We test Daiwa’s new entry-level Match Winner pole and more...
Daiwa’s budget model takes punishment and dishes it out
HAVING recently run the rule over Daiwa’s classy top-of-the-range Match Winner C5 pole, I was keen to find out if the somewhat more modestly priced entry level Match Winner C1 could offer a comparable performance.
Obviously differences in pole lengths and prices would need to be taken into account. After all, the flagship 16m C5 will set you back around £1,199, whereas the shorter 13m Match Winner C1 will relieve you of less than half that amount, coming in at just £499.
All five Daiwa Match Winner poles are being pitched as viable all-rounders, with a slight leaning towards commercial tactics. And from what I have seen, Daiwa has called it about right. No corners have been cut in terms of materials and workmanship, in fact attention to detail comes shining through.
All boast the latest hi-tech carbon materials and finishes. The poles also feature optional extras such as Power mini extensions and a short half fourth section. Phex extensions and pre-bushed top kits come as standard, offering a high level of tactical flexibility.
So to the live test, and with all rivers and many natural lakes still in closed season lockdown it was Hobson’s choice when it came to picking a venue. However, to test any pole’s mettle there are few better waters than Kingsland Reservoir near Peterborough.
Its reed-fringed carp lake plays host to some very serious inhabitants, and on a venue that’s fished every day the carp have seen it all before.
The depth is such that the fish are able to deep-dive under the near bank, which plays havoc with your top kits if you don’t ship back quickly enough. What’s more, these carp have a habit of charging headlong through the reeds, all of which will likely end in tears for the angler and his precious kit.
The upshot is that you’re left with no choice but to employ bully-boy tactics. However, on such a hard-fished water you’re
unlikely to get a bite using heavy line and big hooks. You really do need to get your kit perfectly balanced to stand a chance.
My arsenal of choice was a hollow size 12 elastic, 0.17mm line and a size 16 hook with a banded pellet. I removed the pre-bushed tip section from the pole’s top kit in favour of a stiffer and much stronger set-up, achieved by fitting a large-diameter internal PTFE bush into the end of the second section. That gave me added pulling power.
Starting off by fishing shallow at the full 13m length, it proved easy enough to feed with a catapult while holding the pole. It isn’t unduly wobbly, top-heavy or unbalanced, and while it’s not as stiff as flagship superstars it’s a great starter pole for beginners or juniors.
I didn’t have to wait long for the first bite, and having been here before I knew I needed to get on top of the fish as quickly as possible and dictate the fight. That, if you look at the inset image, didn’t make it a particularly happy carpy as it tail-slapped the surface in fishy disapproval.
I wouldn’t normally recommend you treat any pole with the reckless bravado I dished out to this one, but subjecting it to this amount of stress soon ferrets out any weak points. These, in the case of the Match Winner C1, are happily a big fat zero!
Price: £499