LATEST ADDITIONS

• Waterproof • Wipe-down material • Strong, comfortable handle RRP: £39. 99 www. tri-castfishing. co.

• Lightweight • Classy black finish • Smooth action RRP: £74. 99 http://www. frenzee. co.

Match Fishing editor Tom Scholey takes a look at a very special range of rods, Daiwa’s Airity X45s. I must admit to being massively sceptical when I was asked to consider the possibility that a rod might actually be ‘better’ than Daiwa’s Tournament range. I love these rods and have been steadily building a collection when my budget has allowed. Indeed, I have written on these pages before about how I consider the 10ft Tournament to be the nicest rod of its kind that I have ever used.

Our editorial assistant, Jake Fowles, takes Middy’s new Xtreme M3 out to test it. Can it really handle a No30 elastic? When I arrived in the DHP offices to find the Middy Xtreme M3 pole sat on my desk I wasn’t too sure what expect. A pole rated to a No30 elastic (I wasn’t aware elastics went that strong), dubbed the ‘Animal Tamer’. I almost certainly expected a near-unusable piece of kit.