Sonik’s new SK3 and SK4 rods appear to have caused a stir on Britain’s beaches, so Sea Angler asked some top tournament casters how the range performed over grass
Sonik is rapidly becoming a strong brand among some of the UK’s shore angling fraternity. Since its launch in September, feedback has been positive, especially
from anglers, but could these rods cut the mustard among some of the top tournament casters? These guys are the ones who can push a beachcaster to its limit…let them down and failure could be just a cast away.
North East Surfcasting Association (NESA) members Will Powell and Steve Anderson reckoned it was time to see what these carbon poles could do on a casting court.
“Putting the SK3 and SK4 together, they looked good and felt really well balanced. Hopefully they could do the business,” said Will.
Will and Steve were at their local casting court in Kirkleatham, where they are seen flexing their rods most Sunday mornings. On hand was Tony Anderson, Sonik’s operations director, who was willing his poles to perform.
First up was Steve, one of the top tournament casters in the country at the moment. He opted to use the SK4 14ft 5-7oz model with a multiplier fitted in the low position. Bending into the rod, he let rip and line just sang from the spool of his reel. The sinker plummeted to earth and buried into the grass at the 253 yard mark.
“For a first cast that was incredible. I’m very impressed,” said Steve.
Will approached the oche with the SK3 13ft 4-6oz and a fixed-spool attached. Again a powerful cast was hit and this time the rod launched the sinker an incredible 242yd.
Will was equally impressed and said later: “Not bad for fishing rods! Overall the rods performed well, were very easy to cast and incredibly light, balanced and responsive. An excellent achievement for an affordable fishing rod. I love them.”
INSTRUCTOR THINKS THE SONIK SK3 IS ACE
Joe Montgomery from Washington, Tyne and Wear, is a Sea Angler casting instructor and knows a thing or two about good and bad beach rods.
“When I got my hands on an SK3 13ft version, the first thing I noticed was the superb finish and fittings,” he said. “Going into a full pendulum cast was effortless and very forgiving, and it doesn’t bite back if you occasionally mistime a cast.”
Not just a caster, Joe also likes to fish from his local beaches and was impressed with the rod’s qualities: “The bite detection was superb – even dabs registered from extremely long range. I can highly recommend the Sonik range of rods for build, quality and price…well done Sonik.”
MAGIC IN MATCHES
Geoff King is a successful match angler on the Northumberland coastline and he, too, has been putting the Sonik range through its paces.
“I have been using the SK4 14ft for the last two months and find it absolutely brilliant,” said Geoff.
The majority of Geoff’s fishing is in heavy kelp – rough-ground venues where bullying tactics are normal.
“I found the rod coped easily with the terrain and it is more than adequate for my type of fishing. Well done to Sonik for introducing such a high quality rod at an easily affordable price,” said Geoff.
SONIK’S OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, TONY ANDERSON, SAYS…
“It was a revelation watching Will and Steve casting with the Sonik rods,” said Tony. “We knew the rods were capable of big distances over grass, but what impressed me and the lads, was how easy the rods were to load and how quickly the tips recovered.
“I’ve always said that tournament casting rods didn’t make good fishing rods, but that good fishing rods could be made to cast well. I think this is where the more powerful Sonik SK3 and SK4 versions score.
“They can certainly deliver the power, yet they won’t kill you because they don’t kick, are light to use and very angler-friendly. It’s early days yet, but I anticipate once the tournament men get the feel of them they will achieve even greater distances.
“At present Will, who uses the SK3 13ft 4-6oz model, is hitting 242
yards, which is amazing for a £99 fixed-spool rod, while Steve, using the SK4 14ft 5-7oz multiplier rod, is getting 253 yards.”
But what about the average angler? Tony believes that depending on an angler’s skill, the right conditions and with a couple of small baits, he would expect a real fishing range of between 170 and 180 yards.