Nash Scope Black Ops Review
Last Updated on 9 September 2024 by James Bevan
The Nash Scope Black Ops Carp Rod is a unique-looking rod that is packed full of features and has become a favourite with those following the recent trend of fishing with 10ft rods.
It is classed as a premium rod but do all the bells and whistles warrant the premium price?
In this Nash Scope Black Ops review, I take an in-depth look at all the attributes that are important in a carp rod. I, and some carp rod experts, examine the rod’s features, specifications, appearance, casting ability, what it’s like to play fish and overall value for money.
So, if you’re ready, let’s dive in!
Comparison To Similar Rods
| Name | Overall Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Nash Scope Black Ops Carp Rod | 9.2 | from £345.99 |
| Nash Scope Black Ops Sawn Off | 8.6 | from £229.99 |
| Greys AirCurve Carp Rod | 9.1 | from £212.49 |
| Century C2 Mk2 Carp Rod | 9.2 | from £415.00 |
| Daiwa Infinity X45 | 9.4 | from £319.99 |
| Daiwa Basia X45X Carp Rod | 9.3 | from £494.99 |
| Century Stealth Graphene Carp Rod | 9.4 | from £459.00 |
| Harrison Torrix Carp Rod | 9.4 | from £374.00 |
| Free Spirit Hi-S Carp Rod | 9.3 | from £419.00 |
| Shimano TX-9 Carp Rod | 8.6 | from £309.99 |
| Daiwa Longbow X45 | 8.7 | from £239.99 |
| Korda Kaizen Platinum Carp Rod | 8.9 | from £409.99 |
How The Rod Compares To The Averages
Quick Summary
The Nash Scope Black Ops Rod is a premium rod that many carp anglers opt for when they are looking for a quality, shorter rod for either general carp fishing or stalking.
It is a unique-looking rod that is packed full of features and is a favourite with those fishermen that are following the recent trend of fishing with 10ft rods.
The range lacks versatility, purely because it is only available in shorter lengths with the traditional 12 and 13-foot versions not being manufactured. Despite this, it still ranks at number 7 in my list of the best carp rods in the tackle shops today.
Pros & Cons
I had some good quality time with the rod whilst compiling this Nash Scope Black Ops review over the course of a number of sessions on a variety of different venues. Here are the pros and cons of the rod I found when testing:
Pros
- Quality carbon fittings (backstop, line clip)
- Two-piece rod with a retractable butt section, so it packs down very easily
- 50mm eyes and 16mm anti-frap tip guide make for smooth, effortless casting
- Blank uses extreme strength high modulus carbon and strengthening cross warp, making it incredibly hardy while staying remarkably lightweight.
- Rod has a very slick, distinctive ‘stealth’ look
- Handle’s paracord grip stays in the hand like velcro and is very easy to hold when wet
- The Scope Black Ops provides performs exceptionally when stalking carp
Cons
- Small selection of lengths/test curves available
- Less than ideal for fishing larger venues as rod is on the shorter side
Introducing The Nash Scope Black Ops
Available in lengths of 9 and 10 feet, as well as test curves of 3 and 3.5lbs, the Nash Scope Black Ops Carp Rod is essentially a premium or high-performance take on the other rods in Nash’s Scope range.
The rod features a very distinctive, slick black finish, super light high-modulus carbon blank, 50mm eyes as standard, and some very high-quality hardware.
Who’s it ideal for
Anglers who find themselves stalking carp more often than not are almost guaranteed to love the Scope Black Ops. This is a remarkably lightweight rod that, thanks to its shorter length, eliminates most of the issues that can make stalking carp tricky or problematic.
With that being said, the Scope Black Ops also casts really well thanks to its powerful high modulus carbon blank, as well as its 50mm eyes and 16mm tip guide, which work well to limit line frap. So, carpers who prefer using shorter rods more generally are also likely to enjoy the Scope Black Ops, provided that it’s within their budget.
I should also mention here that the Scope Black Ops is a two-piece rod and the butt piece is retractable, something that anglers who really value portability in their gear are sure to appreciate.
Where Did the Nash Scope Black Ops Carp Rod Come From?
Nash is a reputable UK-based company that manufactures lots of angling gear. As mentioned previously, the Black Ops is the Scope range’s premium offering and combines high-performance hardware, a unique, all-black finish and powerful performance to create a rod suited to stalking carp or those that prefer to fish generally with a shorter rod.
The rod was released in 2018 and has since fast become one of the more popular and reputable rods in the Nash range.
The Different Versions Of The Nash Scope Black Ops
There are 5 versions of the Scope Black ops available in tackle shops all ranging from between 6, 9 and 10-foot lengths. The 6-foot version (also called the sawn-off model) only comes in a 3lb test curve option whereas the 9 and 10-foot lengths are available in 3 and 3.5lb test curves.
You can check out the weight and the maximum casting distance of these rods in the following table:
| Length | Test Curve | Max Cast Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 6 ft | 3lb | 70 yds |
| 9 ft | 3lb | 90 yds |
| 9 ft | 3.5lb | 110 yds |
| 10 ft | 3lb | 100 yds |
| 10 ft | 3.5lb | 130 yds |
The 5 Attributes The Rod Was Tested Against
As mentioned previously in the article, there are 5 key elements that carp anglers look for in the best rods. These are as follows:
- Features
- Appearance
- Casting & Feel
- Playing Fish
- Value For Money
For more detail on the review process please visit the designated review explanation page that outlines how products are reviewed on eTackle.
