Everything you need to know about banksticks, buzz bars, rod pods, and the Korda Singlez System

When it comes to rod support systems a lot is down to personal preference, but also making sure that you have a set up that is stable and versatile enough for the type of carp fishing you are going to be doing.

Not only do you need a set up that will hold your rods securely in place whilst you’re waiting for a bite and which won’t allow the rod to move when you do get one, but also to allow you to position your rods in the best possible way – which could include having your tips up high, submerged under the surface, or angled in a particular way so your tips are pointing at your rigs, or even at an angle in the case of snag fishing.

Depending on the waters that you fish, you may even need to use different types of rod support systems depending on the type of swim, especially if you are fishing from some sort of platform or need to have your rods out in the water.

Ease of assembly and packs away quickly

Whatever type of set up you choose, you ideally want it to be as quick and easy to assemble as possible when you get to the lake and want to get your rods out – some systems such as the Korda Singlez can literally just be pushed into the ground and you’re ready to go.

Ideally you don’t want to be dismantling everything every time you pack up and some systems can be transported so that they’re pretty much already to use when you arrive in your swim, even including some rod pods that can be quickly unfolded and set.

You may not want to transport your rod support set up with your bite alarms still attached, in case of damage or even dampness if you are storing something like banksticks in the side pocket of a rod holdall. There are quick release attachments available which allow you store your buzzers and bobbins separately, but mean they can be attached very quickly when you want to use them.    

Stable and secure

Stability and security are two of the main requirements for this sort of set up, as the last thing you want is one of your rods being dragged into the lake when you get a take.

So make sure you are using something that isn’t going to fall over, in the case of a pod, or be pulled over if you do get a fast take and your rod tip is at an angle to your bait and a lot of pressure is applied to the rod when you get a bite, especially if you’re using a tighter baitrunner or quick drag setting.

Whilst folded reel handles are all the rage these days for a tighter, neater set-up, as well as because some like the way it looks with all three of their rods almost touching, it is important that there is still enough space between them that when you get a bite and lift one rod, none of the others can impede that – it is no good trying to pick up the middle rod and lifting the two outer ones at the same time if there isn’t enough space for it to clear them comfortably.

Tough and durable

When it comes to rod support systems, you tend to get what you pay for in terms of the quality of the materials used to make them and how long they will last you – a good quality set up will last you for many years.

Not only does that mean that it is strong enough to do its job without breaking, but also continues to perform well over time despite being out on the bank in all weathers, and being able to deal with grit that gets into the fittings.

Good quality fittings will not only last in terms of still being useable and not breaking, but will also ensure that whatever adjustments you make, such as setting the height of a bankstick, it will stay in that position and not start to slip.

For anything such as a bankstick which is going to be constantly pushed, or even hammered, into potentially hard ground, you need very strong and durable points, and something made from solid stainless steel, for instance, is going to last a lot longer than a softer metal.

The same of course also applies to the rest of the bankstick if you need to use a rubber mallet to get it into the ground and are hitting the top of it, as any weakness in the upright is going to show and cheap banksticks with thin walls and made from inferior materials will quickly bend.

You even need to consider the type of fitting that is used to adjust the upright – again, cheap plastic adjustments for your banksticks tend not to last, especially if using a mallet as this can eventually result in the metal stick breaking through the plastic at the top.

Can be used in any type of ground

Whilst fishing different swims you are going to encounter all sorts of different ground from soft mud, gravel, rocky, or even some sort of wooden or concrete platform that you need to fish from.

For certain types of ground such as wooden platforms or concrete, you are going to need a pod or some sort of stage stands that allow you to fix your banksticks, buzzbars or Singlez to wood securely, via screws.

In softer ground you’ll be able to simply push everything into the ground and as long as it goes in far enough it will stay securely in place.

Gravel and stony ground though present more problems as not only can it be hard to get bankstick points far enough down through the ground, but the loose nature of the bank means that they may not be secure, or it is hard to get them in, so they are actually upright, and not leaning over at an angle.

Some banksticks come with special points on them that are grooved, like a screw thread, and can actually be screwed into the ground, not only making them easier to get in but also helping ensure that when they do go in, they grip much better than a standard point would so. So not only are these types of points more user-friendly but also often provide much more stability to your set up.

Carp fishing bank sticks

A bankstick in some form is the basic upright that is used for most set ups and is basically a metal tube, with a point on one end, and an extendable inner which your buzzer or back rod rest screws into, and which can be adjusted and set at the desired height.

This type of set up is especially useful where you want to position your rods apart or pointing in different directions, with a pair of banksticks being used for each rod.

Banksticks come in all different lengths, to cover everything from a standard carp fishing set up with the rods fairly low and parallel to the ground, where a pair of the same length sticks are used, to situations where you might need a longer front or back rest to position the rod so the tip is pointing up or down, depending on the fishing situation, and how far the banksticks you are using are able to extend.

There are some situations where much longer banksticks are required, especially when having to position your rods in the margins of the lake, and this is common especially on large European waters where you are fishing with boats and have to have your rods in the water. Or where you are fishing over snags, shallow bars or the like and want to keep your line up above them as much as possible, with rod tips pointing skywards.

