As I write, there seems to be something of a shift occurring. The nations rivers and canals are firing once again and anglers are being drawn back in numbers. At the same time, many of our now established commercial fisheries are providing some amazing non-carp orientated sport! Silver fish are in!
Browning "Champions Choice" Silverlite SL 10-08 13m - RRP £1749
In reality, Browning have taken a bit of a risk launching the Silverlite range - two high quality (and costly) poles that apparently sacrifice strength in favour of lightness and stiffness?! The risk here is due to a fairly logical assumption that most match anglers today require an all-round pole - not one that is limited just to the lighter end of the scale. You can catch roach with a carp pole, but you can't haul carp on a roach pole.
But then... times... they are'a changin'! Brave they may be but I think that Browning have judged the market to perfection and played a blinder here! I haven't got to what I think of the pole yet but even if I slate it Browning are obviously taking things seriously these days. I genuinely think they've got their timing just right. Over the past twelve months especially, some historic rivers and canals are almost back to their best - with some fishing better than ever! Where there are fish, obviously we'll follow, and assuming no natural or man-made disaster bestows our waterways any time soon it's looking very good for anglers who prefer some silver fish action! Commercials too are seeing more and more silvers orientated matches and leagues. It's great!
Anyway, on to the pole(s)!
There are two in the Silverlite range.
1) Browning CC Silverlite SL 10-12, 16m (RRP: £2799)
2) Browning CC Silverlite SL 10-08, 13m. (RRP: £1749)
I actually fished my trial sessions at Hengar Manor in Cornwall. I used to fish here a lot when I was young and once had 100lb of roach in 5 manic hours out of their main lake. Albeit on a topkit to hand - so not much of a test for any pole. Saying that, it's changed over the years and although massive weights of silvers are still very possible in the summer months, I'm testing here during early winter. Speaking to the fisher manager, Stewart Lister, he reckoned that 60lb may be possible if it fishes really well and the fish come shallow. As it turned out, we were a touch past that part of the year and they didn't come shallow, but I did manage weights up to 50lb on the Silverlite (sadly not pictured).
A month or two earlier I'd gone to the annual Tackle and Guns trade show and left completely surprised by the items I'd fallen for. You can see the full report HERE. The Browning poles were among those that I'd not expected much from. It turns out they are amazing!
Blagging my chance to use one of the Silverlites, I wasn't sad that they leant me the cheaper option. I've become quite sensible with my tackle purchases over the past 6 months in particular. I don't really match fish for example, and only really fish for silvers, so the need for a 16m pole escapes me. I've tried some incredible sub-£1000 poles just lately, and at 13m, I've handled poles like the Daiwa ZR4 at £899 (which I also now own after trying it) which are 99% as light and rigid at 13m as models within their range at 4 times the price. While writing this (2 months after testing the Silverlite in all honesty), I still think the ZR4 is the best value pole I have ever handled. Since then though, my hankering for the Browning hasn't gone away, so I've since bought one of these too. Here's why!...
I may not have fished with every top end pole on the market, but I have tried a lot. At least in a trade environment. The Browning Silverlite range are the stiffest I have EVER handled. When it comes to hitting roach bites at distance, there is currently no stiffer, more responsive range of poles anywhere at the moment! And that's not one of those "IMO" (in my opinion) types of statements because I'm worried about upsetting anybody. It's a fact. Browning fan or not (I wasn't!), they are incredible.
There are so many things I like about the Silverlite though. Even when it comes to just picking up a top kit.
For a start they come with a long, pre-bushed no.1 section. I'm a big fan of long tip sections! Obviously it's not the first time it's been done, but the length of the kits is perfect for something like the orange, J-Range Lastix (3-5) that I use a lot. The overall top kit measures 9 feet, with the tip making up at least 5 of that. You also notice the weight of the kits. I've never held anything like it. They just don't weight anything at all! This explains the poles excellent balance, which I'll get on to next. With there being so little weight at the tip, it's no wonder they're well balanced.
