The best carp rods

The Kaizen Green Carp Rod series delivers exceptional performance, drawing on the same engineering expertise as its Platinum counterpart.

Built with durable, high-performance materials, these rods feature a fast-tapered action, providing precise casting whilst helping you cast further . Equipped with premium Seaguide guides and a secure reel seat, the Kaizen Green ensures robust and reliable performance. Available in a range of lengths and casting weights to suit your fishing style, this series is a must-have for any serious carp angler.

I chose to take out the 12ft, 3.5lb TC Kaizen Green rods as they are in my opinion the best carp rods for the majority of UK angling in this pairing. When testing these rods, I found it incredibly hard to believe they were available for under £120 in the 12ft version, that is how good these rods are, there are certainly others on the market that are almost three times the price that don't stand upto these rods in terms of power or fish playing action.

Despite being the budget end of the Korda range, these rods are superb and they will add distance to your casts. I found I added 10 yards to my cast, reaching over 135 yards (33 wraps) on the day to be precise, with very little change in my technique.

Korda built the Kaizen range to be casting tools and they certainly are that! I also admired the minimalist finish on the rods too, and a set of three will fit in wherever you take them, from the hallowed banks of Yateley to the busy swims of Linear and they will catch perform well above their price tag from both!

The 10ft models, available in 3, 3.5, and 4lb test curves, can be purchased for under £100, offering great value for money which are perfect for short session and boat work!

Designed and built in the UK, Daiwa has incorporated the very latest material technology into its Longbow X45M rods. Thanks to the blank’s profile, Daiwa has been able to push the design limits of the test curve, bringing a groundbreaking 4lb tc model into the six-rod range.

I was a massive fan of the old Crosscast rods and upgraded to these Longbow X45 around a year ago now and I am glad I did, I have found they are excellent for my carp fishing. I fish a lot of different venues with my personal fishing and with the Angling Times and I am yet to find a scenario where these rods have failed me, whether its punching solid bags out or fishing accurately on spots, these are my go to rods!

The rods are remarkably well-balanced, and even with a slightly larger reel, they don't feel heavy or over-encumbered when you hold them, which is great during long battles. While the rods are available in 4lb TC, I don't find that I need it. When testing them, I struggled to get the most out of them, and that is definitely something you should consider when choosing one. Don't think bigger is always better, as I found I could cast much further with my 3.5lb TC rods as I just couldn't compress the 4lb rods they way they needed to be.

What’s nice about these rods is that you don’t sacrifice fish-playing action for power. Granted, we all like to be able to cast a long way when we need to, but we are there to catch fish, and the enjoyment comes from playing them. Some rods subdue that feeling, making the fight a bit less thrilling, but I’m glad to report that these don’t, in fact their action is bordering on beautiful! All the fittings and finishes are what you would expect from a top-end Daiwa rod, which just helps to complete the rod in style.

If you are looking for a mid-range rod for your carp fishing, both at home in the UK and abroad, and you fish a variety of lakes, these Longbow X45 rods are, in my opinion, well up there with the best around!

Available in test curves between 3lb and 4lb and lengths of 12ft, 12ft 6ins and 13ft, Korda Kaizen Platinum Carp Rods will help you hit your big-cast potential with ease. They’re Korda’s first entry into the rod market, and user reports suggest they won’t disappoint.

When Korda released these as their first rods, I'll admit I was a bit apprehensive. Although I know the team puts effort into everything they do, was releasing a rod going to tarnish their reputation? I needn’t have worried. As soon as I got my hands on them, I could see they were as good as they claimed—if not superior!

The rods are built from high-grade carbon and designed for modern-day carp angling, where long-distance casting is often required. Just a quick waggle in your hand reveals they are no pushovers—they feel strong and powerful.

Once I got them on the bank, it became clear just how powerful they are. 'Distance-casting monsters' is how I would describe them, and for anyone who wants a rod capable of chucking a lead to the point where you can barely see it splash, the Kaizen range is the one to go for!

