Okuma Psycho Stick

How well is it built?

So, the blank is 30-tonne carbon, which is a good grade at this price, and it's light and well balanced, which should make a long session of jigging or twitching a lot more comfortable on the arm.

The fittings suit a lure rod well. The skeleton reel seat cuts away excess material so more of the blank sits against your fingers, while the Carboncoque grip behind the reel is kept short and light.

Aluminium rod connectors and the U1 guides finish it off, along with a dark, streetwear-style look that's a bit different from most lure rods, and a velvet cloth bag is included to protect it in transit.

I think 8.0 is about right. It's a well-specified rod for the money, but it doesn't have the IM9 40-ton carbon and Fuji Alconite guides of the Fox Rage Terminator X, which costs a lot more.

How well does it cast and feel?

How well does it cast? That depends on the model, and that's really the point of the Psycho Stick.

The lightest model, rated 0.5-3.5g, is made for tiny jig heads and small soft baits for perch, while the heaviest, rated 30-60g, should throw big soft baits and jigs for zander and pike. The Spin, Small Lure and Soft Bait models fill the gap in between.

A short rear grip keeps the butt clear of your forearm when you're twitching or hopping a lure, which helps with lure control. With the skeleton seat and the sensitive blank, it should pass on bites and lure vibrations clearly.

The 6ft 6in models suit tight canal and river banks, and the 9ft versions should add distance on bigger, open waters.

For me, it's an 8.0 rather than higher because so much depends on picking the right model, and a rod matched to the wrong technique won't feel half as good.

How does it perform when playing fish?

Will it cope with a big fish? Each model has the backbone for the fish its technique targets, but you need to match the rod to the quarry.

A light Micro Jig model should be great fun on perch and small zander, yet it's no rod for pike, whereas the heavier Jig models have the power for zander and pike on bigger soft baits. Always use a wire trace when pike are about, even if you're targeting perch.

The carbon is tuned for sensitivity and hooking power, which helps with zander, as they often pick up a jig on the drop and let go just as quickly.

A crisp blank like this is less forgiving with small trebles than the softer Savage Gear Revenge SG2 Medium Game, though, so a smoothly set drag is worth the trouble.

Overall, the Psycho Stick should play fish well as long as you choose the right model, and I'm happy with an 8.0.

Is it good value for money?

Is it good value? It costs a little more than the Savage Gear Revenge SG2 Medium Game and a touch less than the Savage Gear Perch Academy Twitch Bait, and for that you get quality carbon and a rod made for exactly the way you fish.

To be fair, very few lure ranges at this price give you 15 models to choose from.

The catch is that a specialist rod won't cover everything.

If you want one rod for spinners, shads and cranks, an all-rounder like the Revenge SG2 Medium Game makes more sense, but if you already know you love micro jigging for perch or jigging for zander, a rod built for that technique is a smart buy.

Overall, I'd recommend the Psycho Stick to newer lure anglers who want a well-specified technique rod without spending a fortune, and to experienced lure anglers adding a dedicated perch, zander or pike rod to their set-up.