When looking at pole specs in the catalogues, I've come to fully realise and appreciate that it's not all about the weight of these poles that counts. Granted, at 13m and 814g it's a very light pole, but there are lighter out there. The more expensive 10-12 is only 791g at 13m, but even this gets beat on paper by some.
I've done it with a few poles since, but it was interesting to set up my existing Garbolino M3 (long considered by many a great all-round pole, of which it still is) across two rollers, along side the Silverlite 10-08. By having the butt of each pole aligned on the back roller, and moving the position of the front roller (approx. 3m in front of the first), it was interesting to see the "tipping" points of each - where the length of pole in front of the roller weighed more than the back. This gives an effective comparison to what kind of downforce you would be feeling when fishing with the pole at full length (or any length you fancy). It was also a useful comparison for length and "tip droop" too!
While not a statistical process, it was very interesting experiment nonetheless. As expected in a way, it was clear that the Garbolino was more tip heavy and tipped with the front roller far further forward than the Silverlite. It also wasn't as stiff - inevitably - because we've already established that there is more weight towards the tip of the pole! Both poles were elasticated with the same elastic in the same length; the Garbolino held a match kit to try and keep the weight down; and the length, perhaps surprisingly was only 10cm different!............
If you can read between the lines there, I had temporarily blotted my complete opinion of the Silverlite. I was full of disgust when on measuring both "13m" poles I found that the Browning measured only 12.4m at full length!!!!! I hated myself for having previously liked it so much. It'd been cheating me all along! This is solved later, so don't worry yet. The Garbolino however, is actually stated as being 12.7, but since I hacked 40cm off when elasticating, it is clear to see that the Garbolino really is "true length" - at least out of the bag. I fish that too with one of their flat butts which puts it back above 12.7m.
It turns out that the actual package for the Silverlite 10-08 comes with one of their "Adjusta" sections. I didn't have this available to me during the test weeks (I do have it now). This is basically an 80cm dolly butt with a few length markings on it which fits on the 13m section. It's been made strong enough that with some care and attention, you can actually cut the section down to give yourself exactly 13m (for CIPS rules or otherwise). Total length of the 10-08 including this section uncut is 13.1m.
I must admit, package wise the 10-08 is lacking a bit. The 10-12 fares better. Coming only in a 13m option, the 10-08 comes with only 3 top kits in reality! With just 3 kits, £1749 all of a sudden seems hugely expensive. They are top 5's though! Or top 4's according to Browning - because of that long no.1 (A) section. These measure 5.75m. Also supplied is a 2.75m cupping kit and a lovely holdall. Oh, and the Adjusta section.
I hinted earlier that I'd actually bought myself a 10-08 since the trial, and I didn't realise this about the lack of kits at the time. I assumed it would have the 7 or 8 long top 2's that come with the 10-12. Obviously this would suit a lot of us in the UK a lot more specifically. Since the kits are about the highest quality I have ever seen (and are the same regardless of whether you buy the 10-08 or the 10-12), it is a shame that it will cost me a bit to stock up on 'normal' kits. The bonus though is that because of the long tip sections, I won't need to buy complete top 2's. I'll grab a few more of those and then just mostly stock up on long no.1's for housing different elastics - grabbing a mix of the 3.0mm and 3.9mm options - as in most cases I'm only elasticating the top 1.
The no.2 sections come with a carbon wrapped section to enable you to fit your own side puller of choice. A nice touch when using lighter hollows especially. Officially, the 3.0mm tips are only rated to a no.6 elastic, while the 3.9mm tips will house up to a no.10. Also, the poles will take any top kits from the Xitan range, so you have plenty of options if these don't suit you exactly.
I'm picky about pole finishes. My favourite finish of all time was on a Shimano Speedmaster that I had years ago. When catching roach at speed you could really just chuck the pole behind you and momentum would take it back through your hands, such was the smoothness. The Silverlite is noticeable in this respect too. As the below will testify to, I fished with the pole in a mixture of conditions; from warmer sunshine to freezing wind and rain. The pole was never at all sticky in the slightest. Despite it being an awesome all-rounder, I struggled in the rain with my Garbolino G-Max M3. No problems to report on the Silverlite here.
