Wednesday Review… Chub S-Plus Carp Rods

This entry was posted on 10th December, 2014

As seen in Coarse Fishing Answers Magazine...

Chub S-Plus Carp Rod Review

The Chub S-Plus Carp rods are an excellent range of value-for-money Carp rods, but I wanted to look a little outside of the box for this months on-the-bank test and see how the lightest test-curve model performed when it came to big-river specialist tactics.

On fast-flowing rivers, you often need to fish big leads or heavy feeders - especially in flood-water conditions - which sometimes makes me a little nervous when trying to launch 6oz-plus lumps halfway across the river. Using Carp rods is nothing new when it comes to Barbel fishing, but the choice has to be right as too stiff a rod could result in lost fish it there's no forgiveness in the tip section.

The 2.5lb test curve model of S-plus has a slim and lightweight blank with plenty of power for casting big weights, but it also has a forgiving tip to help you control hard-fighting specimens at close quarters. One of its key features is its large tip ring, which helps to avoid rubbish snarling up when retrieving with loads of weed on the line, as often when playing a Carp or Barbel, a clogged-up tip can result in a lost fish.

Other features include double leg-SiC lite guides throughout, an 18mm gunsmoke-grey reel seat that accepts all big-pit-style and free-spool reels and a line-friendly contoured line clip, which is a useful addition, especially when using the rod for predator sessions… did I mention that the rod is also just the job for deadbait tactics?



I had hoped to put the rod through its paces on a river with plenty of water on, but as usual, the British weather has been as unpredictable as ever. When I arrived at the River Wye - on a section that normally requires plenty of lead to hold bottom - I was faced with low, clear conditions. Not to be put off, I found a section with a long deep channel that needed a long chuck so I was able to launch a 4oz feeder full if heavy ground bait and pellets close to the far bank. And, although the conditions were more like summer than winter, I managed to bag two Barbel to 6lb, both registering 'proper' bites on the skyward-pointing rod tip.

The rod's soft top section was also spot-on, as it as it allowed me to guide the fish across the flow, keeping the fish out of the weed in the shallower water when making the lunge towards the deeper pool.

The S-plus might be aimed at the Carp angler, but it's a great choice if you are looking for a tool that will cover other specialist tactics for big specimens.

Buy The Chub S-Plus Carp Rods