Wychwood Agitator BR-S Deadbait Rod Review

OVERALL RATING
8.0
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£62.99
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Top Line

A good performing deadbait rod that offers excellent value for money

A perfect option for casual anglers or those new to the sport

Featured in our full guide on the best pike fishing rods as the best budget deadbait rod entry

Features & Specifications With Explanation

Feature What This Means
High modulus no-flash carbon fibre blank A strong, premium-grade carbon construction that doesn’t create unwanted glare on the water, helping to maintain stealth when fishing
Double leg braid friendly SiC guides Robust, two-point mounted rings specifically designed to handle braid without damage, featuring smooth silicon carbide inserts for reduced friction
Hybrid cork and EVA handle Combines traditional cork with modern EVA foam for a comfortable grip that works well in all weather conditions
Atlas screw type reel seat A reliable, sturdy reel fitting that keeps your reel securely in place during casting and playing fish
Custom guide spacing Rings positioned specifically to optimise casting performance and reduce blank stress
Available lengths Choice of 10ft or 12ft models to suit different fishing situations and venues
Test curves Available in 3lb, 3.25lb and 3.75lb options, offering serious power for large deadbaits and specimen fish
Through action A progressive bend that extends along the whole rod, perfect for casting softer deadbaits while maintaining hook-setting power

Manufacturers Description

The Wychwood Agitator BR-S Deadbait Rod is a dedicated series of predator bait rods offering exceptional power and performance. Available in various lengths and test curves, these rods feature a powerful through action, allowing anglers to cast soft whole fish deadbaits at range with confidence.

Constructed from high modulus carbon blanks, they are equipped with double-leg braid-friendly SiC guides and a reliable Atlas screw-type reel seat. The ergonomic hybrid cork and EVA handle design ensures comfort and control during use.

eTackle’s Review

Here’s how the rod performed in testing and/or from experience and feedback from other anglers. 

How It Scores

OVERALL RATING
8.0
8.0
BUILD QUALITY
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What Does This Mean?

When rating the build quality of a rod, consideration has been given to the basic components.

These include the materials used in the blank, handle, reel seat, and line guides.

We also take into account any additional features that make life on the bank easier for anglers.

8.0
CASTING ABILITY
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What Does This Mean?

How a rod casts is one of the key fundamentals that determine a great rod from a mediocre one.

Easy, frictionless casting that provides accuracy and distance is all rated in this category.

7.5
PLAYING FISH
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What Does This Mean?

The ability to play fish effectively is an important feature of any fishing rod.

Fishing is a sport, and as part of this sport, feeling the pulls, lunges, and the fight of a fish is an exhilarating experience.

This is all taken into account when rating fishing rods.

8.5
VALUE FOR MONEY
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What Does This Mean?

How much any fishing rod costs is always a key factor in an angler's final choice.

A rod can have all the bells and whistles under the sun, but if it is unaffordable, it may not be the best choice for some anglers.

This rating considers how the rod performs in all the other categories versus its price point.

Thoughts & Experiences

Normally I would personally associate Wychwood rods with being at the lower end of the rod building ladder in terms of overall quality. This isn’t speaking ill of Wychwood at all as they tend to cater for more budget-type tackle.

With the Agitator range though they have produced an excellent product that is proving to be a reel hit with predator anglers. This is because you get a good, solid rod at a very reasonable price.

I tested these out on a large local gravel pit and I have to say I was suitably impressed. The balanced nature of the blank with its through action, yet fast line pick up makes it perfect for fishing for large pike. Okay so it may not feature all of the bells and whistles you see on the high-end rods but it doesn’t half cast well and plays fish nicely too.

I’m not the best of casters but even I was able to hit 80-odd yards with a rig of around 3-4 ounces using the 12-foot, 3.25lb version. For those anglers that need a little more oomph, there is a 3.75lb model available and for those that prefer a shorter rod for maybe fishing off a boat then there is a 10-foot length that is perfect for this.

During testing, I caught fish up to the mid-double range and playing them was no bother. If I was to be really picky I would say that maybe it lacks the finesse and sensitivity you get with premium offerings but it did the job admirably and I was able to land fish safely with no dramas.

All in all the Agitator is a great rod that is perfect for casual anglers or those new to the sport.

What Anglers Like (Pros)

Excellent value for money, offering impressive performance for a budget type rod
Powerful yet balanced blank capable of casting deadbaits to 80+ yards
Multiple length and test curve options to suit different fishing scenarios
Strong through action that handles big pike while protecting softer deadbaits

What Anglers Dislike (Cons)

Lacks the finesse and sensitivity found in premium-priced alternatives when playing fish
Build quality not quite up to the standard of high-end predator rods but expected because of the low price-point

How It Compares

Here is how the Wychwood Agitator BR-S Deadbait 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.

NameOverall RatingPrice
Daiwa Powermesh Deadbait Rod8.4£99.36
Wychwood Agitator BR-S Deadbait Rod8£62.99
Westin W3 Powerlure8.3£101.69
Savage Gear Alpha SG8 Monster Bait Rod8.4£349.99
Ninja S Spin Rod7.9£49.99
Fox Predator Elite XS Boat Rod8.3£134.99
Savage Gear SG2 Drop Shot Rod7.9£64.99
Fox Rage Prism Travel Rod7.8£79.99
Wychwood PDR Fly Rod7.9£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. 

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. 

Here is how the Wychwood Agitator BR-S Deadbait Rod performed against is peers in each of these important attributes:

NameBuild QualityCasting AbilityPlaying FishValue For Money
Daiwa Powermesh Deadbait Rod8.58.58.58
Wychwood Agitator BR-S Deadbait Rod7.58.57.58
Westin W3 Powerlure8.58.58.58
Savage Gear Alpha SG8 Monster Bait Rod8.598.57.5
Ninja S Spin Rod7.57.57.58.5
Fox Predator Elite XS Boat Rod8.588.58
Savage Gear SG2 Drop Shot Rod7.57.57.58.5
Fox Rage Prism Travel Rod7.57.57.58
Wychwood PDR Fly Rod7.587.58

If you would like to see more fishing tackle check out our full list of featured products below.Â