GIVEN that those who market our tackle tend to chuck superlatives around like confetti, claiming every new product to be ‘taking the world by storm’, it takes something pretty special to engage the interest of the angling public.
But every time Middy releases a new Reactacore pole a genuine buzz reverberates along the banks. From the award-winning flagship XZ65 World Elite, found in the holdalls of top matchmen Rob Wootton and Lee Thornton, through to the entry-level XM10-3 Power Carp, there’s a pole of every length and strength to suit, however deep or otherwise your pocket.
I’ve been fortunate to have field-tested quite a few Reactacore poles since they first hit the market – including the top-of-the-range 16m XZ65, which is truly impressive and worth every shekel, if you have enough of them to do the deal.
However, not everyone can run to a flagship pole. So, what if you’re after a dependable all-rounder that can be fished comfortably at 16m without locking up your back so badly that your post-match walk back to the car reminds your mates of a ruptured duck?
That pole would also need to be just as adept at long-lining hemp down the river for roach, as it would be knocking out zoo creatures from your local commercial, or winkling out a few silvers on a frost-hit canal.
In which case, I might just have the perfect pole for you. Although it may not be cheap as chips, it certainly isn’t going to set you back the angling equivalent of a gourmet bash at a top London restaurant!
So, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to Middy’s Reactacore XP35-3. This is a true 16m pole, not just a 13m job with a couple of extensions added on. It can be fished with ease at its full length all day long. A quick scan around the internet reveals that a pole with an RRP of £1,969.99 can in fact be bought for as little as £1,200, so I suggest you shop around carefully to get the best possible deal.
I’m sure that many of you may think this is still a little bit on the expensive side – sadly, you must expect such a price tag on any pole that’s balanced and fully functional at 16m.
On a brighter note, though, this one does come with a comprehensive spares package, including more than enough top kits to give you the versatility to compete at the highest level.
I know of only one place to put such a pole to the test, in terms of the size of fish it can cope with, how it handles at its full length, and how it averts disaster when a gale threatens to spin you off your seatbox.
So, it’ll come as no surprise to those familiar with Decoy Lakes that this is where the Live Test took place. Decoy is, after all, the kite-flying capital of the Fens, appearing to align with a mysterious meteorological cyclonic slipstream that appears between the hours of 10am and 3pm every day without fail!
If Mid-America has Tornado Alley, then this part of the world has Typhoon Tunnel. Except that rather than buildings getting thrashed and smashed, it’s fishing tackle under the cosh!
Countless numbers of match anglers have wondered if a pellet waggler could ever work at Decoy or, for that matter, the neighbouring Float Fish Farm. Unfortunately, rumour has it that no-one has ever been able to cast a float on to these windswept waters to lay this legend to rest!
As expected, because it was gone 10am by the time I pulled into Six Islands car park it was, let’s say, ‘blustery’ – I did at least manage to open the car door, but not without a helping push from cameraman Jacques.
By the way (and this never fails to make me smile), Six Islands does not, as its name suggests, actually have six islands. Only five are visible, and apparently the sixth is just below the surface – something that had me foxed for years until my old former Essex County teammate John Whincup enlightened me.
Over the next hour or so, even with the wind gusting from all directions, I was managing a few fish by feeding a line at 13m and another at the full fat 16m. Simple feeding, mainly with corn and a few micros, saw the odd carp muscling in among the ravenous hordes of F1s.
All of which put a smile on my face, but not as a big as the one I was getting from this Middy pole’s performance, which was pretty much faultless considering the conditions.
I was having to break the pole down three times when shipping back from 16m, as the peg didn’t allow for one big back-ship. Happily, all the joints came apart with ease.
The pole was responsive and quick at its tip-end, with little bounce or recoil post-strike, which made fishing with a
short lash simple, even in unfavourable conditions.
The section walls didn’t creak, groan or crack when landing fish nearing double figures, and the Maximus joints came together without a hint of sticking. The S Slide finish made for quick and easy shipping in and out, even at the pole’s full length.
All things considered, the Reactacore XP 35-3 is up there with the very best mid-priced 16m poles around and, given its impressive all-round performance, it represents true value for money for the keen match angler.
Price: £1,969 (but shop around), www.middytackle.com
FINAL VERDICT
+ A nice lightweight, manageable feel and balance at longer lengths
+ Plenty of section wall strength for tackling commercial fisheries
+ A real-deal 16m pole at a sensible price
- Doesn’t have a pre-fitted side puller bush, but does come
pre-wrapped to allow one to be fitted
- Another Match Pro kit wouldn’t have gone amiss
