Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod Review
Last Updated on 6 September 2024 by James Bevan
Overall Rating
Score derived from the average of these ratings:
Build Quality - 7.5
Casting Ability - 7.5
Playing Fish - 7.5
Value For Money - 9.0
The Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod balances functionality, quality and affordability in one superb package
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The Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod is a popular choice amongst anglers thanks to its versatility and affordable price-point. But surely at around the £50 mark it can’t be any good right?
Well I got my hands on one and tested it out at my local commercial fishery. Let’s find out how it performed.
The Rods Build Quality & Features
What Does This Mean?
When rating the build quality of a rod, consideration has been given to the basic components.
These include the materials used in the blank, handle, reel seat and line guides.
We also take into account any additional features that make life on the bank easier for anglers.
There are a couple of things I noticed when I first held the Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod and they are how unique-looking the rod is (in a good way) and how light it is, especially for a budget rod.
The handle is thoughtfully made by Preston. It is a Cork handle with 3 quarters of it painted black making it instantly stand out. It has also been shaved off slightly to create a flat area designed to lay across your forearm.
This really does show an understanding that a pellet waggler rod is designed to be held for long periods.
The reel seat is top-notch with it being operated by rotating the top of the handle which again is a nice feature that just adds a bit more comfort to the overall experience of using the rod.
More importantly, it was perfect for my 320 size reel and held it rock solid throughout the entire session.
The blank itself is made from high-quality carbon fiber which is pretty standard for the majority of fishing rods these days. The blank is slightly thicker than some of its more premium competitors, particularly when compared to the Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod.
This however didn’t affect the rod’s performance it’s just more of an observation.
The guides on the rod are made from standard stainless steel which again, is pretty standard for more budget-style rods. They do add a little bit more weight compared to guides made out of more premium materials but they are both durable and corrosion resistant.
An added, nice little touch to the rod is the hook ring at the base of it which I always find really useful.
Features & Specs List
- Available in 10 and 11 feet lengths
- High-quality carbon fiber blank
- A very ‘tippy’ action to the rod
- Hi quality reel seat
- Stainless Steel guides
- Handy hook ring
Casting Performance
What Does This Mean?
How a rod casts is one of the key fundamentals that determine a great rod from a mediocre one.
Easy, frictionless casting that provides accuracy and distance is all rated in this category.
I found the casting performance of the Preston Ignition to be more than adequate. It has a very tippy action to it which made casting pellet wagglers up to 10-15g easy.
I feel it would struggle a bit though with more heavy duty floats and as such limits you slightly to casting at around the 20 metre mark with the 11 foot version and around 15 metres with the 10 foot.
The standard guides as well lose the odd yard or two as they add a tad more friction to the cast especially when compared to the large Seaguides on the Guru N-Gauge.
I do have to keep remembering though the price of the rod and a score of 7.5 for casting ability and accuracy is very good for a budget type rod.
Playing Fish
What Does This Mean?
The ability to play fish effectively is an important feature of any fishing rod.
Fishing is a sport, and as part of
this sport, feeling the pulls, lunges and the fight of a fish is an exhilarating feeling that adds to the overall experience and enjoyment of angling.
As such, this is all taken into account when rating fishing rods.
I mentioned before about the soft tip on the Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod. I found this to be a real advantage when first of all striking as the line pick-up was super fast.
A lighter tip also makes playing fish more pleasurable than a stiffer tip and particularly helps when F1s are splashing around near the landing net.
In contrary to this though, the rod does lack a bit of power compared to some if its competitors and this is something to be wary of if fishing near snaggy features with larger fish in the water.
Value For Money
What Does This Mean?
How much any fishing rod costs is always going to be a key factor in an angler’s final choice.
A rod can have all the bells and
whistles under the sun but if you have to re-mortgage your house to purchase it then all of a sudden it isn’t the best choice for some.
When rating how much value for money a rod brings, consideration has been given to how the rod performs in all the other categories vs its price point.
Value for money is where the Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod comes into its own and its score of 9.0 in this category reflects this.
As I said at the beginning when you first look and hold the rod, it feels like it should be a lot more expensive than the £50 price mark it is pitched at.
As such, this rod is featured as the best budget option in our guide on the best pellet waggler rods.
The Pros & Cons Of The Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod
Here is a list of advantages and drawbacks I found with the Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod when reviewing it:
Pros
- Price. Seriously, it's hard to find this kind of value
- A very tippy action which makes playing fish pleasurable
- Fast line pick-up
- Good solid reel seat
- Lightweight with a comfortable and good looking handle
Cons
- Less power than its competitors
How The Rod Compares To Its Competitors
Here’s how the Daiwa Matchman compared to other pellet waggler rods we have reviewed:
| Name | Overall Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Daiwa Airity X Match Rod | 9 | £389.99 |
| Shimano Aero X5 Pellet Waggler Rod | 8.8 | £144.99 |
| Guru N-Gauge Pellet Waggler Rod | 8.3 | £84.99 |
| Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod | 7.9 | £59.99 |
| Daiwa Matchman Pellet Waggler Rod | 7.6 | £40.00 |
| Nytro Aryzon Pellet Waggler Rod | 7.9 | £69.11 |
Final Thoughts
Overall, despite its budget-friendly cost, the Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod punches well above its weight class in terms of build quality, performance, and features.
As such, I feel the rod is an excellent choice for anglers just getting into the sport or those seeking a reliable, well-built pellet waggler rod that won’t break the bank.
Its impressive performance-to-value ratio makes it a standout option in the budget category, offering a delightful angling experience at a very reasonable cost.
Thanks for reading
Tight lines!
Hopefully, you have found this review of the Preston Ignition Pellet Waggler Rod useful. If you would like to see more fishing tackle reviews you can do so here.
Hi, roughly what test curve would you say the 10ft and 11ft are ?
Thanks
Perry.
Hi Perry,
Pellet Waggler rods or indeed any type of float rod do not get classified in terms of test curve.
Instead you can get an idea of strength from their casting weight and action.
The Ignitions have a more ‘tippy’ action to it and isn’t really designed for real heavy duty work.
The 10 and 11 foot versions will still handle double figure Carp however with some careful playing and for the price are very good value for money.
I hope that helps
Used my 11ft carbon active c series for 7 years now very good rods largest carp I have landed with it was 18.6lbs and not a problem