A Perfect Fixed Spool Trotting Reel

The biggest problem is the reach

There is an opportunity to look at match/trotting reel design that might just produce a winner going well beyond that currently available. Is the design I propose feasible? Is it producible and sellable such that it is worth pursuing? That is for the reel manufacturers to answer. Although much of modern British coarse angling is carp/barbel, feeder, pole oriented there remains a tremendous number of match/pleasure anglers that also floatfish with stick floats, Avons and wagglers.

Now for some fixed spool reel history (not too much I promise)

The Mitchell 300 appeared around 1948, full bale in 1954 – designed by a man with short fingers – for spinning. The closeness of the spool to the handle of the rod made it ideal for trotting. The automatic opening bale came in the 1950’s (Otomatic) with higher gearing in the 1960’s (the 410), the two being married in the Mitchell Match in the late 1960’s. This reel was phenomenal. Good line lay, and later bale arm rollers meant it sold and sold, and despite being out of production it is still in demand. It is outdated, heavy, prone to tangling, and not especially smooth (some would say rough!). Other manufacturers attempted Mitchell Match copies, notably Daiwa and Ryobi but neither achieved a reel even as good as the original never mind an improvement (too heavy, spools too narrow, spool lip too far from finger).

Since then manufacturers like Shimano and Daiwa have led the way with superbly engineered reels but none that can match a Mitchell Match for one-handed trotting despite its shortcomings. Daiwa’s top of the range reels have the right shape, the weight is coming down (2-3 ounces to go) but still need an auto bale arm as described below. Pure Fishing’s relaunch of the Mitchell 300X completely misses the mark – the dimensions are way off.

What are the requirements for a perfect one-handed match/trotting reel for 2003? What modern reel features meet them and what innovations might produce a real winner?

This is what I want

I want an automatic bale that opens at one touch, a good tangle-free bale arm with a twist-free roller that works. I want a retrieve of about 30 – 33 inches (750 – 820 mm) per turn. I want shallow spools – perhaps a selection taking between 100m x 2lbs (0.12mm) to 100m x 6lbs (0.18mm). Overall I want smoothness and reliability. I also want this reel to have the correct dimensions yet weigh about six ounces (170 grams). The correct dimensions for trotting means a reel with which I can easily reach the lip of the spool with my forefinger with the reel stem held between my second and third fingers.

My pocket does not stretch to buying every reel that is launched but I spend enough time in tackle shops, at shows and on the riverbank to get some idea of what is about. I have yet to see a reel meeting the above requirements.

It is interesting looking at pictures of some well-known anglers trotting with modern reels to see how they are trying to overcome what are fundamental design errors that prevent them from controlling the line easily (usually holding the reel stem between their third and little fingers). I currently use Mitchell Matches but these are prone to tangles, have a poor bale roller, and wear out quickly, becoming noisy. It is interesting to see that John Allerton continues to use these reels but with a modification that brings the spool lip even closer to his finger by somehow bending the reel stem. I have tried some Shimano 1000 GTMs which are a little on the small side yet fantastically engineered – alter the dimensions slightly, get the weight down and add an automatic bale arm and you are almost there. The bigger Shimano reels are okay for feeder fishing but just too big for trotting.

Part of the problem comes down to the old ‘one size fits all’ philosophy. Ask a car designer what size of person he has designed a car for and he or she will tell you between 5 feet and 6 feet tall. Ask someone who is 4’9″ or 6′ 9″ how easy it is to find a comfortable car to drive and prepare for some abusive language. Add to the problem that the vast majority of reels are designed for spinning, not trotting, and it becomes easy to see why it might be difficult to get the dimensions right. There is also a trend for the spool to become longer and thinner as a result of the change to skirted spools.

Let’s take each design point in turn

Weight
Weight should be less than 6oz (200 grams) as an ideal but 7oz might be more pragmatic. Don’t forget modern match rods weigh less than five ounces.This is definitely achievable – Shimano are leading the way with their latest magnesium technology though there are other ways to achieve this. With the complex design we are looking at, this will have to be borne in mind at every stage.

Spool shape
The same as the old Mitchell Match, ie, not too long a stroke = 18mm spool length, but skirted. Width of spool 47mm. I am looking for a short stroke reel. This keeps the spool within reach of the finger more easily. A wider spool prevents line curl.

Bale arm
Hollow, with a power roller to prevent line twist. With both manual and automatic opening and closing. The opening part ought to be switchable. If this were the case the reel would be better for legering. It should be designed in a way that tangles were few and pickup transfer when trotting is smooth without line loss or tangle. The overall shape needs to be such that the angler does not suffer rapped knuckles though with the next feature those with huge hands will be able to keep the moving parts further away from their fingers.

Reel stem
As I seem to have small hands how about an adjustable stem for a concept. It should be adjustable so that the axis of the spool can be changed slightly towards the first rod ring as well as in length to suit different sized fingers. There is, I believe, an optimum position for the first rod ring for float rods (about 50cm from reel?), maybe consider aligning it with that. One possibility would be to have an interchangeable part as the stem that fixed into the top of the reel body. As few as four or five stems would cover this. I was once told that the original Mitchell designer (of the 300) had small hands hence the dimensions inherited by the Mitchell Match. To see how user friendly a reel is, measure from the angle between the reel foot and stem to the lip of the spool with the spool in its full in and out positions – ideal is 70mm min 80mm max or slightly less in both cases.

Drag
I don’t mind as long as it works. These add weight to the reel so might need to be whatever is lightest.

Gearing and bearings
The reel manufacturers are the experts on this so whatever it takes, but keeping a close eye on the weight. The gearing should achieve about 30″ line per turn, maybe a little more.

Handle
I prefer a simple single handle with a small grip – I don’t like the huge torpedo type. The original twisted Mitchell Match is still the best.

Overall
The overall proportions should be similar to a Mitchell Match/Shimano 2500/3000 series, but with all of the various other considerations taken into account.

If someone is prepared to take this seriously then I hope they will look at how a reel is used because my observation is that there are an awful lot of float anglers looking for a reel that is ten times better than the old Mitchell Match but with those features that made it a million seller.

Don’t all beat a path to my door at once!