They are of course also essential for use with a pair of buzz bars, either with a single stick used on each buzzbar, although that tends not to be particularly stable, especially with a three or four rod set-up, or more commonly with a pair of banksticks attached to each, goalpost style, to add much more stability.

You can even use them on wooden platforms by adding a stage stand, which basically screws into the wood and then the point of your bankstick is secured into the stage stand.

Buzz bars

A buzz bar is basically a horizontal bar which attaches to your banksticks and holds from two to four rods.

Your buzzers attach to the front buzz bar and your rod rests to the rear one, and some buzz bars have adjustable width, which allows you to splay out your rod tips as desired – when using fixed buzz bars, anglers often opt for a slightly wider one at the front to splay their rods slightly.

The width of whatever buzz bars you choose needs to be sufficient that your rods can comfortably fit on and without interfering with each other if you get a bite – you don’t want your reels to be touching, or reel handles ending up in such a way that when you pick one rod up it is likely to catch on one of the others.

Buzz bars, especially when used with two banksticks on each, goal post style, are generally very stable in most types of ground, and are also very versatile as they can be used on any length of bankstick, so are a very popular choice where anglers are fishing all of their rods next to each other on the same set up, rather than split up with single rods in different places around the swim.

The only time they can be a bit of a challenge is on very hard or rocky terrain where you have to get both banksticks in the ground in the right place, and sods law means that if one pushes in okay, the other will be obstructed by a rock or other hard and immoveable object buried in the ground!

Usually though, you will be able to push your whole set up into the ground via applying pressure to the buzz bar to push in the banksticks as far as they need.

Buzz bars can also be used when fishing from wooden platforms, as long as you have stage stands for the banksticks that you will be using with them.

Korda Singlez System

Some years back, Korda boss Danny Fairbrass came up with an idea for a rod support system that was a bit different to the norm, and since then the Singlez System – both the stainless steel and black anodised aluminium versions – have become very popular.

The Singlez are manufactured by UK engineering company, JAG, which is famous for its high end banksticks, buzz bars and pods, and no expense has been spared when it comes to the materials used to make them.

Danny’s idea basically involved turning a typical buzz bar set up on its head, whereby the bar was actually at ground level, with two or three uprights attached to that (depending on how many rods are being used).

This bar at ground level has a single spike, plus a stabiliser, to push it into the ground, making it very easy – especially as you can stand on this bar and apply pressure with both feet to drive it into pretty much any ground. This means when you arrive in your swim you can have both your front and rear Singlez in place in seconds and without any messing about.

Because the bar is at ground level it is also very stable, as long as you have it sitting flush to the ground in the first place, and prevents any movement at all in your set up.

All different lengths of extendable upright – including extensions for situations where you need the rod tips right down or up – are available to make this a very versatile set-up, that is not only highly functional and built to last and be as user friendly as possible to fish with, but also looks the part as well, whether you prefer stainless or black.

A range of different parts are available – including stage stands - meaning that should you suddenly need to fish one rod, or even all three, on single banksticks you can convert the Singlez to do that, as the uprights can be turned into banksticks in their own right.

The Korda Compac range of luggage even includes a special padded bag so that you can leave your Singlez set up and ready to use, but ensure they’re well protected during transit and you aren’t going to damage your buzzers or bobbins – then simply unzip the bag, screw on the ground spike (also stored securely in the bag), and push them straight into the ground.

Rod pods

Rod pods tend be something that individuals either love or hate, but there is no doubt that they are very versatile and certain situations require their use.

A rod pod is basically a rod support system that stands on the ground rather than being pushed into it, with the front and back rod supports being joined by a central bar, so the whole set up could be lifted up in one go.

They vary in quality massively, from low quality pods that are prone to falling over or collapsing when you get a bite, or even strong winds, and where the fittings are hard to adjust and lock into place, and you pretty much have to dismantle it at the end of your session.

Right the way up to higher end models which are incredibly user friendly, with quality fittings and materials being used, and which are well balanced and with legs that actually support them properly and stop the pod from being pulled over, plus fold away very easily.

So, a lot of the fairly strong views people have on pods – including those who hate them – are likely down to the user experiences they’ve had themselves previously, or the perception that somehow using a pod isn’t as ‘cool’ as single banksticks or buzz bars.

Rod pods are very easy to use as they can be set up anywhere and you don’t have to worry about pushing anything into the ground, and many of them are very versatile in terms of the range of adjustability – especially some of the Euro style pods designed for use on large lakes or rivers – and how far up or down you can have your rods pointing. About the only thing they obviously can’t do is allow you to fish your rods separately and facing in different directions.

You’ll even have seen rod pods being used on some of the episodes of Monster Carp, and big wild lakes in Europe with rocky banks and where it is almost impossible to get banksticks into the ground.

If you do opt for a rod pod, then make sure you choose one that is stable enough and that packs away easily enough that it doesn’t become a chore when you need to put it together or take it apart at the end of your session.