M-SPORT GOES ELITE

New and improved Icon rods on test.

ICON M-SPORT ELITE RRP: £209.99

Ican still recall being really impressed when I first got my hands on the Icon M-Sport range of shore rods. My initial review in Sea Angler shortly afterwards certainly created a stir on the beach. With an equally attractive price tag, too, they soon became an instant hit with anglers all over the UK.

Now, there’s a new range of M-Sport blanks – re-named M-Sport Elite – being launched, and all three feature improvements that are guaranteed to catch your eye.

The purists among you will be excited to learn that each model now has genuine Fuji KWAG guides sitting neatly on the blank. An adjustable DPS screw-winch reel seat has replaced the original coasters, along with an extra coaster that enables you to lock it firmly into positon. Sitting above the real seat is an adjustable sleeve which, I think, is used to help you select your favoured reel position each time you start a new session.

Another tick in the box is the fact that each rod now features a glass tip.

This is just what you need for spotting those delicate bites, especially when you’re fishing at long distances.

A ROD FOR EVERY VENUE

Each rod is a 13ft 10in, two-piece outfit with equal sections and designed to be used with a multiplier reel. The three models in the Elite family are designed for use on specific venues – the Match, for fishing over clean ground, the Power for mixed venues, and the Ultra for when the ground is more testing and rough. Each one has its own casting load to match.

The Match has a suggested total casting weight of 3.5-6oz, that of the Power is 4-7oz, while the Ultra blank is geared for a chuck of 4-8oz.

Japanese shrink wrap lines the reinforced butt section for a firm grip, but why this reinforcement in the first place? Well, that’s because there’s also the option to add a reducer to the rod if you so wish.

The glass tip section is painted white for night-time bite spotting.

Each model is colour-coded for identification purposes, the Match being red, the Power white, and the Ultra blue.

Cosmetically, these rods are absolutely superb, and finished in a stylish black. The impeccable ring whippings are tipped with the rod’s identifying colour.

THREE MODELS ON TEST

On the beach, I went straight to the Power model for no particular reason other than it was the first of the three I picked up. I strapped on a multiplier in my favoured low position and clipped on a red-topped Breakaway Impact Lead.

Immediately, the glass tip is noticeable because you get a nice, springy feel to the dangling sinker.

Going straight into a powerful pendulum cast I was pleasantly surprised at just how powerful the butt and middle sections really are… in fact they are stuffed with power.

However, the bending of the glass tip did catch me by surprise somewhat when going through the motions. Not enough to be problematic, but it is really noticeable that the blank is loading relatively smoothly with a fully locked glass tip.

At the end of each cast, the rod recovers superbly and instantly… apart from that glass tip, which settles down moments later.

What has to be said, though, is that the more I was casting with it, the more I became used to it. And, although timing isn’t absolutely critical, get it right and hitting the sweet spot when you smack it is an amazing feeling. It’s very much like driving a new sports car, and finding that exact biting point on the clutch.

Next up was the Match, and for this rod I decided to use a fixed-spool reel. Yes, the rods are designed to be matched with a multiplier, but with the on-going trend among match anglers to use a ‘mangle’ I thought I’d see if a fixed-spool would perform just as well.

The butt and middle section are really pokey, but that glass tip certainly does absorb a lot of that generated energy as you go for the hit. Again, it’s not such a bad thing in terms of the rod’s casting performance, but be aware because that the softness is definitely noticeable.

And, as for using a fixed-spool – there were absolutely no hiccups at all. If I’m honest, I was probably casting further with this than I was with my multiplier. The Fuji ‘K’ guides certainly do a sterling job in keeping the mainline calm and straight.

Finally, it was the turn of the Ultra blank. This is a real powerhouse of a rod and, I must confess, it was my favourite of the three. I was blasting my 6oz sinker well after a few practice runs after which I dug right into the meat of the rod. Again, I was conscious of its glass tip. The one on the Ultra has perhaps less give than the tip on the other two rods.

TOP VALUE FOR MONEY

In summary, the rods look fantastic and perform superbly – it just took me a while to adjust to the glass tip sections.

With the improvements such as Fuji KWAG guides, DPS reel seat and coasters, I reckon the price tag of £209.99 (shop around and you will probably find it cheaper) is brilliant – it’s a lot of rod for the money.

There’s also a reducer available to purchase separately at £24.99.