When it comes to strength, you'd think that due to the name and the way in which you'd assume it will be marketed, that the pole is not strong. Far from it in fact, the sections are completely solid and while playing the many carp that I hooked (and mostly lost on light tackle) there was never a worry in the world that the pole was uncomfortable. Although from a warranty point of view I doubt Browning would agree, I dare say that if you put a stronger Xitan kit on it you could happily fish with this pole for carp in shallower water. Since we play carp with our poles low to the water these days - minimising stress to any of the lower sections - to get the pole back and then play carp on a stronger top kit I doubt you'd have a problem! Saying that, I don't want to be responsible if you do it and something goes pear shaped! I'm just saying, don't be worried by the thought that these poles aren't strong just because of the name. They certainly don't feel like they're made of paper, like you might assume when thinking of similarly styled poles of the past.
The overall stiffness of the Silverlite seems to be achieved by using a relatively slow tapering mandrel on the no.4 and 5 sections in particular. Larger diameter sections are obviously going to be stiffer than traditionally slimmer ones, and you can notice that when you get to the top kit, all of a sudden through the top two sections the diameter comes right down. What I basically mean is that when I'm holding the top 4 or 5, it feels fatter in my hands than poles I've previously used. I've noticed that this is also how the Daiwa ZR4 and ZR5 achieve such incredible performance considering the price. It doesn't make a difference to your fishing if you ask me (although some would class it as a negative if you're fishing in a side wind), and the level of stiffness achieved by doing this is incredible.
I spent my test sessions mostly fishing between 5 and 13m (12.4m!). I always wanted to fish a full length line to make sure I was testing the pole to the max.
The kit I had available to me was just one, 3.0mm version. Loaded with the J-Range Lastix I mentioned above, I was well set for net-fulls of roach and skimmers. Although the roach weren't as active as they are at Hengar in the summer months, I had a few sessions (more info on them later), mostly catching roach on shorter lines and skimmers at full length. From a fishing point of view, it was impossible to knock the pole to be honest. Light, super, super stiff and brilliantly smooth to ship in and out.
Thinking a little outside the box though, there were a couple of things that caught me out...
Due to the carbon wrap for the side puller kit at the bottom of the second section, I kept confusing this with the bottom of the section when I was unshipping. I did it quite a few times - trying to twist the section off at this point - rather than grabbing the correct bit just 6" below. I noted to myself that I wished that the real join had a nice gold lined, "Browning burgundy" ring around the bottom of the section so that I could go straight for it, rather than quickly looking down and getting the wrong one. I know I sound stupid, but it happened so many times... I've since ended up marking it with Tippex.
The 3.0mm tips, I will reserve for solid elastics in future. Although they handle the fine hollows fine, I did have a few "sticky" problems. The 3.9mm option will get more love from me in future.
Other than that, for the type of fishing that I do (I love silvers), the pole is absolutely superb. The only dilemma I have had is whether to over stretch myself and buy the 10-12, or to play the sensible game and save a fortune on the 10-08. In the end, I think I've decided to stick with the 10-08. It feels marginally heavier than the 10-12, but appears on par in every other respect. Except the spares. However, I can work around that - with kits being easily available. When it comes to spares, just the fact that this is not officially an all-round pole means that you don't need to arm yourself with such a broad range of elastic options anyway. I'll probably still end up with 8 or 10 tip sections, but these will mostly be filled with a small range of light elastics, up to perhaps a J-Range pink. There's no need for another 10 kits to hold every elastic option up to a Black!
In summary it is the nicest, stiffest, best balanced, lightest pole I have ever fished with. A must for any specialist angler who prefers natural waters or silver fish in general! Despite one or two negatives I've picked out above (you would find similar things with any pole, no matter how costly) I obviously loved the pole so much that I've now bought one! This is the one for me.
