The lightest of the 12ft models in the Kaizen Green series is perfect for those who primarily fish smaller lakes and need a rod with excellent feel and fast response when casting smaller leads with precision – but which can still cast very far when needed.

Danny Fairbrass:
"This rod is fantastic if you're fishing relatively small waters and casting up to about 100 yards with smaller leads."

Kaizen Green – the journey explained

Following the hugely successful launch of our first rods under the Kaizen name, we followed up with a more affordable, yet still high-performance series: Kaizen Green.

Kaizen Green positions itself below the flagship Kaizen Platinum models but shares many of the same characteristics and design features that distinguish them – at a significantly more affordable price.

Our first foray into the rod market was a great success, but we also realized that not all anglers could invest in a set of Platinum rods, or perhaps didn't need that level of performance. Therefore, we developed a model that handles everything you need – except perhaps the most extreme situations – and is priced so that Kaizen Green is accessible to everyone.

The action in the various Kaizen Green models is almost identical to their Platinum counterparts. The main difference is that they are built with a more affordable carbon fibre quality. In terms of performance, this means they don't transfer casting power quite as efficiently, don't recover quite as quickly after the cast, and are slightly more prone to twisting during the cast, which can marginally affect precision. For many anglers – as long as the rods aren't pushed to their absolute limits – the difference is barely noticeable.

The entire Kaizen Green series – comprising eight different fishing rods and two spod rods – has been rigorously tested on a variety of waters and in varying fishing situations, both domestically and abroad, from land and from boats. Many Team Korda anglers have used the rods and provided feedback to refine them. The fact that these anglers chose to use them in their own fishing, despite having access to the more expensive Platinum models, speaks volumes about the quality of the Kaizen Green series.

For Kaizen Green, we have used a similar fast-tapering mandrel profile as in the Platinum series. This provides a consistent taper from butt to tip and a distinctly tip-action, where the majority of the bend occurs in the tip until the rod is more heavily loaded, for example, during casting. This improves power transfer and allows for longer casts due to high tip speeds. At the same time, the tip has enough suppleness to absorb the fish's runs near the bank without risking hook pulls – even less experienced carp anglers will appreciate how pleasant these rods are for playing fish.

Due to demand from anglers fishing large European lakes where rigs are deployed and fish are played from boats, as well as from those who don't need to cast long distances or younger anglers who struggle with 12ft or 13ft rods, we have introduced our first 10ft rods. They are available in three different test curves and cover all situations where a shorter rod is an advantage.

To complement the fishing rods, we have also developed Kaizen Green spod rods in 12ft or 13ft, which can cast even the largest Spombs and spods – up to 8oz – very far, at least as far as you can cast a baited rig with the fishing rods.

Aesthetically, the Kaizen Green series has a minimalist, custom-built feel with a low-reflection matte finish on the blank, black whippings, and a discreet green logo. The 12ft and 13ft models feature a 50mm butt ring and a 16mm tip ring, while the 10ft model has a 40mm butt ring and a 12mm tip ring. The guides are Sea-Guide TDG stainless steel with double legs – lightweight yet very strong and durable – with an ADAMAN coating that is ten times harder than stainless steel, providing smoother line flow and increased wear resistance.

In Europe, the 10ft models are also available with Sea-Guide BXTLSG rings with ceramic inserts, which are even more wear-resistant and particularly suitable for heavy braided lines under high stress.

The handle is covered in black Japanese shrink wrap with a flared butt for better grip during casting, allowing you to power through the cast with maximum force without risking your hands slipping. The reel seat is a high-quality Sea-Guide DPS type.

Danny Fairbrass is very proud of the result:

"We knew that not everyone can spend £1,300+ on a set of rods, so we wanted to create something more affordable but with almost identical performance. You could pick up a Kaizen Green and think it costs £300-£400 – that's how good they are."

"The biggest difference between Green and Kaizen Platinum is the carbon modulus – Green has a lower modulus, which requires more material for the same strength. This makes the blank slightly heavier and a little slower in recovery, but the action is almost identical."

"These rods make long-distance and precision fishing more accessible to more people, thanks to their affordable price. I like minimalist rods without flashy details – they really look custom-built."

"We've made 10-footers for the first time, and I've used them a lot when deploying rigs from a boat on large European lakes. They are easy to manoeuvre, shorter in the handle, and perfect for dropping the lead over the side."

"The 12-footers will probably be the most popular. I've tested the 12ft 3.5lb and 12ft 4lb and caught many fine fish. They have a fantastic playing curve, fast recovery, cast brilliantly, and feel light in the hand. The taper provides a forgiving tip but with enough power for really long casts."

"With the entire Kaizen Green series, we've tried to deliver the highest possible performance at a price that makes it affordable for virtually all carp anglers to own a set of rods plus a spod rod. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved – they are years ahead of other rods in the same price range, and you will be completely impressed.