XXXX pole guide 2010 Angling Times Tuesday, december 22, 2009 pole guide 2010 XXXXXAngling Times Tuesday, december 22, 2009

Browning

The Xitan Z9’s finish makes shipping back a breeze.

Browning’s best pole ever!Xitan Z9 leads the way on firm’s new range of great polesBrowning’s Xitan range is starting to build up a very good reputation on the bank for producing very good value for money products, and the new Xitan Z9 is its new flagship

pole for 2010 and looks set to further enhance

the popularity of this range.

In fact, Browning

claims this is

the

best pole it has ever produced and from our outing with the pole, we certainly won’t be arguing that point. Perhaps the two most famous top-end poles to ever be created by the European company were the Champions Choice 808 and the CC 910 Club France but believe us, these poles aren’t a patch on this latest offering.

The Z9 is very stiff, strong and light as you would come to expect from a flagship pole, and it will suit both commercial fisheries and natural venues equally as well.

It comes as standard at 16m although Browning

consultants have found it remains easy to use

with a 17.5m section in place.

Browning is keen to

point out

that the Z9 is sold as a 16m pole and is a true 16m pole – when the half butt is fitted it takes the pole to 16.7m.

At 16m, the pole is incredibly stiff and there is very little tip bounce, which makes it perfect for pellet fishing or catching shallow as you can get away with very short lines.

Browning has created this pole by using the highest quality carbon cloth available and by incorporating its Nano-Carbon technology which helps to make the sections very durable. It also means that there is no ‘brittleness’ in the pole’s sections – something that can become a problem with ultra-stiff poles.

On the joints you will find a woven overwrap. This helps to minimise joint wear and adds further strength. Another advantage is that it allows the joints to be separated easily, even when you have a big fish on the other end pulling in the

opposite direction.The butt sections have

all been strengthened to prevent elbow

damage on the strike or

when sitting

the

pole on a spray bar. And, if you are still worried about damaging these pricier sections, Browning supplies two half butts with the pole – one fits the 11.5m and 13m sections, the other fits the 14.5m and 16m joints.

The stunning bright yellow finish comes from a special paint that helps to improve handling in damp conditions. This complements the standard micro-fine sanded Diamond Surface finish of the lower sections.

To maintain the pole’s superb balance, the Z9 is supplied with multi-purpose Power Match Kits. These don’t ruin the action of the pole like usual power kits can sometimes do – they are lightweight but still very strong. You can put size 14 solid or 12/20 hollow elastics in these and they cope easily.

As with the rest of the Xitan range, all sections are interchangeable, so if you are looking for an upgrade from your old model, all the spares can be carried over.

Add other features like precision point graphics, joint alignment indicators and a great spares package and it’s easy to see why this pole will be the one that’s still talked about in 10 years’ time.

GET ONLINEwww.zebco-europe.com

Browning Xitan Z7

Browning Xitan Z4 Power

Xitan Z4 Power

length: 16melastic rating: 14 solid or 12/20 hollowSpares supplied: Three power kits, two Power Match top-3s, Super Strong Cupping kit and Browning cup set, half butt, Xitan pole holdall, tubes. RRp: £1,299SSp: £899

Written by Mark Sawyer and Jonathan TaylorThe exclusive inside line from the world of tackle

The Xitan Z7 Power provides a mid-priced alternative to the Z9 and, like the Z9, the pole impresses hugely for its price.

It features many of the same manufacturing standards that are used to create the flagship, just with slightly different materials. This has enabled Browning to create a fully fishable 16m pole

that sells for £1,499.It’s a stiff and reliable pole that

maintains rigidity all the way up to its full length of 16m.

Browning describes this pole as a pole for ‘everything and anything’ and we agree.

All sections, including the fourth and fifth, have high wall strength and will not distort under the

The Xitan Z4 Power is a mid-priced pole that shares all the key features of the more expensive Z7 and Z9.

The advanced Nano-Carbon technology makes it very strong and robust, something that we can vouch for after putting the pole through its paces in the middle of last summer and banking fish to over 10lb on it with heavy elastics.

At 13m the pole was a joy to use and seemed to be very responsive. Before a fish was even hooked you could tell that this was a very strong pole – it just had that solid feel about it.

There was hardly any flex in the sections and even when given a stern squeeze the Match kits felt reassuringly strong, as did the rest of the pole. The fourth section is as solid as they come, and should you have to leave it on to net a bigger-than-average fish, you don’t have to worry about it folding over in your hand.

The Diamond Surface finish on all sections comes in really handy and makes shipping in and out effortless – ideal when

You get a brilliant package with the Xitan Z3. For £699 you’re supplied with the 14.5m pole, as well as four Power kits and a Super Strong Cupping kit. Count the top kit inside the pole as well and this gives you a total of six.

The top four sections of this pole are exactly the same as for the Z4 and Z7 poles, which helps to improve the rigidity and balance of the pole at long lengths.

It is made from ‘Nano-Carbon’, a material that increases the responsiveness of the pole. The sections have all been finished with

Last year Browning launched its Tension Puller Kit which combines the advantages of ‘pull bung’ type systems with the best features of traditional winder bung elastic tensioning systems – and the good news is that it fits all the Xitan poles.

