It’s a brave statement, but it is very true. After an absence of twenty-five years Hardy has decided it’s time to re-enter the coarse fishing market with a range of rods offering genuine character and unparalleled charisma. Ultimate feel, amazing fish playing actions combined with lightness and precision. There is nothing quite like the Hardy Marksman range. It isn’t just the input of science and technology that makes the Marksman rods so extraordinary, there are other very important considerations. Hardy has utilised the input from their enviable line-up of top consultants and expert rod designers.

Alan Yates has spent nearly three years on the design project and John Bailey has been testing the rods on the bank for nearly as long. So have many others, including Dave Coster. All have been pushing the prototypes to the limits. To complement the Marksman float rods there is also a great centrepin called the Conquest. This has been designed by Hardy’s reel engineer Charlie Norris for specialist anglers who appreciate and understand the benefits of direct control in moving water.

The Hardy Marksman range of coarse rods is the most innovative seen for many years. Hardy have a long history of designing and building the finest fishing rods and these are no exception. Six Specialist rods for float and feeder fishing, two Specimen rods for bigger fish and the unique Marksman Ultralite Bomb rod. And if that wasn’t enough there is the superb new Conquest centerpin, a return to the Hardy tradition of building the finest coarse fishing reels.

All Marksman rods are Hardy designed and built, using high modulus carbon technology. The finest lightweight Fuji guides and custom designed aluminium reel seats. Beautiful dark olive-green finish and whippings. Alloy butt caps. And of coarse, the usual Hardy stamp of quality throughout, with aluminium stoppers, fine cloth bag and hard Cordura carry tube.