Reviews & Where To Buy
This rod has clearly been designed with the serious surface angler in mind. It’s not a beginner tool, it’s for those who want a rod that can genuinely deliver when the top comes alive.
Serious surface anglers who want a dedicated rod with excellent control
Those targeting big carp on the top who need a rod with backbone
Anyone looking to upgrade from an entry-level floater rod to something refined and purpose-built
Anglers who appreciate top-tier fittings (guides, seat, blank)
| Feature | What This Means |
|---|---|
| X45 Bias Carbon Technology | Reduces twisting in the blank during casting, improving accuracy and power transfer, especially useful when casting controller floats at distance. |
| HVF (High Volume Fibre) Nanoplus | Keeps the blank lightweight and strong, providing excellent recovery speed and responsiveness when striking or playing fish. |
| V-Joint Alpha | Improves power flow through the joint area and reduces the chance of ‘flat spots’, giving a more consistent bend and improved casting performance. |
| SeaGuide TDG Guides with ADAMAN™ Coating | Lightweight, low-friction guides that help line flow more smoothly during casting, while also resisting wear from thicker mono or braid. |
| SeaGuide DPS Reel Seat | Reliable and robust reel seat that keeps your reel firmly locked in place, even when punching out larger surface controllers or playing powerful fish. |
| Japanese Shrink Grip Handle | Hard-wearing and comfortable to hold, even when wet, giving you confident grip during striking and fish playing. |
| Length | Test Curve | Ideal Use | Max Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12ft | 2.25lb | Close to medium-range surface fishing with lighter controller floats | Up to 50–60 yards |
| 12ft | 3.00lb | Longer-range surface fishing or fishing near snags with larger floats | Up to 80 yards+ |
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The Longbow X45 Floater features a full-length Japanese shrink grip handle, offering a clean, minimalist look and a grippy feel in all weather conditions.
This material is known for its durability and reliability, especially during prolonged surface sessions where handling can be constant.
It’s comfortable to hold during longer retrieves or when playing carp under the rod tip, and complements the rod’s stealthy styling with its understated black finish.
The rear of the handle is finished with a metal butt cap, which adds a touch of class and protects the end from wear when placed on the ground.
The Longbow is equipped with a SeaGuide DPS reel seat. This component is designed to securely hold various reel sizes, ensuring a firm connection during casting and retrieval.
The DPS model is renowned for its reliability and ergonomic design, providing comfort during prolonged use. The reel seat’s construction complements the rod’s overall balance perfectly whilst doing what it says on the tin.
The Daiwa Longbow X45 Floater Rod is equipped with SeaGuide TDG guides. These guides are lighter than traditional ceramic options and feature a larger internal diameter, facilitating faster line travel during casting.
Additionally, they offer enhanced sensitivity and feel, contributing to the rod’s overall performance. The guides are coated with ADAMAN™, which further improves their functionality.
The rod’s blank incorporates Daiwa’s X45 Bias Carbon Technology, which reduces blank twist during casting, resulting in improved accuracy and distance. Additionally, the blank features HVF (High Volume Fibre) Nanoplus carbon fibre, reducing weight while increasing strength and stiffness.
This combination ensures a lightweight yet robust rod capable of handling the demands of surface fishing. The Magnum Taper profile of the blank provides a responsive tip action, facilitating better casting performance and sensitivity when playing fish.
The casting performance of the Longbow X45 Floater is as good as I’ve seen in a surface rod, but at the same time probably expected with a rod in this price bracket. It’s crisp and punchy but with enough forgiveness in the tip section that you don’t feel like you’re lashing a broom handle.
With a 3oz controller and 10lb mono, I was comfortably hitting 70–80 yards with the 3lb version. The 2.25lb model is perfect for closer-range, delicate work such as free-lining dog biscuits or crust close in.
You can check out this video that shows the features of the rod as well as watching it cast.
This is where this rod really stood out for me. On test, I hooked into a mid-double mirror in shallow water and had to steer it away from marginal snags.
The through action absorbed everything it threw at me, but with enough backbone lower down the blank to guide it with confidence. That blend of forgiveness and control is exactly what I want in a surface rod.
Expert Quote
“You’ve still got enough bottom-end power to steer fish around if needed, but it’s got that lovely softness to the tip so it’s not bumping hooks out” – Lewis Swift
At around the £300 mark depending on the model, this isn’t a budget floater rod, but you do get a lot for your money.
From the premium guides to the X45 carbon tech, it is one of the best surface rods out there and stands out in a category often filled with rods that feel either too soft or too stiff. As such, it is featured in our guide on the best carp fishing rods.
If you fish a water where you can surface fish regularly, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Here is how the Daiwa Longbow X45 Floater Rod compares against other products in its category.
| Name | Overall Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Nash Scope Black Ops Sawn Off | 8.6 | £229.99 |
| Korum Opportunist Surface Rod | 7.8 | £74.49 |
| Wychwood FLTR Floater Fishing Rod | 7.8 | £64.90 |
| Fox Horizon X3 Floater Fishing Rod | 8.1 | £109.99 |
| Korum Opportunist X Surface Rod | 7.8 | £54.99 |
| Nash Flota Rota Surface Rod | 8.2 | £119.99 |
| Daiwa Longbow X45 Floater Rod | 8.8 | £264.99 |
| Fox Explorer Ti | 8.4 | £239.99 |
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