The patented system has two holes in the top kit and eliminates all the problems, limitations and irritations of other ‘Pull-bung’

Browning Xitan Z9

length: 16melastic rating: 14 solid or 12/20 hollowSpares supplied: Eight Power Match kits, SuperStrong Cupping kit, two half butts, Xitan pole holdall, tubes. RRp: £2,599SSp: £1,999

Browning Xitan Z7

length: 16melastic rating: 14 solid or 12/20 hollowSpares supplied: Four Power Match top-3s, two Power Match top-4s, Super Strong Cupping kit and Browning cup set, half butt, Xitan pole holdall, tubes. RRp: £1,999SSp: £1,499

pressure of landing big fish which means that, in normal use, you shouldn’t ever break a section.

Again, Browning has supplied the Z7 with its Power Match kits and you’ll really appreciate these when fishing this pole at full length because they make it faster to respond on the strike and stiffer

than when using standard power kits. These are rated to No14 solid or No12/20 hollow elastics.

We are also impressed that Browning supplies two spare Power Match top-4 kits with this pole – handy for those occasional deep swims, or if you want to use the pole on natural venues.

Nano-Carbon fibres make the

sections very robust and the butt sections have been strengthened in key areas to prevent you putting your elbow through them on the strike.

A smooth finish on all the sections makes it very easy to ship in and out, even in wet weather.

It packs into the 13m section and has a very slim butt diameter.

fishing close to islands and snags as you can ship back quickly and efficiently to get the fish away from danger.

The inclusion of two Power Match kits in the pole package is a nice touch. They come in handy when fishing at longer lengths and really do stiffen the pole up. They will also come in handy if you want to throw some lighter rubbers in and use this pole on natural venues!

Summing up, this is an ultra-strong pole from tip to butt and is perfect for use on all styles of commercial waters, even when the biggest of carp are the target. At the full length of 16m it does become slightly hard to manage, but it is easily fishable at 14.5m.

l Short fourth: £62.13l Half butt (11.5/13m): £62.13l Super Strong Cupping kit: £70l Power Top-2: £74.73l Power Match kit: £77.88l Top-4 kit: £205.28All spares sections for Xitan poles can easily be obtained from your local Browning stockist.

Xitan Z series spares

Browning stockists

l Crewe Carpin & Match122 West Street, Crewe CW1 3HGTel: 01270 588466

l Fisherman’s Friend, 806 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 5HH, Tel: 0121 430 5177

l Fishing Republic Sheffield411 Effington Road, Attercliffe

Sheffield S9 3QDTel: 01142441339

l JP Tackle159 High Street, Maldon, EssexTel: 01621 854588

l Wickford Angling18 Robert Way, Wickford, Essex SS11 8DD

Browning Xitan Z3

Browning Tension Puller Kit

Browning Xitan Z1

Browning Xitan Z3

length: 14.5melastic rating: 16 solid or 12/20 hollowSpares supplied: Four power kits, Super Strong Cupping kit, Xitan pole holdall, tubes, half butt, Browning cup set. RRp: £999 SSp: £699

Browning Xitan Z1

length: 14.5melastic rating: No16 solid or No12/20 hollowSpares supplied: Three Power kits, Power Match kit, Xitan pole holdall, tubes, half butt, Browning cup set RRp: £699 SSp: £549

Browning’s microfine sanding process and features precision points on the butt sections.

At the full length of 14.5m it weighs just 1,277g.

systems on the market. You can still use a winder bung

to tension the elastic. There is nothing protruding from the pole – instead the elastic is ‘pulled’ at the optimum position for playing fish and it can be used like a conventional non-pull top kit where pull systems are banned.

Price: £87.50

Designed as an entry-level match pole, the Z1 would also make a great back-up tool for times when you don’t want to risk breaking your more expensive pieces of carbon.

It is 14.5m, and rated to No16 solid elastic or the equivalent No20 hollow.

It comes with three Power top kits, a Power Match kit and a Super Strong Cupping kit, giving you a total of six top kits – a pretty good deal in anyone’s book.

The inclusion of ‘Nano-Carbon’

in the pole has helped the Browning engineers to save 100g over other poles, making it a lighter, more responsive and rigid bit of kit than its predecessors.

“The patented system eliminates all the problems, limitations and irritations of other ‘Pull-bung’ systems”

There are some generic features found on all of the poles in the Xitan range which help to make them great poles. These are present on all from the flagship Z9 right down to the entry level Z1 and help create a family of exceptional poles.

KEY FEATURES

Power Match kitsA new feature that has been brought in with the Xitan range. Power Match kits are far lighter than your standard power kits but are just as strong. This means you get no added droop when fishing with the pole at full length with one of these tops in place, resulting in better rig control and more bites hit.

Diamond surfaceAll of the Xitan series feature Browning’s Diamond Surface finish on the lower, black, sections of the pole. On the butt sections a special paint is applied to ensure that they pass through your hands easily, even when the pole is at full length. This also makes easy work of shipping in damp conditions.

Precision pointsA series of marks along the butt sections allow you to fish with total accuracy. Simply plumb your swim up to coincide with one of these points, make a mental note of which one, and then you are guaranteed to always be fishing right on top of your feed.

Nano CarbonNano-Carbon is the latest carbon technology to be incorporated on Browning’s poles. It makes the carbon very durable as well as improving its rigidity and responsiveness. This means that the poles are stiffer and also less brittle, so they are less likely to break and will withstand the occasional light knock. This technology is used on all of Browning’s Xitan range.

The Xitan Z1 is a sturdy tool

that’s perfect for the novice.

The Xitan Z4 is super-strong for playing sizeable match carp.

“Browning describes this pole as a pole for ‘everything and anything’ and we agree”

For more information about

Browning’s poles call 0808 23 44 519