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 #1000 8 Mar 2005 at 7.18am | |   |
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In reply to Post #49
Please Note that this thread is for REVIEWS only
GUIDELINES:
-Your review should be substantial (100 words+)
-You should mention how long you have owned the product
-It should ideally cover both the good and bad points
-Please try to include a photo
Posts which do not broadly conform to the guidelines will be REMOVED!
Bad reviews are just as welcome as good ones, we are lucky on here that we can give a bad review without risking the advertisers, unlike the mags!
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#165 5 Nov 2009 at 2.48am | | |
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In reply to Post #164
Hi there
I have owned a set of diawa emblem S for some ten years now and decided to upgrade after a friend of mine decided to purchase the fox stratos fs12000 and although his casting distance improved greatly I was not so impressed with the bait running tension screw. so I waited several months and began my pursuit into what is what with big pits. I have heard that both the fox range and the new diawa basia range are quite unreliable mainly due to pure craftman ship. Ive even seen the fox reels blow up as they where demonstrated to other anglers. As for the basia I understand they use nylon gears of all things in order to keep the weight down and that their are not people trading them in for guess what the good old tried and tested Tournaments T6000 which I decided to purchase. The one thing that I was a light bit disappointed with the T6000 was the noise variation that each reel made however I was reassured that this is normal and that despite this annoyance that I had indeed purchased one of the top reels on the market. The Fox reel may last you some time and I certainly hope it does however when very clued up dealers refuse to sell them due to reliability then I just have to listen to them. The other reel that seems to get a good review is the SHIMANO AERO TECHNIUM 10000XT which by the way are what old T6000 users are now turning towards.
as for me I am pleased with the T6000 despite the variation in noise, they take 600m of 15lb and heck replacing the spool rubber is straight forward enough, something else that is another minus.
The T6000 do last ten + years and thats my main concern. As did the emblem S a considerably cheaper reel. Why spend hundreds per reel for it to break due to poor mechanics.
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#164 9 Sept 2009 at 5.09pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1
Fox Stratos FS12000 Mag's
Time owned = 1year +
Pro's:
Build Quality: Very tough, although light. I've given them some good abuse over the winter, knocked them around a bit and got them quite muddy, and still as smooth as the day i pulled them out of the box. Supposedly passed some extensive tests as to waterproofing etc, the gears, and internal parts being very protected.
Weight: Nice and light for a big pit real, especially as it is a large real.
Line lay: The best line lay i've ever had, goes on and peels off beautifully makes casting a joy.
Drag: Very, very smooth front drag system on it, very impressed with it and very confident. No more backwinding!
Retrieve rate: Good fast retrieve rate, not sure on the ratio or ammount of bearings in the reel im afraid but very smooth and very fast retrieval!
Spools: Provided with the reel when purchased you get 2 spare spools or different depths, all of which are tapered 'tournament' style spools sitting line on them very nicely as mentioned above.
Handle: Nice big handle and arm on it, thought i'd miss the double handle of my previous shimano's but perfectly happy with these easy to grab handles.
Looks: No one likes to admit to being a tart, but i personally love the looks of them. A very nice design
Cons:
Line getting very occasionally trapped behind the spool, doesn't happen often but when it does it's very frustrating.
Price: They are on the expensive side, but a very very good real and should last you a long time.
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#163 5 Oct 2008 at 8.05pm | | |
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#162 2 Oct 2008 at 8.52pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
Maybe a unknown reel for u guys in the UK.
i got the Oyx8000's u get 2 spools one 8000 and one 9000
normaly it should be a sea reel, but its absolutlie perfect for the carpfishing.
Look at picture's 
http://www.hengelspullen.nl/images/zee/2.jpg
http://www.hengelspullen.nl/images/zee/10.jpg
http://www.hengelspullen.nl/images/zee/4.jpg
Greetz
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#161 2 Oct 2008 at 12.52pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
Daiwa Whisker SS3000...
I have been using these reels now for about 2 months after finally recieving them.They are everything i expected and in my opinion they are probably one of the best reels out there.Prices vary from £225 to £250 depending where you get them from.As these are limited i cant see them hanging around for long in the tackle shops either.
Being a re-release Daiwa have made a few improvements by adding Twistbuster to the bail arm and the new paint looks nicer than the origional reels, ie old ones were a kind of mattish black ( im pretty sure ) ,where the new ones are metallic black.All in all one of the best looking reels by miles.Also they are pretty light for a reel with a metal spool.
The only thing i could say against them is that the drag isnt as smooth as i thought it would be , more for the bait runner effect than when playing fish. The adverts claim you can make minute adjustments to the drag but i dont think thats entirely the case.My Tournament 5000s have a smoother drag but saying that i wouldnt change them for anything now and i didnt have any problem adjusting the drag when playing fish and i found the drag was very responsive.Was very pleased tho by christening two of them second time out with 2 commons of 32-02 and 25-10 and a 21-08 mirror. 
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#160 30 Sept 2008 at 5.51pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
Shimano Biomaster 8000XTA (Baitrunner Spool)
I first got these reels at the Christmas of 2007. These reels have been great, except for a fault with the baitrunner spool, which i sent off to shimano and it was dealt with within 3 days  . I can cast a fair distance with these (100-110yards) but i think i may be able to go further if i had a big open water lake to cast into, and i am only 13. I am very pleased with these reels and would reccomend them to anyone who wants a cheaper big pit reel 
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#159 6 Sept 2008 at 9.26am | | |
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In reply to Post #158
Daiwa ISO - See review below first !
Aint enough room !
Carried on . .
Pros -
The weight alone sells it for me plus they are a beautifully balanced reel
QD drag, one word awesome
Still has excellent cranking power
Great casting ability line flys off the spools
Surprisingly small for a "big pit" i would use this reel for any carping challenge from duck ponds to rowing baits to the horizon if you need to.
Cons -
Tarty ? you decide
Bail arm does raise my concern since my trip and its long term wear and tear
Plastic guide under spool ? it ain't broke yet so why should i worry about fixing it.
Price, what can you pick them up for around £280 ,if your selling your old reels for an upgrade it ain't such a big issue , look at reels as a long term investment imo, must have had my infintys years ???
Picture will follow soon chaps . . .
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#158 6 Sept 2008 at 9.18am | | |
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Daiwa Tournament ISO
Read my earlier review of the infinitys and i could be contradicting myself saying i would keep them for ever but times change and technology moves on. The infinity imo is still one of the best reels ive ever used and will cover all carping situations but . . . I picked up a mates rod and it had a basia on it and i was STAGGERD by the weight difference it was like picking up a match mans gear, i was interested ! i had in my hands a rod and reel that could cast extreme distances but felt like a feather, i was sold.
Made a few enquiry's like you do before i decided to buy, some on here and heard bad reports about the basia,s drag due to the long tapered spool and that the ISO was a better option
Being a tight git i decided i would buy some secondhand ones and a deal came my way that i could not refuse, next thing i had 3 ISO's in my hands that were a couple of months old without even seeing one in the flesh , bad idea ? not really ive used Daiwa reels for years and wouldn't use anything else.
Now one thing that struck me with the basia was the shinny cosmetics and being honest not really my cup of tea it was the weight that attracted me, strange really when you consider your rods on a buzzer most of the time lol. The ISO has a black coloured body with a shinny silver butt, red trim around the reel handle fixment and the traditional wooden handle, a light aluminium spool thats pre-drilled to minimize weight and a bail arm thats seems like aluminium replaces the wire types.
In use i expected them to get battered quite quickly but the toughness of the black shinny body surprised me.Whilst fishing i swung a 3 oz lead in to hand and missed it, this hit the reel with a crack and i expected some damage but to my surprise nothing !
The silver cap will get scratched up but when you think about it most people would not pay out top dollars for a bland looking reel and probably expect something flashy for that kind of money, although i would happily use a plain black reel if the performance was OK.
The spool size surprised me and compared to my infinty 5000's looked tiny but they are a front tapered spool, i believe similar to the original tournaments, Dont that Danny (century) whats his face use these and aint he a casting champ lol. The spool is light but i still feel they could loose some more weight here.
Couple of areas of concern -Firstly behind the spool is a plastic type material guide that runs up and down with the spool with every turn of the handle, how long will this last ? time will tell but im sure it will have been designed with a serious lifespan
Secondly and i found out at my expense the bail arms. Whilst walking out of a mud ridden swim i slipped and landed on my rods and reels with all my 13 stone + i wiped myself down and limped off home. When i got home i checked the rods out they were fine but i had damaged the reels !
