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Pike tackle · Deadbait rods · Our take
Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi Range Rod
12ft Pike Tamer Multi Range · RPT634
A proper pike deadbait rod with a forgiving tip, serious casting manners and enough backbone for big winter predators.
- 12ft deadbait rod with a current model code of RPT634.
- Approximately 3.25lb to 3.75lb test curve, depending on model generation.
- Designed for deadbaits including smelts, sardines and half mackerel.
- The softer tip is intended to reduce soft-bait cast-offs.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the current Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi-Range Rod, manufacturer code RPT634. Older listings may show reference REC386 and slightly different test-curve details.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A high-quality specialist pike rod with a thoughtful bait-friendly tip and plenty of range.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality9.6/10
- Performance9.5/10
- Impact on Fish Catching9.2/10
- Ease of Use8.6/10
- Value for Money8.7/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Dedicated pike deadbait anglers. You get the casting power, bait-friendly tip and length needed for presenting deadbaits properly across rivers, drains and stillwaters.
- Anglers fishing larger waters or awkwardly distant spots. The 12ft blank gives useful line control and helps put bigger baits out with confidence, including loads around the older 3lb model’s approximately 5oz capability.
Maybe skip if
- Small-venue margin anglers. In a tight swim with trees, reeds and snaggy edges, 12ft can become a right faff.
- Anglers wanting one rod for everything. This is built around pike deadbaiting. It won’t replace a lighter float rod, feeder rod or conventional carp setup.
The lowdown
Introducing the Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi Range Rod
A proper pike deadbait rod with a forgiving tip, serious casting manners and enough backbone for big winter predators.
- 12ft deadbait rod with a current model code of RPT634.
- Approximately 3.25lb to 3.75lb test curve, depending on model generation.
- Designed for deadbaits including smelts, sardines and half mackerel.
- The softer tip is intended to reduce soft-bait cast-offs.
Quick verdict
A cracking specialist pike rod
The Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi Range is built for anglers who want one serious deadbait rod that can handle a range of bait sizes and venues. Its softer tip helps keep delicate smelts, sardines and half mackerel attached, while the lower section has the grunt needed when a big pike turns up.
It’s not a cheap-and-cheerful general-purpose rod, and the 12ft length won’t suit every cramped swim. But for proper pike deadbaiting, especially where casting distance and control matter, this is a bob-on bit of kit with plenty of thought behind it.
A high-quality specialist pike rod with a thoughtful bait-friendly tip and plenty of range.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 9.6/10
- Performance
- 9.5/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 9.2/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.6/10
- Value for Money
- 8.7/10
High-modulus carbon, a full cork handle and sensible ceramic-lined guides make this a properly considered specialist build.
The combination of a softer tip and powerful lower blank should cover a broad spread of deadbait work.
Keeping fragile baits attached and improving control at distance can make a real difference to presentation.
The rod is straightforward to fish with, though the 12ft length and powerful action won’t suit every swim or angler.
It looks strong value for a dedicated pike angler, but occasional predator anglers may struggle to justify specialist tackle.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Free Spirit
Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi Range Rod (this one)
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi Range Rod
The Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi Range is the sort of rod that makes sense when you’re serious about deadbaiting for pike. Not a dainty little wand for flicking tiny lures. This is a 12-footer built to put proper baits in front of a hungry predator and then stay composed when something with teeth and attitude grabs hold.
The current model is coded RPT634, although you may still spot older retailer listings using REC386. That matters because the test curve can vary between generations, roughly from 3.25lb to 3.75lb. So don’t just glance at a listing and assume every Tamer is identical, mate. Check which version you’re actually buying.
At its heart is a slim high-modulus 36T carbon blank. That gives the rod a crisp, controlled feel without making it a massive broomstick. The finish is Free Spirit’s durable Perdurable raw-carbon style, which keeps the look understated and practical. No daft bling needed when you’re stood beside a windswept reservoir in January.
The clever bit is the softer tip. Pike deadbaits can be fragile things, especially smelts and oily little sardines. A tip that’s too brutal can turn a cast into a shower of scales and disappointment. This rod is designed to cushion that initial punch, helping keep the bait attached while still building power lower down the blank.
That doesn’t mean it’s soft all the way through. Far from it. The butt section has the authority you want when you’re casting a half mackerel, steering a pike away from weed or lifting line clear of a far-bank reedbed. It’s a useful balance: forgiving up top, properly purposeful underneath.
The 12ft length is handy for more than just distance. You get better line control when fishing a float ledger or running a deadbait under a float, and it helps keep line above marginal weed. On a big open water, that extra reach can be dead handy. In a cramped little canal swim, mind, it may feel like you’ve brought a broom to a cupboard.
Free Spirit fits the rod with a full cork handle, which gives it a traditional predator-rod character and plenty of grip in cold weather. The 485mm handle length offers leverage for casting and playing fish, while the DPS-M18/DPS-style reel seat should accommodate a suitable big-pit or predator reel without any daft faff.
The guide train is sensible too. Current rods use black four-leg cradle-style ceramic-lined guides in a 40/30/25/20/16/12 layout, finishing with a ceramic-lined anti-frap tip. That’s the sort of practical arrangement you want when braid or heavier mono needs to leave the spool cleanly and the weather is doing its usual winter nonsense.
