Daiwa Sensor Spin Blaster Combo Rod & Reel 8ft 15-40g

How well is it built?

The rod is 2.44m, or 8ft, long in two sections, and it has EVA grips above and below a screw-down reel seat, with a bright orange-yellow butt section that's easy to spot on the bank. EVA is hard-wearing and grips well when it's wet, which is handy on a pier or a muddy riverbank.

The Sensor 2500 reel is where the price shows. It runs on a single ball bearing, so it won't wind as smoothly as reels with four or five, and I'd rinse it in fresh water after any sea trip, as salt is hard on budget reels.

It holds 100m of 0.30mm line, which is enough for lure fishing at normal ranges, and the black and orange finish matches the rod.

To be fair, nothing about the build is fancy, but you get a sound rod and a working reel. For a budget combo, I think a 7.5 is a fair score.

How well does it cast and feel?

What will it cast? The 15-40g rating suits spinners, spoons and small metals for pike and mackerel, plus soft shads on heavier jigheads.

That range is a touch heavy for perch, though, as most perch lures sit at the very light end of the scale, and a tiny lure won't load the blank properly or go far.

At 8ft, the rod gives decent casting reach from a pier wall or across a lake, while the medium action bends further down the blank than a fast lure rod.

That makes the cast more forgiving of poor timing, but you'll feel less of what a small lure is doing than you would with a stiffer tip and braid, and mono stretches, which softens the feel of a bite too.

For me, it's a solid casting rod rather than a sensitive lure rod, and the 7.5 reflects exactly that.

How does it perform when playing fish?

This is the combo's strongest area after value, and the reason is the mono and the medium action. Monofilament stretches, so it acts as a shock absorber when a fish lunges close in, and a medium-action rod bends deep into the blank to soak up head shakes.

Together they make hook pulls less likely, which is exactly what you want when a mackerel or a perch is thrashing at your feet.

The 2.44m length also gives you leverage to steer fish away from snags and pier legs. Is it a rod for big pike? Not really, but a jack on a spinner is well within its range, as long as you use a wire trace, because pike teeth go through mono with ease.

Overall, it's that forgiving pairing of rod and line that earns the 8.0, and I think it's deserved.

Is it good value for money?

For a matched rod, reel and line from Daiwa at a budget price, I think it's very good value. The Sensor 2500 and its mono come as part of the deal, so all you need to add is a few lures and some wire traces.

There are limits. A one-bearing reel won't last as long as a better one, and if the fishing bug bites, you'll probably want a lighter, braid-loaded outfit for perch within a season or two.

The combo is also made with a 2.13m rod rated 10-30g, which is worth a look if your lures will be on the lighter side.

I'd point holiday anglers and families who want one cheap set for sea and fresh water towards the Sensor Spin Blaster, and it's a sensible choice for children from about 9 who are trying lure fishing for the first time.