OBJECT OF DESIRE

Price: £575 www.daiwasports.co.uk ANTICIPATION of the new Daiwa ISO hitting the market had been at the forefront of my mind for nearly a year.

Rarely had I become this excited before a product was launched, but as a huge fan of the original Tournament ISO reel, I knew that something very special was in the offing. When it finally landed recently, I was not disappointed.

Boasting a sleek all-black design, this latest addition to Daiwa’s stable of top-end carp reels is lightweight (at just over 500g), yet it’s feel in the hand is reassuringly solid.

This ‘perfect marriage’ of robustness and weight is down to the compact Zaion body, which is super strong and, as with the other features of the Tournament ISO, is geared towards longevity and reliability under extreme situations.

Not surprisingly, it’s also super smooth and, thanks to Daiwa’s patented Mag Seal, will continue to be as smooth after several thousand casts as it is straight from the box.

Cleverly, Daiwa has introduced two spool options – one deep and one shallow –to cater for different needs and line use.

As a braid user, I’m particularly interested in the shallower version, which will save time and expense when loading up the reels.

Daiwa’s leading quick-drag, Air Bail and Air Rotor complete an impressive technical package and the soft-touch handle is a particularly welcome finishing touch.

Unsurprisingly, casting the Tournament ISO is a highly pleasurable experience, but it’s on the retrieve where it really feels like a Rolls Royce of reels. It is undoubtedly a reel designed with performance, reliability and form in mind, and it exudes all three in equal measure.