Savage Gear Revenge SG2 Medium Game Rods

How well is it built?

The blank blends 24 and 30 ton carbon, which is a good material for a budget lure rod and should give a light, responsive feel.

It's balanced for feel too, so it shouldn't feel tip-heavy over a long day of casting, but it isn't the Japanese Toray 30T of the SG4 Medium Game, and that's the main reason the build scores a little lower.

The fittings are better than you'd expect for the money. The guides are the same SeaGuide type used on the dearer SG4 and are well suited to braid, while the Double Lock reel seat should hold the reel firmly through hours of casting and twitching.

It's a two-piece rod with a split handle, and the rod bag is a welcome extra.

For me, 7.5 is a fair score for a budget rod, as the guides are a real strength, but the blank is a step below the one in the SG4.

How well does it cast and feel?

So, which length should you choose? The 2.21m model is about 7ft 3in, which is handy on overgrown canal banks, small rivers and in a boat, while the 2.51m model is roughly 8ft 3in and gives extra reach on big rivers, reservoirs and open stillwaters.

The 7-23g rating suits small spinners, cranks and twitch baits for perch, and the 12-35g rating moves up to bigger soft shads and spinnerbaits for zander and jack pike.

The quick tip should keep you in touch with the lure and show up bites clearly, while the softer middle should bend into the cast and help even light lures fly. That give in the middle also helps when you're working a twitch bait or easing a Carolina rig slowly over gravel.

It earns an 8.0 because it should cast and fish medium lures very well, although the SG4's Toray blank should feel a touch crisper and more refined in the hand.

How does it perform when playing fish?

Hook pulls and snapped line are the two things that cost lure anglers the most fish, and a forgiving rod helps with both.

With light braid, a fluorocarbon leader and small trebles, the softer middle should absorb a perch's sudden dives and a zander's head shakes close to the bank.

That's a real plus on a rod many newer anglers will buy, as it also helps cover for a drag that's set a little too tight.

The 12-35g version has enough backbone for jack pike and good-sized zander, but neither version is a pike rod for big jerkbaits or double-figure fish.

Anyone planning to chase bigger pike with heavy lures should look at a stronger rod such as the Fox Rage Warrior Shad & Spin 20-60g, and every pike session needs a wire trace whichever rod you pick up.

Overall, it should handle pretty much any fish you'll catch on medium lures in fresh water, and the 8.0 matches its casting score.

Is it good value for money?

Is it worth the money? I think it's one of the strongest value lure rods around. For a lot less than the SG4 Medium Game, you get the same style of action, the same guides, a choice of two lengths and two casting weights, and a rod bag thrown in.

The main thing you give up is the Toray blank, and for most anglers that's a fair trade.

It also costs less than the Okuma Psycho Stick and the Savage Gear Perch Academy Twitch Bait, and while those two are more specialised, the SG2 covers more ground with one rod.

The Shimano FX XT costs less again, but the SG2's carbon blank and SeaGuide guides put it in a different class.

Overall, I'd recommend the Revenge SG2 Medium Game to newer lure anglers and anyone on a budget who wants one rod for perch, zander, chub and jack pike on medium lures.

If you can stretch to the SG4 Medium Game, it's the more refined rod, but the SG2 covers the basics very well for a lot less.