It's interesting when I look back at my own scoring above actually. In reality, if we look at total, overall scores I think that my Daiwa ZR4 would end up with a higher total. I love the ZR4 and will report on that one very soon as well. It's half the price with incredible performance considering the cost, but when you categorise scores like this, it's the top 3 that are the game changers and choice makers. The ZR4 has a more suitable spares package. Those spares are cheaper. HOWEVER, I've still chosen to go with the Silverlite in preference. That stiffness and balance just has so much of a say in any pole buying decision if you ask me...
The Silverlite is a specialist tool so is never going to score as well in a lot of the sections, such as strength. It's also a 13m version, realistically designed for Europe where a lot of poles are sold "pole only" for the angler to pick and chose their kits. I'm actually going to speak with Browning to see if we can do more to put together a UK package, with more, shorter kits involved.
It is however worth noting that it is possible to buy the "pole only" option, and add whatever kits you want to it. It may not work out quite as cost effective, but at least you can pick and choose. The potential result would be the perfect pole with the perfect spares package!
Although these reviews are my own personal opinions, if you didn't know already, I also run a tackle shop! If you have any more questions about the Silverlite or if you'd like to buy one of these, or any Browning model, let me know! Can get them fast and match prices!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the read! Great, great poles! My own is getting it's first official session over the next couple of weekends!
Email: ben@artoffishing.co.uk
My special thanks again go to Hengar Manor for allowing me to use a keepnet for the purpose of a few pictures. Anybody down in Cornwall on holiday should check them out! They have some great chalets and various accommodation available, along with the superb fishing! www.hengarmanor.co.uk
Browning "Champions Choice" Silverlite SL 10-08 13m - RRP £1749
In reality, Browning have taken a bit of a risk launching the Silverlite range - two high quality (and costly) poles that apparently sacrifice strength in favour of lightness and stiffness?! The risk here is due to a fairly logical assumption that most match anglers today require an all-round pole - not one that is limited just to the lighter end of the scale. You can catch roach with a carp pole, but you can't haul carp on a roach pole.
But then... times... they are'a changin'! Brave they may be but I think that Browning have judged the market to perfection and played a blinder here! I haven't got to what I think of the pole yet but even if I slate it Browning are obviously taking things seriously these days. I genuinely think they've got their timing just right. Over the past twelve months especially, some historic rivers and canals are almost back to their best - with some fishing better than ever! Where there are fish, obviously we'll follow, and assuming no natural or man-made disaster bestows our waterways any time soon it's looking very good for anglers who prefer some silver fish action! Commercials too are seeing more and more silvers orientated matches and leagues. It's great!
Anyway, on to the pole(s)!
There are two in the Silverlite range.
1) Browning CC Silverlite SL 10-12, 16m (RRP: £2799)
2) Browning CC Silverlite SL 10-08, 13m. (RRP: £1749)
I actually fished my trial sessions at Hengar Manor in Cornwall. I used to fish here a lot when I was young and once had 100lb of roach in 5 manic hours out of their main lake. Albeit on a topkit to hand - so not much of a test for any pole. Saying that, it's changed over the years and although massive weights of silvers are still very possible in the summer months, I'm testing here during early winter. Speaking to the fisher manager, Stewart Lister, he reckoned that 60lb may be possible if it fishes really well and the fish come shallow. As it turned out, we were a touch past that part of the year and they didn't come shallow, but I did manage weights up to 50lb on the Silverlite (sadly not pictured).
A month or two earlier I'd gone to the annual Tackle and Guns trade show and left completely surprised by the items I'd fallen for. You can see the full report HERE. The Browning poles were among those that I'd not expected much from. It turns out they are amazing!
Blagging my chance to use one of the Silverlites, I wasn't sad that they leant me the cheaper option. I've become quite sensible with my tackle purchases over the past 6 months in particular. I don't really match fish for example, and only really fish for silvers, so the need for a 16m pole escapes me. I've tried some incredible sub-£1000 poles just lately, and at 13m, I've handled poles like the Daiwa ZR4 at £899 (which I also now own after trying it) which are 99% as light and rigid at 13m as models within their range at 4 times the price. While writing this (2 months after testing the Silverlite in all honesty), I still think the ZR4 is the best value pole I have ever handled. Since then though, my hankering for the Browning hasn't gone away, so I've since bought one of these too. Here's why!...
