Daiwa Connoisseur Pro System Whip

How well is it built?

HVF High Volume Fibre carbon forms the blank, and it should give a firm, responsive feel at 8m without making the whip awkward to hold.

The blank has been redesigned so it can work as a whip at 8m and as a short pole up to 10m, which asks a lot more of the carbon than a straight whip.

V-Joint technology keeps the sections in line, so the whip should sit straight and feel like one piece when it's put together. The rubber hook keeper and the factory-fitted yarn on the flick tip are neat touches that show it's ready to fish straight away.

To be fair, it isn't as light as the Drennan Acolyte Pro Whip 800, and that extra weight adds up when you hold it out for hours. That's why it gets an 8.5 for build rather than a 9, but it's still a well-made premium whip.

Performance & Handling

How does a whip that's also a short pole handle? At 8m, the traditional solid-topped flick tip is made for a responsive feel, which suits finesse fishing for roach, bleak and small perch on canals and slower rivers.

A solid tip is softer than a hollow one, so it should help keep small, lightly hooked fish on as you swing them in.

Add the extensions and the Hollow Tele Top 3 kit, and it turns into a short pole that can fish elastic up to 12 for skimmers, bigger roach and bonus chub. That flexibility is the big selling point, as it lets you fish one swim two ways without bringing a second pole.

It doesn't have the three tips of the Guru Aventus Zero 600 System Whip, and it isn't as focused on long line for big rivers as the Drennan Acolyte Pro Whip 800. For me, an 8.5 is a fair score for a whip that does more than one job well.

Ease of Use

Factory-fitted yarn on the flick tip makes attaching a rig quick, and the rubber hook keeper keeps everything tidy when you're between swims or moving pegs. It's a whip you can set up and start fishing with very little fuss, even on a cramped canal towpath.

The 2.9m hollow top kit is telescopic, so it slides out to length rather than needing extra sections fitted, and switching from the flick tip to elastic should be simple once you've done it a couple of times. Having the top kit in the box saves you a separate purchase as well.

So, any downsides? The basic package is the 8m whip, so reaching 9m or 10m means adding the 1m extensions, and that extra length is more to hold out at arm's length. At 8m, though, it's very easy to get along with, and an 8.5 reflects that.

Is it good value for money?

Does the extra versatility justify the price? It costs less than the Drennan Acolyte Pro Whip 800 and well under the Preston Innovations Superium 8m System Whip, and it's the only one of the three that doubles as a short pole.

If you want a whip and a short pole for small venues in one, that adds real value. The extensions add to the cost, though, so factor them in if you plan to fish at 10m, and that's why it scores an 8 rather than higher.

If you only need a short whip for speed fishing close in, the Drennan Acolyte Pro Tele Whip costs far less.

Overall, I'd recommend the Connoisseur Pro System Whip to canal and small-river anglers who want a premium 8m whip that can also be fished as a short pole for skimmers, roach and the odd chub.