When Daiwa started itssocial media tease that a new G90 was on the way, I had mixed feelings of excitement and concern. Daiwa must believe it can better the G90, but why would the company want to meddle with not just a winning formula, but a magic alignment of variables that makes the G90 so legendary? I have no doubts that in 20 years’ time, the G90 will come up in discussions around what is the best pole ever made.
Now that I’ve had one out on the bank, however, I’ve calmed down a bit. The Super MSG Nanoplus carbon has been tweaked and V-Joint alpha refined, making the pole a little stiffer and slightly lighter.
It will still have the same balance and feel that they’d expect, yet as soon as they ship out to any kind of distance, a confused smile will appear along with a pleasurable muttering of “hmmmmm, this feels better than I remember!”
As expected, the packages have been upgraded to include the new professional top kits. The choice is either More Power or More F1, the former coming with a selection of full-length top kits while the latter boasts two types of short one-piece F1 kit and a short fourth section to complement them.
Both come with the relevant length cupping kit to match the supplied top kits, a Match kit inside the pole, a reversible Super Light PHEX extension and a holdall. For current Daiwa pole owners, it can also be bought ‘Pole Only’, so you can take your top kits with you. These are likely to be the old-style kits, rather than the new Professional ones.
Although now priced at £2,799, you should be able to pick a package up for around £2,200 or a Pole Only (with match kit inside and a PHEX) for £1,750. A lot of money yes, but still a reasonable price for a pole of this standard.
The verdict
To see how these improvements felt in practice, I decided to take the cameras to Makins. Starting off on the deck at 13.6m (the length with two silver sections attached), the Pro felt better than I was expecting – lighter and more manageable than I remember its predecessor being.
The ITS taping has been extended, and runs from the No4 to the No8 sections, which makes all the black sections as slick and easy to ship as the Diamond Satin painted butt sections. No need to panic, it’s still very much a G90! In fact, secretly slip one into a current G90 owner’s bag , and they are unlikely to notice straight away.
I always felt that the old-style Power kits spoilt the action of Daiwa poles, and naturally, I hesitated. A mistake – as the new Professional Power kits have changed all that.
When I later slipped one on with an even heavier Red Hydro fitted, and added the PHEX up the back of the pole for a look up the edge, I couldn’t tell the difference! All that changed, though, when I hooked a fish! It was like a different pole when playing a carp with a Professional Power kit, giving a feeling of almost limitless power.
I felt sorry for the fish, as their extraction from among the roots was embarrassingly easy. Even fish of near double figures wallowed and were very unsporting, allowing themselves to be guided straight out into open water.
I think this just sums up what the G90 Pro is–a pole that can handle anything a commercial water has to offer.
It has the rigidity to fish at 16m, the response to catch F1s against islands, the strength to handle slapping or edge fishing , and enough power to make your margin pole redundant. In fact, take it out for a pasting on a big demanding natural venue if you want. It will lap it up!
YOU CAN GRAB AN AMAZING POLE FOR UNDER £1000, CHECK OUT OUR BUYERS GUIDE FOR MORE.
Tech Spec
- Stiffer and lighter than previous G90
- Power rated up to No20
- Super MSG Nanoplus
- V-Joint Alpha
- ITS Taping from No4 to No8 on 16m *From No4 to No7 on 13m*
- Diamond Satin finish on decorated sections
- 16m supplied with Super Light PHEX911
- Section Alignment System
- Supplied with EVA end caps and holdall
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The Daiwa G90 Pro pole is about as good as a commercial pole as you are likely to find, stiff and unbelievably strong, it has improved on a pole with a legendary legacy!
SEE OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE G90 PRO ON THE ANGLING TIMES YOUTUBE CHANNEL, CLICK HERE!
Pros
- 2 spares package to help tailor to your needs
- Compatible with all UK made Daiwa poles
- Unbelievably strong pole
- Superb finish
- Performs just as well with Professional Match, Commercial or power kits
Cons
- More of a power pole that is best suited to commercial fisheries
| Length: | 13m |
| Top kits: | Three plus cupping kit |
| Compatibility: | Top kits compatible with the whole TKS range, past and present. Larger sections compatible with 201 and 301 |
Our pick of the alternatives
The G60 is the new flagship pole from the MAP stable and it is impressive to say the least! Designed to be both tough and balanced, it's comfortable to use at its full 16m length, remaining stiff and responsive, making it a superb choice for any angler at any venue!
Built with Graphene Modified Resin, the G60 achieves incredible strength without added weight. The anti-friction finish ensures smooth shipping, and the section alignment system allows for a quick and precise setup. Visually, the pole sports sleek, understated graphics that just add an extra touch of class to round the pole off beautifully.
The G60 isn’t just a match pole, power pole, or finesse tool, it’s all of them combined. If we had to list our top flagship poles for any style of fishing, the G60 would be on each one. While we won’t call it the best pole ever made, it is undoubtedly the most complete I've ever used. My prediction is that, in a few years’ time, every pole on the market will be incorporating this incredible carbon material.
Pros
- Graphene makes pole stronger and stiffer without adding weight
- Incredibly stiff and responsive
- Rippled finish on butt section for grip and identification when shipping
Cons
- Top kits are on the long side (2.7m)
- Understated graphics make it difficult to identify the 13m, 14.5m & 16m sections at a glance
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
Identical to the top-spec Guru Aventus 900 but made from a lower-grade compound of Japanese carbon. This increases the strength of the Guru Aventus Zero 700 pole even further, making the pole exceptionally strong but slightly heavier than the Zero 900 in terms of weight.
The Aventus 700 poles have the some great specifications – Super Glide smooth paint finish, performance points for optimal linear stiffness and rigidity, rigid joint sections, friction-free matt tape finish, and built around the same ultra-fast-taper mandrel, which aids its responsiveness.
Overall, it's an incredibly strong and responsive pole that will suit a lot of anglers' aggressive styles of fishing in the UK and Europe, a true commercial all-rounder!
Pros
- Loads of package options to choose from.
- Super strong with incredible stiffness at 13m.
Cons
- Loses a bit of finesse beyond 13m (try the Zero 900 at this length).
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
To produce a pole better than the original MTX4 was never going to be easy, but in doing so, Matrix has created the ultimate flagship pole for competition fishing.
The new MTX5 raises the bar with unrivalled performance in all areas. Developed to offer the pinnacle in pole performance, surpassing Matrix's current flagship model, the MTX4, was no easy task.
Designed as an elite competition pole ideal for commercials or finesse silver fishing, this pole achieves the perfect balance between strength and rigidity. The minimal graphics in stealth black enhance the premium styling. Manufactured using the very highest grades of Japanese carbon fibre and resins.
If you are looking for a pole that will take your finesse fishing for silvers to another level, then this is a great choice.
Pros
- Comes with stacks of top kits.
- Incredibly responsive.
Cons
- Spares can take a while to get hold of.
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.