09: PLAYING FISH ON PLATINUM RODS

Whilst casting power and accuracy are very important in order to put your rig into a position where a carp picks it up in the first place, the whole point of fishing is that when you do hook a fish, the experience of playing it is enjoyable.

So, there has to be a balance between a rod that is not only powerful enough to be able to cast where you want to, but also uses that power in a way that is suitable for playing a carp and doesn’t cause you to lose fish due to the performance of the rod.

A rod that is too bendy is of little practical use

You will often hear people talking about how lovely rods that bend all the way through to the butt are when it comes to playing a fish, and in the past and with the materials that were used for carp rods, that was a fairly common feature of them – or at the other extreme they would be an out-and-out casting tool that felt like a broom stick and were horrible to use.

This type of bendy rod lacks power though and won’t cast very far, and when playing a fish it will be bent like a piece of floppy spaghetti and this actually means that the rod has locked up and has no more power in reserve to give if you suddenly need it.

Striking a balance between power and a fish playing action is key

The ideal rod for carp fishing has the ability to put a rig where you need to, and with as little effort as possible, but also feel nice to play fish on and has enough bend in it to cushion the lunges of a carp without pulling the hook, whilst retaining plenty of power in reserve so that if the fish makes a sudden dive for a snag, you can actually stop it.

That is exactly what we set out to achieve with the Kaizen Platinum range, and this was achieved by using a fast taper blank, meaning that all of the rods, regardless of length or test curve, have lots of power toward the butt and mid sections, which enables the sort of casting performance that these rods are renowned for, but have plenty of bend in the tip.

A 'tippy' action is also forgiving when playing a fish under the rod tip

This tippy action not only means that you can generate lots of speed in the rod when casting, but also makes it far more forgiving than you might imagine even in the heaviest test curves, such as when a fish is under the rod tip. But if you suddenly need more power it is instantly accessible as more of the rod bends, and the action of the Platinum also means you get plenty of feedback through the blank and can really feel what is going on and when you need to either back off or pile on the pressure.

This balance is essential if the rods you choose are going to be suitable for a variety of different venues and fishing situations that you are likely to find yourself in, and this is discussed in more detail in Platinum for everyday fishing.

So, in practical terms, all of this means that you can concentrate purely on the fight and enjoy that without constantly worrying that the hook might bump out at any moment.

As well as the action, a rod needs to feel comfortable when holding it to play a fish

Whilst the action of the rod is the most important aspect of playing a fish, how it feels in your hands whilst doing so is important, and the Kaizen Platinum has a handle length and reel seat position that is not only good for casting, but also feels comfortable rather than cumbersome, when you have a carp on the other end. Plus, the positioning of the reel seat and the Japanese shrink grip handle feels nice in your hands and allow for a comfortable and secure grip, even with wet or cold hands.

The best way to choose the right rod for you is to go and handle it in person by using our store locator to find your nearest Korda stockist.