I may not have fished with every top end pole on the market, but I have tried a lot. At least in a trade environment. The Browning Silverlite range are the stiffest I have EVER handled. When it comes to hitting roach bites at distance, there is currently no stiffer, more responsive range of poles anywhere at the moment! And that's not one of those "IMO" (in my opinion) types of statements because I'm worried about upsetting anybody. It's a fact. Browning fan or not (I wasn't!), they are incredible.
There are so many things I like about the Silverlite though. Even when it comes to just picking up a top kit.
For a start they come with a long, pre-bushed no.1 section. I'm a big fan of long tip sections! Obviously it's not the first time it's been done, but the length of the kits is perfect for something like the orange, J-Range Lastix (3-5) that I use a lot. The overall top kit measures 9 feet, with the tip making up at least 5 of that. You also notice the weight of the kits. I've never held anything like it. They just don't weight anything at all! This explains the poles excellent balance, which I'll get on to next. With there being so little weight at the tip, it's no wonder they're well balanced.
When looking at pole specs in the catalogues, I've come to fully realise and appreciate that it's not all about the weight of these poles that counts. Granted, at 13m and 814g it's a very light pole, but there are lighter out there. The more expensive 10-12 is only 791g at 13m, but even this gets beat on paper by some.
I've done it with a few poles since, but it was interesting to set up my existing Garbolino M3 (long considered by many a great all-round pole, of which it still is) across two rollers, along side the Silverlite 10-08. By having the butt of each pole aligned on the back roller, and moving the position of the front roller (approx. 3m in front of the first), it was interesting to see the "tipping" points of each - where the length of pole in front of the roller weighed more than the back. This gives an effective comparison to what kind of downforce you would be feeling when fishing with the pole at full length (or any length you fancy). It was also a useful comparison for length and "tip droop" too!
While not a statistical process, it was very interesting experiment nonetheless. As expected in a way, it was clear that the Garbolino was more tip heavy and tipped with the front roller far further forward than the Silverlite. It also wasn't as stiff - inevitably - because we've already established that there is more weight towards the tip of the pole! Both poles were elasticated with the same elastic in the same length; the Garbolino held a match kit to try and keep the weight down; and the length, perhaps surprisingly was only 10cm different!............
If you can read between the lines there, I had temporarily blotted my complete opinion of the Silverlite. I was full of disgust when on measuring both "13m" poles I found that the Browning measured only 12.4m at full length!!!!! I hated myself for having previously liked it so much. It'd been cheating me all along! This is solved later, so don't worry yet. The Garbolino however, is actually stated as being 12.7, but since I hacked 40cm off when elasticating, it is clear to see that the Garbolino really is "true length" - at least out of the bag. I fish that too with one of their flat butts which puts it back above 12.7m.
It turns out that the actual package for the Silverlite 10-08 comes with one of their "Adjusta" sections. I didn't have this available to me during the test weeks (I do have it now). This is basically an 80cm dolly butt with a few length markings on it which fits on the 13m section. It's been made strong enough that with some care and attention, you can actually cut the section down to give yourself exactly 13m (for CIPS rules or otherwise). Total length of the 10-08 including this section uncut is 13.1m.
I must admit, package wise the 10-08 is lacking a bit. The 10-12 fares better. Coming only in a 13m option, the 10-08 comes with only 3 top kits in reality! With just 3 kits, £1749 all of a sudden seems hugely expensive. They are top 5's though! Or top 4's according to Browning - because of that long no.1 (A) section. These measure 5.75m. Also supplied is a 2.75m cupping kit and a lovely holdall. Oh, and the Adjusta section.
