Live test:

Middy XM10 pole

NO MATTER how much you pay for tackle, you want to get a lot of enjoyment when using it. Even if you are buying on a budget, your new pole needs to leave you with an even bigger smile once you’ve bagged up than when you first set up.

Years ago that wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t have a fortune to spend. The weight would have left you aching from top to toe and the unbalanced nature would lead to lots of missed bites.

But tackle innovation over the last decade or so has been somewhat eye- opening.

No longer do you need to worry about whether buying from the bottom end of the price spectrum will leave you disappointed, especially with the sub£ 300 Middy XM10- 3 on the shelves.

This is the third edition of this pole and there’s no doubt the design team have stepped up the standards from the previous offerings.