Kaizen Platinum Rod Blank Kit

The Kaizen Platinum range of rods has been built to a very high specification using the best components, but we understand that some anglers like to personalise their rods exactly how they want them, and so we have made the range available in the form of blanks.

This means that you can get your favourite rod builder to build your Kaizen rods to your own set of specifications – whether you want a full cork handle; a particular type of rod rings; different coloured whippings; personalisation such as your name; or even a particular type of reel seat (rather than the Fuji DPS 20 that is used on the factory models).

All six of the fishing rods in the Kaizen range are available in blank form – the spod rod isn’t – and means you can custom build any of the following models: 12ft 3lb; 12ft 3.5lb; 12ft 4lb; 12ft 6in 4lb; 13ft 3.5lb; or 13ft 4lb.

The Kaizen Platinum range has been under development for more than four years and came about as we felt that we could develop something even better than what was already on the market - despite this being our first foray into rods – using the extensive knowledge and experience of our Team Korda anglers, plus the product development staff here at Korda HQ.

Danny Fairbrass himself has a long association with rods bearing his name, and which he was involved in developing, and so it was a natural progression that we should develop a range ourselves, which had all the attributes that he, and our other anglers, would be looking for from the ultimate carp fishing rods.

The aim was to design a range of high-end blanks that would cover pretty much any carp angling situation at home or abroad, allowing you to not only accurately reach the fish if they were out at range, but which would also feel nice to play them on. All of the blanks in the range are built on a fast-tapered profile mandrel – meaning that the taper of the rod consistently goes all the way from the butt to the tip, and this produces rods with a very ‘tippy’ action, with pretty much all of the flex being towards the tip end, although of course when under extreme pressure such as casting, the rod will still bend all the way through to some extent.

This type of action allows for better power transfer and the generation of very fast tip speeds, which in turn allows you to cast further than you would be able to with a blank that didn’t have this action. That action also allows much faster line pick-up as well, and whilst most of the bend is in the tip, the power is transferred progressively enough that the blank will absorb the lunges of a big fish at close range without fear of it causing hook pulls, and ensures that it is still a pleasure to play fish on any of the Kaizen rods.

The taper of the rod isn’t the only factor in determining the action and attributes that it displays, and just as important is the type of carbon that has been used in the manufacturing process – for the Kaizen range the only real choice was the best super tensile, high-grade Japanese carbon that we could get our hands on! This ZERO90 carbon is used in just two layers and with very little resin content, and the result of that is lighter, stiffer blanks – often that stiffness is achieved by using cheaper carbon in multiple layers, which then adds weight to the blank and reduces performance, and is something we wanted to avoid, hence choosing ZERO90 - which further enhance the attributes that the taper we’ve chosen to use on the mandrel already provides.

Not only will this allow more power to be transferred into the cast and with less effort than you’d find with a cheaper grade of carbon, but it also aids enhanced accuracy as well as it reduces the ability of the blank to twist and cause your lead to go off-target during the cast – over a long distance even tiny improvements in accuracy make a big different to your rig landing exactly where you aimed.

This also aids tip recovery after casting, which is basically the length of time that the tip continues bouncing up and down after the cast, and the crisper this action the better – if you flick the tip of one of these Kaizen blanks it will come to a stop almost immediately, with all the power having been transferred into that action, and which is exactly what you want when trying to cast a long way.

The blanks in this range will cover pretty much any angling situation, with the lightest model being perfectly suitable for fishing at closer range, but where you want the power to control and stop a big carp if you need to, plus have the ability to chuck a rig a long way if you need to. Right through to the 4lb models which are specialist long range tools and have the ability to put a lead and rig incredible distances when in the right hands – as demonstrated by the likes of Terry Edmonds and Darrell Peck, where measured casts in excess of 200 yards have been achieved and which featured in our Long-Range Masterclass chapter, filmed at Iles3 in France.

So, whatever your casting style and ability, you’ll find something that suits you, and allows you to fish at longer ranges, and more accurately, than ever before.

The blank is finished in durable clear matt paint, which shows off the carbon and has been extensively tank tested to ensure it is perdurable - basically means it is incredibly durable and will take a long time to show any signs of weathering due to exposure to sunlight and moisture.

The blanks have external tip and internal butt diameters (where the butt cap would be fitted) as set out in the table below and are best paired with a 20 size Fuji reel seat, or equivalent. Each blank comes supplied in a cloth rod bag.

Rod Length

Test Curve

Butt Internal Dia

Tip External Dia

Models

12ft 3lb: If you’re not looking to fish at long range and playing action is your priority, then the Kaizen Platinum 12ft 3lb test curve rod is the best model for you. It is still capable of putting a baited rig well over 100 yards if the need arises, but being the softest in the range, it allows the most accurate casting at shorter ranges. It still has plenty of power through the butt and middle part of the rod when it comes to controlling very big fish at close range, or hit-and-hold snag fishing, and its slightly more forgiving action means that you can really pile the pressure on when you need to without fear of pulling the hook. Recommended casting weight: 1-3oz.

12ft 3.5lb: The Kaizen Platinum 12ft 3.5lb test curve rod is the perfect all-rounder and the best option for carp anglers who want as much versatility as possible from just one set of rods. The lightweight, perfectly balanced, blank can accommodate the most delicate of precision flicks on an intimate venue, all the way through to a 35+ wrap blast on a lake of ‘Gigantica’ proportions. This is ideal model if you want one set of high-end rods that will do it all. Recommended casting weight: 2-4oz.

12ft 4lb: The 4lb version of the 12ft rod is designed as a long-range casting tool, but for those who don’t want to step up to a longer rod. It is incredibly powerful, and some anglers will find it easier to fully utilise this than they would do with a longer rod, and whilst it is an out-and-out casting tool, it still retains some degree of fish playing action as well and is by no means a ‘broomstick’. Recommended casting weight: 3-5oz.

12ft 6in 4lb: Danny Fairbrass personally designed this rod by adapting one of his favourite blank designs – shortening both the tip and butt slightly to create a 12ft 6in. rod with a slightly higher test curve of 4lb. This rod is incredibly powerful and is designed as a long range casting tool first and foremost – it is quite possibly the most powerful rod in the Kaizen range, and unless you prefer the extra six inches that the 13ft model provides, it is the best choice for an extreme range rod. Recommended casting weight: 3-5oz.

13ft 3.5lb: If you prefer a 13ft rod and want something that can be used to blast a rig towards the horizon, but which also has a forgiving enough tip that it is nice to play fish on and is equally at home casting leads accurately at less extreme ranges, then this 3.5lb test curve model is definitely the one for you. Unless you’re looking for a real extreme range tool, then this is the one that most people will go for in 13ft. Recommended casting weight: 2-4oz.

13ft 4lb: Out of the whole range, this rod achieved the longest casts during testing, measured at over 200 yards and using a 4oz lead with a 15mm hookbait and rig. It’s rated at 3-5oz casting weight but has been optimised for use with 4oz leads. If you’re looking for the ultimate, high-end casting rod and nothing else really matters, then this is the model for you, but it will take practice and technique to achieve the best results from it. Recommended casting weight: 3-5oz.