I hinted earlier that I'd actually bought myself a 10-08 since the trial, and I didn't realise this about the lack of kits at the time. I assumed it would have the 7 or 8 long top 2's that come with the 10-12. Obviously this would suit a lot of us in the UK a lot more specifically. Since the kits are about the highest quality I have ever seen (and are the same regardless of whether you buy the 10-08 or the 10-12), it is a shame that it will cost me a bit to stock up on 'normal' kits. The bonus though is that because of the long tip sections, I won't need to buy complete top 2's. I'll grab a few more of those and then just mostly stock up on long no.1's for housing different elastics - grabbing a mix of the 3.0mm and 3.9mm options - as in most cases I'm only elasticating the top 1.
The no.2 sections come with a carbon wrapped section to enable you to fit your own side puller of choice. A nice touch when using lighter hollows especially. Officially, the 3.0mm tips are only rated to a no.6 elastic, while the 3.9mm tips will house up to a no.10. Also, the poles will take any top kits from the Xitan range, so you have plenty of options if these don't suit you exactly.
I'm picky about pole finishes. My favourite finish of all time was on a Shimano Speedmaster that I had years ago. When catching roach at speed you could really just chuck the pole behind you and momentum would take it back through your hands, such was the smoothness. The Silverlite is noticeable in this respect too. As the below will testify to, I fished with the pole in a mixture of conditions; from warmer sunshine to freezing wind and rain. The pole was never at all sticky in the slightest. Despite it being an awesome all-rounder, I struggled in the rain with my Garbolino G-Max M3. No problems to report on the Silverlite here.
When it comes to strength, you'd think that due to the name and the way in which you'd assume it will be marketed, that the pole is not strong. Far from it in fact, the sections are completely solid and while playing the many carp that I hooked (and mostly lost on light tackle) there was never a worry in the world that the pole was uncomfortable. Although from a warranty point of view I doubt Browning would agree, I dare say that if you put a stronger Xitan kit on it you could happily fish with this pole for carp in shallower water. Since we play carp with our poles low to the water these days - minimising stress to any of the lower sections - to get the pole back and then play carp on a stronger top kit I doubt you'd have a problem! Saying that, I don't want to be responsible if you do it and something goes pear shaped! I'm just saying, don't be worried by the thought that these poles aren't strong just because of the name. They certainly don't feel like they're made of paper, like you might assume when thinking of similarly styled poles of the past.
The overall stiffness of the Silverlite seems to be achieved by using a relatively slow tapering mandrel on the no.4 and 5 sections in particular. Larger diameter sections are obviously going to be stiffer than traditionally slimmer ones, and you can notice that when you get to the top kit, all of a sudden through the top two sections the diameter comes right down. What I basically mean is that when I'm holding the top 4 or 5, it feels fatter in my hands than poles I've previously used. I've noticed that this is also how the Daiwa ZR4 and ZR5 achieve such incredible performance considering the price. It doesn't make a difference to your fishing if you ask me (although some would class it as a negative if you're fishing in a side wind), and the level of stiffness achieved by doing this is incredible.
I spent my test sessions mostly fishing between 5 and 13m (12.4m!). I always wanted to fish a full length line to make sure I was testing the pole to the max.
The kit I had available to me was just one, 3.0mm version. Loaded with the J-Range Lastix I mentioned above, I was well set for net-fulls of roach and skimmers. Although the roach weren't as active as they are at Hengar in the summer months, I had a few sessions (more info on them later), mostly catching roach on shorter lines and skimmers at full length. From a fishing point of view, it was impossible to knock the pole to be honest. Light, super, super stiff and brilliantly smooth to ship in and out.
Thinking a little outside the box though, there were a couple of things that caught me out...
Due to the carbon wrap for the side puller kit at the bottom of the second section, I kept confusing this with the bottom of the section when I was unshipping. I did it quite a few times - trying to twist the section off at this point - rather than grabbing the correct bit just 6" below. I noted to myself that I wished that the real join had a nice gold lined, "Browning burgundy" ring around the bottom of the section so that I could go straight for it, rather than quickly looking down and getting the wrong one. I know I sound stupid, but it happened so many times... I've since ended up marking it with Tippex.
The 3.0mm tips, I will reserve for solid elastics in future. Although they handle the fine hollows fine, I did have a few "sticky" problems. The 3.9mm option will get more love from me in future.