The first reel the aluminium? bail arm was badly distorted and the second was very difficult to turn, think i managed to bend the main shaft that the reel handle attaches to and runs through the reels body. All 3 reels had a lot of play in the bail arm assembly where the screw attaches them.
Sent the reels to Daiwa for repair which for all 3 came to a total cost of £88 plus return shipment . . . bang goes my bargain price! that's my luck if i were a buffalo i would have run into BILL !
In use truly awesome reels and beautifully balanced with my rods the line just flies off the tapered spools an absolute pleasure to use and cast with plus Ive added a few yards to my casts and i use 17lb x line religiously and no doubt there's better casting lines about. The cranking power is there although when you first feel the weight you doubt it, Truly staggering.
The QD drag is a topic in itself and Ive always loved the rear baitrunner system, cock the trigger and wait for the run, simple. One thing i loathe is the front drags like on some of my older previous reels where 20 turns and you start to just tighten up on a running fish! The QD was the only doubt in my mind when i purchased these reels and once again I'm truly staggered 1/2 a turn and your playing fish on the drag and when you turn it there's no severe lock up that i was scarred about just twist it slowly for perfection.
The only thing i miss compared to my infintys is the one touch folding reel option but that's minor.
Another spare SHALLOW spool would be a bonus Daiwa if you read this, 250 yds of .035 mono would be fine !
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#113 1 Aug 2008 at 6.53pm | | |
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In reply to Post #112
k sorry
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#112 1 Aug 2008 at 6.53pm | | |
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In reply to Post #111
Please use the tackle section and not the reviews section
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#111 1 Aug 2008 at 5.30pm | | |
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Message Suppressed by Forum Moderator.
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#110 4 Jul 2008 at 8.31am | | |
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#108 3 Jun 2008 at 11.41pm | | |
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In reply to Post #104
I ended up with the biomaster XTA reels, amazing, smooth as you like with adjustable line lay. Just measured spodding 110yards with Fox Elite spod rod and 30lb fireline! hard work with the weight of the rod but possible at budget. I don't think I would buy a reel without a daiwa or shimano badge again 
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#107 12 May 2008 at 7.27am | | |
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In reply to Post #106
Read the rules on posting in this section - it is for reviews ONLY - please use the tackle section for general questions 
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#106 11 May 2008 at 10.17pm | | |
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Message Suppressed by Forum Moderator.
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#105 7 May 2008 at 10.44pm | | |
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Message Suppressed by Forum Moderator.
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#104 7 May 2008 at 7.41pm | | |
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In reply to Post #102
Hi
I use Navi 8000 xsa on my spod rod and Navi xta (baitrunner) on my marker set up.
Cracking line lay and havent let me down yet.
Great reel without breaking the bank. 
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#103 3 Apr 2008 at 4.55pm | | |
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daiwa emcast advanced 5500
i love these things my brothers got shimano aeros there also a very good reel but i wouldnt swoop them for the daiwa emcast the spool on these things are brilliant plus they look so good big pit reels
plus very cheap
http://www.bfpproducts.nl/catalog/images/advanced%20mo.jpg  
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#102 5 Mar 2008 at 9.22am | | |
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In reply to Post #91
Just the review I was after, not sure about all your thoughts on the LC's but have had the drag sieze up on me in france -6*c thus loosing a mid 40 at the net  . I still have 3 of them as it had been rain for 3 days up to the freak middle of the night temperature change. (my bivvy zip had also frozen!)
I am after a reasonable set of spod, marker or 4th rod reels and think the aerlex sound good. do you know much about the navi's
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#101 5 Mar 2008 at 7.19am | | |
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In reply to Post #100
I'm using shimano`s super baitrunners 10,000`s
at first look they don't look to different from the gtc`s but the drag knob and baitrunner knob have been changed to stop water and dirt getting in to the working`s there are also more bearings and a nice little service hatch so you don't need to take them apart to add oil,
they are silky smooth and look good too you get a spare spool with them a didn't like the gold rimed one the grey one is better i don't know what else to say about them but i can say if your looking for a normal size baitrunner these are very good
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#100 4 Mar 2008 at 8.31pm | | |
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In reply to Post #3
id like to 2nd that,tried a lot of other top end priced reels ,but came back to these ,real haulin tools ,
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#99 29 Jan 2008 at 1.39am | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
PRO LOGIC XLNT 60
http://www.svendsen-sports.co.uk/?q=node/432
Pros...
Ive owned these reels for well over 18 months, and are somewhat overlooked due to the likes of shimano and daiwa keeping us enthralled with all there latest designs. At the time of purchase i was fishing a small water a decided that a big pit style of reel was'nt needed as i wouldnt be casting far some a small compact baitrunner would be fine for my fishing needs.
The main body of the reel is made from aluminium and is very strong there isnt many reel manufacturers out there at the moment doing this, top end shimanos are magnesium and entohs and basias are of the same but have the self title hardbodyz design.
The spools (1 spare) are ported aluminium and can hold huge amounts fo line, easily on par with 10000 xte's, have profiled casting lips and great line clips.
The gearing is solid and the 4:1:1 retrive ratio has very good cranking power, and helped me land carp to a pb of 31lb 9oz so cant fault them there.
The baitrunner system was faultless and the stainless lever never got in the way of myhands while playing fish, the front drag needed a little tweeking occasionally but always performed well.
Line ay as superb and very rarely did i encounter any problems with the line tripping under the spool.
Cons...
They were quite heavy and on my outkast 3lbers felt unbalanced.
The retrive ratio could have been step up a tad.
Lack of decent folding handle and the rubber grip peeled off very quickly on the handle knobs.
Overall....
These reels served me well for some very memorable sessions and for all of you on a budget you really would be silly to over look these reals as they offer everything that a shimano 10000xte would and a saving of over £60 per reel. So for £150 for 3 they are a proper bargain.
Rating....
Build quality 8/10
Looks 10/10
Performance 9/10
great little reels go get em.
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#98 30 Dec 2007 at 8.31pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTB
I've always said Shimano should have made a reel like these ages ago and now they have.
I very much like my 'old' Ultegra XTAs and have had several fish on them this year. However the XTBs are much lighter (just over 600gms against 825gms for the XTA and 650gms for the XTE-A) and much less bulky. Spool diametre is about the same as the XTE-A (maybe slightly more) while the length of spooled line is a bit over halfway between the XTA and XTE-A
They're smoother, having less of a clunky feel than the XTA but retain the XTA's superb front drag. The front baitrunner system also seems slightly improved in that you need even less movement of the drag knob to go from freespool to full pre-set drag.
They feel well built and solid like the XTAs, which seem pretty much bombproof, so time will only tell on that score. I've only had a single fish (had the reels 3 weeks) at short range so far but it was easy enough to bring in without the feeling that I was a bit overgunned with the bigger reels.
I'm really not the most proficient distance caster but I had them out on the rec near me, when it was quiet, to get a comparison. I was using 14lb infinity HT on the XTA rod and 12lb pro clear on the XTB rod. Rods were 3.25 Torrix with 3oz zip, shockleader and single bait. Put a mark out at 120m and found that I could cast around another 5m further with the XTBs. Not the best test I know due to the differing line diametres but if distance is still required then they can still chuck.
If boating out at distance or more extreme chucks are a consideration then perhaps the XTBs would not be the best option available as they hold 290m of .35mm line against 480m of the same on the XTA. Otherwise I'd suggest that they would fit the bill for anybody seeking a capable 'big pit reel'.
Cosmetically they may not be to everybody's taste due to a small 'fin' on the rear of the reel although the gunsmoke and metallic grey/blue theme of the older XTA is carried on which I like as it is less bling than some.
I bought them to replace my XTAs and XTE-As (both excellent reels) and for me they are a perfect balance between the two and can recommend them wholeheartedly.
Rgds
ILC
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#97 15 May 2007 at 3.14pm | | |
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Shimano Baitrunner Aero 8000GTE
Time owned - 5 years
First I'll start by listing the features and specification of the reel, taken from the box.
