On Test - Sonik SK3 13' 4 to 6oz F/S Beach Rod

The first time we saw the Sonik SK3 we feel in love with it.
The carbon, graphics and finish are superb.

Our first session with the rod was at Cable Bay on Anglesey.
Not a very productive trip I will admit due to the strong Easterly winds blowing in off the Irish sea.

We coupled the rod up with a Fladen Maxximus Big Water fixed spool reel, loaded with Ultima F1 line and a Penn International Shockleader.
I had a couple of practice casts in the field at the top of the mark to get a feel for the rods action, before putting bait out to sea.

I was instantly surprised with the rods performance. It easy cast the 4oz lead and bait to the horizon. I previously struggled casting 4oz weights on my other beach rod due to it being so soft.
The Sonik made me feel like a champion caster!
Cast after cast it pushed the weight and big baits threw the oncoming gusts, easily clearing the tackle heavy rock snags and weed.

On the rod rest, the rod sat true, offering great bite indication even through the howling winds. There was no shuddering or shaking from the wind and all bites where clear.

My first impressions of the rod, amazing!
My casting has dramatically improved and I feel more confident fishing rough bottom locations. Although no fish were landed, it was great to give the rod it's first of many outings!

Cemlyn Bay - Anglesey

The second outting with the rod was to Cemlyn Bay on Anglesey. The conditions this time where a lot better with a slight breeze blowing out to sea.
I was targeting Coddling, Whiting and Thornback Rays from the shingle beach, so big baits and distance would be needed.
I set the rod up with a Fladen Maxximus Big Water fixed spool reel, a pennel pulley rig and a 4oz grip lead.
The first cast saw the rod catapult the the bait and weight into the distance. As the sun set, headlights where adorned and the white glazed rod tip came into it's own.
Within a matter of minutes the tip started to twitch. I left it to develop due to the amount of seaweed floating in the surf.
Bang! the tip dipped and slowly rose, again the tip dipped, this time I was ready for it, lifting the tip to sink to set the hook.
On lifting the rod, I could feel every move the fish made. Twisting and turning, running for the heaven of weed beds and rocks, I was able to steer it away from all manner of hang-ups and snags.
The Sonik was in it's element. Battling an unruly fish from the depths of Cemlyn. The rod showed no sign of weakness, it's tip stayed subtle, allowing for the twists and turns of the fish, whilst the butt stayed firm reminding me that if I needed it, the power was there to drag the fish from the surf.

After a couple of minutes, a 4lb coddling appeared just in front of the surf. Using the slender tip, landing the fish wasn't a problem and allowed me to guide the fish exactly where I wanted it.

I was amazed how much a rod could improve my casting capabilities and fish retrieving technique.

The action seemed to quieten down after a good start, although numerous bites where indicated through the tip, nothing seemed to come of them.

Meani Straights - Anglesey

A real test for the Sonik would be fishing the rough ground, swirling tides and the very weedy Meani Straights, between North Wales and the Isle of Anglesey.
We arrived at the chosen mark just before low tide after stopping off to collect some fresh Rag and Lugworm. We had heard that the Straights had been producing some good size Codling, Bass and Wrasse, so we didn't want to miss out!

We walked across the shingle and very weedy shore to fish off the sand banks which get exposed at low tide. When set up, I decided to fish one rod close to the shore, on the down slope of the bank, and one around 150 yards into the channel, where another sand bank could be seen just under the water.

Now using a stiffer rig body on a pennel pulley rig, the weight and large lug bait was cast effortlessly onto the edge of the bank, mid-way into the channel. With the line tight the rod was placed on the tripod.

Within a matter of seconds, the tip went. I dismissed it at first due to the amount of weed floating through the channel, but a few seconds later the tip started to twitch again, this time more rapidly and violently.
I started to reel the line in with the fish fighting frantically, a good codling I thought to myself, wrong! A little Dogfish putting up one hell of a scrap!

I could feel the Doggie thrashing around in the current, knowing exactly where it was and where it was running. Thanks to a lead lift, there was no snags and the fish was beached.



After releasing the Doggie, I re-baited and re-cast to exactly the same spot, (which felt effortless!) only for the tip to go again! Yes, another Doggie, this time a lot larger. This continued for a while and we landed a handful of Doggies, until the tide started to turn and the onslaught of floating weed patches returned.

I was surprised with the Sonik. The second beach rod I was also using had a number of tip twitches due to weed being pushed against the line where as the Sonik stood strong. Both the tips where high in the air to lessen the chances of tangles with weed, whilst both rods had the same mainline, shockleader, rig bait and weight.



The rod coped effortlessly with the strong current, rough ground and snaggy conditions. The sensitive tip beautifully indicating when a fish struck, but stiff enough to withstand the pulling from the passing weed, whilst the powerful butt section powers the casts to exactly where I wanted them and easily dealt with retrieving fish and terminal tackle.

This rod is fast becoming my favourite!