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Predator rods · Light lure fishing · Our take
Savage Gear SG2 Light Game Rod
6ft6 / 1.98m · 5–18g · 2 sections
The 6ft6, 5–18g SG2 Light Game makes sense for perch-focused lure fishing where neat casts and close control matter more than launching halfway across the lake.
- Listed model measures 6ft6 / 1.98m and breaks into two sections.
- Casting rating is 5–18g.
- Japanese Toray 24+30T carbon blank with a fast yet forgiving action.
- Seaguide CCS stainless-steel guides with SIN rings; rod bag included.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the listed 6ft6, 5–18g model, rather than every rod carrying the SG2 Light Game name.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A good fit for compact, perch-focused lure fishing, with scores reflecting its intended role and entry-level positioning rather than any promise of extra catches.
- Product Quality8.8/10
- Performance8.7/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8/10
- Ease of Use9/10
- Value for Money8.8/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Perch anglers covering plenty of water. The compact length and 5–18g rating suit a mobile approach with small shads, jigs and hard lures.
- Anglers building a straightforward light-lure outfit. It offers a clear working range and practical two-piece layout without pushing you into a highly specialised technique.
Maybe skip if
- Ultralight lure specialists. Regularly fishing complete presentations below 5g calls for a lighter-rated rod.
- Dedicated pike anglers or distance-focused bank anglers. Its light casting range and compact length aren’t aimed at larger predator lures, heavy cover or maximum reach.
The lowdown
Introducing the Savage Gear SG2 Light Game Rod
The 6ft6, 5–18g SG2 Light Game makes sense for perch-focused lure fishing where neat casts and close control matter more than launching halfway across the lake.
- Listed model measures 6ft6 / 1.98m and breaks into two sections.
- Casting rating is 5–18g.
- Japanese Toray 24+30T carbon blank with a fast yet forgiving action.
- Seaguide CCS stainless-steel guides with SIN rings; rod bag included.
Quick verdict
A sensible little lure rod with a clear job
The SG2 Light Game has a nicely judged brief: manageable length, a useful light-lure casting range and a fast yet forgiving action. For working small shads, jigheads and suitably weighted hard lures around perch spots, that’s a cracking starting point.
Just keep its limits in mind, mate. It isn’t an ultralight wand, a long-distance bank rod or a dedicated pike tool. Buy it for compact, mobile lure fishing and the package makes much more sense.
A good fit for compact, perch-focused lure fishing, with scores reflecting its intended role and entry-level positioning rather than any promise of extra catches.
- Product Quality
- 8.8/10
- Performance
- 8.7/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8/10
- Ease of Use
- 9/10
- Value for Money
- 8.8/10
The named carbon blank, Seaguide fittings and double-lock reel seat make a convincing package for its bracket.
Its compact length and fast yet forgiving action suit controlled light-lure work, with understandable limits on reach and casting load.
A suitable lure rod helps presentation and control, but finding fish and choosing the right depth still matter more.
The manageable length, two-piece construction and straightforward casting range make it an approachable light-lure option.
Its practical fittings and focused design make sense in the entry-level bracket, provided light-lure fishing is what you actually need.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Savage Gear
Savage Gear SG2 Light Game 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 Savage Gear SG2 Light Game Rod
If your idea of a decent afternoon is a lure box in your pocket and a wander along the canal, the Savage Gear SG2 Light Game is pointed in the right direction. This particular version is 6ft6, or 1.98m, with a 5–18g casting rating. That puts it in a useful patch for perch-focused lure fishing: small shads, jig rigs and suitably weighted hard lures, rather than massive pike baits or tiny specialist ultralight offerings. It’s a compact rod with a fairly clear job, which is no bad thing.
The length is probably the first thing to think about, rather than getting lost in carbon labels. At 1.98m, you’ve got a shorter lever for putting a lure into gaps and working it with little movements of the wrist. That makes sense around moored boats, open stretches of towpath and swims where there isn’t much room for a big sweeping cast. It won’t magically get you through overhanging branches, mind. You still need room to cast safely, especially with walkers and cyclists about.
