**Real Reviews by Real Anglers**
No rod will do everything. Least of all in pike fishing, which places higherdemands on your tackle than just about any other branch of the sport.
Having said this after four months’ use, I’ve getting quite attached to apair of the new Martyn Page-designed Leeda Marvics I bought from Brundall Angling Centre at the start of the season. 
The blanks are slim, light and have a full cork handle (remember them…).The cork isn’t of that high a quality having said that – several of thelarger holes in mine have obviously been plugged with filler which has comeaway with the rigours of use.
Unlike a lot of rods, the handle is short enough to pass from one side ofthe body to the other without the butt catching on anything, which is a boonwhen mending the line when trotting or drifting, casting in parrot cageswims or boat fishing.
The blurb says the rods are given an extra wrap of carbon for addedstrength. My one reservation was that the male spigot does not appear toinsert far into the top section – a problem with other Leeda rods, whichfriends have broken on the joint when casting heavy baits or playing fish.
So far it’s proven unfounded. I’ve gradually stepped up to biggish baits andwhile they aren’t all-out distance rods, there is enough backbone there tolob one 60 yards.
Playing fish to double figures is a joy. The rods have a tippy action, whichhardens noticeably in the middle. Having said this I think the 2.75 testcurve rating is probably a little generous.
The rod didn’t let me down on a couple of bigger fish I had to haul out ofweedbeds, including a 23 which went like a train before doing the CharlieDimmock bit under the rod top.
Trotting rivers is a joy too. The rods are light enough to hold and the tippyaction is great for mending the line back behind the float. While they’llset the hooks at 60 yards or more using braid, the top is forgiving enoughto avoid bumping fish off or hook pulls – even with zander.
Ringing is generous (two Fuji SIC on butt, seven on top, inc tip eye…).But I wonder if the rod would be improved with larger rings and perhaps oneor two less of them.
Stop knots or rig stops occasionally catch on casting. And the rings gratealarmingly using fusion braids, but so do most rings.
Reel seats accommodate my usual choice of 8010 Baitrunners without a problem.
On the whole, I’d give them a borderline eight out of 10. If you want anall-out long range rod, they probably won’t give you the poke you need.
But if like me you fish drains and rivers and don’t need a rod that can dothe ton with a 4oz lead, they look like they’ll cope with just abouteverything you can throw at them.
Retails at £ 125 but better street prices if you shop around.
PRODUCT: Leeda Marvic Pike Rod, 12ft, 2
