Here’s a quality telescopic fishing rod for carp fishers in the UK. These rods have similar test curves to the well received Crypton Tele Carp series of rods but in a lower price bracket – the Hypercast Tele Specimen. Specialist carp hunters who like to keep on the move will love these highly versatile rods. I love the quick take down and portability of these telescopic fishing rods. The only reason I gave it 4 stars not 5 is that the test curve is a bit light for me – but if you’re a keen carp fisherman (or fisherwoman) then you should be used to catching smaller fish and this will be absolutely fine. I totally rate this rod high for quality.

* Model: Tele Specimen
* Length: 3.60m
* Sections: 7
* Test Curve: 3.00 lb
* Travel Length: 0.82m
* Weight: 260 grams

Quantum-Hypercast 3.60m

Tacklebargains Price: £74.49 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

Thousands of these rods have been purchased by anglers across the world. With the introduction of the new generation BX’s, Shimano succeeded in further improving fishing for travellers. The rods have a new stylish and effective Vibraspot reel seat, multi-length and optional balance weights are just a few of the upgrades.

Shimano has released a new range of rods for lightweight fishing. The Shimano Purist rods are a new concept inspired by some of the top specialist fishermen in the UK. They are a range of rods designed for a range of species and situations. The result is top quality rods with non glare finish, quality fittings and a realistic price.

The rods are fitted with a Cork and Duplon grip and a Shimano reel seat.
They are also supplied with a range of different strength quiver tips.

Choosing which one to buy is relatively simple exercise.  We have a FREE rod buyer’s guide available to download here on this page.

The first aspect is deciding what size best suits the type of fishing you’re going to be doing.

You can buy large telescopic rods for surf fishing or small ones for trout and other freshwater fish.

Some people use their rods in kayaks or canoes so something that is shorter will be less likely to pull you over.

Match the rod to the type of fishing you will be doing. Sizing is usually done by casting weight or line weight eg. a 10kg line weight rod that’s 12 ft long could be good for surf fishing or off the rocks.
Whereas a 2 – 3kg line weight rod would be good for trout.

One other aspect to keep in mind is the collapsed rod length.  When the rod is taken down you want to make sure it will fit in the storage or travel space you’ll be using.  Nothing worse than finding it doesn’t quite fit behind the seat of your truck or in your Harley saddlebag.

Once you’ve got your size sorted look for the features and performance you want.  Carbon rods with ceramic guides are more expensive but better performing and will also last longer.

Make sure you get a “tip cover” to protect the tip of the rod and stop it from sliding out when you don’t want it to.
I’ve learned the hard way that telescopic fishing rod tips can slide out at the most inconvenient moment and be snapped off.

A rod and reel set is a good way to go if you just want a cheap handy setup to keep in the car glovebox.  Buying the rod and reel together often makes it cheaper and they should be properly balanced and matched for use.

Another thing to look out for is a storage bag or travel bag to protect the rod in transit.

I personally don’t like the sliding ring design at the tip of some rods as this often twists around during use making casting more difficult.

Select a rod with non-corrosive materials on the joints and rings – especially if you’re going to be doing any saltwater fishing.

It also pays to buy a rod of reasonable quality as they will last you for years and hopefully become one of your favourite peices of fishing equipment.  I know mine are (and I’ve got quite a few!).

Look out for more blog posts and articles on how to get the best out of your telescopic fishing rod.

Get our comprehensive “Telescopic Fishing Rod – Buyer’s Guide”

All the best…

MARK.