Live test: Frenzee FXT Match Pro 11ft Feeder

Frenzee’s latest feeder rod is tough on fish, soft on the wallet and a pleasure to fish with

FRENZEE FXT MATCH PRO 11ft FEEDER RRP: £49.99

“The line pick-up was quick and clean as it pulled into a seamless curve”

FROM the Welsh valleys, Frenzee has just introduced four feeder rods and four waggler rods designed for commercials, all for a very modest £49.99. Built for the rigours of modern match fishing, they feature cork and Duplon handles, Frenzee’s own quality and secure screw-down reel seats, and high quality SiC lined guides. How does Frenzee do it for the price? It’s all down to the blanks, which are a blended carbon composite material that is much cheaper than carbon itself. But before you dismiss these tidy rods as being inferior or second-rate, let me tell you that under certain circumstances a composite material is every bit as good, and at times even better, than thoroughbred carbon. You do have to accept that the Pro FXT rods aren’t power casters, but that said, most modern commercials are not vast expanses of water. Casting accuracy, rather than chucking over the horizon, is of greater value. One such venue where this type of rod comes into its own is Stretton Lakes just off the A1, north of Peterborough. A superb day-ticket complex home to some of the best looking carp that I know of and although the large open water carp lake couldn’t be considered easy, the quality of the fish are more than worth the effort it takes to catch them. So when the opportunity arose to live test a mid-range feeder rod a trip was arranged. The lake features two islands, and although these are obvious fish holding spots, the larger fish seem content to stay in open water. This makes them an ideal target for the Method feeder. So, ignoring the obvious fishing spots – much to the amusement and disbelief of Angling Times cameraman Lloyd Rogers – I opted to fish the open water where I was faced with a cast of 45m. The two-piece Frenzee 11ft Pro FXT Feeder blank feels quite soft without being bouncy or difficult to cast with, and it certainly proved more than capable of casting a 30g feeder the required distance. The rod’s carrier section is reasonably stiff and quick enough in its recovery to make very accurate casts at short to medium range, making it perfect for my open-water tactics. A few casts and 30 minutes later, while Lloyd was still chiding me about ignoring the blindingly obvious spots to fish, the tip whipped round signalling the arrival of the day’s first fish. The line pick-up was quick and clean as the Frenzee Pro FXT 11ft pulled into the fish with a seamless fighting curve that is without any flat spots, being of a softly progressive fish- playing action. There’s enough grunt in the blank’s bottom end to deal with big carp, as can be seen on the image (left), and it has lots of pulling power. But this is certainly not at the expense of any transmission or ‘feel’, which combined with its value for money price makes it a pleasure to fish with.

There’s enough grunt in the bottom end of the Pro FXT to deal with big carp