Looking for a new set of rods in the sub-£100 per unit price bracket? Looking for said rods to provide top performance whilst also sporting that ultra cult carpy ‘look’? Then you would do well to check these out, the new ESP Paragon Plus.
This range of 5 rods has excellent multi modulus carbon blanks with an attractive gloss finish. The colour scheme is low key black throughout with a nice old school red tippet to the line clip whipping above the reel seat. Graphics have been kept low key on the underside of the blank – absolutely no offensive bling on these beauties.
Other features include an ergonomic reel seat, full length shrink rubber handle with a nicely flared casting grip and SiC guides throughout, plus the obligatory ESP moulded line clip on all models apart from the spod and marker rods.
The range of five 12’ rods consists of test curves of 2 ¾lb, 3lb, 3 ¼lb plus a 3 ½lb Marker rod and a 4 ½lb Spod rod.
All of the rods apart from the lighter 2 ¾lb have 50mm ringing for reduced friction and improved distance casting – you don’t often see that on rods in this price category.
Here’s a brief ‘buyers guide’ on the range:
12’ 2¾lb
A lightweight well balanced rod with a great fish playing through action. Ideal for short to medium range yet has enough power to cast a 2½oz lead 100m+.
12’ 3lb (50mm)
The perfect all rounder with a steely action that feels great at close quarters but which is just as effective when casting long distances. Optimum distance casting weight 3oz.
12’ 3¼lb (50mm)
A powerful rod designed especially for distance casting whilst retaining good fish playing characteristics to prevent hook pulls around the net. Ideal with leads of 3½oz+ and PVA bags.
Marker Rod 12’ 3½lb (50mm)
This special carbon blank is exceptionally rigid and designed to magnify and transmit vibrations from the lead all the way back to the hand as well as offering exceptional long range casting performance.
When used in conjunction with a braided reel line such as ESP Spod & Marker Braid the tactile feedback on contours and the nature of the bottom is excellent, allowing features to be pinpointed and mapped accurately.
Featuring full SiC guides with a 50mm ring set to optimise achievable casting distances plus a 1 foot (30cm) depth marker, ergonomic reel seat, full length shrink rubber handle and a flared casting grip.
Spod Rod 12’ 4½lb (50mm)
The Paragon Spod rod is designed to be comfortable and well balanced for long periods of use during the repetitive spodding process.
With a 4½lb test curve and a progressive action, the tip is soft enough to be compressed with a medium sized spod resulting in excellent and consistent accuracy whilst the power packed butt helps deliver excellent long distance casts. For optimum distance performance spods of around 6-8oz are best whilst heavier loads can be delivered easily and accurately at short to medium range.
Featuring full SiC guides with a 50mm ring set to optimise achievable casting distances plus an ergonomic reel seat, full length shrink rubber handle and a flared casting grip.