Fladen "Power Stick" rod review

Deciding on fishing equipment is important and often tricky because there are so many options to choose from. This review, by Simon Day, is the Fladen "Power Stick" range of Rods.

A rod normally used in low priced bundles.

When I started up fishing again last year I want to buy cheap and cheerful before I forked out the bigger bucks for better equipment. I was recommended by the shop to try out the Fladen Power Stick range of rods.

These rods come in sizes from 9ft to 12ft with a price range of £15 to £30. The rings are of a very low quality and unless you wash the salt water away after every use you'll soon find the top rings rusting away. I didn't wash mine at all and I had 2 of them (9ft and 12ft). They both had the top rings rust away between 7 and 12 months.

You will often see these rods attached to a rod and reel bundle so it's worth shopping around. I first thought these rods were an ok value but after seeing the quality of the Abu Garcia range which isn't that much more expensive for some of the lengths I now don't think so.

The rod has some bend in it but not as extreme as some rods you see. This means the rod is ideal for pier and cliff fishing. The reel fitting is via a fixed reel setting with padding just above and below the reel fitting. It's set quite low down the rod and you're unable to move it. It's important to get a feel of the rod while you're in the shop to see if it's too low for you.

With a price tag of around between £15 and £30 it's worth saving up that little bit extra for a brand with a better reputation. If you're just starting out fishing then this is a good, cheap choice if you can find them under £30.

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