My set up is simple 8lb main line and 5lb hook length with a size 10 raptor hook with a hair rig. There are 2 swan shot attached by a loop of 3lb line with a float stop 12 inches from the hook. I am using the Koike crusader 11 to 13 foot feeder rod with the Sarika 400 reel. The river has a little colour, is only three feet deep with a lot of weed still in the river bed. I am feeding just a little hemp during the session I will only feed one pint, this is put in the swim via a small bait dropper. The main bait is Antbaits soft hooker pellets scopex cream flavour, this bait will catch just about anything. Having cleared a swim I drop out four bait droppers of hemp with a few bits of the bait pellet broken up. As always with my fishing I let the bait stay in the swim for a while before I start to fish, in this case its half an hour before I cast out.

Fifteen minutes pass and the rod tip is pulled round and a small barbel of about 2lb comes to the net. Next cast and after only a few minutes and the rod is almost pulled from the rest, it's another barbel of just over 4lb mall barbel but with a good fight and good fun to catch, this type of fishing is the type I use for trying different baits and tactics, etc. I rest the swim after the second fish, but first I put out a couple more droppers of hemp and broken pellet. By resting the swim and feeding I am keeping the fish interested in the hook bait which will hopefully not spook them.

After the rest my next cast sees nothing, I will only leave a bait out for around 20 minutes max, I then re bait and re cast. I have to wait for almost 2 hours before the next fish this bite is a few small tap's to the rod tip, unlike many other anglers I don't wait for the pull round I strike and the fish is hooked. Another barbel of just over 3lb comes to the net. Whilst fishing, the river has lost a little colour and I can see barbel turning and the next cast sees another fish come to the net. A bit bigger at around 5lb. I can still see a few fish in the swim so I cast again and the rod pulls round again, this fish head's straight into the reed bed and slip's the hook, fish lost.

The sun is now very bright and after resting the swim for a while I cast out again. It's not long before the rod tip tap's a couple of time's, as I get ready for the next tap the rod is pulled round and my fifth barbel is on  a hard fighting fish that take's the scales to 7lb 2oz's the next two cast's see two more barbel come to the net. Fish of only 3lb and 4lb I have had a good short session no monster's but good fun.

This session has been about testing the Koike crusader rod and Sarika 400 reel. The rod really is a nice bit of kit. You get 3 push in tip's that are not marked but I would say they are 1oz  1.1/2 oz and 2oz's. The line guard's are fully lined throughout the blank and the whipping's are very well finished, and the screw reel seat held the reel in place very well with no wobble. I fished the rod at 13 foot using the 2oz tip. Every little tap was detected and when a fish was on the rod had a very smooth action with plenty of power down to the butt. The barbel may not have been the biggest but when they went the rod matched every lunge. The 2 foot section carry's the graphic's that I found a little loud other than that this really is a fine rod that is going to see a lot more action in future trips.

Koike Crusader Feeder Rod

Lineaeffe Sarika Reel

The Sarika reel has the double spool which is a good idea that works. The reel has a good line lay and is very smooth. when playing fish the clutch was excellent and one of the smoothest I have used on a reel, with many reel's the clutch slip's, but not on this reel. With a 5.5.1 ratio, infinite anti reverse, anti twist system and a handle that can be swapped for left or right handed angler's you get a lot of reel, one to watch!!.