The manufacturers say:
After developing some of the finest carp rods ever produced the Leslies Insight Team has now developed a new generation of carp rods the Generation 2 GR2.
The Insight Team, along with some of the top carp anglers in the country, have taken a long time developing this new range of carp rods for the serious carp angler but finally they are here.
The rods are manufactured from the highest grade modulus 62 million PSI graphite and combined with 80 million PSI graphite which gives the rods a unique stiff spine and dynamic power. A 2K woven carbon covers the whole blank which enforces the extra strength in all planes to give extra stability and avoid spine deflection during casting, increasing distance and accuracy.
Available in : 12ft 3lb, 12ft 3.25lb and 12ft 3.5lb versions with an RRP of £245.00
The Reviewers say:
Ashley Larman
After the success of the original Insight rod from over 15 years ago these new tools were going to need to be something a little bit special to gain the same following; but with a reputation to protect there was no doubt at all that not any old rod was going to be produced and thrown onto the rod racks of Leslies of Luton. After having a good look and putting the range through their paces I have to say that the GR2 is, in my opinion, as close to perfect as you are going to find in a carp rod.
The blanks of all the test curves in the range are slim and lightweight yet surprisingly powerful.
The 3.25lb and 3.5lb models are more than capable of putting a lead in excess of 140 yards in the right hands yet, like no other rod I have used, they also double as rods suited to the angler who likes to feel the fish during a battle and with a lovely progressive curve they certainly help to keep carp hooked when they lunging around in the margins.
Unlike the maroon colour of the original Insight carp rods the GR2 has more of an understated carbon finish and they are fitted with 18mm DPS reel seats with silver hoods. Stainless collars and butt cap finish the rod off beautifully without going over the top and the only writing on the top side of the GR2 is “Insight” just above the reel seat with the length and test curve on the under side of the rod. The GR2 has Alconite guides in a black finish, these are amongst the strongest guides available on the market today and are attached with black whipping and they really do look the part.
The GR2 also boasts a special feature in that it doesn’t have a spigot or overfit joint – it actually has both! This feature adds strength to that vital area of the rod between the butt and tip sections.
All in all the GR2 range is a bit special: superb components, cosmetically great and a dream for either playing fish or for casting.
Steve Cliff
After selling on yet another set of rods I was not comfortable with I found myself in Leslies of Luton looking through their comprehensive range when Ian Crawley got talking to me about rods and what I expected from one. After a lengthy conversation he suggested I take a set of the new GR2 Insights and try them out to see if they satisfied my requirements.
Ian has a vast experience of rods and has been designing and building them for what seems like forever! Several of my mates still have the original 12ft 2.75lb Insights and would not part with them so Ian suggested I take a set of the new GR2 12ft 3.25lb versions and that was that, off I went to have a good play with them.
First time out I took them to my local syndicate for an overnighter and christened them with a nice 37lb fish and was well impressed with the playing action; not a bad start but that was early days and one session doesn’t make a rod – it takes time to get to know them properly and be able to give a considered opinion as to their merits –and indeed faults!
I have now been using them for nearly a year and have caught loads of fish on them to 43lb; merits there certainly are, faults I have not found! Action-wise I just love playing fish on them – but to do that you need to put the rigs in the right place to start with and casting them is a joy, even on a big chuck the blank does not distort or recoil and there is good recovery speed (unlike some of the rods I had tried previously).
A lot of my fishing is done with three rods on a tightly baited spot with the rigs no more than a couple of feet apart at ranges up to 100 yards so accuracy is everything and these rods handle the task with ease, even when hurling bags and sticks about they have the necessary power. That, combined with their fish playing action means I cannot see myself looking for new rods anytime soon!
The Insight GR2 rods are available to purchase HERE
