file

TACKLE
EXCLUSIVE TEST
Back by
DEMAND!
Shakespeare re-launches the K2 Titanium
Team Extreme, the first long three-piece
Continental rod to appear on British beaches
Words by Paul Fenech
Photography by Lloyd Rogers
SHAKESPEARE K2 TITANIUM TEAM
EXTREME PRICE: £199, £209, £219
W
hen I was selected to
represent SAMF as part of
their international Match
Team, we were facing the
Belgium internationals on
their home turf.
The first thing that really stood out to me
was the kit used by our opponents. They had
long three-piece rods and big fixed-spool
reels loaded with thin mono or braid, and
you could say this was typical Continental
shore fishing tactics, totally new to us.
Being part of the British contingent,
though, meant we used what could best be
described as typical UK shore fishing tactics.
This basically saw us using powerful twopiece beach rods and fast multiplier reels.
Even though we won that particular event,
the Belgians pushed us all the way. Their
light-line tactics and sensitive rods were the
topic of our conversation back at base as we
discussed whether or not their match fishing
approach would work on British beaches.
That’s when Shakespeare introduced its
three-piece rod called the K2. Match anglers
quickly jumped on it as UK shore fishing
began the transition to a lighter approach.
To put it in simple terms, lighter lines,
longer rigs and tiny baits were now easy to
present perfectly and, more importantly,
further. This is what set the trend for this
type of angling, and Shakespeare’s superb K2
rod was to the forefront of it all.
The market soon filled up with many other
brands of rod carrying the Continental tag
as Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French
and many others appeared and the choice
became massive. The K2, though, was soon
lost in the flood of three-piece rods landing
on British soil, and quietly faded away.
But, like all good things, it never really
went away. Shakespeare started to receive
phone calls, emails and letters from many
shore anglers asking what had become of the
K2 and, with this much interest shown in the
rod, decided to bring it back.
SPECS AND PERFORMANCE
The Shakespeare K2 Titanium Team
Extreme is by far one of the best three-piece
beach rods I’ve used. It doesn’t have a quiver
tip, nor does it have multiple separate quiver
sections either.
The fact is, it’s a rod designed for our style
of beach fishing where strong tides, swells
and crunching waves all play a part. It’s
perfect for handling it all.
This rod is certainly at home using Pennell
rigs for cod or long three-hook flappers
armed with tiny hooks for flatfish.
Casting performance is fantastic too, one
of the best I’ve experienced with this style of
rod. It didn’t fold, collapse or die during my
session using it.
Originally designed for Shakespeare by
the Dutch international team, it’s a highmodulus carbon blank that is absolutely
stuffed with power.
You will also notice that it possesses a
unique titanium cross-weave on the butt and
mid-section. This boosts the power even
further without adding to the rod’s diameter
or weight.
The tip section, however, is hollow.
This provides incredible bite detection,
importantly from many of the smaller
species that feed off our shores.
Ringed for a fixed-spool reel, the Fuji threelegged guides are positioned perfectly so as
not to affect the action at all. One thing is for
sure, you won’t experience any flat spots on
this outfit when giving it a proper hit.
A genuine Fuji DPS screw winch reel
seat is fitted in the correct position (for
me anyway), so your hands can be utilised
properly to get a powerful and comfortable
cast away without any hiccups.
Match this rod with a large surf fixed-spool
reel loaded with either braid or mono and
you will notice immediately just how good it
really is. As I said earlier, it’s one of the best
three-piece rods I’ve used, and can’t rate it
highly enough.
There are three lengths to choose from –
14ft, 15ft and 16ft – rated to cast 4-8oz. All
are built to the exact same spec and finish.
How the K2 ever fell off the radar is
puzzling, but the good news is it’s back by
popular demand.
For more info or to locate your nearest Shakespeare
stockist, tel: 01665 602771.
Web: www.shakespeare-fishing.co.uk
UP CLOSE: A LOOK AT THE RODS
The K2 Team Extreme is built from a
powerful, yet sensitive, carbon blank
Butt and mid-sections have a
power-boosting titanium cross weave
The Fuji guides allow line to flow
freely through them on the cast
The hollow tip section is coloured
white for ease of spotting bites
TECH SPEC
LENGTH: 14ft, 15ft, 16ft
SECTIONS: Three
RATING: 4-8oz
GUIDES: Fuji
REEL SEAT: Fuji DPS screw-winch
BAG: Yes
PRICE: £199, £209, £219
The Fuji DPS reel seat allows the
caster to use his hands to full effect