Small/Med Baitrunner ?

[S-Kippy]

I'm after something medium sized...something around the 035/040 mark for lead/feeder work at short/med range mostly with 6-8lb line...possibly 10.

But I am a fussy devil and have an intense dislike of double handles and big chunky/heavy reels. This narrows the choice down a bit.

Shimano 4000 DL : Double handle...and I'm not a Shimano fan.I think they are overrated & overpriced...especially the smaller ones.

Daiwa Regal Z : I like Diawa's...and this is single handled & not too heavy at 035/040.Never had a Daiwa BR.

Okuma V2 : I like Okuma's too..I have a pair of Epix Pro 4000 [brilliant reels] but they are too big & heavy for what I am wanting this for.Never seen this reel but if its as big/heavy as the Epix Pro's then there is no point.

Korum : Light enough but double handle again.Had a spin...very average IMO.

It has to have the BR facility so its there if I need it...which I know I will.

Suggestions or recommendations ? Told you I was fussy...not that I needed to !

Skippy

[itsfishingnotcatching]

You could try this Skippy

Okuma Opti-Drag Baitfeeder Reel with line

I've got the 2500 which is a bit small for what you want, BUT I think this model has been discontinued and I don't know why

Ian

Sorry mate, forgot it was double handled

[barbelboi]

I've had the DL4000RA's for well over a year Skippy and am well pleased with them - you can pick them up for around £60 now.
Jerry

[Jeff Woodhouse]

Originally Posted by S-Kippy

It has to have the BR facility so its there if I need it

So it HAS to be a Shimano as only they can call it a Baitrunner, it's registered...

But why not the ST FA 2500 or 4000? This only has a single handle, a plastic spool admittedly, but do you really need a heavy aluminium one?



Have you considered the ABU Cardinal 403i? here's one on EBAY

[S-Kippy]

Yes thank's Jeff...yet another hair split.

No it doesn't have to have an aluminium spool but as I'm a tart I'd rather it did.I did say that I dont like Shimano's and I like that one possibly least of all. I can't help it...I just don't like them and swapped all of my smaller sized ones for Daiwa's.

I like Okuma's but in my experience they are oddly sized. The 30 is quite dinky and the 40 a bit of a beast no matter what model it happens to be.

I am leaning towards the Regal Z. The spool diameters on all Daiwa's seem that bit bigger than other manufacturers. I think that helps both casting & line lay.

[Jeff Woodhouse]

Originally Posted by S-Kippy

No it doesn't have to have an aluminium spool but as I'm a tart I'd rather it did.

Alright, but did you look up the ABU I linked in my edit?

Last year I visited a local shop where Will Barnard (lovely boy ) was working at the time and we both remarked how nice and smooth these reels were, possibly better than the Shimano.

[S-Kippy]

The Abu looks OK....hard to guage size though and only one spool too. Still leaning towards the Daiwa as I'm a bit wary of the lesser brands...Okuma excepted.

[peter crabtree]

Skippy, can I ask what fish you will be targeting with this reel?

[benny samways]

S-Kippy, I used to hate Shimanos too. Rear Drag baitrunners are *****-un-zee-houzen and way over priced.

I love my epix pro-30s, these go on my avon rods and feeder rods and cope admirably.

BUT, why not try the 4000-d (sometimes DEU). It is a beauty of a reel and sits permantly on my Barbel rod. I could easily use it for float fishing, floater fishing, feeder fishing- anything really its a lovely mid-sized reel that in these days of sepcific tools for specifics jobs could still very easily be a reel for all jobs.

The D is miles ahead of the ST's and DLs or whatever they are.

[S-Kippy]

Big tench,medium sized carp, barbel possibly,Simon. I want a "go to" specimen/feeder type reel with a baitrunner facility which I must confess even I was a bit surprised that I dont possess.I have any number of reels as you can imagine.

I am simply not a fan of big heavy reels.....nearly all my many f/s reels are fairly small 2500/3000 size. What I'm after needs to be fairly rugged but I do not subscribe to the current vogue of big powerful rods & huge reels for everything.The most I'll ever ask of this is to [perhaps] chuck a biggish feeder 60 yards or so and I shall be using it on rods that actually bend.

You know the sort of fishing I tend to do. "Proper" carping excepted there is no place in my box for a 6000 size reel that weighs a ton and holds half a mile of line.

---------- Post added at 12:44 ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 ----------

Originally Posted by benny samways

S-Kippy, I used to hate Shimanos too. Rear Drag baitrunners are *****-un-zee-houzen and way over priced.

I love my epix pro-30s, these go on my avon rods and feeder rods and cope admirably.

Cheers Benny....I too am a big,big fan of the Epix Pro's. Why they discontinued this is beyond me but the 30 is too small for what I envisage & the 40 too big. I know this for a fact because I have both.

Its not just the reel but the rods I'll be using them on and how....by modern standards these are quite gentle things. I fully understand why [in certain circumstances] you need big powerful rods/reels but I get no enjoyment from fishing like that. I want to catch tench under my rod tip....not 80 yards out on a bolt rigged feeder and a carp rod.