Korum five rod quiver review revisited

I might have been slightly hard on Korum, when I reviewed their five rod quiver. Having walked a long old way with it today, I'm starting to warm to it - despite what I thought were shortcomings when I first got my hands on it.

Bank stick pockets on the same side as the rods is still an issue. But not as big an issue if you're travelling light, without alarms. I didn't like the lack of flaps on the pockets either, to start with. But the shorter pocket, with a zip that travels two-thirds of the way down it, is tailor made for forceps, long-nosed pliers and hook cutters - as long as you don't tip the quiver upside-down, obviously.

When I lamented the lack of safety strap as a fail-safe to keep the rods in, I didn't realise how good the velcro bands at the top were. While I'm still a little wary of entrusting my beloved bean poles to them, I didn't notice the bottom pockets that hold the butt and tip ring - if you carry your rods tackled-up, with sections reversed - are padded.

Another plus point is the comfy and adjustable strap. You can easily move this and the carry handle from one side to another. I only had two rods in it today, plus net and four sticks, but you don't notice the weight when it's over your shoulder.

Click here for another take on the Korum five rod quiver from Dave Lumb.

Click here for a review of the Korum rucksack.

Korum five rod quiver reviewed

I was well impressed with the quality for under £30 - well up to Korum's usual standards. I also liked the idea of a quiver that can carry five rods - ie the usual four plus a lure rod. Other features look cool - the strap and handle can be fitted to either side, depending how you usually carry your gear on a yomp; the mesh net pocket (just in case I catch something before moving swims...) etc.

But there are one or two bugbears with this piece of kit. Slight niggles rather than sufficient to merit giving it a bum review, although you might bear them in mind as some might find them annoying.

The two pockets for banksticks don't have flaps. They're also on the same side of the body as the pockets/velcro straps that hold your rods. You might find this an issue if you mooch around with bite alarms screwed into your bank sticks, as they form a lump exactly under where you have a fairly limited amount of wriggle room when it comes to strapping in your rods.

I can see this causing me grief at some point. No worries, stick the bank sticks in the main compartment, as I never take a brolly fishing, let alone a shelter (whatever that is...). There's one problem with this , if your alarms have push button on/off switches. When they bang together knocking around loose in the main compartment, they're going to get switched on and start beeping.

One other niggle, albeit one that's easily cured. I don't know how reliable the velcro retaining straps are, but there's no safety strap that goes round the lot, like there is on a lot of quivers.

Apart from extra security, the added strap helps stop the rods twisting and flapping about. Easily cured by using a couple of bungee straps when I get round to finding a couple the right size.

Not a deal breaker, but maybe something Korum might look at when they produce the next model. In the meantime, this one's still better made than a lot of them.

+++Post script - I'm starting to warm to it after using it a couple of times linky...

++++Click here for review of the excellent Korum rucksack...

Korum rig clips could be useful for pike anglers

I rarely splash out on new rig bits, but I have a feeling these Korum clips I found in Hunstanton Tackle today are going to prove incredibly useful. 

They're meant for running rigs for carp and other species, but they have one unique attribute which will be of interest to pike anglers who move around a few waters during the course of a day - or fish waters which are apt to change, like tidal rivers or drains which can be standing one minute and pumping off the next.

The way they're made means that you can easily slip them on and off your line in a couple of seconds, without having to break everything down.

That means you could add a running lead to a rig if - for example - the three or four swan shots you pinched on your trace when you started off no longer hold the bait still when the wind gets up or the drain starts running off.

I can't claim to have discovered them. Hat tip to Dave Lumb for that, see here and here.

Korum rucksack reviewed

I was well impressed when Rob bought one of these last season. Noticing it was still going strong a year later, I decided if it could survive a winter fishing with Rob, it would probably last me as well.

The first thing you notice is how much gear it swallows. More than enough room for all the kit I'm likely to need in a day, with side pockets for unhooking tools and mesh outer-pockets I can stick forceps, pliers, cutters etc in when I get there so they're all to hand when needed.


One feature I like is the top compartment, which takes the bits box and another box of odds and ends, meaning I've got everything handy if I need to change a rig.

It also has a zipped clear pocket ideal for keeping things like sharpening stone, trace blades, tape measure etc - the things I used to keep in my pockets, then find them missing when I needed them because I'd left the coat in the car.

It stands up on its base, so you can work out of the top compartment when you're tackling up. It's also lined and made of a more durable material than a lot of luggage, including some items by household names.


Korum haven't really made their mark on pike fishing yet, but one or two more well-designed items like this might change that. They make a sexy two-rod quiver too.

Postscript.... I can still remember the day Rob showed me his new rucksack.

We were on some pits and I had the dog with me. The dog looked quite impressed when Rob took me through its various features, before he got his rods set up.

As he was tightening the first one down and setting his drop-off, the dog ambled up to the rucker, gave it a sniff by way of a once-over and christened it in the way that only dogs can.

I gingerly turned it around, so the wet patch was facing Rob's van - hoping he wouldn't notice.

"They say they're waterproof too," I said, as the dog dodged the Skeetex boot aimed squarely at his hairy butt.

"Yeah mate," said Rob. "It's got a built-in rain cover too."

Click here for a bit more on some of the other gear I use.