Daiwa Tournament Spod X45 Rod

Description

The Daiwa Tournament Spod X45 13ft 5lb is a long-range baiting rod built in the UK and aimed at carp anglers who need to put a loaded Spomb a long way out with accuracy. It is the first 13ft Tournament Spod rod produced in the UK, and it is designed to pair with 13ft Basiair, Basia, or Infinity setups so your casting rhythm stays consistent across all your rods, helping with clipped-up accuracy at distance. The blank uses HVF (High Volume Fibre) combined with X45 technology. The 45-degree bias carbon wrap virtually eliminates blank twist, so the energy you put into the cast goes into the Spomb rather than being lost to the blank flexing sideways. After two years of testing, Daiwa settled on a 5lb test curve as the sweet spot: enough backbone to punch a fully loaded large Spomb into a headwind, without being so stiff that it becomes a chore to load. The rod is finished with ultra-light SeaGuide TDG guides and a Fuji DPS reel seat. - Model: Tournament Spod X45 (TN S 3500-AU) - Length: 13ft (3.96m) - Test Curve: 5lb (Optimum for fully loaded Spombs) - Blank Tech: HVF (High Volume Fibre) with X45 Bias Carbon - Guides: SeaGuide TDG (Frictionless and Ultra-Light) - Reel Seat: Fuji DPS - Handle: Full Japanese Shrink Grip - Indicators: Integrated 1ft and 2ft depth markers for feature finding - Origin: Made in the UK The 13ft length gives a lot of leverage, but it calls for a slightly wider casting stance than a standard 12ft rod. When casting a fully loaded Spomb at range, set your drop — the distance from the tip to the Spomb — slightly longer, roughly level with the rod joint. This lets the X45 blank load progressively, giving a smoother release and noticeably less wobble in flight. This rod suits big water carp fishing, including large venues and continental reservoirs where fish are holding at 140 yards and beyond. Because it carries 1ft and 2ft markers on the blank, it also works as a long-range marker rod, letting you map underwater features at extreme distances. Why choose the 13ft version over the 12ft? If you already fish with 13ft main rods, switching to a 12ft spod rod can disrupt your timing and casting arc. The 13ft version gives extra tip speed and leverage, making it easier to hit extreme distances consistently. Is the 5lb test curve too stiff for smaller Spombs? It is optimised for fully loaded large Spombs and Spods, but the X45 technology keeps the blank responsive. It handles medium Spombs perfectly well, though it comes alive when there is some weight to push against. What is the benefit of SeaGuide TDG guides? They have no ceramic liners, which makes them very light and increases the recovery speed of the blank — how quickly it stops wobbling after the cast. Fewer vibrations mean less friction on your line, which translates into more yards on your cast. Can it be used as a marker rod? Yes. The 1ft and 2ft depth indicators on the blank, combined with the high-modulus HVF carbon transmitting vibration from a lead through to your hand, make it a strong tool for finding gravel bars and weed beds.