One thing I really appreciated about these rods was the stiffness in the blank, which not only recovers quickly on the cast to help with distance, but it was how well they relay information about the lakebed exceptionally well. If your venue has a braid ban, some rods can dull down what your spot feels like when using mono, but these rods really accentuate it, helping you fish more accurately, which, in turn, will help you get more bites.

I did hook a fish on the 4lb model, and to be honest, the fight was a bit lackluster. That said, the fish was only around 15lbs, and while these rods aren’t designed with fish-playing action in mind, it’s certainly something to consider.

If I had to choose a favourite in the range it would be the 12ft models, the 13ft are great I just think unless you are fishing huge lakes at long ranges all the time they aren't really necessary.

A reliable rod that will handle most fishing scenarios in the UK with ease, the Daiwa Black Widow XT Carp rod is a phenomenal choice and friendly on the wallet too.

I had heard a lot about Daiwa’s Black Widow range, especially their budget-friendly options like the Crosscast reels, which have been incredibly popular among carp anglers. They’ve already proven they can make great carp fishing gear without a hefty price tag, and with these rods, they’ve excelled themselves once again.

They’re fantastic for beginners and casual carp anglers alike. No, you won’t get the phenomenal performance of a £300 rod, but when you consider you can get three for less than £150, a few compromises are more than acceptable.

If you’re not looking to spend a fortune on carp rods, it’s hard to find anything negative to say about these—especially considering that the top rod in the range costs less than £60. Built with quality HMC+ carbon, they are light, well-balanced in the hand, and cast exceptionally well.

During testing, I was easily casting solid bags out to a tree line at around 80 yards, and the rods never felt like they were struggling. In fact, with a bit of extra effort, I’m confident 100 yards is easily achievable, especially with a standard lead and rig.

Since these rods are on the more affordable side, the action is slightly more through, but that actually makes them great for playing fish. While the rods are a bit wider in diameter towards the butt section, that’s a minor trade-off, because, quite simply, you won’t find a better budget carp rod than these!

The Daiwa Longbow X45 Floater rods offer a superior angling experience, combining cutting-edge technology and exquisite craftsmanship. Designed and built in the UK, these rods are the epitome of surface fishing excellence.

Key features include X45 Technology, which significantly reduces blank twist during casting, increasing casting distance and accuracy. Boasting a forgiving through action, ideal for taming large carp using scaled-down floater tactics. The sleek black finish with understated graphics complements the rod's slim design.

Two models are available, the 2.25lb model for smaller to medium-sized venues and the 3lb model for long-range venues and snaggy conditions. HVF Construction reduces weight while increasing strength and stiffness, resulting in a faster recovery and improved line pickup.

V-Joint Alpha Technology eliminates potential flat spots at the joint, ensuring a smooth playing action and optimised casting energy. Premium guides and intermediate guides provide exceptional responsiveness and sensitivity. A SeaGuide reel seat and Japanese shrink wrap handle enhance comfort and durability.

Shimano's TX-5A models are truly things of beauty. The aesthetics are backed up by performance, offering a blend of casting power and finesse. They are a joy to play fish on, yet with plenty of power in reserve to hit a big chuck, which can be further improved with the range’s ‘Intensity’ versions.

The main gripe a lot of anglers have when buying carp rods is that they want a distance rod that is still great to play fish on, unfortunately there has to be a trade off which will reduce one or the other. However, the Shimano TX range has certainly built up a great following for seemingly striking a balance when it comes to this age old issue. There aren't many rods that have the casting capabilities of the TX-5A rods, yet when playing fish under the rod tip, you don't feel like you have a broom handle in your hands.

These rods are perfect for carp anglers who enjoy a bit of everything, if you like fishing close range they can do it, if a fish shows long you can get a rig on it, they really are that versatile. The other thing you will hear about these rods is how durable they are, many anglers buy a set and upgrade years later.

The blank is made of a slim Nanosheet carbon with a reinforced 3k weave. SeaGuide guides throughout enhance the action and tip recovery speed, all finished off with a 3K reel seat and polymer Winn Grip handle.

Six models range from 10-footers for boat fishing, right up to 13ft intensity version, there will be something to suit any angler.

