Shimano has had a long association with Beastmaster, and the resurrection of the name through this series implies tough rods for tough fish under tough conditions.

These rods are every bit as sharp as the swords they were named after. Graphite blanks, Fuji guides and graphite reel seats are a feature, with cork grips on the lighter rods and hard-wearing EVA on the bigger outfits. Whether you spin for trout, troll for barra, flick Squidgies for snapper, or surf fish for salmon, there's a rod here to suit, and the deep purple blanks look absolutely sensational.

This is a big rod range, perfect for newcomers to fishing. They're high on performance and quality, but not necessarily on price.