Then there’s that 5–18g window. It gives you scope to change presentations without immediately needing another outfit, provided the finished lure stays within the rating. A small paddle tail on a jighead is the obvious starting point, but appropriately weighted spinners and plugs belong in the conversation too. Don’t just read the weight on the head and call it done. The plastic adds weight, sometimes enough to matter when you’re near the top end. A quick check at home saves a bit of guesswork on the bank.
Savage Gear describes the action as fast yet forgiving, and that’s a sensible combination for this sort of fishing. The fast side is aimed at giving you control when hopping a lure or changing its pace; the forgiving side brings some cushioning once a fish is attached. With perch, there’s little benefit in treating every bite like you’re trying to set a sea anchor. Keep the line under control, make a positive connection and let the rod and a sensibly set clutch work together. No need for heroics, mate.
The blank uses Japanese Toray 24+30T carbon, paired with Seaguide CCS stainless-steel guides and SIN rings. Those are useful details to know, but the carbon label alone doesn’t tell you exactly how every faint knock will feel. Lure weight, line management, wind and how you’re fishing all play their part. If you’re letting a jig fall through the water, watch the line as well as waiting for a tap. A little flick or an unexpected stop can be your cue to tighten up.
Elsewhere, you get a carbon reel seat with a competition double-lock design, plus EVA and hard-plastic handle materials. The locking arrangement is there to help keep the reel secure during repeated casting and retrieving. Practical stuff, rather than something that needs dressing up as a fish-catching secret. Match it with a compact spinning reel that leaves the outfit feeling balanced, rather than choosing purely by the number on the spool. An awkwardly matched reel can make a neat little rod feel much less handy over a long wander.
There are limits, obviously. A shorter rod gives you less reach when you need to hold line clear of bankside growth or steer a lure around an awkward edge. And if your local fishing means long casts across open water, a longer suitable rod may make life easier. The same goes for proper pike work: this isn’t the outfit to buy for big lures and heavy cover. Where pike might grab your perch lure, use a suitable bite-resistant trace and have the right landing and unhooking kit ready.
For the angler who wants to keep moving, though, the overall setup is appealing. Two sections make getting it into the car straightforward, and the supplied rod bag is handy for keeping things together, although it isn’t a crush-proof case. The black finish keeps the look understated. More importantly, the length, casting range and intended action all point towards the same sort of fishing. Pick it for working sensible light lures around reachable spots, rather than expecting one rod to do everything, and you’re shopping in the right lane.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Length and sections
- 6ft6 / 1.98m; 2 sections
- Casting weight
- 5–18g
- Blank and action
- Japanese Toray 24+30T carbon; fast yet forgiving
- Guides
- Seaguide CCS stainless steel with SIN rings
- Reel seat and handle
- Carbon reel seat with competition double-lock design; EVA and hard-plastic handle materials
- Finish and extras
- Black colour scheme; supplied with a rod bag
Specs checked with Savage Gear, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Control first, distance second
The big attraction here is the 1.98m length. It suits a roving approach, with repeated casts into gaps, alongside boats or down the margins rather than an afternoon trying to reach the far horizon.
That 5–18g rating also keeps the outfit firmly in everyday light-lure territory. Count the complete lure weight, not just the number stamped on the jighead.
The build
What you’re actually buying
This is a two-piece light-lure rod built around a Toray 24+30T carbon blank. The listed fast yet forgiving action is the important bit for its intended role: enough directness for working lures, with some give when a fish changes direction. Don’t confuse fast action with unlimited power. The 5–18g casting rating still defines the sort of load you should be putting through it.
Seaguide CCS stainless-steel guides with SIN rings handle the line path, while the carbon double-lock reel seat is intended to hold the reel firmly in place. EVA and hard plastic keep the handle arrangement practical. Check the joints and reel-seat locking parts before starting a session, and inspect guide inserts if the rod takes a knock. Boring little jobs, but dead handy for avoiding preventable grief.
