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Last Updated on 1 December 2024 by James Bevan
The Insurgent is best suited for carp anglers looking for a rod that takes up limited storage space. In its 9 and 10-foot lengths, it’s ideal for stalking or those looking for a rod to take on their travels.
The Recon version comes in a 12-foot length which is great for anglers who prefer the conventional 12-foot carp rod but need the compact storage advantages this rod brings.
| Name | Overall Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Nash Scope Black Ops Carp Rod | 9.2 | £359.99 |
| Sonik Xtractor Recon | 7.3 | £59.95 |
| Daiwa Crosscast EXT | 7.6 | £74.99 |
| ESP Onyx Quickdraw Carp Rod | 7.7 | £84.95 |
| Fox EOS Pro Tele Fishing Rod | 7.3 | £61.99 |
| Sonik Insurgent | 7.8 | £69.99 |
“These rods are lovely, slim, compact and look good, they pack into the sonik holdall nicely” (1)
“Brilliant rod absolute bargain for the price I paid….looks 3 times the price. Performs very well can’t fault it in any way” (2)
“Very good quality rods, this 3lb test curve is a bit too soft for my type of fishing, I have replaced them with the 3.25 lb ones” (2)
Review Source:
| Length | Test Curve | Ideal For | Max Cast Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 ft | 2.75lb | Small venues and stalking | 60 yds |
| 9 ft | 3lb | Smaller venues, close range fishing and stalking | 80 yds |
| 9 ft | 3.25lb | Small to medium sized venues, close range fishing and stalking | 90 yds |
| 10 ft | 3lb | Small to medium venues. Good all-round rod | 90 yds |
| 12 ft (Recon version) | 3lb | Medium to Larger venue where distance casting is required | 120 yds |
The handle
The Insurgent features a full-length, Japanese shrink-style handle that I really liked. I found it to be really comfortable in the hand which I feel is really important when adopting a roaming approach to carp fishing.
The handle also cleans down really nicely with a damp sponge.
The reel seat
My immediate thoughts when I first saw the reel seat on the Insurgent was that it really does complement the overall aesthetics of the rod nicely. It has a sleek, matte black finish that looks modern and stylish.
It is a fairly standard DPS-style reel seat that can house large reels with its 18mm size.
I found that it held my reel solidly in place throughout the whole session even with constant handling and frequent casting.
The eyes/guides
I found that the guides on the Sonik Insurgent are pretty standard with the M-Series eyes in black being used.
It does feature an anti-frap tip which is handy alongside a decent butt ring at 50mm for the models with a test curve of 3.25lb and above (40mm below).
They may not set the world alight but they certainly do a decent job.
The blank
The Sonik Insurgent is a good-looking rod with its 1k armoured carbon weave throughout the whole length of the blank.
Its core makeup is one of a High Modulus Toray carbon. High Modulus is basically a specific type of carbon fibre with a high stiffness-to-weight ratio. This helps to make the rod strong and powerful, yet lightweight in nature.
Toray refers to the Japanese company that typically provides carbon raw materials.
Pros
Cons
The Sonik Insurgent is a popular carp rod thanks to its portable, retractable nature and affordable price point.
The original 2020 model comes in lengths of 9 and 10 feet, with the more recent recon model available in a 12-foot length. This model features a unique design with its double retracting butt section.
For stalking purposes, the shorter lengths are perfect, but if you need more backbone and casting ability, the 12-foot ‘recon’ option is ideal.
Overall, the Insurgent is another great offering from Sonik, providing excellent versatility without compromising on quality.
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