so little!
Sonik do have an impressive track record for producing superb, affordable equipment but HEROX really is something else, and I believe it is even better than their popular Vadar X range.
Rods for all jobs
I recently tested the 10ft 3lb test curve model rods but they are also available in 12ft and 13ft versions.
To put it bluntly, I was amazed that a carp rod of such quality can be produced for just £49.99! They’ve got features that would, not so long ago, only be found on considerably more expensive models. These include anti-frap tip guides, 50mm butt rings, full Japanese shrink wrap handles and secure DPS reel seats.
My tactics on the day involved casting solid PVA bags with a 2oz lead over to a set of reeds, which the rods handled without any issues while also have plenty of backbone to get the fish in without any issues.
Reel quality
I was also incredibly impressed with the HEROX 8000 reels. Firstly, they have the appearance of a top end reel. The clutches on cheaper reels do have a tendency to stick as they generally aren’t as precision made as more expensive reels. But I have to say, the clutch on these reels really was immaculate. Although, it’s not a fast drag – by that I mean going from locked up to slack with minimal turning required – it certainly isn’t far off, and the line lay was fautless.
Budget baiting up
No range would be complete without a spod and marker set up and the HEROX collection includes a dedicated rod and reel designed specifically for the task of baiting up. Starting with the reel, it’s a real workhorse which comes fully loaded with 30lb braid and for the price of £64.99 I think you’ll genuinely struggle to find better!
The rod is priced at £59.99 and boasts all of the features found on the standard rods, but has the additional power required to launch out heavy spods and Spombs.
Bite indication & rod support
The compact pod is nice and sleek and easy to assemble. It’s fully adjustable in terms of length and height at the front and rear. You can also remove the bank sticks and buzz bars from the central body and fish them goal post style with the bank sticks pushed into the ground for a more solid rod support system.
The final item in the HEROX range which I want to talk about is the bite alarm and receiver. The first thing which immediately got a massive thumbs up from me was the fact that the alarms automatically pair with the receiver. So there’s no faffing around to get, for example, the red LED alarm to flash red on the receiver and so on. Simply put the batteries in, turn them on and it’s all done automatically for you. I’ve used plenty of alarm and receiver sets over the years where it has proved to be quite a convoluted process to get everything paired correctly, so this saved a lot of time. The two and three rod alarm sets also come with a bivvy light, which also automatically matches the colour of the LED on the alarm which you’ve had a take on.
The alarms have all the standard features you’d expect, including eight different sensitivity, tone and volume settings, forward and drop back indication, a nightglow LED function, mute mode and tall integral snag ears.
If you, or someone you know, is just getting into carp fishing and doesn’t want to break the bank getting kitted out, then you honestly won’t be left disappointed – or out of pocket – with the HEROX range of tackle.
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The HEROX series of rods are leaner, lighter and faster than any of their predecessors at this price-point. Progressive power gives these rods true multi-range performance and of course they have the backbone to cope with large PVA bags and hard-fighting fish.
Sonink have kept the fit and finish streamlined and sleek with full shrink-wrap handles, blacked-out fittings, a slim DPS17 reel seat and discrete HEROX green tippings.
There are seven rods in the range including 10ft 3lb and 3.5lb test curves, 12ft models in 3lb, 3.25lb and 3.5lb, a 13ft 3.5lb version and a 12ft spod + marker rod.
Pros
- Easy to handle lightweight carbon blanks with a great fish playing actions.
- Carpy furnishings with minimalist graphics.
Cons
- Better suited to short/mid casting ranges.
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
Stylish, robust and large capacity reels designed for the carp and specialist angler to tackle all conditions.
Manufactured to high specification and featuring an ultra-smooth wormshaft transmission, the Heli Coil gearing provides an ultra-flat line bed for smooth casting performance and impeccable line lay.
Constructed from lightweight graphite, the body and rotor incorporate a floating rotor line guard, which helps to prevent any tangles. The sleek, matt black finish, black CNC anodised aluminium handle with dark wood barrel oozes quality.
The spool is fitted with two high-impact, E-Z entry spring loaded captive line clips that will help with accuracy when casting at distance.
Other features include 5 + 1 ball bearings, a gear ratio of 4.6:1 and an oversized twist free line roller. In addition, the ultra-smooth Quick-Torque drag system will greatly aid control when playing big fish.
Available in 8000 and 10,000 sizes.
Pros
- Reliable wormshaft drive mechanism for greater winding power.
- Sleek and carpy looking matt black finish.
Cons
- Quite a large body-sized reel.
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The HEROX Spod Reel is a robust reel designed specifically for spodding. It comes with a shallow spool which has been pre-loaded with 200m of Hypa-Viz 30lb braid, which not only represents incredible value for money, but saves the job of having to spool it up yourself.
Fitted with a large cranking handle and grip, each rotation retrieves 1.10m of braid, making spodding at range comfortable. We recommend the use of an additional shock leader (50-60lb) when spodding at distance.
Pros
- Reel comes correctly pre-loaded with 200m of 30lb braid (real money saver).
- Designed as stand-alone spod reel it has a Heli-coil line lay that’s ideal for braid.
Cons
- A shockleader needs to be fitted before using
The HEROX bite alarm combines the latest technology with user friendly features to ensure you never miss a bite. With eight adjustable sensitivity settings you can customise the alarm to suit your fishing style and target species. The sleek compact design is functional and durable with waterproof shielded electronics that make it perfect for any fishing environment. The intelligent mute mode also allows you to silently set and adjust your alarms. Add to this a night glow LED and 2.5mm power out socket to name but a few of the features.
The receiver boasts four channels with bright LED’s that make it easy to see which alarm has been activated. With eight volume levels including silent mode, you can customise the receiver to your preferences. Also present is a drop back flashing LED and torch function with an independent vibration mode, which is perfect as an extra alert or for when you want to fish without any sound.
The inclusion of an automatic bivvy light adds a whole new level of convenience and offers fantastic value for money. Use it independently as a traditional bivvy light or set it to activate when an alarm is triggered.
To top it off, all three components of the HEROX alarm system run on AAA-sized batteries.
Pros
- Alarms require nothing more than putting in the batteries to sync with receiver and light.
- Easy to use and understand sensitivity, volume and tone buttons.
Cons
- A tad simplistic alarm/receiver system for more hardened big fish angler.
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The HEROX rod pods are available in either a two or three rod model. They are compact, stable, quick to setup and perfectly adaptable for any fishing situation. They come in a useful fold-out padded case that allows you to keep your alarms and back rests attached to your buzz bars when stored. The goal post style buzz bars and banksticks can also be used without the base unit on softer ground. Compact in size but fully adjustable in both length and height, they feature a sleek matt black finish throughout.
Pros
- Lightweight and quick and easy to use.
- Can be used as a pod or with a bankstick and goalpost set-up.
Cons
- Better suited to softer ground than free standing on a hard surface.