Korda Kaizen Platinum 50mm 13' 4lbs Rod

Korda Kaizen Platinum 50mm 13' 4lbs Rod

The Kaizen Rod range has been under development for more than four years and came about as we felt that we could develop high end rods that were even better than those already on the market.

All our high-end Kaizen Platinum rods are built on a fast-tapered profile mandrel – meaning that the taper of the rod consistently goes all the way from the butt to the tip. This produces rods with a very ‘tippy’ action, and with pretty much all the flex being towards the tip end. Of course, when under extreme pressure such as casting, the rod will still bend all the way through.

The taper of these rods isn’t the only factor in determining the action and attributes that it displays, and just as important is the type of carbon that has been used in the manufacturing process – for the Kaizen range the only real choice was the best super tensile, high-grade Japanese carbon that we could get our hands on! This ZERO90 carbon is used in just two layers and with very little resin content, and the result of that is lighter, stiffer blanks.

There is of course no point in developing a rod that is incredibly light compared to its power, and then adding heavy components to it, so all of the Kaizen range is fitted with lightweight Sea-Guide TDG rings, with a 50mm butt and 16mm tip – allowing the line to ‘cone’ off of a big pit spool in a way that minimises resistance as it passes through the butt ring, and providing a tip ring that is big enough to allow leader knots to smoothly pass through it.

The reel is attached via a superior quality Fuji DPS seat and the handle is finished fully in Japanese shrink grip – the use of which is more than just cosmetic and allows for a good grip even when your hands or the rod are wet. The aluminium trim and an etched butt cap made by JAG completes the extremely desirable custom look.

Danny Fairbrass, who has been involved in rod design for many years and one of the driving forces behind the Kaizen range, enthused: 

“They are an absolute joy to use, such lightweight, but powerful, and with really light rings, so they move through the air so easily, and cast so perfectly straight. They also look absolutely gorgeous as well.”

Of the entire range, this rod made the longest casts during testing, measured at over 200m and using a 4oz (114g) sinker with a 15mm rig and bait. It is designed for 3-5oz (85-141g) casts but has been optimised for use with 4oz (114g) sinkers. If you're looking for the ultimate high-end casting rod and nothing else matters, then this is the model for you, but it will take practice and technique to get the best results.  

Tom Dove: "I don't consider myself a long distance angler, but if you're going to fish extreme distances you need a rig that won't hold you back and will gain you extra yards. I've been using the 13' 4lbs model for all my long distance fishing for a couple of years now and I've honestly seen a massive improvement in my distance. I have always struggled to compress the 'heavy' distance rods on the market as they felt too stiff and bulky, but these are the complete opposite - light to hold and easy to compress, meaning fishing 140m is the same as casting 80m with my normal rods... My maximum fishing distance is about 170m now, which I never thought I'd ever get to."

• 13' 4lbs version
• Manufactured in the UK using super high tensile high-grade Japanese carbon
• ZERO90 carbone
  
• 50mm butt guides with 18mm tip ring
• Aluminium trim rings with JAG etched stainless butt cap
• Fitted with a Fuji DPS reel seat
• Built with Seaguide TDG lightweight stainless steel guides
• Japanese shrink grip handle with flared butt
• Fast tapered profile blank for higher compression strength
• Low glare Matt paint finish
• Fast Tapered
• Spigot fitting
• Recommanded lead weight: 3-5oz (85-141g)
  
• Weight: 367g

Manufactured in the UK using super high tensile high-grade Japanese carbon

Fitted with a Fuji DPS reel seat

ZERO90 carbone

Low glare Matt paint finish

50mm butt guides with 18mm tip ring 

Built with Seaguide TDG lightweight stainless steel guides

Aluminium trim rings with JAG etched stainless butt cap