NEWS
Sea anglers flock to
Leeda’s own brand leads the way with sea anglers as its concise range comes of age
I
CON has become something of a talking point within sea angling
circles; the Leeda-owned brand won fans some years ago, mainly thanks to the M-sport range of rods, which threw the cat among the pigeons when it came to delivering powerful, high-end blanks at a very humble price point. Back in February when T&G visited iceTackle* 2018 – Leeda’s own in-house trade event – it was clear that ICON was receiving a lot of attention from its team. That particular launch saw no fewer than 16 new rods introduced, plus various accessories, and it clearly illustrated a decision to give the brand a shot in the arm to help it establish further into the market. New boat rods – the MX range – and a pair of LRF rods with matching reels aside, the stars ion the show were the FXD and new M-sport Elite rods. For many shore anglers, the M-sport name needs little introduction. Originally launched in 2013 they demanded respect for their supreme casting ability and it seems that is once again a theme key to these
26 | Tackle & Guns | June 2018
new models: “The originals were loved for their ability to casting huge distances without compromising on bite detection,” says Dan Bennett, ICON brand manager. “We’ve tweaked these new Elite models to make them lighter and better at detection bites, what with the introduction of a glass tip. We’ve also outfitted the blank with Fuji components to push it up a notch in terms of aesthetics and on-paper specification.” Offered in match, power and ultra versions (to suit different casting style and casting weights) the rods have been an instant hit for the brand, with anglers throughout the UK avidly waiting for the first batch to arrive in stock back in the spring. Since then Sea Angler magazine gave the rods a glowing review and they’ve even accounted for a potential world record stingray out in the Canary Islands. Likewise, the FXD series have also got tongues wagging after their unveiling via social media back in March. “There’s a movement towards fixed spool reels for shore fishing,” continues Dan, who’s no stranger to
catching big fish after several stints as a catfish guide following his graduation as fisheries manager. According to Dan, these rods have been in development for the best part of 18 months and came about after talking to key sea anglers and retailers that identified this style of rod being popular but with very little on the market directly designed for the demands of UK shore fishing. “The FXD rods combine the best bits of the M-sports – a powerful butt section and a forgiving tip – but put it in a package that’s better suited to the UK than many so-called ‘continental-style’ rods. By offering two lengths, 4.2m and 4.5m, we’re giving options to anglers who prefer to use a fixed spool reel and we’re certain that these rods won’t compromise casting ability.” The brand has also introduced luggage and clothing for 2018, which signals the start of a prolonged programme of expansion that will ultimately see more additions to the hardware and soft goods portfolio, plus consumables looking to be introduced at the end of 2018.
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