~ Dyna balance system
~ Roller bearing
~ Oversized power roller
~ Long-nosed tapered spool
~ Aero wrap
~ Free spool tension adjuster
~ Stainless steel ball bearing races
~ Internal bail trip
~ Left or right hand wind
~ High efficiency gear
~ Powerful, smooth and precise rear drag
~ Spare spool
Specification
Gear ratio - 4.5:1
Weight - 520(g)/18.3(oz)
Ball bearing - 4
Rolleer bearing - 1
Line capacity - lb(test)-yds. 10-390. 12-320. 14-270. 16-220. 20-160.
dia.m/m-m 0.30-390. 0.35-290. 0.40-200.
Being quite new to carp fishing at the time, i was reccomended these reels because i wern't fishing big waters and the baitrunner system is easy for anyone to use. These reels were discontinued when Shimano brought the the B version but to me there doesn't seem much difference between them, i payed about £75.00 for them.
Now they arn't being used as much, as a couple of months ago i bought some Shimano Ultegra 12000XTA's but these went through a lot of use and I decided not to sell them but to use them for floater fishing, stalking and piking.
I never had any major problems with these reels but a fault i can pick out of them is that the baitrunner tensioning knob can start to seize up from mud and grit although i never started to get those problems until after a particulary very muddy session where i should've took more care. I had them serviced which got 2 of them back pretty much as good as new but one never was quite right again therefore wouldn't tighten up as much as the others.
Even though these reels had served me well, I wern't completely satisfied with the rear drag, over time it became less and less erm, responsive may be the word. It wasn't the smoothest and i found the initial pull to take line had to be slightly stronger. I use my drag a lot and adjust it during the fight so this wasn't a good thing. I doubt it's nothing that can't be sorted with a good service but when i had a play with other Shimano big pits, i was really impressed with the front drag and after a play with the baitrunner spool system on the Ultegra's it wasn't a difficult decision to go for them. The better retrive rate and possibly longer casting distances are other reasons why i went for big pits. I'll do a review on the Ultegra's later in the year probably but I would still reccomend these baitrunners for use on smaller waters for people on a budget as the newer XTE-A models have improved the baitrunner tensioning knob so grit is much less likely to cause problems and the overall reel is probably improved.
overall rating for me - 6/10
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In reply to Post #1000
after owning the daiwa emblem x 5000 a reels i brought my self a pair of daiwa tonament entohs i have only had them for about a week and used them once but i am very happy with them thay cast extremly well are very smoth and weigh a lot less that most big pits on the market the line lay is secand to none thay look and feel very well made deffantly worth the money good looking reels i have yet to find a falt with them if you have got the money go for it you wont be disapointed thay are very good reels
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#95 29 Mar 2007 at 0.38am | | |
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In reply to Post #94
Daiwa Emcast Plus 5000
The good:
Nice size reel.
Great linelay
Pretty ok clutch
Quick retrieve
The bad:
Build quality
Bling
One out three reels completely died on me after being dipped in the water for only twenty seconds. A bearing couldn't take getting wet  Had used the reel for 15-20 days fishing before that. Got a new one on the guarantee but all my faith in them had gone and I had to get rid of them. The shiny golden plastic stuff on the back started to turn white-ish and looking tatty after a few weeks use. The reel felt quite good in use and perhaps it was just bad luck with the one I got but I wouldn't recommend it based on my experiences.
No more "build in china" reels for me!
2/5
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#94 31 Oct 2006 at 7.17pm | | |
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Daiwa Tournament Entoh’s (Over a Year On)
Before finally making my decision on a set of shiny Entoh’s I had my heart set on three different types of reels, the Daiwa Basia, the Daiwa Infinity and of Course the Daiwa Tournament Entoh. After quite a bit of thought and endless hours drooling over the Entoh’s my mind was made up! As I said before, I was quite fond on the idea of a set of Infinities, the plus side to the Infinity was obviously the bait sprinter/jogger/speed walker or what ever you want to call it (just not “baitrunner” or Shimano will be on your back ). The major downside to the Infinity was the weight; these are far from the lightest of reels but in it’s defensive built like a tank. My reels at the time were Daiwa Emcast 5500’s, these didn’t have a bait runner and I coped easily enough without one, so why did I need a bait runner?!
This left me with the Basia and Entoh, now the Basia looked nice, felt light as a feather but there were a few things that put me off after having a play with them. The first thing was the price (!) they have come down a little since I was looking, but I simply didn’t think they were worth the price, they didn’t feel the toughest of reels and if one was to break out of the three I guessed it would be the Basia. The main problem I had with the Basia was the line capacity, not a problem if you’re simply casting baits out, but if you’re rowing baits out extreme distances on inland seas you’re going to have problems! At the time I knew this would be a style of fishing I would encounter, so decide against the Basia.
So this left me with the Entoh’s, October 2005 England Angling had an order and a couple of days later I was the proud owner of a set of three. The first thing that struck me was the weight, now I always thought the Emcas’ts were quite light for a big reel but after using these it seems although they weigh a ton! The Entoh’s really are a light weight reel at only 21.1oz but the HardBodyz-Rigid metal Construction make it built to last. You can tell the quality and class is also there just by looking at it, the wooden handle and the shiny body of the reel gives it a very classy look.
Now the clutch, this really is something special, it is a joy to play fish on, it simply cannot be explained but if you have a lump on the end of the line powering off a couple of clicks of the drag and it seems to be under control without any jerky movements. Depending on how tight you have your clutch set when on the pod it will take approximately 3-4 turns of the drag to tighten right up. The line lay is also second to non making the reel a pleasure to cast with.
Up to date my set of Entohs have cranked weedbeds as big as your bivvy 300yrds, been used to crank me out in my boat 300yrds, been chucked in reedbeds when wading baits out and basically took loads of abuse in the conditions you wouldn’t want to put your reel through! They are still going as strong as when they come out the box and I’m still lovin’ using them!
Not so long ago I took a plunge and invested in a Daiwa Infinity for my marker reel, and occasional 4th rod, apart from the weight I can’t really fault it, but I’d still rather use my Entoh’s over it any day!
Considering the Entoh’s come with a spare spool I suppose they are not too expensive compared to some of the other reels on the market.
In my opinion you will find it hard to find a better reel in the same price range, if you can afford it, go for it!
This reel easily deserves 10/10!
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#93 21 Jun 2006 at 12.12pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
Also in respect to the daiwa pig pit reels and how they perform in relation to other daiwas and the shimmannos, how do the Emblem Exceler and Emblem Pro fair.
Would be grateful of some advice as im thinking of getting some pig pitt reels but cant strech much over £100 per reel, or is it really worth persisiting with the ones i have until i can afford infinities?
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#91 21 May 2006 at 10.45am | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
Brief reviews of some of the Reels I have owned & own.
Daiwa Infinity X IFX5500BR
What the Manufacturers say;
The Infinity X BR has established itself as the only reel choice for the angler with the toughest big carp challenges ahead. Innovative design, faultless engineering and cutting edge technology make it the most complete carp reel ever produced.
Boasting an incredibly compact body for a ‘big pit’ spool Bite ‘n’ Run; one flick of a lever engages a variable resistance for a taking fish. Adjustable from virtually zero to enough for making hook holds on the run it also applies power smoothly to prevent fast moving carp reaching the sanctuary of weed and snags. Yet one turn of the handle engages the Infinity’s renowned pre set front drag for total control. The larger diameter, high capacity spool, with it’s ABS reverse taper, gives unequalled line lay and smoother, more efficient casting. Whilst the proven Twistbuster II system lessens twist build up by as much as 90 per cent in modern reel lines.
Beautifully engineered, this is the off-roader of all reels. A reassuring deluxe feel, super smooth ball bearing operation and rugged durability from precise machining leave the Infinity X the only partner to meet the most demanding challenges that carp angling can bring.
* Double axis free spool mechanism provides variable tension Bite ‘n’ Run
* Five ball bearings
* Gyrospin balanced rotor
* Infinite anti-reverse
* Micro pitch front drag
* Twistbuster II
* Large diameter reverse taper spool with Anti Backlash
* Gear ratio of 4.2:1
* Free, full specification, spare aluminium spool
* 5500 size spool holds 440m of 14lb mono
What can I say about these reels? Currently my reel of choice and don't feel the need to change them for anything else on the market!
