On Tuesday evening I was amongst the privileged few to attend a special presentation evening when Shimano unveiled their range of new products for 2003 to the press.
Lots of familiar labels were still there: Catana, Technium, Bug, Antares, Baitrunner, Nexus, Biomaster, Stradic and many other practically household names amongst anglers. In addition to the familiar names we have a new one. Not so new to sea anglers but new to coarse anglers – Beastmaster. Shimano have brought out a very comprehensive range of spinning rods under the banner using this new concept in rod making technology. The new Beastmaster SDR (Shimano Dynamic Response) rods are virtually unbreakable in normal use, and I can vouch for that having held the rod while Steve Crowther, Shimano’s lure fishing consultant, bent it into an almost impossible curve. It was frightening and you just cringed as you waited for the rod to splinter into a million pieces. The rod you can see in the picture is the lightest one in the range.
Another revolutionary feature about the Beastmaster rods is that the line guides have been directly built/spun into the carbon fibre while producing the blank – the guides are an integral part of the rod blank. The best news is that the rod in the picture, which is the lightest of a range of 13, retails at just £ 49.99. The most expensive is £ 30 more. Barbel Rods Shimano have recognised the growth in barbel fishing and the Hyperloop and Nexus range will include the new for 2003 Barbel Rods. The Hyperloop range are twin-top rods, available in Classic, Power and XT versions, and start at £ 69.99. The Nexave Barbel range includes the Classic and the Plus at £ 84.99 and £ 89.99. Carp rods New for 2003 are the Tribal range of carp rods. There are two models, the Tribal AR (2.75lb TC) and the Tribal LC (3lb TC). These are built around put-over XT200/Tcurve carbon blanks and come in Realtree ‘Hardwood’ pattern rod bags. Top quality, classy-looking rods at £ 185 and £ 195 respectively. Camouflage clothing and luggage The other significant addition to the Shimano products for 2003 is the range of Realtree Camouflage clothing and luggage in the popular ‘Hardwoods’ pattern. This a range of the highest quality gear in one of the sport’s greatest growth areas. Again, the prices are very realistic. For example, the Shimano Tribal  When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community.
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