Things to Consider When Buying a Fishing Rod Pod
by Nick Gent
Most anglers today tend to use multiple rod set ups when fishing for carp enabling them to fish many different end tackle presentations, baits and areas at the same time. To get round the problem of carrying lots of separate bank sticks to the lake tackle manufacturers developed the rod pod which can hold up to four rods plus bite alarms, indicators and butt grips.
Most rod pods have adjustable legs and buzzer bars so the angler can point the rods in the desired direction be it beach caster style with tips pointing upwards to avoid weed, snags etc. or rod tips pointing level or downwards if using back leads or slack lines.
A Rod pod is also useful if your fishery utilizes wooden platforms because of shallow or reedy margins or if the fishery has rock hard banks like many of the gravel pits in the south of England. Another advantage of using a rod pod is the reduced time it takes to set up and pack away. On arrival at the lake the angler can take the rod pod straight out of the tackle bag with bite alarms and rear rests still attached from the last session and can be fishing in next to no time.
Early rod pods were made from a thick heavy stainless steel but many anglers today now prefer the lighter, plastic covered alloy models that manufacturers like Fox produce or the lightweight stainless steel models that Solar Tackle manufacture, although there are still companies that produce old school strong, heavy gauge stainless steel pods such as Matrix Innovations and Steve Neville which should last you a lifetime but are a heavy weight to carry to your swim if you have far to travel.
Fox are at the forefront of rod pod design and manufacture and produce a wide range of pods to suit all fishing situations and budgets. These range from the simple, A-pod with limited adjustments to the Eclipse, Quattro & Ranger pods with adjustable legs and central bars. You can expect to pay from around £45 for the lower end to around £150 for top end pods.
Solar Tackle has also been a major player in the rod pod market and their flagship product 'The Solar Worldwide Pod' being a firm favourite with many anglers who prefer the stainless look but is made from a lightweight stainless steel and weighs just 2.3kg.
If you are considering purchasing a rod pod you should think about the following factors:
Rod capacity - Most rod pods will come with a 3 rod buzzer bar but most can alternatively take a 2 or 4 rod buzzer bar as an option.
Bank side terrain - Are your banks steep? Then you may want to consider a rod pod with adjustable legs and frame giving you the ability to raise or lower the front/back ends so you can point the rods up or down.
Weight - Is your desired lake/swim a long way from the carp park? If so it may be a good idea to purchase a lighter weight pod.
Budget & Quality - Pods can vary in cost and quality so it pays to go with an established manufacturer. It will pay to do some research online to find the best deals available.
About the Author
If you need a good resource for finding out more about fishing rod pods visit comparerodpods.co.uk via the link below ==> fishing rod pod