Very smooth in operation, superb drag (which I have heard others say they don't like it yet I have had Shimano LC's and the drags on the Infinity is far superior in my eyes), Freespool lever operates in the 'right' way with the lever being on when pulled back rather than running the risk of knocking the lever on whilst playing a fish like can happen on the Shimano's). Casting performance is phenomenol and spool resistance is far less than what is on the LC's that I have owned previously. Only 5 ball bearings in the reel, but the bearings are of superb quality. I sometimes hear people stating that a reel with more bearings is going to be better than a reel with less. To put this myth to rest, more bearings equals cheaper bearings used which need more of them to lower the chance of failure.
Bad points? The only bad point of the reel I can find is that the spool is easily scored due to it being aluminium. To save time when respooling I sut the line off the spools using a razor blade, and the lightest touch of the blade on the spool can put small scores in them.
Other than that they do everything any carp angler needs them to do.
Daiwa Tournament 5000TS
What the Manufacturers say;
The Tournament reels are still regarded as the elite reel for big distance, big fish pits at home and the extremes of massive continental lakes.
Their now legendary casting comes from faultless line lay on a large capacity spool, yet a compact, lightweight body makes them the perfect partner for modern hi modulus blanks, giving incredible performance with unrivalled balance.
Super high winding power capably steers big fish through weeded areas or safely away from snag-up situations. A micro adjustable ten washer front drag and multiple stainless ball bearings accurately control every kick and lunge on the way to the net. Added to this renowned performance is a free Bite ‘n’ Run conversion bringing even greater application and versatility. Prestige reels for anglers who appreciate quality.
* Classic gun metal finish with polished alloy spool
* Worm gear oscillation for superb line lay
* Spring loaded line guard to prevent spool tangles
* Twist Buster eliminates up to 90 per cent of line twist Super
* Duraluminium gears and Super Metal rotor for durability and strength
* Free Bite 'n' Run conversion unit
Didn't own these reels for very long as mine never had the FreeSpool conversions with them (that are supplied now). Ultra smooth with a superb drag. Long tapered spool gives perfect linelay & flawless casting.
Had a few fish during the short time I had these reels and they would be perfect if they had an integrated freespool mechanism as the drag does require a few turns to tighten up to fighting tensions.
Shimano Aero BTR5000RE
What the Manufacturers say;
With single crank handle and standard graphite spool, the RE features Shimano's patented Aero Wrap system, Rotor Cast Control and Positive Bail. With casting performance guaranteed and the equivalent of five ball bearings, you can also rely on this reel handling any amount of stick. A great reel for the budget conscious angler who doesn't want to sacrifice performance.
Sorry but this has to be one of the worst reels I have ever bought. Linelay is horrendous with bunching up at the back of the spool tapering to the front (this is the same with light, heavy & braided lines!!). No washer facility to change the line lay either. Drag is very notchy and each time I have hooked a fish using this reel, I have had to switch to back winding due to the notchy drag. Reel does feel reasonably smooth but there is no 'feel' to the reel when the handle is turned. No balanced handle or rotor so handles have to be set in a certain position to stop them turning themselves.
I only use this reel when it is really needed (such as stalking through brambles etc) and try not to use it if at all possible.
The only good point is that it would make a good keepnet weight if the grease was removed from the innards.
Avoid at all costs.
Shimano Big Baitrunner LC
What the Manufacturers say;
Who needs awkward conversions for optimum big pit reel performance? With the Big Baitrunner Long Cast it's all integral, the Baitrunner disengaging automatically once the handle is wound forward. With Aero Wrap line lay, impressive casts are assured. Supplied with deep aluminium spool as standard. Shallower version an optional extra
Nice reels for use during the summer months. Had major problems with mine in the cold due to the insides literally freezing up & sounding like coffee grinders. Sent them back to Shimano for a service, yet the very next session, they done exactly the same again. I was not the only person on the venue who had the same problem either with these reels. One of my angling colleagues had his actually seize up fully whilst playing a very large fish.
Casting & line lay on these reels is very good. Drag is also nice but slightly less smooth as the Infinity X's. Handle is very large and people with short arms may finding winding these reels fatiguing.
The very first Big Pit reel with a true freespool mechanism, but was quickly superceded and improved on by other manufacturers.
Shimano Aerlex 8000
What the Manufacturers say;
With many devotees on the specimen and sea scenes, the Aerlex XS features Aero Wrap, long-nosed tapered spool, gutsy 3.8:1 retrieve ratio and a highly keen price point. Spodding places more wear and tear on a reel than most freshwater styles, and the beefy Aerlex XS is the ideal tool for the job. These reels cast as well as they retrieve. Other features include stainless steel ball bearing, ergonomic Bio-Grip stem and powerful, precise front drag.
Solid work horse reels. One bearing in them and not the smoothest of reels. Spool wobble is noticable with these if substantial weight is not being retrieved. Drags are acceptable. Linelay is PERFECT!!!!!! This is one thing I cannot fault these reels on is the linelay. It is as good (if not better) than the Infinity X's. I own 4 of these reels (3 of the older goldy ones & 1 of the newer Blue ones) and use them for spod & marker work. Friends of mine have used them for actual fishing situations and have had no problems. If you are looking for a low cost big pit with no thrills, take a look at these!
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#90 21 May 2006 at 9.55am | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
infinity x 5000 , had these for a few years now and i have no major complaints an excellent reel that could be used on duck ponds to , well er , big pits !, been fishing 25yrs and have mainly used daiwa reels as i find the build quality is fantastic and i can honestly say any off the models i have used have never let me down . i purchased these for a few reasons prefer the rear baitrunner system , more cranking power when winding heavier leads in from range and bigger spools for the extra few yds , learnt a leason about 15 yrs ago that swung it daiwas way for me,bought an all singing , latest top model reel and spooled up with good old maxima,line lay on the spool didnt look too clever, using it was a nightmare . . line twist was shocking after re spooling it again . .line twist . . sold !, line lay on the spools are perfect , never experianced any line twist (used big game , pro gold , sensor , and now the dreaded x line) and it all shoots off the spools perfect , never suffered from line beding into the spool ( but aint that your own doing ? ).been honest i have not looked after them , well i did for the first 12 month maybe until the newness worn off ! , been chucked up and down a bit when un-hookin fish etc , and still look tidy when they are cleaned up (when!), handles are now a dark mahogany colour (from tan !), but woods a natural product eh?,i here people complain about the drag but it has never cost me a fish, might lose em when they engage the baitrunner if its not set correct but all i have ever done with all big fish is slow the spool down by hand then turn the handle , wear and tear on gears, baitrunner system etc dont know ?, never had em in bits and they still feel smooth , line clips not sparkling but i never use it anyway . only down side i find is why dont they make a shallower spool that holds 200yd of line ( they could even make it to hold 200yds daiwa sensor !),big spool for rowing baits out (if you must ) , and smaller spool for normal fishing situations , ok then 250yds if your lucky enough to hook a big un thats gonna run up the bank !, verdict . . .no complaints at all from me keeping em till they drop to bits, which at this rate its gonna be a long time ,prob end up looking like chris yates tackle,and get laughed off the pond , around £175 a piece now ,expensive ?,worth every penny (get some ot in !) ,. . . WARNING !, not for tackle tarts as only the spool is in silver (the body is black !),
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#85 23 Dec 2005 at 9.25pm | | |
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Nash Outlaw Reel
1066kopite owned these reels for about 12 months. I had the bad experience of also using them with him. 1066kopite and chunks had been on a few day and 24 hour sessions and had major problems with the reels.
Everytime they hooked into a fish the freespool (baitrunner) would engage whilst the fish was being played. This would happen with no warning and line would spool of the reel and end up in a big tangle.
Of course at first the blame was pointed at who ever was playing the fish, as brothers do.
Chunks, 1066kopite, Dad and I then went for our anual fishing holiday for a week. We take turns on takes when we do this.
Both of the Nash Outlaws failed on the first two runs on them, once for 1066kopite and once for Chunks. This then happened numerous times throughout the first day.
The reels were taken back twice and still the problem did not get sorted. The final straw was when the reel failed on a carp of only about 3lb.
1066kopite then decided to change the reels for something more advanced as the carp were in danger of dragging line if it tangled then broke off.
Redferns/A.R. Tackle in Hastings were very good about this and changed them immediatley. 1066kopite then changed them for a set of Shimano 10000xte's and is very happy with these.
