Ex Masterline, Starting prices from £49.95

There are three models in the Plugger range; an 11' Deluxe model and two Bass Spins (10' and 11'). I have not seen the longer rods but the one that I tested - the PBS100, a three piece, ten foot model - fitted neatly into its intended niche, casting well and being light and responsive on the retrieve. I liked the feel of the rod straight away. Casting with a 26g Storm chugbug - a surface popper that can be very useful for bass - I felt that the plug sailed away effortlessly, landing a good distance out. The rod felt light but with a steely resilience that spoke of power when I needed it. The softest of pulls was transmitted neatly to the plug so that it twitched through the water in the most enticing of manners. Would that the bass had found it so! It was still a bit early for plugging when I went so I had to satisfy myself with mackerel instead. As it was the rod contended well with these game little scrappers, steering them effortlessly in the direction that I wished them to go. They did not, to be fair, test the rod to the extent that I would have wished, but they did give a pretty good impression as to how the rod would behave under load. Certainly I would not anticipate any problems with bass while the blank itself was comfortable to hold and use for long periods of time. The lightness of the rod is enhanced by the single leg rings chosen as intermediates; neatly and accurately spaced so that the line tunnels well during a cast. Their positioning also ensures that the rod draws into a comfortable arc upon the retrieve with line flow, even under pressure from a fighting fish, avoiding harsh angles that could damage lighter lines. My only criticism of the rod stems from the whippings over the female spigots. Personally I like to see such whippings cover and extend beyond where the male section of the spigot ends, even if this is achieved by two whippings. The first will reinforce and seal the lip of the spigot while the second will guard against damage from the end of the male section. Now it may be that I am overcautious in this respect but, over the years, I have found that spigots reinforced in this way tend to be a lot more secure, especially when the rod gets a little older and a little bit of play creeps in.

...and its action on the retrieve is light and sensitive.

Looking at the walls of the blank, which are pretty sturdy, it may be that a longer or second whipping is an unnecessary frill. However I know how rough some people can be with their rods, especially if they hook the bottom with a deep diving plug, and I think it is probably worth the designers bearing it in mind for future models. We should, I know, tighten the line, point the rod towards the bottom, trap the line against the rod and walk backward until the plug pulls free or the line breaks but how many times do you see anglers forget? Oh well! Anyway, to sum up, if you are looking for a good plugging rod that will double up for general spinning and float fishing then I think that the Masterline plugger will serve you in very good stead. It is an excellent rod that looks good, feels good and performs its job brilliantly, especially when you consider that it is up against models that cost far more. Look after it and I am sure that you will thoroughly enjoy using it. I know I certainly did!

Features: Screw winch fitting; Comfortable cork handles; Tip ring plus seven single leg intermediates; Matt finish; Rubber butt guard on gun metal fitting; Black whippings with red trim. Overall Impressions: Performance 9 Balance 10 Value 8 Reliability 8 Total Score 37.