Owning a Daiwa carp rod brings quality and a trusted brand to your setup.
In fact Daiwa is among my favourite brands for carp tackle, in particular their rods and reels!
This article showcases all the rods Daiwa have to offer, and includes my review of the Infinity DF, Crosscast and underrated Powermesh rod ranges.
I hope you find these helpful and that the information here goes a long way to deciding your first rod setup, or simply to replace an existing one!
Jump to: Black Widow G50 | Longbow X45 DF | Infinity DF | Crosscast | Powermesh | Daiwa D | Phantom
Best Value For Money
1. Daiwa Black Widow G50
Features
Light Carbon Blanks
DPS Reel Seat
LS Ceramic Rings
Slim Profile
Read More
Rating
4.5
2. Daiwa Longbow X45 DF
Features
X45 compression zone
Minima 4 guides
50mm butt guide
Silk Matt low glare finish
Read More
Rating
4.8
Top Of The Range
3. Daiwa Infinity DF
Features
Magnum Taper fast action blank
Silk matt low glare finish
Medium profile, high diameter guides
Fuji graphite reel seat
Read More
Rating
4.7
Perfect For Beginners
4. Daiwa Crosscast
Features
Lightweight 1k woven carbon
50mm butt guide
Shrink grip handle
Stainless guides with LS rings
Read More
Rating
4.5
5. Daiwa Powermesh
Features
Lightweight 1k woven carbon
50mm butt guide
Shrink grip handle
Stainless guides with LS rings
Read More
Rating
4.6
6. Daiwa D Rod
Features
Premium-grade Carbon Blanks
Excellent Value
Low-glare Matt Finish
Crisp Action
Aluminium Oxide Guides
Read More
Rating
4.4
7. Daiwa Phantom
Features
Strong Backbone
Progressive Tip Action
Great Budget Rod
Black Matte Finish
Read More
Rating
4.3
#1
Daiwa Black Widow G50
Best Value For Money
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Re-designed, the action of these rods is unrivalled compared to other models at this price point!
The Daiwa G50 absorbs the load right across the entire length, making for a fascinating duel between angler and fish.
The cover a range of fishing styles, from giving you a good cushion for hook holds, to under the tip lunges, it is a great all-rounder.
When it comes to casting, especially medium to long range, this was done with surprising accuracy!
Looking at the make up of this rod, there are some great features which include a stainless-steel frame guides, lightweight ceramic LS rings and the presence of a 50mm butt guide, except on the shorter 10ft model.
Apart from perhaps the Wychwood Riot rods, I really can’t think of a more powerful and forgiving rod than the Daiwa Black Widow G50!
Features
Lightweight carbon blanks
DPS style reel seat
Slim profile full shrink grip handle
Stainless steel frame guides
Lightweight LS ceramic rings
50mm Butt guides (Except BWC0300-BU model)
Aluminium butt cap
Available Models
10ft – 3.00lb (Max. 80yds)
12ft – 2.75lb (Max. 100yds)
12ft – 3.00lb (Max. 110 yds)
12ft – 3.25lb (Max. 110 yds)
12ft – 3.50lb (Max. 120 yds)
12ft – 4.50lb (Max. 130 yds)
Video Review!
Related Products
#2
Daiwa Longbow X45 DF
Slightly less expensive than the Infinity, the Longbow DF is another weapon crafted by Danny Fairbrass that has been around for a while now!
Designed to harness ‘high energy’ for casting 160yards plus, the X45 compression zone cushions any heavy end tackle such as PVA bags, or heavier leads that are required to stick to the lakebed in stronger currents.
The minima 4 guides and medium taper profile really help achieve this even further!
Similar to the Infinity DF, features include a silk matt finish (low glare of course!), a Fuji DPS reel seat, and metal butt cap and trim rings for an ultra-premium look finish, and feel!
For prolonged casting at distance, I would choose the Longbow DF over the Infinity Df – but there really isn’t much in it!
Features
Designed in conjunction with Danny Fairbrass
X45 compression zone
Minima 4 guides
50mm butt guide (except floater special)
Silk Matt low glare finish
Fast taper profile
Fuji DPS reel seat
Profiles NS shrink tube handle
Metal butt cap and trim rings
Custom build finish throughout
Video Review!
Related Products
Top Of The Range
#3
Daiwa Infinity DF
If you’re looking for a top-end rod capable of hitting huge distances (up to 175 yards), then the Daiwa Infinity DF could the rod for you!