These reels are very well balanced and look nice. The price makes them seem excellent value for money at only £39.99.
These reels put the fish at danger, please be careful 
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#81 10 Oct 2005 at 8.29pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
Shimano baitrunner 3500B
Don't know how to insert a pic so here is a link to a picture:
https://secure2.pnc.com.au/fishing/catalog/images/BTR-3500B1.jpg
These are the oldschool baitrunners with the clutch up front. I borrowed a pair from a friend and just fell in love with them, so I sold my flashy shimano aeros and got me set of these babies.
I've used themfor approx. 5 years now (250 nights in all), and they have been absolutely lovely. I've have never given them a tune up, but they just keep on working and working. They have been submerged in water when swimming to islands etc. many times - no problem. A friend of mine has used his intensely for ten years without lubricating them at all, and are still going strong! They are so reliable as they originally were designed for american saltwater fishing. They are still being used and sold everywhere in the states. The size is fine for most std. fishing but perhaps a bit on the small side for long distance work (which I very rarely do). In that case there is a slightly larger version called 4500B
Plusses:
- Very very good clutch that starts giving line sooo smoothly (and not with the typical starting jerk that many clutches have when set tight).
- super sturdy and reliable
- Cult looks
Minusses:
- linelay is so so - not bad but not fantastic. (It should be superb on the newer versions with dynabalance etc. pictured )
- Spool could be a bit longer for distance casting, but I still make it to the 100 yard mark with 2.25lbs rods and 15lbs line.
- Not the smoothest retrieve in the world but that should also be better with the newer versions
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In reply to Post #1000
Okuma Epix Pro bait feeder 50 - comes with a five year guarantee which is a bonus for those of you who are a tad rough with their gear.
10 ball bearings, smooth non clunky action and excellent front adjusted drag one of the most sensitive i have ever seen . The rear drag too is sensitive and easily adjustable even whilst playing a fish as is the clutch.
The bait runner facility is easily set without any clunking just a slight click, to disengage just turn the handle and as the bail flips over the baitrunner is off. To make double sure i put my hand over the front of the spool,when engaging the fish, not that i dont trust it just double checking !
The reel comes with one metallic and two carbon metal lipped spools all capable of taking 300 yards of 0.28 13.5lb bs line, and two handles, one with one normal knob, and the other double ruse which people seem to hate or love.
The reel is finished in black the only thing i dont like is the silver metallic spool but seeing as its performance is so good this can be suffered or just use the black carbon alternative.
The reel has great line lay and seems to have no problems dealing with nyon or braid shocks at all. the high position of the bail ensures there are no behind the spool nasty suprise tangles when striking too.
This reel costs around 55 quid in this size there is a 60 and a 65 big version and these are as smooth and robust as the 50. Bearing in mind the 5 year guarantee, 10 ball bearings and price this reel represents excellent value and a good investment and at two epix pro's to the shimano (rattely and clunky) it makes it even better .
anyone wanting 3 new reels without parting company with 150 plus a reel and get all 3 for 165 pounds and less if you lurk around for a deal, need look no further, if you want a really big big pit then Okuma's axeon is another gret reel but do look at the epix pro 65 with baitrunner too
Pros - good price, efficient, 10 ball bearings, front clutch is great, line lay good
cons the metal spool but you can substitute one of the black carbon ones so it isnt really a con !
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#79 28 Sept 2005 at 9.22pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
WYCHWOOD MAXIMISER 80 BIG PIT FREESPOOL
holds 400yrds 12lbs line
exellent line lay
front drag system
5+1bearings
very smooth reel
you can launch these beautys miles
ideal for res fishing
and whats more you can buy three for 129.99 or 49.99 each
well recomended
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#78 28 Sept 2005 at 4.29pm | | |
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In reply to Post #73
Okuma Interceptor Baitfeeder
A value for money (and then some) fixed spool/freespool reel. I'm probably only changing them for "pose" reasons as there isn't much to complain about and for the price next to nothing wrong. I have minor gripes with how difficult the handles are to un-do at the end of a session, especially if there is some moisture in the air. The free-spool operation can also sometimes get stuck but a quarter turn of the reel or clicking the lever off and on again gets rid of this occasional problem.
The model I purchased was the IBF 50 which has a decent enough line capacity of 12lbs/220yards though they go up to 15lbs/275yards for the IBF 65 model which should cover most situations.
The clutch is sweet and although the line lay isn't perhaps 100% I would probably give it 95odd% and really can't complain for what they cost.
BTW I also have a set of the IBF 30's for barbel/river fishing and they've performed admirably too despite being thrown in the mud and river a dozen or more times.
If they said Shimano on them and cost 3 times the price I doubt I would feel like changing them 
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#77 31 Aug 2005 at 2.22pm | | |
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just bought 2 SAP Agrressor 9000 reels (from www.onlinefishingshop.com - I think), I know, terrible name but at £72.00 for the 2 delivered I was willing to overlook this. Having said that a search brought them up on E-bay for £20.00 each
The reel is front drag with baitrunner facility, I can't be sure but they look oh so similar to the wychwood baitrunners. It comes with 2 stainless spools (one reel had drilled spools, the other didn't!), 6 ball bearings, folding wooden handle, but they are a metallic blue colour.
First impressions were good. reels look solid and maybe just a little flash, finish good, everything seemed smooth. Possibly a bit heavy but that may well be because my old reels are v. old and basic.
Had a problem with one in that the baitrunner didn't click off when turning handle. Sent reel back, got replacement very quickly with a spool of soft steel thrown in to cover postage (Great Service). New reel good as gold.
Loaded reels up with line, line lay seemed ok. Maybe not quite so good at top and bottom of spool (What's the trick with removing washers?).
Fished with reels for first time last night. Fished a rod length out so can't comment on casting but can't see any reason why they shouldn't be perfectly capable. Set up with baitrunners on full tension (not a complete lock up but will give under reasonable pressure), gave line nice and cleanly on take, and after 1-11/2 turns baitrunner disengaged as it should do.
Only had fish on right hand rod (up to 11lb 4oz), quite weedy area so had to have the drag quite tight, but it is capable of fine adjustment, and after initial adjustment gave smoothly exactly when I wanted it too.
To summarise, reels were maybe not quite the same quality as shimano baitrunners, maybe a bit heavier than others but it does the important things well and for £20.00 a reel from E-bay I would definatley take these over any other reel. That said with the service I recieved from online fishing shop I am happy to have paid the price I have.
Will inform the forum of any long term problems.
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#76 11 Aug 2005 at 9.52am | | |
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In reply to Post #75
Have just bought 1 off maver 'sceptre' reel, in the 5000 size; very smooth operation, plastic line guard to prevent line going behind spool is a little rattly but early days suggest it's only a cosmetic issue. Good line lay and excellently designed handle that always falls into place for good cranking power handling.
One thing that is niggling me is that the clutch seems jerky initially when I set them for runs, yet to catch a fish on this one so we shall see.
At around £55 this is good value, if , however the clutch becomes an issue then I would not replace my penn surfmasters which are basic and hardwearing ( took them mahseer fishing so they have guts!).
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#75 8 Aug 2005 at 10.05am | | |
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In reply to Post #74
used to use shimano aerlex 8000... found them to be great reels, perfect line lay,, superb casting,, unsurpassed retrieve,,easy to clean,, silky smooth. BUT!! a year ago i got talked into changing them to a daiwa with baitrunner facility........  gutted nothing like as good as me old shimano aerlex's...  now im stuck with em till i can afford to change back.. "HERES A TIP"!!! if it aint broke.................."DONT FIX IT"!!!
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#74 17 Jul 2005 at 9.46am | | |
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daiwa entoh 5000
Just got myself a set of 3.Used them for the first time this week and must say that the quality is apparant as soon as you use them.Have had many reels over the years,but none gave me the same feeling as these babies.
Too early to give any negs as yet,but from my experience with them so far,I don't think there will be any.
If you've got the dosh,get on 'em !!!
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#73 16 Jul 2005 at 2.24pm | | |
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In reply to Post #72
is that a review alex or just a list of features copied from another site
have you got these reels ? if so, the reason for this thread is to give your oppinion of the reel ?? = a Review
ie good point / bad points etc etc
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#72 16 Jul 2005 at 2.03pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
Okuma Interceptor Baitfeeder
i used to have these reels before i upgraded to 10,000's
they are a cracking reel for starters
can cast a good distance and are very smooth , for only £29!
