EXPERT’S GUIDE

Scottish international angler Steve Souter gives his verdict on this standout stable of shore, boat and spinning rods

A look at to the Penn Squadron II range.

The eye-catching Penn Squadron II shore range offers four brandnew three-piece rods. Built on tough user-friendly blanks, these versatile rods blend power and precision to deliver strength and maintain vivid bite amplification on the tip. Designed for fishing over sand and stonier seabeds, all are easy-casting rods capable of impressive distances, and suited to anglers of all experience levels.

SURF

Steve says: This is available in 14ft 4in and 15ft versions and tailored to general open-beach fishing, targeting everything from flatfish and codling to hard to retrieve rays. The forgiving blank is designed with simple casting in mind, and ensures excellent distances are achievable even in inexperienced hands. The rod will cast up to 8oz but delivers optimum performance with 4.5oz to 6oz lead weights. Large aperture guides assist superb line flow and will counter weeded leader issues. Intended for fixed-spool reel use, with such as the Penn Surfblaster II 7000LC or 8000LC, other features include semi-parabolic action, quality lined guides, screw reel fitting, shaped grips and hi-vis white tip.

EURO SURF

Steve says: Measuring 14ft 4in long, the Euro Surf (below) carries a 4-6oz weight rating. Its very slim profile rod excels when propelling 4-5oz lead weights either overhead or off-the-ground. Effortless distance and highly visual bite registration are central to this rod’s identity. The Euro Surf is ideally suited to a fixed-spool reel, however the considered guide array also makes it suitable for use with a multiplier. Dressed with large aperture guides that allow passage of a standard lead clip, it also has banded spigots and whipped joints.