The Nash Scope Black Ops Review
So having set the scene with where the rod came from and what criteria the rod was tested against let’s now get into how it performed.
First off, let’s see how the experts have rated this rod…
More Details
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The Key Attributes Scrutinised
Features & Specifications
The handle
The Scope Black Ops boasts a very sturdy handle with a unique paracord grip, making the handle exceptionally grippy and easy to hold even when wet.
The reel seat
With its slick, black Alps ARD reel fittings, the Scope Black Ops keeps your reel firmly in place. The knurled twin locking collars are not only elegant but also rock solid.
The eyes/guides
The Scope Black Ops comes with quality, 50mm Pacific Bay high stand-off Minima guides which work well to prevent line frap.
The blank
Easily one of the Scope Black Ops’ greatest strengths, its powerful high modulus carbon blank uses 24 and 30-tonne carbon with strengthening cross warp and 1k carbon weave, keeping it both ultra-strong and remarkably lightweight.
Features & Specifications Summary
- Available in 9 & 10-foot lengths
- Test curves available include 3lb and 3.5lb
- ALPS ARD reel fittings finished in a matt black coating
- High stand-off minima guides
- Unique black para cord butt grip
- Anti-frap tip guide
- Carbon backstop
- Carbon line clip
Here’s what the experts said about the rods features:
"These are top-end rods, built to the highest spec… In fact they feature more rod tech than your average two-piece model thanks to that retracting butt section."More Details "A little backstop attached by a whipping is handy for those guys that fish close to snags and want to make sure your rod stays in position on the take."
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Appearance
The Scope Black Ops’ appearance is very distinctive, making it stand out from the crowd even when many other rods feature black blanks and hardware. Contrasting nicely with the shine of the Alps reel seat is the blank’s matte finish and 1k carbon weave, and the rod’s diamond-shaped butt cap is a nice touch, too.
Here’s what the experts said about the Black Ops appearance:
"They do look lovely with 1k carbon weave and Alps ARD reel seats. The bottom of the handle is also wrapped in Para Cord for a unique and really interesting look."More Details "The pointed matt black diamond-shaped butt cap really does look cool and stylish, especially with the paracord butt grip which I have never seen before."
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Casting & Feel
Despite its shorter length, the Scope Black Ops is a more than capable caster thanks to its ultra-powerful blank and anti-frap eyes and tip guide. While the rod is best suited to stalking carp, make no mistake; I was very pleasantly surprised by how capably the Scope Black Ops handled longer casts, too.
This is what the experts said about how the rod casts and feels when handled:
"These rods, made from a blend of 24 and 30-tonne carbons, boast high-stand-off Minima guides and an Anti-Frap Tournament Tip Ring to aid casting."More Details "The 50mm guides lead all the way up to the anti-frap 16mm tip ring which helps the rod cast far."
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Playing Fish
The Scope Black Ops feels punchy and responsive when playing fish, especially at shorter distances. It’s easily at its strongest when stalking carp, but I found that the rod is generally balanced and responsive no matter the venue. The rod’s handle with its paracord grip also helps you deliver plenty of power through the blank when you really need it, too.
And, while this is a shorter rod, make no mistake – with 3lb and 3.5lb test curve models available, this rod can more than hold its own when fishing for bigger carp, too.
Here are some quotes from the experts on how the rod performs when playing fish:
"The rods minima guides are black and super light which doesn’t just enhance casting distance, but also blank sensitivity and transmission, great for playing fish."More Details "There's a model in the scope range that will suit all types of fishing."
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Value For Money
The issue of whether or not the Scope Black Ops represents good value for money is a tricky one. On the one hand, this is an exceptionally well-made rod that offers outstanding performance in the arenas it’s best suited to; namely, stalking carp and perhaps angling on smaller venues more generally.
However, the rod is fairly specialised for the same reason. Being on the shorter side, this is one of the less versatile carping rods out there, and anglers who like to fish for carp on large venues might find that the Scope Black Ops struggles to give them what they’re looking for, despite its admittedly impressive casting power and balanced feel.
I’d say that, for carpers who primarily enjoy stalking carp or angling smaller venues, it’s hard to go wrong with the Scope Black Ops. This is a high-performance rod that is very well made and will last a long time if maintained properly.
However, anglers looking for more of a workhorse carping rod or just something more versatile will likely not find the Scope Black Ops to be worth its price (this rod does not come cheap, after all).
Here’s how the experts scored the rod on value for money:
"You shouldn’t gasp when we tell you prices start at £299.99 and topping out at £349.99. Yes, that’s a lot of money in any language, but these truly do represent outstanding quality."More Details "No Comment"
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Final Thoughts & Conclusions
Nash’s Scope Black Ops Carp Rod is a well-crafted, quality piece of gear that carpers who primarily stalk carp or who prefer a shorter rod are sure to appreciate. It offers premium performance, plenty of quality-of-life features, and a unique, memorable look to boot.
With that being said, this is something of a specialised rod and is unlikely to appeal to anglers looking for a rod they can naturally apply to a wider range of venues or situations.
You can see this rod as well as all the other top rods I have featured in the recommended carp rod category in our shop below.
I hope this review of the Nash Scope Black Ops carp rod has been useful.
Thanks for reading.