This baitrunner reel has been specially developed for carp and specimen anglers
and a brilliant starter reel to beginners to carping.
Features:
•Graphite spare spool
•High modulus graphite body
•RES rotor equalising system
•Aluminium spool
•Folding 'soft grip' double handle
•2 stainless steel ball bearings plus 1 quick-set 1 way clutch bearing
•Machined aluminium spool with titanium coated rim
•Micro adjustable baitfeeder drag
•5 year warranty
Line capacity:
Okuma Interceptor baitfeeder 40 - 180m/0.30mm
Okuma Interceptor baitfeeder 50 - 180m/0.35mm
Okuma Interceptor baitfeeder 60 - 175m/0.40mm
Okuma Interceptor baitfeeder 65 - 190m/0.45mm
Great review jamie , realy good
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#71 15 Jul 2005 at 4.11pm | | |
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In reply to Post #60
Simano 5010 GT Aero
*Really light
*Double handle makes playing fish a dream.
*Nice smooth drag system and comfortable backwind system
*Adjustable and smooth baitrunner
*Large line capacity for such a small, light reel
*Great for short to medium range fishing. Also have a 8010GT which is as good as the above plus extends your range and has an even larger line capacity.
overall fantastic reels 5/5
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#70 15 Jul 2005 at 8.01am | | |
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In reply to Post #69
Is that supposed to be a review????
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#69 15 Jul 2005 at 1.11am | | |
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In reply to Post #38
Diawa Tournament Entoh
Specifications
Line Capacity: T5000E 280m-17lb, T5500E 270m-20lb
Gear Ratio: 4.1 to 1
Weight: T5000E 22.6oz, T5500E 22.6oz
Bearings: 10
In July 2004, i decided that I would like to upgrade my reels so had a look around on the market to see what was available. I had been a lifelong shimano fan and had been using 4 Biomaster 7000gt's and 3 Original 4500 Baitrunners so was mainly interested in the Shimano LC's. However after a visit to a tackle shop where I viewed a few reels I completely changed my mind and decided on the new Diawa Entoh's in the 5500 size. Decision made - the Shimano's all went on E-bay and with a few more quid and a good search around, I managed to bag 3 Entoh's for just over £500.
First impressions were that the reels were very light and extremely shiny which put me off a bit but I spooled up with new line and got ready to give them a go. The reels come with a spare spool and I have heard people say that they are expensive compared with the LC's but bearing in mind that there is no spare spool with the LC's they work out approximately the same price when you take that into account (I wanted spare spools as well).
First session, I couldn't really test the casting as I was on a small lake but I found the reels extremely smooth on the retrieve certainly smoother than anything I had tried before. Unfortunately I blanked on that session too so couldn't try the clutch out.
Next session was on a bit of a bigger lake and I found the casting to be pretty good. The line lay is second to none and the spools have the ABS line lay feature but to be honest I didn't find that much difference to my other big pits but a massive massive improvement on the original baitrunners. There is also a feature on the bail arms that eliminate them from flipping over on the cast - something I have never been unlucky enough to experience before.
I was lucky to get a few fish on this session and found the clutch to be brilliant. There was no slipping whatsoever and playing big fish under the rod tip was a dream with the slow runs being stopped by one click on the drag knob.
Nearly a year on and the reels are still performing superbly, the only issues I have with them is that the aluminium that the spools are made from is fairly soft and they are prone to denting if dropped on the ground so extreme care is needed when changing them (I can be a bit heavy handed with my tackle). I am no longer worried about the shiney nature of them as I don't believe that this has / will cost me fish.
I have found that the reels can handle all eventualities from fishing under the rod tips to boating baits out snags at long range. A quick couple of turns on the drag knob has the spool locked up from free spinning when lifting into takes and they still purr smoothly when a fish takes line.
They may be expensive but I am looking at using these reels for a long time as I have no doubt they will have the staying power of the earlier diawa ss3000's and original tournaments that still seem to be going strong today. You are paying extra for the quality and these reels ooze quality!
5/5 from me
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In reply to Post #65
shimano 10000xte
i originally bought these when they first came out and was very impressed with them , however i was offered some Daiwa infinitys at the right price and sold the 1000xtes on.
after using the infinitys for 9 months and realising i could actually make do with smaller reels i sold the infinitys on and rebought the 10000xtes.
BIG MISTAKE
after about 10/15 sessions one reel has started clunking on retrieve and clutch.
and now the first signs of another reel doing the same are appearing..
for looks they are very nice.
line lay is average.
the only other thing that annoys me about shimano reels in general is that the baitrunner facility is the wrong way round really as to engage you have to press the lever against the reel stalk and to disengage you have to lift it up standing out straight
surely pressing it down to engage clutch facility would be more sensible, and not leaving something sticking out where you might accidently engage the baitrunner facility.as in mid battle the last thing you want is to engae baitrunner .
sorry to say i wont be buying these again not at half the price.
personally (imho) i would look elsewhere.. 
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In reply to Post #1000
Shimano Big Baitrunner Longcasts.
Originally had one of these reels for spodding, and eventually went over to replace the 8000GTE's with the Longcasts for all my fishing.
The Longcasts, although on the heavy side, are a good reliable reel, fast on the retrieve, good line lay, positive bail arm, excellent clutch and baitrunner facillity.
The only downside to these reels as far as I can say is that there is a tendency for the line [I use Daiwa Infinity Duo - 12 & 16lb] to get looped under the spool, this happens at least once per session and normally when making up 'broken-down' rods from slings.
All in all I would rate these reels 9/10.
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#64 28 Jun 2005 at 11.25pm | | |
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In reply to Post #38
Sold my beloved 6000 Tourneys recently and upgraded to some Shimano Areo Technium 10000's......what can i say simply awesome,
I have used Tournaments firstly the 5000's then more recently the 6000's since the 5000's was brought out to replace the old SS3000,and i thought they was an excellent reel till i bought my 10k's.
The line lay has to be seen to be believed the clutch feels superb and the weight is incredibly light for a big pit and balances my 3.5tc Free Spirit HIS rods perfectly....
All in all off the hook
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#61 18 Jun 2005 at 7.28pm | | |
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In reply to Post #1000
Shimano 8010 GT AERO
These have got to be worth a mention as i have used these for at least 5 years with absolutely no problems at all, I don't service or maintain them and can't remember the last time i cleaned them. The reliable clutch/baitrunner system still operates like a dream and even with all the features offered on newer reels i'm stil reluctant to part with them.
They still look great (surprisingly) due to the hard exterior finish and the double handle feels nice and comfortable to use which complements the still smooth action..... 
On the negative side they do struggle a bit for casting distance along side a modern big pit reel but hey......plenty of fish closer in !! 
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#60 14 Jun 2005 at 4.10pm | | |
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shimano xte 10000's.
Got them last christmas from the mrs, (these and the kids are the only good things to come out of the past 7 years (ouch that hurt) (need own office)),
The first time I used them was using a marker on a day ticket water in lancashire and I hit the far bank .
The whole feeling of using the rod and reel are much better.
I would recommend these over and above ANY reel on the market.
Solid construction.
Moving parts that are smooth and reliable.
Value for money.
Great line capacity for not being a big pit.
Look great and look proportionate to the size of your rod (you know what I mean).
Sorry, got no bad points, just think they are the dogs nads, lads.
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#59 3 Jun 2005 at 10.11am | | |
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Silstar CRPX 060 x3
Had them for about 6 years. Brought them in Canada.
Excellent all round reel
Smooth due to all the BB's
Nice Graphite finish so easy to clean.
Excellent line lay (using Sensor)
Brilliant reliability never let me down yet.
Good drag/clutch.
Bait runner part works great but needs fine tuning occassionally
Only draw backs are that no one can get parts any more so when they finally give up the ghost i will have to replace them. It will be a said moment in my carp fishing life!!!
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#58 26 May 2005 at 6.54pm | | |
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Shimano 10k's
Positive points -
Smooth,
Light,
Decent sized spool,
Good line lay,
Nice drag,
Good baitrunner facility,
Has withstood alot since xmas,
Great value for money.
Negative points -
I think the double handle isn't very good as i find it harder to wind in the fish at long distances!
And thats it...