For those who want their rods to maintain a classic feel in today’s increasingly high-tech modern carp world, these cork-handled Daiwa Crosscast Traditional rods are just the ticket. Despite being highly affordable, these rods are capable of performing a variety of tasks, from margin stalking to punching longer casts out into the pond.

While they certainly look like a classic carp rod, they are adorned with modern features, including a high-quality carbon fibre blank (the slimmest Daiwa produces) with premium SeaGuide TDG rings and reel seats.

The Crosscast Traditionals are certainly light and responsive, but they still have enough grunt for medium-to-long-range casts when required. They are available in 10ft-13ft lengths in test curves of 3lb to 3.5lb, with a dedicated 5lb spod rod also available

Free Spirit have cemented themselves into the carp fishing fraternity for producing quality rods that are capable of casting ridiculous distances and the Free Spirit CTX Carp rods are no different.

Built on top quality 40t and 30t carbon blanks with very low resin content, the rods are superbly lightweight with a formidable amount of power, with the 13ft 3.5lb test curve version a real casting animal. They are, however, easy to compress and will add yards to even the most capable of casters. 

In addition to the quality carbons, Free Spirit have chosen to wrap said carbon at 90 degrees when building the rods. Whilst this sounds technical, in short, it reduces the twisting movement of the rod during casting to improve their accuracy and recovery, very clever indeed. In their category we wouldn’t say there is a rod that rivals its power, they really are that good, they even offer discounts for purchasing more than one rod.

Full Fuji DPS reel seats are included along with S-Lite guides, no expense has been spared, meaning these rods will not only last for years to come, but they will also continue to look fantastic too.

Despite being an entry level rod, the Shimano TX-A Fishing Spod Rod performs well above its price tag and is a perfect rod for those new to angling or those who really don’t want to spend a small fortune on a spod rod. The blank is built on Shimano’s XT40 carbon, which is very durable and stong, coupled with the Seaguide stainless Zirconia eyes and you have a rod that is built to be abused, which is often a consequence of spodding. 

The rod has a 5lb test curve, plenty powerful enough to cast even the largest spods a long way. The cheaper carbons are often a little softer and this rod is no different, however, in this case it helps maximise the distances you can achieve, as loading the 5lb rod is far easier than a stiffer rod. The simple finish on the rod gives a classic look that is really appealing, and the slightly shorter EVA handle really helps force the rod though the cast and get that spod moving.

The Sonik Xtractor+ Carp Rod is a marvel of high-performance craftsmanship, exquisitely tailored for the art of carp fishing. Fashioned from high-modulus C6 carbon, it boasts a featherlight design that whispers responsiveness with every cast. Its RAW carbon finish not only enhances durability but also bestows the rod with a striking allure.

With a progressive action that flows gracefully from tip to butt, this rod is a symphony of balance, making it sublime for both casting and engaging with your catch. Adorned with super-light M-Series DL black guides, a resilient anti-frap ceramic tip ring, and a luxurious matte black DPS reel seat, the Xtractor+ is as functional as it is enchanting.

Available in a range of lengths, test curves and a choice of handle material cork or shrink wrapped, this rod accommodates the diverse desires of anglers, ensuring a perfect match for every fishing adventure. It stands as an exceptional choice for those seeking a blend of quality, performance, and affordability in their fishing.

SEE MARK SAWYERS REVIEW OF THESE RODS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - CLICK HERE!!

These shorter ESP Onyx Quickdraw rods are available in 9 or 10ft and both incorporate 40mm butt rings and a retractable butt section. This not only makes them easier to walk around and get into tight swims with, you can also leave them ready to go in the boot of the car so you never miss an opportunity.

The Anti-frap tip is large and really well designed, it eliminates line wrapping over, which is notorious for happening just as you want to put your rig in, ending up in you messing around trying to untangle the rod. The 9ft rod has a 3lb and 3.25lb test curve version, with the 10ft including a 3.25lb and 3.5lb test. 

The rods have a durable EVA handle and the carbon finish is some of the most exquisite available. The rods are finshed this way to prevent scratching and wear that can come with this stalking type of angling, so they are sure to look great and last for years.