Worth knowing. The included rod bag keeps the sections together and offers basic protection from scuffs. For a car boot full of tackle or travel with other luggage, a protective tube or properly padded holdall is a better bet.
On the bank
For the angler who’d rather keep moving
A roving perch angler is the clearest match. Carry a modest selection of lures within the casting range, cover likely features and vary depth before endlessly swapping colours. Along a canal, that could mean exploring boat-side shade, junctions and the near shelf where access and local rules allow. The compact length suits placing and working a lure at these reachable spots.
It also makes sense if you’re moving into lure fishing and want a defined starting point. Build the outfit around the water you actually fish, though. Deep water or strong flow can demand heavier presentations than this rod accommodates, while tiny shallow-water offerings may sit below its lower rating. Neither problem is solved by wishing the label said something else.
For open reservoirs, high banks or awkward bankside vegetation, think carefully about reach. A longer rod can help with line control and clearing obstacles. If you deliberately target pike, choose tackle suited to the lures, fish and cover instead. This SG2’s appeal is its focused light-lure role, not being a one-rod answer to every predator session.
A few practical answers
Lure weights, perch and the pike question
Is it suitable for perch? Yes, particularly where your complete lure weights fall within 5–18g. Small shads and appropriately weighted hard lures are sensible partners. For jig fishing, choose enough weight to control the presentation at your chosen depth without automatically reaching for the heaviest head. If the conditions require more than the rod’s rating, change the outfit rather than forcing it.
What counts towards the casting weight? Everything you’re casting as the presentation. With a jighead and soft plastic, count both; with a weighted rig, include the lure and attached weights. The printed rating is a working boundary, not a challenge to overload the blank. Keep casts smooth, especially towards the upper end.
What if pike live in the same water? Plan for them before the first cast. Use an appropriate bite-resistant trace wherever a pike take is a realistic possibility, and have a suitable net, unhooking tools and fish-care setup ready. If pike become the intended quarry, step up to a purpose-suited outfit. A trace protects against teeth; it doesn’t add power to the rod.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Compact length suits close-range lure placement and working confined swims.
- Useful casting range for a perch-focused selection of small lures.
- Fast yet forgiving action balances lure control with some cushioning.
- Two-piece build and included bag make transport straightforward.
Worth knowing
- Shorter length gives less reach for clearing bankside obstacles and managing line.
- The 5g lower rating isn’t ideal for genuinely tiny ultralight presentations.
- Not the right tool for deliberately targeting pike or fishing heavy cover.
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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.
01Is the SG2 Light Game a good fit for perch fishing?
Is the SG2 Light Game a good fit for perch fishing?
Yes, this 5–18g version makes sense for perch fishing with appropriately weighted shads, jig rigs and small hard lures. It’s less suited to tiny presentations below its stated casting range.
02Does the 5–18g rating include the soft plastic?
Does the 5–18g rating include the soft plastic?
Yes. Treat it as the complete casting load: jighead, soft plastic and any other attached weight. A head marked 10g doesn’t make the finished lure a 10g presentation.
03Can you use it where pike are present?
Can you use it where pike are present?
Where a pike bite is a realistic possibility, use a suitable bite-resistant trace and carry proper landing and unhooking gear. That precaution doesn’t turn this light rod into a dedicated pike outfit.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a sensible little lure rod with a clear job. The strongest reasons to choose it are compact length suits close-range lure placement and working confined swims. and useful casting range for a perch-focused selection of small lures.; the main trade-off is shorter length gives less reach for clearing bankside obstacles and managing line..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Compact length suits close-range lure placement and working confined swims.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Perch anglers covering plenty of water: The compact length and 5–18g rating suit a mobile approach with small shads, jigs and hard lures.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “Shorter length gives less reach for clearing bankside obstacles and managing line.”
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 Savage Gear SG2 Light Game Rod
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Owner reports
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