At 363g for the current RPT634, it isn’t a featherweight wand, but that’s a fair figure for a 12ft rod with this sort of backbone. The real question is whether you need a specialist deadbait tool. If the answer’s yes, this looks properly well judged. If you’re only having the odd pike trip, there are cheaper and less focused ways to get a bait in the water.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Length
- 12ft
- Test curve
- Approximately 3.25lb to 3.75lb, depending on model generation
- Current model code
- RPT634
- Blank and finish
- Slim high-modulus 36T carbon with durable Perdurable raw-carbon finish
- Handle and reel seat
- Full cork handle, 485mm handle length, DPS-M18/DPS-style reel seat
- Guides
- Black four-leg cradle-style ceramic-lined guides; current layout 40/30/25/20/16/12, with ceramic-lined anti-frap tip
Specs checked with Free Spirit, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
A pike rod that’s more forgiving than it looks
The interesting bit here is the balance between a fairly powerful blank and a softer tip. That combination is handy when you’re lobbing oily deadbaits rather than launching neat little leads. You get casting control without making the tip so stiff that a soft bait gets ripped off on the way out.
The full cork handle, slim 36T carbon blank and practical guide layout give it a classic predator-rod feel, rather than the stripped-back look of a modern carp rod. It’s a specialist tool, but a properly versatile one within that job.
The build
A proper deadbait tool, not a dressed-up carp rod
The 12ft 36T carbon blank is slim but powerful, with the current rod weighing 363g. Its softer tip is the headline feature for bait anglers, helping reduce cast-offs when using smelts, sardines and half mackerel. Lower down, the blank has enough authority for heavier casts and firm fish control.
The full cork handle gives it a familiar predator-rod feel. Add the DPS-style reel seat, black cradle-style ceramic-lined guides and anti-frap tip, and the package looks aimed squarely at real winter pike work rather than showroom posing.
Worth knowing. The current code is RPT634, but older versions and listings can show REC386. Test curves vary by generation, so check the exact model before matching reels, lines and casting loads.
On the bank
Made for bait anglers who need reach and control
This rod suits anglers fishing bigger stillwaters, reservoirs, rivers and drains where a 12ft blank helps with casting, line control and keeping bait clear of weed. It’s also a strong choice when your bait menu includes more than tiny sprats and you want one rod to cover a broad range of deadbait jobs.
Use a suitable predator reel, sensible main line and a proper wire trace. The rod’s softer tip can help present a bait naturally under a float or on a ledger, while the butt gives you control once the pike is moving. As ever, don’t bully fish unnecessarily and use tackle that matches the venue.
It’s less convincing for anglers fishing tiny canals, overgrown margins or compact swims where a shorter rod is easier to manoeuvre. And if most of your fishing is carp, tench or general coarse work, this is a lot of specialist tackle for a job you may only do twice a year.
Quick answers
The stuff you’ll want to know before buying
The rod is primarily for deadbaiting, with the softer tip intended to protect soft baits during the cast. It isn’t designed as a light lure rod, and its 12ft length makes it more at home on open banks than tight little margin swims.
The current guide sizes are 40/30/25/20/16/12, ending in a ceramic-lined anti-frap tip with a 3.0mm tip diameter. The older 3lb model’s approximate casting guidance reaches up to 5oz, but model generation matters.
Worth knowing. If you’re buying second-hand or from an older listing, compare the model reference, test curve and handle details. ‘Pike Tamer’ covers more than one generation, and the current RPT634 shouldn’t automatically be treated as identical to REC386.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Forgiving tip helps delicate deadbaits stay on during the cast.
- Plenty of power for larger pike, bigger baits and long-range work.
- Full cork handle feels natural for long winter sessions.
- Slim high-modulus 36T carbon blank keeps the rod relatively light for its power.
- Useful multi-range design rather than a one-trick pike rod.
Worth knowing
- A 12ft specialist rod can feel cumbersome in tight, snaggy or overgrown swims.
- The powerful test curve may be more rod than you need for small baits and short-range margin fishing.
- Specialist pike tackle like this makes less sense if you mainly fish for carp or coarse species.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01What size deadbaits can the Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi Range handle?
What size deadbaits can the Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi Range handle?
It’s designed for deadbaits such as smelts, sardines and half mackerel. The softer tip helps protect delicate baits, while the powerful butt gives you confidence when casting larger offerings. The older 3lb model is quoted for baits up to approximately 5oz, but check the exact generation before pushing it hard.
02Is the Pike Tamer suitable for lure fishing?
Is the Pike Tamer suitable for lure fishing?
It’s primarily a deadbait rod, not a lightweight lure rod. You could use it for certain heavy predator presentations, but its length, test curve and softer deadbait-friendly tip are aimed at bait fishing rather than flicking small lures all day.
03Which model number should I look for?
Which model number should I look for?
The current Tamer Multi-Range model is RPT634. Older retailer listings may show REC386, so compare the handle, finish and stated test curve carefully when buying.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a cracking specialist pike rod. The strongest reasons to choose it are forgiving tip helps delicate deadbaits stay on during the cast. and plenty of power for larger pike, bigger baits and long-range work.; the main trade-off is a 12ft specialist rod can feel cumbersome in tight, snaggy or overgrown swims..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Forgiving tip helps delicate deadbaits stay on during the cast.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Dedicated pike deadbait anglers: You get the casting power, bait-friendly tip and length needed for presenting deadbaits properly across rivers, drains and stillwaters.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “A 12ft specialist rod can feel cumbersome in tight, snaggy or overgrown swims.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Free Spirit Pike Tamer Multi Range Rod
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