Sonik SK3

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:51 am

Does anyone have any experience of the Sonik SK3 rods ?. Looking to get a new pair of rods and its a toss up between these (which I know nothing about) or Daiwa Sand Storms.

Any feedback on either rods would be gratefully received.

Cheers in advance.

Dave

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:37 pm

I have a pair of SK3s and love them. Very light, easy to load which makes for smooth casting and they have good bite detection. They're not a soft floppy rod though and are comfortable lobbing out a 6oz lead and a big bait.

Mine are 13 foot (4-6oz) multi rods which I find ideal for the southcoast clean ground I fish. Earlier models did have dodgy eyes going by some reports but they've sorted that now. You do get a lifetime guarantee anyway!

Haven't used a sandstorm but they're supposed to be a soft rod and a bit over priced. Have a look at gerry's of Morecombes site they are doing a great deal on Supercasts which is a better Daiwa than the sandstorm.

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:44 pm

Cheer rob.

I'm also based in Southampton so these sound ideal for the local waters - it was the 13 foot (4-6) multi rods I was looking at getting and teaming up with 7HT's.

I'll also check out Gerry's for the Supercasts - I've only ever used Daiwa Beachcasters before (right from the early Moonrakers through to HPB's) and never had any problems.

Cheers for the response.
Dave

Regular Joined: Mar 23, 2008 Posts: 411 Location: Pompey

not from personal experience from actually using one but I've only ever heard bad things about the sandstorm , when i was looking around for new rods i looked into them but only got negative feedback from most people.

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 3:09 pm

Thanks for the response Jim.

If you don't mind me asking - what did you end up buying ?

Cheers,
Dave

Regular Joined: Mar 23, 2008 Posts: 411 Location: Pompey

i ended needing to spend the spare cash i had on a rather large MOT bill for my car crying

but i think i would of ended up with either the SuperCast or SK3's

there was a picture floating around of a sandstorm in mid cast that really put me off , if i can find it i'll put it up

Regular Joined: Mar 23, 2008 Posts: 411 Location: Pompey

Check the amount that thing is flexing , rather put me off the sandstorm suprise

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:09 pm

Oh my god !! suprise

I think I'll give those a miss .............. although I'd probably struggle to hit it that hard

Thanks for looking that out for me Jim ...... appreciate the effort and the advice

Dave

Member Joined: Jan 04, 2010 Posts: 33 Location: Grimsby

From what I have seen and been told there is just to much flex in the butt of a Sandstorm you can easily bend the butt as I was shown in a local tackle shop.
Trev.

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:52 am

Yeah, sandstorm definitely on the floppy side, I like the look of the new Abu Hellbenders meself. Have tried the Shakespeare Salts but the quality is not good enough for me.

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:23 pm

I was thinking along the same lines a while ago eccles, and eventually bit the bullet and bought the 12' 8" hellbender M rod, the green varient happy

Its a great rod, which is easy to cast, has brilliant bite detection and showed the bite from an 8" dab the other day from around 100yds. But aswell as this, it also casts brilliantly, without destroying soft baits, but will also cast clipped down single baits a long way.

Member Joined: Jul 04, 2009 Posts: 35

I have 2 sandstorms bought them last year and i have never had them flex or being floppy like the one in the picture above,
i find they are ok a bit heavier then the salt surf which my wife has just been giving by or son on mothers day and she is yet to use it.

Regular Joined: Mar 23, 2008 Posts: 411 Location: Pompey

The new Shimano Vengeance may be something else to consider , it got a great review in Sea Dangler last month , although being a new rod out i doubt you will find any personal opinions on it.

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 3:27 pm

polarstar wrote:

I have 2 sandstorms bought them last year and i have never had them flex or being floppy like the one in the picture above,
i find they are ok a bit heavier then the salt surf which my wife has just been giving by or son on mothers day and she is yet to use it.

Depends on your casting style I suppose. I you are just doing an overhead thump out to 60-70 yds they are probably OK, but if you try to put some real power in they, they wobble all over the place like in the picture.

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:09 pm

Settled on the SK3's - picked them up from Poingdestres yesterday.....

........... time to put some new string on the 7HT's and give 'em a bash !

Watch this space !!

Dave