Just wondering if anyone is using the new Preston innovations carbonactive 10ft mini carp feeder rod. If so what is it like?

Theres been a few threads about the 10ft carbonactive rod over the last few months.

Its a great rod for what its designed for, i.e. small chucks to islands etc. with bomb/ method feeder.

Ive had mine for about a year and half and I can honestly say I couldnt do without it.

Ive just recently bought the 11ft mini waggler rod (on the back of how good the feeder rod is) and I must say im a little disapointed- but ive havent used it enough times as yet to form a proper opinion, but first impressions are not that great.

Stevie whats the action of the rod like is it powerful in the butt section, what line class would you use on it and is the finish quality?

Would love one, but don't go thinking these will handle 10+ pounders. I treat the Mini float rod as just a normal rod with the convenience that it can into places longer rods can't.

I have handled the 10' carp feeder and they both have very through actions as far as I'm concerned. Don't put too much store in words used on the butt like "Carp". Just use them in the appropriate conditions.

I used 2 shimano 9'6" stradic bomb rods for the last 10 years with 2 lb main line, caught plenty of carp over 15 lbs I dont think these rods were designed to catch fish that large but they worked very well. I want to use 4lb line on the carbonactive, as for the size of the fish I catch I have no control over.

The 10ft carbonactive is a top of range rod and as such the quality is excellent.

The blank is slim but it is surprisingly powerful and is a proper through action rod- the like of which are pretty rare in modern rods.

Dont expect it to be a 'carp' rod, as woody suggests this is a little misleading, although Ive had fish to 18lb on it but its most suited for match anglers who target carp around the 3-8lb mark.

If your after something to bully 10lb+ carp then have a look at the Daiwa spectron range.

My problem is I cant use a rod much over 10ft as the swims I fish have lots of overhanging trees. Do you think 4lb main line would be too heavy for the carbonactive? Daiwa very nice but too long. I have a 10' to 11'6' drennan method feeder rod how would the carbon active compare. I find the drennan a heavy rod but powerful, not too weak in the butt. I use 4lb line on it and think 6lb would be the limit.

The drennen method feeder rod is far more powerful than the carbonactive, its heavy, cumbersome and everything the carbonactive is not.

I use 6lb line on the carbonactive, but if you buy one you will find that when you get a good fish it will bend to the butt.

Bottom line, if you are catching fish around the 5lb mark with occasional fish to double figures the carbonactive is perfect, if you are catching fish that are more than likely doubles each occasion than the carbonactive is too light.

Well Juz, you might want to have a look at the Shimano Beastmaster 9-11foot rod. That has a fair bit of backbone.


2lb line? Crumbs if I was after carp 6lbs would be the minimum. A) I wouldn't want to risk losing one and B) you'll play them to the net a lot quicker saving lactic acids building in their muscles.

Thanks for the info guys most helpful. I am in Australia so info on these kinds of rods is very scarce and if I buy one I do so without seeing or feeling the rod first (like when I bought the drennans). Would you believe where I fish returning carp to the water after capture is illegal and they are considered a pest fish (ofcourse I diagree and I dot play by the rules). From the info you guys have given me the carbonactives seem to be the best, so I suppose I will never know unless I give them a go.