The Smuggler 5 travel fishing rod by rigged and ready is just the perfect size for a rod for kayak or packraft fishing.
After taking the X5 Adventure travel rod out on a test I thought that was good for packraft fishing but the Smuggler 5 is more suited.
The Rigged and Ready Smuggler 5 isn’t as versatile as the X5 adventure, but if you looking for lure fishing, bait casting then this is the rod for you.
If you wanted a lighter tip for quiver fishing or lightweight lures you can purchase these separately.
Whether you ned rig fishing on the river or feathering for mackerel close to shore the Smuggler 5 is perfect.
The rod is made from super strong nano-carbon and has two interchangeable top sections.
The smaller tip gives the rod a length of 1.4m and is suitable for heavy lure fishing with a casting weight of 15-40+g
The longer tip is really good for lightweight lure / bait casting with a casting weight of 5-20+ g
Although i’ve been using 2g ned rigs and it cast just fine.
When not assembled the 4 main parts of the rod are 36cm long
and the sections pack into a really well made rod bag.
The rod bag is then protected the really strong cordura rod case.
Measuring at 43cm it is perfect to fit in hand luggage, side of rucksack or in your kayak).
What I liked about the Rigged and Ready Smuggler 5 travel fishing rod.
Pretty much everything.
The length of the rod assembled is the perfect length, if your like me and enjoy fishing out of a packraft / kayak.
The rod is balanced really well. It sits in your hands perfectly.
It would be good if you could house this rod in a case the same as the X5 so you can have rod and reel together.
Test Session.
I decided to head out on the Aqua-Xtreme Alpha Packraft for the day.
Launching at Wainford Mill. I headed down a very swollen and fast moving river to use a Ned Rig for some Perch.
Previously I’ve always used telescopic rods.
The reason for this is that I can set these up on the bank, collapse them and they are out of the way whilst paddling.
The Rigged and Ready Smuggler 5 is either 1.4m or 1.6m long. Rigging the rod in the packraft wasn’t difficult.
The longer the rod is the more difficult it can be. Threading the line through eyes, when you sat in a packraft or kayak can be quite difficult.
Conditions weren’t the best, the river was really moving, full of colour so it ended up in me blanking.
It was just good to get out of the house.
At this time when the country is in lockdown its horrible being cooped up indoors all the time.
Thank God ‘good old’ Boris has said that we are allowed to fish and paddle.
So would I have brought the Rigged and Ready Smuggler 5?
Yes, this rod is going to be perfect for some adventures (please Boris) this summer.
Really looking forward to catching some Grayling in the Glaskogens National Park in Sweden in June.
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