Rating -
9.5/10
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#57 21 May 2005 at 1.22am | | |
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Shimano Aero GT 4000/4500
If you are on a budget/new to carping and don't fancy trying the current cheaper baitrunner reels, then I can certainly recommend these reels (as I'm sure a lot of others can). Despite being the model before the better known 6010/8010 Aero models, they are extremely similar in looks; OK they're more wobbly when reeling in due to no Dynabalance (I think that's right) and have 3 ball bearings etc, but my my Grandad's and mine have certainly stood the test of time, and are still going very strong (as you would expect from a Shimano reel). He's had fish to 38lbs, and myself to 29lbs using them.
IMO excellent for short/mid range fishing. Of course you can't buy them new now, but look around for 2nd hand ones in the classifieds.
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#55 15 Apr 2005 at 3.38pm | | |
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In reply to Post #9
Shimano 10000 are a mini pit reel there great for the size i am wen i get bigger im hoping to get the Shimano big pit LC but the 10000 have everything that the LC have they just have a smaller spool.
http://shop.fishing-pro.de/catalog/images/product/shimano/L011-SBTR10000XTE-04.jpg
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#53 14 Apr 2005 at 3.10pm | | |
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In reply to Post #52
thanks for the info fella
but one line does not = a review
please add more to your post by editing it, or the post will be removed
thankyou
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#52 14 Apr 2005 at 3.05pm | | |
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In reply to Post #51
had my longcasts ror 3 years they have been abused in france and gran canaria had no faults with them and are superb
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#51 13 Apr 2005 at 11.18pm | | |
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INFINITY'S.
Superb reel, had 3 for two years, several mates have got sets and never had a problem. We all do about 80-100 nights a year each so they get plenty of work. Have tried the Shimano longcasts, they can't compete, they feel bulky and too heavy putting the rod/reel combo out of balance and some people at my lake have had the gearing/clutch assemblies go when playing fish which is a nightmare as you only expect 20 fish a year there. Did have a look at the sportsmatics, but its worth spending the £35 extra per reel to get the infinities. The spindle bearings have a higher tolerance and far less movement in them. Found the blue sparkly plastic on the sportsmatics very off putting for the price. Looks like something off a childrens toy. Had a set of Shimano 6000/8000 for ten+ years, excellent reels for the price and size. Worth every penny.
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Maver Tica SF dolphin
's
Really smooth with 13ball bearings.
Aluminum spool, and the whole reel is really light.
anit twist roller, titanium plated.
clicking sound drag knob really handy in the dark, u just twist the front until it stops clicking and then thats your free running setting.
no delay on the anti reverse.
special design so that the line doesnt gather behind the spool! really good feature IMO.
good ratio 4:1:1
8 different styles of spools availble from deep to shallow and with different angles(cant remember what this is called)
im sure i can chuck a lead 130yards plus with these but have never measured, id like to get a shocky on and get it measured tho.
's
everyone always asks what they are and i say maver and they always say 'dont they make poles  '
one has had a slight chip on the fixing but this was due to me dropping it onto my garages solid concrete from 3 foot high 
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Dawia Emblem S
's
really strong reels keep goin even when you really abuse them.
line lay seems to be good.
retrieving big chucks is made a doddle
nice big handle
spool bulk up thingy availble
's
not as solid feeling as my fishing reels.... but with a lower price tag what do you expect
no spare spools supplied
look better painted black too, i had mine of davethefish
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In reply to Post #43
i have just finsihed my first session using my daiwa basia's and although expensive to buy,these reels are truely the business!awesome line lay,perfect drag system used,must be as light as a standard shimano baitrunner,and boy do they cast!i have seen these reels as cheap as £249.00 each at the moment,and i couldn't fault them for that kind of money!anyone looking for a reel with just a front drag set up(with a 1/4 of a turn of the knob,you go from as smooth as a baitrunner to locked up for snag fishing!)this is the reel for you!expensive,but worth it!
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In reply to Post #42
reviews on this thread only please
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#40 30 Jan 2005 at 0.52am | | |
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In reply to Post #39
An add on to my review
2- Sportsmatics - Good line lay and that all i liked about them because they felt very plastic and cheap.
i am surprised to hear some one say that, i have found mine to be a very solid and reliable reel. in fact plastic and cheap is definitely not some thing i would associated with this particular Daiwa reel. solid and robust is more along the lines i would say.
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#39 29 Jan 2005 at 4.19pm | | |
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In reply to Post #38
SHIMANO v's DAIWA
I used to own several of the old shimano baitrunner reels (5010). These were very good smooth reels but the spools on them are tiny compared to todays baitrunner reels. So i wanted to change them for some modern reels.
Here are a list of the reels that i bought untill i found some that were perfect for me.
1- Emcast plus - Smooth with good line lay but there was far too much play in the handle. I also didnt like the baitrunner conversions, so i sold it and then bought:-
2- Sportsmatics - Good line lay and that all i liked about them because they felt very plasticy and cheap. Sold them and got :-
3 - 10000 XTE Baitrunners - Fantastic reels, by far the most smoothest and best feeling general reels about, So i bought 4 of them as i liked them that much. But i wanted a couple of big pit reels so decided to get :-
4 - Power Aero 10000XT - Again a fantastic reel. very smooth. Impecable line lay. Much better baitrunner system than the Daiwa conversions. Totaly recommend.
In my opinion Shimano reels are far better than Diawa as i also have several Shimano reels for match and leger fishing which i think are great reels. I have used Daiwas match reels and dont think they are as good either. SHIMANO ALL THE WAY FROM NOW ON.
I hope this helps those people who are in a quandrum about which reels to buy, and help to save them the time and money that i have wasted. 
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#38 20 Jan 2005 at 1.28pm | | |
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In reply to Post #37
thread cleaned up
reviews only please chaps
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In reply to Post #36
Abu Garcia 5000 baitrunners ( i think there are called that )
Very much overlooked reels, I am not personally an owner ( still using a good old set of daiwa regals - ( not let me down yet after many years of fishing )but i can say when i have used them ( helping a mate when there has been a double run ) they are a a joy to use, beatuful gearing and smooth they sound fantastic when a monster is ripping line from the spool. Competaitivly priced about £ 45 / £50 notes. Abu have always made very good reels but fro some reason in the modern carp world they are overlooked.
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#36 29 Dec 2004 at 6.22pm | | |
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In reply to Post #35
Okuma Axeon big pits
1) Superb progressive clutch certainly reduced hook pulls for me
2) Good line lay
3) smooth on the retrieve and when playing fish 11 BB`s
4) nice anti snap back bail arm system
5) solidly built robust and last but not least in my opinion well priced at
around £89
downsides,if I can think of one,it would be people overlooking these reels
for Daiwas or Shimano`s
they get a thumbs up rating of 5 out of 5
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#25 18 Nov 2004 at 1.37am | | |
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Shimano Big Baitrunner LC
i can see it's already been done, but i have a nicer picture
the clutch is phenomenal! and goes a long way to help reducing hook pulls, when playing a fish at the net.
and it is one of the top selling points for me, along with the line lay which is first rate, and certainly helps adds those extra yards to your cast. And the handle has great cranking power too.
The retrieve is extremely fast and smooth, and line clip is very good on all but the early reels, which were changed from a flimsy looking plastic one, to a metal button that is a vast improvement.
the reel feels very solidly built and that is one of the few downsides to it... weight, at 790g it is on the heavy side, but only 150g more than a Biomaster XS at 640g.
the only other thing i don't like is the plastic line skirt under the spool would have liked to see it made of metal.
i still love 'em though, makes me wonder why i never had big pits ages ago?
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#22 14 Nov 2004 at 9.21pm | | |
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In reply to Post #21
Daiwa Sportsmatic BR Big Pit Reel
The sportsmatic is based on the design of the infinity BR and carries most of the same tried and tested features such as BR-Clutch system, Super Metal Rotor, ABS & Twistbuster, as with all Daiwa reels it is robust and reliable and always ready for action. I find the main front drag is very easy to use and is easily settable to your setup. The bait runner adjustment on the back is also totally adjustable from no drag at all to ripping your rod off the pod. The handle is nice and large for winding in those monsters. The spool is nice and large and is made from steel capped graphite so the line flies off. I really like these reels and have found them excellent this year and at less than £150 its not bad price either.
