It is normal these days for anglers to use multiple rod set ups when fishing for carp, this enables the angler to try many different spots, rigs or baits at the same time. To solve the problem of carrying lots of separate bank sticks around fishing manufacturers developed the rod Relx Pods which is capable of holding up to four rods and the required bite alarms, indicators and butt grips.
Most pods have adjustable legs and buzzer bars so the angler can point the pods in the desired direction be it beach caster style with tips pointing upwards to avoid weed, snags etc. or rod tips pointing level or downwards if using back leads or slack lines.
A Rod pod is also useful if your fishery utilizes wooden platforms because of shallow or reedy margins or if the fishery has rock hard banks like many of the gravel pits in the south of England. Another advantage of a pod is the time savings when setting up and packing away. On arrival at the lake the angler can take the rod pod straight out of the tackle bag with bite alarms and rear rests still attached from the last session and can be fishing in next to no time.
The first rod pods were made from a heavy stainless steel but most anglers now prefer the lighter, plastic covered alloy models that manufacturers like Fox International produce or the lightweight stainless models Solar Tackle manufacture, although there are still companies such as Matrix Innovations and Steve Neville that still produce old school strong, heavy gauge stainless steel pods that should last you a lifetime but are a substantial weight to carry to your swim.
Fox are at the forefront of pod design and manufacture and produce a wide range of pods to suit all fishing situations and budgets. These range from the simple, A-pod with limited adjustments to the Eclipse, Quattro & Ranger pods with adjustable legs and central bars. You can expect to pay from around £45 for the lower end to around £150 for top end pods. Solar Tackle has also been a major player in the rod pod market and their flagship product ‘The Solar Worldwide Pod’ being a firm favourite with many anglers who prefer the stainless look but is made from a lightweight stainless steel and weighs just 2.3kg.