Garbolino UK Power Performance Pole review

You'll be spoilt for choice when going into the market for your first pole. Products that are strong, supplied with a few spares and have a decent finish are plentiful, no matter what your budget.

Garbolino’s UK Power Performance Match Pole does just that. Selling in shops for just under £1,000, it offers a 16m pole with what looks like an impressive package at first sight. It may trump its rivals on price, but could it outdo them on performance too? I was off to the bagging mecca that is Alders Farm near Milton Keynes to find out.

Shipping out to 13m, I tapped in a few 6mm pellets and lowered the rig.  Within minutes there were signs of a response and it didn’t take long for the float to rocket under. The grade 12-14 elastic zipped out as a carp made a bid for freedom, with a healthy bend running through the pole as it drove to the right through the shallow water. A trait that would make it ideal for margin fishing for carp too.

Slowly shipping back, I was soon down to the top kit, stripping elastic through the smooth side puller system. Reedbeds decorated both margins, and the fish seemed determined to bury among them, forcing me to pull a little and tighten the elastic even more. The hook stayed rooted and the 5lb common was soon in the net.

It's muscle power had shone through but there was still a question mark over whether it was genuinely fishable at longer lengths. On with the 14.5m section and the fish didn’t seem to care less that I’d pushed passed where they’d settled, with half a dozen pellets tempting them to follow me within minutes.

The top kits and sections created a good first impression on early inspection, with a smooth finish throughout that would zip through the hands when shipping. There was no sign of weakness either, which is vital for a pole that is primarily aimed at commercial action. Butt sections sported feed markers to aid pinpoint accuracy when working out where to hold the pole when potting in, with all of the top kits having side pullers and PTFE bushes already installed.

The additional weight at 14.5m could be felt, but I still believe this could be used for long periods, even by slightly less mobile anglers than myself. Pushing out to the maximum of 16m and I still had no problem hitting bites. I’d be lying if I didn’t say it would become a little tiring if fished at this length for several hours, but you could easily pay £500 more for another pole elsewhere and it would be exactly the same on this front.

You can’t expect a pole within this price category to be the stiffest on the market, but it held its own against anything that could be considered a genuine rival.

THE VERDICT

Garbolino’s reputation for quality gave me an inkling that this pole would deliver, but it is even better than I imagined. You’ll find it an absolute doddle to fish up to 14.5m and it performs better at 16m than plenty of others in a similar price bracket. In an era where disposable income is low for many, value for money is essential and the ample top kit package covers all your options without the need to splash out on more.

I’d have no qualms using it in the middle of winter to hit delicate bites when carp and F1s are gently mouthing the hookbait. The slight and temporary wobble that you’d expect at full length when striking may lead to the odd smaller fish being bumped but use it at 13m or less and you wouldn’t bounce many roach or skimmers either.

Entering the market as one of the cheapest 16m poles, there was a risk that compromise would be required to make it a reality. In true Garbolino style though, standards have remained high. Strength and finish are excellent, with the spares package also getting a firm thumbs up. If you’re looking for your first 16m pole, the Garbolino UK Power Performance Match should definitely come into the equation.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT AND OTHERS FROM GARBOLINO HERE.

TECH SPEC

- 16m Pole

- 5 x Express Carp Puller Kits plus a cupping kit

- Half extension that fits the 13m, 14.5m and 16m section

- All top kits installed with side puller and PTFE bushes

- ‘Quick Ship’ finish prevents the pole from sticking in your hands

- ‘Feed marker’ points on the butt sections

- EVA cones on the No.3 sections Supplied in a deluxe holdall

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Author Tony Grigojevs has worked in various roles within both Angling Times and Improve Your Coarse Fishing, getting involved in news and feature writing, photography, filming and editing.