FEATURES
4 Ball Bearings
BR-Clutch System
Super Metal Rotor
ABS
Twisterbuster
Gear Ratio 4.2:1
Weight 770g
Spool Capacity
8lb - 250m
10lb - 200m
12lb - 170m
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#21 13 Nov 2004 at 1.38am | | |
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Shimano Baitrunner LC
Positive\s
Ultimate big chuck reel - (The choice of F Warwick nearly 200 yards)
Baitrunner facility
Excellent line lay (Aero Wrap)
Excellent front drag system - no need for backwinding
Very fast line retreval
Huge line capacity - 600 yards @ 12lb \ 0.34mm
Negative\s
A bit on the heavy side
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#20 10 Nov 2004 at 11.17pm | | |
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The Shimano Biomaster has proven its value for the past 13 years and has built quite a reputation among a lot of sport anglers.
The new version of the succesful Biomaster series has large capacity spools - the standard 8000 spool easily holds 290yds of 20lb line. As a special service to fishermen who need large quantities of line on their spools, the 7000 series comes with a 6000 spare spool, whereas the 8000 comes with a 9000 spare spool.
The reel has 3 ball bearings and a very fast oscillation. Each turn of the rotor retrieves 90cm - a full yard - of line. This makes them suitable for heavy fresh water fishing and saltwater shore fishing where power and speed is required.
In the medium price category, the Biomaster is certainly excellent value for money.
Model Biomaster 7000 XS
Weight (g) 590
Gear Ratio 3.8:1
Line Capacity (mm/m) 0.40/250
Model Biomaster 8000 XS
Weight (g) 620
Gear Ratio 3.8:1
Line Capacity (mm/m) 0.40/300
i have the older version of these and they are excellent allthough they have seen better days
plus
very reliable
excellent line lay
the price is fair
minus
sometimes but not always the line goes under the spool
rating 8/10
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In reply to Post #1
SHIMANO AERO TECHNIUM 10000XT
This is shimanos top of the range big pit reel and is in my opinion the most buitifuly engineered reel on the market, has a super slow osilation which lays line better than any other reel, cold forged gears for strength and is super smooth on the retrieve, comes with one deep alloy spool which will hold 500 yards of 12lb catana and one shallow spool which holds nearly 300 yards of the same, these reels also have the smallest body of any big pit reel on the market today and balance up very nicely on relatively light rods which I personaly find a nice touch as I use through action rods for most of my fishing and the added winding power of these reels mean I never feel I need any more power but still have the pleasure of a through action rod to play fish.
Good Points.
1: the best build quality I have seen,
2: super powerfull gearing,
3: the ultimate line lay,
4: even make my old 5000 tournaments feel second rate,
5: huge casting potential,
6: should last a very long time,
Bad Points.
1: price,list is £389.99 so search but you will still pay around £235 each,
2: some of the waters I fish are renouned for thefts so I am paranoid about them being nicked,
3: is any reel worth this price bearing in mind you could buy three 10000xte's and three big pit longcasts at current discount prices for the price of three of these.
Suming up I think you need to be very keen to pay this sort of money for a reel but I love mine, the way I see it it's a bit like a car enthusiast getting out of a fiesta and in to a BMW M3 none of us probably need it but it feels great to use and has some advantages and I personaly always buy quality when I can as in the long term I dont feel it works out any more expensive and when I have owned it for a long time it becomes like an old friend which I dont want to be parted from.
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Daiwa Emcast
Price around 55-60 pounds
Positive points
- excellent clutch
- rather cheap for good big pit
- comes with spare spool
Negative points
- compared to more expensive reels (Emblem X5000A for example) it feels a bit sloppy... but after all it only costs half as much...
- handle is a little big
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In reply to Post #9
Here's my review of the Shimano baitrunner 6000GTE
For:
Good line lay, far better than the cheaper diawa regals i used when i started carping. Nice smooth retrieve, no 'clunky' noises or wobbly spools. I like the double handle - some don't, i would class it as a + point though. Imo the drag system is absolutely fine - i always use it and can't see the problem. It certainly isn't 'jerky' in my experience.
I've had these reels for 2 years, fished right through a winter with them and never oiled or serviced them and they work perfectly and always have done. Quality reels that will last - as i don't like the colour of the new GTE-B's i'll be buying a couple more of these!
The only negative is probably the retrieve from distance, my diawa emcast is a fair bit quicker.
Overall, very good reels with a proven performance over time, unlike a lot of the cheaper reels around.
Rob
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In reply to Post #8
Okuma Epix Baitfeeder
"A SHIMANO BEATER......."
Strengths:
The front drag on this reel is far superior to any rear drag reel i have used, the setting are a lot finer and there is none of the jerkiness associated with rear drag reels ( particularily shimano )
The line lay on the reel is particularily good....no biase towards front or back of the reel.
Come with a single handle which i prefer, the larger size reels have a counterbalance on the handle.
The baitrunner mechanism is fine..equally as good as the equaivalent Shimano.
Weaknesses:
Some may not like the silver colour of the reel...
The 65 size is quite heavy....
Overall:
I have replaced my Shimano Baitrunner GTE 5000's with three of the 40 size for tench barbel and bream fishing....and have picked up three of the 65 size for pike and carp fishing.
I am particularily imprssed with the 65 size...this is a very big reel..the capacity and spool are bigger than the Shimano 10k's, but not quite up to a big pit size. Line capacity is large...over 250 yards of 15lb line, which could be useful if you are fishing large water via boats, or considering fishing big continental waters.
The 65 size is competing in the same market as the Shimano 10k's, Big Baitrunners and the Daiwa Infinity Baitrunner...all those reels are over and above 100 pounds. The Okuma reels can be picked up for around the 50 pounds. I have used all the reels mentioned above, and this reel equals there performance in almost all areas, and excedes them in some ( clutch is far better than the Shimano equivalent ) Suffice to say i will no longer be buying Shimano reels.
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In reply to Post #5
Ive got a set of Daiwa SS3000's,heres what i think.
1,very good line lay.
2,comfortable to use(not to bulky)for a big pit reel.
3,cult status.
The only minus is getting parts for them.I snapped a line clip off one of them and tried everywhere to get a spare spool.In the end the Reel Doctor saved the day .
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In reply to Post #3
diawa tournament 5000s
i have had these reels two years now and no probs
1-line lay
2-for a big pit verry light
3-front drag
all in all a good reel one down side i have is that u have to change the spool rubbers twice a year . i would like to compare these with the entohs
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In reply to Post #2
Diawa Infinity X 5000 BR.
I have been servicing these reels for about 3 years now.In that time I can honestly say I have never had to replace any partsdue to mechanical failure.
I was So impressed with the bomb proof build quality I bought 3 .
Likes :- Excellent line lay system and a micro adjustable baitrunner.
Good front drag system and plenty of cranking power/
Add to this the solid feel when playing a big fish and I can see
why they cost so much.
Dislikes :- None so far
What I would change ;- Put a shimano drag on the front end and this
would be the perfect reel.
I personally think these reels are the best for build quality on the market
at this time.
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I'll kick this section off with:
Daiwa Emblem ST
Owned - since mid-2002
PLUSES:
Build quality: I give my gear a lot of abuse, and the Emblems have performed faultlessly, even for cranking in heavy spods.
Weight: Light for a 'big pit' reel, and they balance well with a lightweight rod.
Line Lay: Superb, the best I've had on any reel I've owned, loads up perfectly flat every time.
Drag: The clutch is brilliant, I used to backwind on fish, but the clutch of these is so good, I've gone over to using the drag with confidence
Retrieve rate: Very fast, ideal for the long chuck, if you are used to Baitrunner with tiny spools, these will be revelation!
Handle: Some people don't like the big, chunky handle, but I does me fine, much easier to use on those freezing days when your hands are cold.
MINUSES:
Line guard: This does not work 100% of the time, line does very occasionally get wrapped round the back of the spool.
Spare spools: Not supplied as standard, cost £22 each to buy and are hard to find!
Handle: Smaller handle conversions are available for those who prefer them. With the standard handle, it's a very tight squeeze between the handle and the reel next door when using 16" 3 rod buzzer bars (such as those from Fox). 18" bars are preferable.
Overall, I don't think you can find a better reel for the money, a seriously good workhorse reel for those who don't need 'bells and whistles'. I'd recommend going for a 5000/5500 size, as they are more common and easier to find spare spools for, should you need them.
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