The UK’s toughest margin pole? We test Middy’s new Shock Stikk
...for such a beast it’s light and easy to fish with
THE Middy Shock Stikk margin pole caused a bit of a sensation when it was launched in 2006.
Many anglers said this tool for banking big fish in double-quick time was completely over the top, unethical, even cruel.
The debate, which centres more around the use of super-heavy elastic than ever it should about the piece of kit you thread it through, rages on to this day.
Fact is, no-one likes to see fish being skull-dragged by set-ups seemingly capable of pulling their heads off… not least commercial fishery owners, who take a very dim view of their fish being bullied to the net in this manner.
Remember, though, that match fishing revolves around building the best-possible weight over an allotted time. In a five or six-hour match you need to get the best out of every minute.
Before you start sending me angry emails about fish conservation, I’ll say straight off the bat that you obviously need to fish with as much care and responsibility as possible.
However, simply plodding along while admiring the view rarely wins matches these days.
What’s more, the ‘how to play ’em’ debate can be turned on its head. Let me explain… if you hook a big carp or barbel on a light elastic set-up, it will inevitably take much longer to land that fish.
It will swim up, down and around for an age and believe me, the very same anglers who criticise the use of heavy elastics will be merciless in their scorn.
“Is that the same fish?” they’ll say after 20 minutes or so have ticked by. “The match will be over before you get that out.” It seems you just can’t win.
What I will say is that pole fishing is all about using correctly balanced tackle. This, albeit in a rather roundabout way, brings me nicely on to Middy’s latest reincarnation of its super popular and best-selling Revolution Shock Stikk. To call this two-piece, 3m long carbon composite creation a ‘pole’ is perhaps stretching the definition. Something claimed
to have a monstrous 35 elastic rating could be more accurately described as a rod without guides.
But don’t let that you put you off, especially if you’re really into your margin fishing or just want to have a go at pole fishing for lumps.
This Shrek of a pole generates enough power to drag a snarling pit bull from its kennel, yet it weighs just 185g, making it easy to hold in one hand.
Rubberised Shrink X-Wrap grips add to its user comfort and make it surprisingly easy to fish with. The convenience box also gets a big tick, as it comes all ready to fish with – pre-bushed and elasticated with Middy’s 26-30 Hi-Viz Shock Core hollow elastic.
This stuff, incidentally, is nowhere near as fierce or pokey as you might imagine, something I found out when live testing the pole at Decoy’s Oaks strip lake.
Using a 0.17mm hooklength and size 12 hook baited with a cube of catmeat, a procession of hefty, hard-fighting carp and barbel were quickly tamed without resorting to the pole’s full degree of clout.
As the session progressed I rather warmed to the Shock Stikk. It’s slim, easy to use, and can be tucked right up against the bank.
Middy’s heavyweight 26-30 rated Hi-Viz Shock Core proved to be the perfect foil for carp of 5lb and upwards, and when the odd turbo-charged barbel put in an appearance I was grateful I was fishing with this, rather than knicker elastic.
Price: 3m £59.99, 4.5m £89.99
“It’s slim, easy to use, and can be tucked right up against the bank”