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A specialised rod that is best suited for experienced anglers fishing for large pike from a boat
A very powerful rod that’s perfect for targeting large predators
Featured in our guide on the best fishing rods for pike as a top boat rod option
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| High-Quality Carbon Blank | Constructed from premium carbon fibre, providing a lightweight yet robust structure ideal for handling large pike. |
| 3.5lb Test Curve | Offers substantial power, enabling anglers to effectively control and steer large fish away from obstacles and snags. |
| 10ft Length | Designed specifically for boat fishing, the shorter length enhances manoeuvrability and control in confined spaces. |
| EVA Handle | Features a high-quality EVA handle, providing a comfortable and secure grip, even in wet conditions. |
| Solid Screw-Tight Reel Seat | Equipped with a reliable reel seat that ensures the reel remains securely in place during use, maintaining stability throughout casting and retrieval. |
| Elite Cosmetics | Boasts classy ‘Elite’ aesthetics, combining functionality with a sleek, professional appearance. |
The Fox Rage Predator Elite XS Boat Rod is a robust addition to the Fox Rage Predator Elite series, engineered for anglers targeting large pike from a boat or close-range bank fishing. This 10-foot rod features a 3.5lb test curve, providing the necessary power to manoeuvre fish away from obstacles like anchor ropes.
Constructed with a high-quality carbon blank, it ensures both strength and sensitivity. The rod is equipped with a solid screw-tight reel seat for secure reel placement and an EVA handle for a comfortable grip. Its ‘Elite’ aesthetics offer a sleek, professional appearance, making it a reliable choice for serious predator anglers.
Here’s how the rod performed in testing and/or from experience and feedback from other anglers.Â
The Predator Elite XS Boat Rod is a specialised offering from the reputable Fox International that is designed and engineered for boat fishing and targeting larger pike.
The high-quality carbon blank construction delivers impressive strength while maintaining a manageable weight that works well when out on the water. The build quality is solid across all components, featuring a comfortable EVA handle and a reliable screw-tight reel seat that keeps everything secure during use. Fox has clearly focused on durability here, which is exactly what you need when targeting specimen pike from a boat.
During testing, the rod demonstrated good casting capabilities, easily managing 4-ounce lures to distances of around 60 yards. The through-action blank provides good power transfer, though recovery speed is slightly slower compared to premium alternatives.
While the 3.5lb test curve performs well when targeting larger specimens, it can feel somewhat overwhelming when handling pike under 10lb. The rod’s power really comes into its own though when you need to bully fish away from snags and obstacles.
In my opinion, the Fox Predator Elite XS Boat Rod is best suited to experienced predator anglers who specifically target larger pike from boats. If you’re new to predator fishing or typically catch pike in the 5-10lb range, you might want to consider something with a lighter test curve.
However, for those after specimen pike and fishing mainly from boats, this rod offers excellent value for money and the kind of reliable performance you need when that big predator bites.
Here is how the Fox Predator Elite XS Boat Rod compares against other products in its category. This table shows the overall rating based on the average of the key attributes that go into making a good pike fishing rod.
| Name | Overall Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Daiwa Powermesh Deadbait Rod | 8.4 | £99.36 |
| Wychwood Agitator BR-S Deadbait Rod | 8 | £62.99 |
| Westin W3 Powerlure | 8.3 | £101.69 |
| Savage Gear Alpha SG8 Monster Bait Rod | 8.4 | £349.99 |
| Ninja S Spin Rod | 7.9 | £49.99 |
| Fox Predator Elite XS Boat Rod | 8.3 | £134.99 |
| Savage Gear SG2 Drop Shot Rod | 7.9 | £64.99 |
| Fox Rage Prism Travel Rod | 7.8 | £79.99 |
| Wychwood PDR Fly Rod | 7.9 | £134.99 |
There are four key attributes that form the basis of our reviews on pike fishing rods. These include the following:
Build Quality: – When assessing the build quality of a fishing rod we focus on the raw materials used to build the rod and how they knit together to output the rod’s overall performance.
Casting Ability: – Without stating the obvious here, we test how the rod casts both short distances and longer distances. We are examining how smooth the cast is and how much effort is required to gain the desired distance.
Playing Fish: – Here, we are looking at how a rod can dictate a fight, i.e. its power, how subtle it is and most importantly how enjoyable it is to play fish on.Â
Value for Money: – Under the ‘value for money’ review, we value and score the rod for its price-point against its quality and actual worth.Â
Here is how the Fox Predator Elite XS Boat Rod performed against is peers in each of these important attributes:
| Name | Build Quality | Casting Ability | Playing Fish | Value For Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daiwa Powermesh Deadbait Rod | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Wychwood Agitator BR-S Deadbait Rod | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 8 |
| Westin W3 Powerlure | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Savage Gear Alpha SG8 Monster Bait Rod | 8.5 | 9 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| Ninja S Spin Rod | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Fox Predator Elite XS Boat Rod | 8.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Savage Gear SG2 Drop Shot Rod | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Fox Rage Prism Travel Rod | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8 |
| Wychwood PDR Fly Rod | 7.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 8 |
If you would like to see more fishing tackle check out our full list of featured products below.Â
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