Live test on Tri-Cast’s hot new pole
Military grade carbon is the secret
NOVEMBER isn’t normally the greatest month for margin fishing. Falling temperatures and morning frosts spell crystal-clear water, and fallen leaves blanket the bottom of our lakes.
But when Tri-Cast brand manager Steve Hopkinson told me of the imminent launch of the company’s latest Trilogy 2 Power Margin Pole – which is now in the shops – I knew I had to get out on the bank with one straight away, whatever the conditions.
To stand any chance of catching in the margins at this time of year your swim needs to be at least 3ft deep, and if there’s any cover alongside it, so much the better.
Luckily Kingsland Reservoir near Coates, in Cambridgeshire, is absolutely perfect. Its reed-fringed margins are more than deep enough to hold a few fish. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
First, let’s take a closer look at some of the technical attributes of this latest Tri-Cast pole. The standard 9m Trilogy 2 Power Margin is said by Tri-Cast to be streets ahead of both the original Trilogy Margin and its iconic XRS Power Margin, which for years was considered to be the ultimate bagging tool for down the edge.
The Trilogy 2 is made from a unique military grade of carbon cloth which is both strong and reliable. This is formed around the exact same mandrel as was used for the first Trilogy Margin, so if you’re simply looking to upgrade your existing pole, all your top kits and sections are interchangeable.
It’s slighter lighter than the original, but significantly stiffer and more responsive, even at its full 12.2m length with the two extension sections fitted.
I began the live test by fishing the Trilogy 2 at its standard 9m length, and with experience of both its predecessors I can confirm that it is stiffer and more responsive than either of these.
It’s astonishingly quick at the tip, and completely bounce-free at its 9m length – very much in keeping with how all the latest margin poles are designed to be. But even these laudable qualities pale into insignificance compared to its fish playing power. Unyielding section strength is enough to pluck the largest and stroppiest carp from any snag-strewn pit. The pole handles well, shipping effortlessly in and out, and its lightness and sense of balance are pure class.
Taking the pole up to its 10.6m and then full 12.2m lengths, should you wish to invest in additional extensions, you will have a margin pole to reach well past the next platform on most commercials – in fact it’s a very decent all-rounder at a crackingly competitive price.
Price: £359