You wont go wrong with a Garbo Premier Legion.

I bought mine when they first came out and am in no rush to replace it.

I am sure there are other good poles out there, but the PL takes some beating for that money.

I’ve got the Shimano Exage ax and love it, light and stiff up to 13m.

Just wish it was a little longer, although i guess thats what you get for £400.

Jamie ”Just wish it was a little longer”

The exage is 14.5mts matey. ;o)

Could you find another section to go up the butt?

That might give you the reach so long as conditions are near perfect.

The Exage comes at 14.5 mtr as standard…….

And IMHO,you won’t get better for your money………..

I had the original Exage comp,and it did everything from tiny eyes on canals,to lumps on ‘mercials…..

But I am not sure if it will be the same with the AX as the old comp,but stick the 16 mtr barrel on,and it gets heavy if used for long periods….

I now own the Speedmaster comp,and I can honestly say,it is a lot better at 16 mtr…..

how about the maver 151 competition

perhaps you should consider, a secondhand pole, thats of a higher standard than those in your price bracket,thats had very little use,theres plenty of bargins out there,

Madforit, don’t tell me you didn’t wish it was a little longer! (to reach that island of course)

I agree with you Corndawg, a mate of mine brought one after i’d got one cos he was so impressed. Gonna borrow his 14.5mt section and try it as an extension, but i think it’ll be rubbish.

Captain Carp: what i would reccomend you do is make sure you factor in the price of spares, i spent £600 in total after i got all the spares i wanted.

Captain Carp.
Have a look at the Shimano Carpcruncher XTA. It’s 16m for £499. 3 power tops & a cupping kit.
Excellent finish & really strong.
Regards Peter.

Jamie,

Although at 14.5 mtr,it is the dogs’ danglies,when you stick the extention on,it will go Banana,and become heavy.

It doesn’t seem to bad at first,but after a while it makes you ache………..

Still a cracking pole for the wonga though……….

NO pole for £5OO is the dogs at 14.5mts,they can be good but not the dogs.
I agree that both the Exage and the Premier legion are very good for their prices.

Peter the Shimano might be a good package but very heavy an @ 16mts would be very hard for any length of time, to fish unless you floated it. IMHO.

It’s not that bad as you have to float it MFI….

A spray bar would be more than sufficient…………

madforit.
I accept your point about the pole at 16m, but that is what it is sold at. I regularly use mine at 13/14.5m with no trouble, it’s all a question of balance.
The original thread asked for a recommendation for a pole under £500, & i very much doubt that any pole in that price range would be fishable all day at that 16m length.
If Captain Carp needs a 16m pole then he is going to be limited in what is available, however if he can live with a 14.5m pole he could reduce the cost of many poles in this price bracket by £100 giving him the capability of getting more spare tops.
Regards Peter.

I was shopping at the same price figure earlier this year and I settled on the Maver N25 and am very impressed with it. Vale Royal were selling them at £469, not sure if they’ve got any left but they still advertise the N15

Captain Carp.Sorry for the delay.
The only way to decide is to go & have a try with all in the price range at your local tackle dealer.
I would say that the finish on any of the Shomano poles cannot be bettered IMO.
Where are you located?
Wickford Angling Wickford Essex has an excellent range.
Regards Peter.