13: KAIZEN GREEN IN THE FIELD
In terms of choosing the model, or models, that are best suited to your own fishing, that will largely come down to the types of venue you are going to mainly be targeting, as well as personal preference as that plays a big part.
Even amongst our Team Korda anglers opinion is massively divided when it comes to picking a favourite from the Kaizen Green range, and reflects the different types of fishing and casting styles that these anglers do and have.
For more information about selecting a rod based on the technical aspects and strengths of each different model, you can have a read of Choosing your Kaizen Green rod.
Here you can find out what some of our team anglers think about some of the models, and why they chose their own personal favourite ones:
Carl Smith: “I chose the 10ft 3.5lb as a work horse rod to take anywhere and is tough enough to tolerate the abuse my tackle receives – being taken on aeroplanes and laid in the bottom of boats.
“I can’t be worried about a reel seat locking up, or ceramics popping out – my tackle needs to be bulletproof, and although they’re carp rods I also use them for sea fishing, chucking big lures around, and deadbaiting for pike too.
“The shorter length and lightweight blank makes this rod ideal for stalking and getting into swims that others can’t. Not to mention that also makes them much easier to deal with when boat fishing – when a hooked fish comes up close to the boat, or for lowering rigs more accurately onto a spot.”
Adam Reed, 10ft 3.5lb Green: "If I’m on a boat I use the 10ft 3.5lb, a lot of people favour the 4lb, but I love the tip on the 3.5lb version and it is gorgeous to use. It has enough grunt in the butt to pull fish away from trouble when I’m fishing for the carp on the Thames, but once the fish is under control, having that soft tip – especially when fishing with braid where you have no stretch in it – you’re not putting loads of strain on the carp and can play it off of the clutch nicely. The fight is really enjoyable because of the soft tip.
They also cast really nicely if you are using them from the bank, where I’m not having to cast very far and am using heavy leads, often 6oz, and they cope with this no problem at all."
Rob Burgess 12ft 3.5lb Green: "The 12ft 3.5lb Green is a proper all round carp rod. It’s versatile, powerful when needed, and forgiving when playing fish, it’s everything you want in a budget friendly rod.
Short to medium range fishing definitely suits this particular test curve, but overall it is a seriously impressive bit of kit that I’d recommend to any carp angler."
Tom Maker, 12ft 6in. 4lb Green: "I think it is key to have your spod rod and your fishing rods matching, so they feel the same in your hands. There is a massive difference, I know it is only six inches or a foot going from a 12ft 6in rod to a 13ft spod rod, or a 12ft fishing rod to a 12ft 6in. or 13ft spod rod, but when you have it all the same it just helps with consistency. When you fish how I fish, which is putting a lot of bait out , three rods on a spot, with repetitive casting, having everything consistent makes it so much easier and more fluid.
For a 12ft 6in. 4lb they’re not too heavy – not like the 13ft 4lb which is much beefier – and for the fishing I do up to 130-140 yards, these rods are perfect. If I am on a venue where I’m fishing closer range they’re going to cope with that as well. I find the extra six inches over the 12ft actually makes them a bit more forgiving in the tip as well, especially when playing a fish in the margins. They’re just a brilliant all-round rod."
The spod rod models have also proved popular, as Danny Fairbrass explained: “There’s a 12ft spod rod to go with the range, which is stepped up and has the same fast taper, but is very light for a spod rod, and if you don’t want to spend Kaizen Platinum money on a spod rod, then this is a great option.
“The 13ft spod rod is a proper beast. Out on the field with a bare lead it is going absolutely miles and will do 200 yards with a Spomb as well! It’s a mega rod, very, very powerful, and in the right hands it is going to send a Spomb an extremely long way.”
As you can see, a lot comes down to personal choice and the differing angling situations, and the best way to make a decision is to actually handle one yourself, which you can do at your local Korda stockist, the details of which can be found on our store finder.