Using the reliable magnum taper profile, which has been used for many years by Europe’s top anglers, Danny Fairbrass has crafted a design that is highly distinctive by using a low glare finish.
Big hitters prefer a setup that works for them, which is why the Infinity DF features a 50mm butt guide, and moves up the rod with rings that are 38mm and 32mm which ‘funnels’ the line towards the tip.
The SiC guides offer a high diameter which really allows line to flow smoothly during every cast.
Other prominent features include a Fuji graphite reel seat, steel trim rings and profiled NS grip that gives the whole rod an elegant look.
Again, this might be a rod to consider if you’re thinking of going all out on a top model that is built to last!
Features
Designed in conjunction with Danny Fairbrass
Infinity Magnum Taper fast action blank
Silk matt low glare finish
Medium profile, high diameter guide configuration
Fuji graphite reel seat
Profiled, NS shrink tube handle
Stainless steel butt cap and trim rings
Custom build finish throughout
Video Review!
Ideal for Beginners
#4
Daiwa Crosscast
Sold as highly efficient, and equipped at dealing with fishing small to medium waters, the Daiwa Crosscast range features plenty of models for dealing with many angling situations.
The 1k woven carbon is particularly impressive, especially at this price point!
Bar the 10ft models, the rest feature a 50mm butt ring fancied by most anglers these days.
A Fuji DPS reel seat and ceramic guides with LS rings tops off some amazing features that have gone into the Crosscast.
For newcomers, or anglers returning to the sport, these are perhaps a good option if you’re not keen on wasting money on a cheap rod setup, or something that doesn’t quite tick another boxes!
Features
1K Woven Carbon
Fuji DPS Reel Seat
Shrink Grip Handle with Flared Butt
Stainless Guides with LS rings
50mm Butt Guide (30mm on 10′ rods)
Video Review!
Related Products
#5
Daiwa Powermesh
Perhaps underrated, the Fox Powermesh range include a raft of features you may only find on high-end rods!
Made using a strengthened 1k woven carbon blank, this allows you to really chuck out your rigs to over 100 yards with relative ease.
Low mass ceramic rings, and a slim profile blank, really does make for a well-designed carp rod.
Daiwa have also decided to release a wide range or test curve options, including a 13ft 3.50lb monster for launching heavy setups, such as a weighted PVA bag just primed for a bite!
If you’re still undecided about what rod setup to go for, the range of Powermesh offers some awesome features that will really aid your fishing, especially for long distance heavy casting work.
Features
High grade carbon blanks with 1K woven carbon
FUJI DPS reel seat
Slim profile shrink grip handle
Stainless steel frame guides
Lightweight LS ceramic rings
50mm Butt guides (Except PMC2214FS-AU Floater)
Aluminium butt cap
Also included in the range 9’0” 2.75lb Stalker rod
Video Review!
Related Products
#6
Daiwa D Rod
Released just last year (2018), the Daiwa ‘D’ range of carp rods have been designed for new anglers, or those looking for something cheap, but efficient!
Updated, it really is a high quality rod that performs very well, especially at short to medium range.
There are just three test curve options available, but these are more than enough to cover a good range of fish sizes and end tackle setups.
I only managed to test this rod for a couple of hours, with just one fish landed, but they felt good and I enjoyed the fight very much!
They look pretty decent, and if these were available 20 to 30 years ago, I would have been very happy with having these as my main rods!
Features
Premium grade carbon blanks
Low glare matt tape finish
Improved crisp action
Aluminium Oxide guides with Stainless Steel frame
Available Models
12ft – 2.75lb
12ft – 3.00lb
12ft – 3.50lb
Related Products
#7
Daiwa Phantom
Although I believe these have now been discontinued by Daiwa, there are still plenty of rods knocking around to warrant a small review!
I actually owned a couple of these a few years back as something my friend could use on the odd occasion he fancied a fishing trip.
Modelled on the hugely popular Black Widow range, they are great value and equally as good as the ‘D’ rods above.
Finished in a nice matt black, they look at home on the bank and I thought they performed very well indeed for a fraction of the cost of say the Infinity, or the Longbow!
A strong backbone, progressive action and titanium oxide double leg guides offers a great all round carp rod more than capable of landing double figure fish!
Features
Strong backbone
Progressive tip action
Titanium oxide double leg guides
Black matte finish
Overview
That concludes my daiwa carp rod reviews I’m afraid!
Do you own a Daiwa rod?
If so, what made you choose them?
I look forward to hearing your comments below as always!
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Last update on 2023-11-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API