Daiwa Connoisseur Pro Speed Whip

Product Information

Daiwa’s Connoisseur Pro Speed Whip uses HVF High Volume Fibre carbon and is built for finesse fishing. Its traditional solid-topped flick tip gives an extra level of response.

Daiwa V-Joint technology keeps the sections aligned, while the flick tip has fitted yarn ready for attaching a rig. A rubber hook keeper is supplied, and the whip comes in lengths from 2m to 4.5m.

The blank is HVF High Volume Fibre carbon, the same material used in the Daiwa Connoisseur Pro System Whip, and it's built for the light, crisp feel that finesse fishing needs.

The finish is gloss black with red bands at the joints and a dotted grip on the butt, so it looks smart without being fussy.

V-Joint technology keeps the sections aligned, which should help the whip stay straight and true when it's fully extended and stop the joints twisting out of line.

The 4.5m model closes down to 107cm in six sections, which is compact for a whip of that length and easy to carry along a towpath.

It's a well-made whip, but the Drennan Acolyte Pro Tele Whip goes a step further with high modulus carbon and a spliced tip, and that's why this one sits at 8.5. For the money, though, I think the build is very good indeed.

A traditional solid-topped flick tip is built for an extra level of response, so it should be quick to react on the strike and gentle enough to suit fine hooklengths and small hooks.

That's exactly what finesse fishing is about, especially when bites are shy and the fish are small.

The range of lengths is a real strength. A 2m or 2.5m model suits fishing tight in on the inside line of a canal or a drain, while the longer models up to 4.5m let you reach further out for bleak and roach on a river or stillwater.

So, why the lower score? It's set up for small fish and delicate work with a single flick tip, so it isn't the whip for a bonus skimmer or a chub that might turn up.

The Guru Aventus Zero 600 Tele Whip gives you three tips to cover that, whereas the Speed Whip is happiest as a dedicated finesse tool.

The yarn on the flick tip comes already fitted, so there's no gluing or whipping to do before you start. You just attach your rig to the yarn and you're ready, which is handy for juniors as well as for experienced anglers who want to get fishing quickly.

A rubber hook keeper is supplied to keep your rig secure when you're moving swims or packing away, and the compact closed length of the longer models makes the whip easy to carry.

The dotted grip on the butt should also help when your hands are wet and you're swinging fish in quickly.

To be fair, there isn't much on this whip that can go wrong. It's simple, quick to set up and easy to live with, which is pretty much what I'd want from a speed whip, and the 8.5 reflects that.

How does it compare on price? It costs a little less than the Guru Aventus Zero 600 Tele Whip and the Preston Innovations Response Whip, and far less than the Drennan Acolyte Pro Tele Whip. For HVF carbon, V-Joint sections and a ready-to-fish flick tip, that's a fair deal.

The wide choice of lengths adds to the value too, as you can pick the one that suits your local canal or river rather than making do with one size that doesn't quite fit.

If you'd rather spend less, the Daiwa Ninja Tele Whip is a cheaper Daiwa option, though it's a more basic whip.

Overall, I'd recommend the Connoisseur Pro Speed Whip to anglers who love finesse fishing for small roach, bleak and dace on canals, drains and rivers, and who want a traditional flick tip whip that's simple, smart and ready to use.

Featured in our Best Fishing Whips guide.