The Best Spods and Spombs

Let’s not underestimate the importance of the Spomb as a product. It may not be as revolutionary as the hair rig, but it completely changed the game following its launch in 2010. The unique design eradicated spod spill and the time it would take bait to exit a traditional spod, and they quickly became the ‘go to’ baiting tool of choice for many carpers.

The nose-mounted release button operates almost flawlessly, bar the odd non-opening due to misjudged casts.
Available in Large, Midi and Mini versions, they can be used to quickly put out a large bed of bait at range, or top up your swim discreetly. We’d love to see a version with an integral float, rather than having to buy an external one to meet some fishery rules.

We couldn’t do a buyer's guide and not include a traditional spod.

In the right hands, the Korda Skywinder can be cast more than 150 yards thanks to its nose-heavy and tapered design. The large profile holes allow the contents to empty out relatively quickly, but it may need a couple of flicks of your rod to ensure everything has exited as it should. 

The stiff spod tail helps to keep it stable in the air, and the curved rear fins help to prevent the spod from being pulled off course when casting in a crosswind. 

The simplicity of this traditional style of spod means it costs a lot less than some of the other models with more complex opening mechanisms, so if you’re watching the pennies, this one could well be worth a second look.

The X-Spod Performance is perfect for when you need to quickly get large amounts of bait out at range. 
Being naturally buoyant, retrieval is a doddle, and each payload can hold around twenty 20mm boilies or 155g of mixed particles. 

Unlike rival products, the X-Spod opens in quarters rather than in half, giving you the option of either loading it conventionally or prising open just one quarter to use it like a scoop and quickly fill it one-handed.
A total of 24 strong magnets hold the sections together on the cast but will open up to provide instant bait release on impact. 

Available in a choice of black, white, or red and black.

If accurate, long-range casting is top of your priorities, the streamlined Dot Spod – distributed by Nash – takes some beating in the aerodynamic stakes. 
It casts magnificently, with zero spillage, and releases the bait every time, even if it lands on it side, which is an advantage over alternative models which have to land nose first for the release mechanisms to engage. 

The aperture of the hatch area is narrower than on most alternatives, so loading and bait release takes a little longer.
The load capacity is also slightly less than with equivalent models, but unless you’re looking to put down a massive bed of bait in record time this isn’t a major issue.

The black and blue version is for temperate climates and maximum visibility at range, while the white one reflects heat, making it perfect for any hot and sunny carping holidays you may have booked.

You can look at the 2015 launch of the Impact Spod as the moment the Spomb finally had a domestic rival, or, seeing as it is produced under licence from Spomb, as a sort of MK2 version of the market leader. 

We like the clever hatch system design of the Impact Spod, which allows for rapid one-handed loading – perfect for when you quickly want to top up your bed of bait on a fast and furious bagging session!
The nose-mounted push-button spring seen on the Spomb has been sealed away, eliminating any annoying clogging issues, and the stabilising fins stand off the body to create a more tapered profile. 

It’s by far the easiest to fill and flies just as well as the Spomb. Its asymmetrical design, however, does mean it snakes a bit on the retrieve.

While these are probably more geared to river anglers looking for a more modern version of the traditional bait dropper, we’re sure they’ll also find a place in a carp angler’s armoury.
The Bait Bopper features a clever system inside the nose cone, where interchangeable weights can be used to alter its diving speed and weight. 

Unlike other spods which open on impact, this one doesn’t until it hits the lake or riverbed, when the stainless pin pushes up and forces the spring-loaded system to open. This is essential when fishing on flowing water, as if it opened on impact with the surface your loosefeed would have been washed downstream by the time it reached the bottom.
The body itself has holes in it which make it much easier to retrieve in running water conditions.