Other than that, for the type of fishing that I do (I love silvers), the pole is absolutely superb. The only dilemma I have had is whether to over stretch myself and buy the 10-12, or to play the sensible game and save a fortune on the 10-08. In the end, I think I've decided to stick with the 10-08. It feels marginally heavier than the 10-12, but appears on par in every other respect. Except the spares. However, I can work around that - with kits being easily available. When it comes to spares, just the fact that this is not officially an all-round pole means that you don't need to arm yourself with such a broad range of elastic options anyway. I'll probably still end up with 8 or 10 tip sections, but these will mostly be filled with a small range of light elastics, up to perhaps a J-Range pink. There's no need for another 10 kits to hold every elastic option up to a Black!
| Scores (our of 5): | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stiffness | 5 | Like a poker. |
| Weight | 4.5 | Not as light as the 10-12, but still very impressive. |
| Balance | 5 | Such lightness in the tip means the pole feels extremely light to hold. |
| Finish | 5 | Super smooth. |
| True Length | 4.5 | You do indeed get a 13m pole here. 13.1m in fact. However, I prefer to have my "13m" section be the one that actually gets me to 13m! |
| Strength | 3.5 | It would have to be a margin pole to score 5. For a specialist silver fish pole though it'd actually score top marks. Feels 100% solid but low elastic ratings suggest it shouldn't be pushed with heavy elastics of for specifically targeting big fish. It will happily handle the odd surprise lump though! |
| Spares Package | 2 | Just one cupping kit and 3 x top 5's effectively - one inside the pole and two spares. I won't yet rule out Browning being flexible with this one though. Unless you're a river connoisseur, the majority of British anglers will request and require a different setup. I think they'll likely listen. |
| Spares Cost | 3 | Although the top kits are the highest quality I've ever seen, the fact that there is no cheaper option for this 10-08 models means you're paying RRP £99 for a spare long top 2, as you would for the more costly 10-12. Looking at some of the cheaper Browning poles, their kits aren't cheap either though. |
| Spares Versatility | 5 | I love the long no.1's and the fact that all Xitan kits will fit the pole. |
| Other little feaures | 5 | Pre-cut, pre-bushed, wrap for side pullers, 'precision' marks on various sections, choppable dolly butt, there are lots and lots of things to like. The Holdall is nice quality too! |
| Value for Money | 4 | Despite any slight negatives above, this pole is just superb! Stiffer and better balanced than anything else I've seen (beaten on weight only by the 10-12) |
| Overall Performance | 5 | Apart from a few minor improvements that I've already suggested, the pole is faultless in use! |
It's interesting when I look back at my own scoring above actually. In reality, if we look at total, overall scores I think that my Daiwa ZR4 would end up with a higher total. I love the ZR4 and will report on that one very soon as well. It's half the price with incredible performance considering the cost, but when you categorise scores like this, it's the top 3 that are the game changers and choice makers. The ZR4 has a more suitable spares package. Those spares are cheaper. HOWEVER, I've still chosen to go with the Silverlite in preference. That stiffness and balance just has so much of a say in any pole buying decision if you ask me...
The Silverlite is a specialist tool so is never going to score as well in a lot of the sections, such as strength. It's also a 13m version, realistically designed for Europe where a lot of poles are sold "pole only" for the angler to pick and chose their kits. I'm actually going to speak with Browning to see if we can do more to put together a UK package, with more, shorter kits involved.
Although these reviews are my own personal opinions, if you didn't know already, I also run a tackle shop! If you have any more questions about the Silverlite or if you'd like to buy one of these, or any Browning model, let me know! Can get them fast and match prices!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the read! Great, great poles! My own is getting it's first official session over the next couple of weekends!
Email: ben@artoffishing.co.uk
My special thanks again go to Hengar Manor for allowing me to use a keepnet for the purpose of a few pictures. Anybody down in Cornwall on holiday should check them out! They have some great chalets and various accommodation available, along with the superb fishing! www.hengarmanor.co.uk
