I'm looking to buy a pair of baitrunner/freespool reels.

They are to go on two 10Ft 2.75 t/c rods I have bought.

Will be chucking around 80 mtrs max so dont want deep spools that I've got to put hundreds of yards of backing on first. Also need them to be balanced so not heavy reels.

Budget upto £80 each. Does what I'm looking for actually exsist? Would really appreciate some recommendations please.

In reply to Post #1
Shimano Baitrunner DL RB might be worth a look

I would look out for a couple of Aero 6000 GTE baitrunners 2nd hand.

In reply to Post #1
Personally would ignore the smaller diameter spooled Shimanos or any narrow spool baitrunner as they are a recipe for constant line twist - X Aero RA has a better spool but its also rear drag / rear baitrunner drag which I'd also avoid

Emblem BR25A a good choice on 10' rods or something similar - Emcast 25A more within your budget but no baitrunner (you could QD it)

Failing that Okuma Inception INC-6000; never used one but gets great reviews on here as a compact VFM carp reel - spend the change on bait!

In reply to Post #4
I do actually have a pair of Okuma 6000 inc that I used to use on a pair of 12ft barbel rods, but thought they would be way to heavy for 10ft rods. Am I wrong?

Also could these be turned into Quick Drag? I remember doing it to a Wychwood Riot reel once by just removing a spring out of the drag wheel nut

I've got the DL RBs on my 10ft tx2, they balance really well and have been a solid reel for the past 5 years.

In reply to Post #6
What size do you have and would they cast 80mtrs? Always found the shimano spools quite small for their quoted size and not the greatest for casting distances

I've got the 6000, and can fish comfortably at 80 meters

In reply to Post #5
I use BR25As on my 12 & 13' barbel rods (with 12/15lb mono) and also one on my 10' marker/spomb/spopper rod with braid

Baitrunner works well and I also prefer the front drag / wider dia spool in a compact 25mm length. They balance well with all rods as a mini pit type reel and I'm currently thinking of swopping out my SS2600s on my 10's for either Castizms or Whisker 25QDs

In reply to Post #1
I prefer the Shimano rear drag bait runners
and use the 6000 size I have the earlier bomb proof Shimano XTEA reels possibly the best Shimano reels they ever made

Another vote for the Emblem BR25a I have them on some 10 foot Freespirits but as already mentioned these are over your budget, 6 years ago when I bought them they were about your budget at £89.99 most places now they're more like £149.99 upwards most places and getting more expensive monthly.

As an alternative and a reasonable reel for the money and would balance well on 10' rods are the Mitchell Full runner MX6 in 5000 size I have these on a set of 11' Baby Ballistas and they balance lovely they are around your budget if you can find the 5000 size.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I'm checking them all out for prices and weight etc.

I've used the Shimano DL10000 Baitrunners on my 12ft Century NG's, and with 15lb line, 0.35mm I think that the maximum casting distance was 90metres, because of the line depth and spool relationship. When I changed to Beastmaster XTA's I was casting a lot further with the same effort.

A 6000 would probably feel balanced on a 10feet rod.



To be honest, despite still using the DL's for pike fishing, I think the current ST's in 4000/6000 would be better value for money, although the older model Aero GTE 4500/6010's were a better quality reel.

In reply to Post #13
I still use my 8010s but the casting ability / cranking power / line lay and drag on BR25As is far superior . . .

i also prefer baitrunner rear drags and if its a baitrunner you want i wouldnt consider anything other than Shimano .... If you can find some XTEA's or XTR RA's Super Baitrunners go with as they are both superb (but may struggle at £80 budget)

I also have Okuma Inc 6000 reels which i use on my 10ft 2.75lb travel rods (cheaper set up) ... Great reels for shorter rods and within your budget .... I would definately take these over Shimano mini pits equivalent (XTBs'/XTC's/XTD's etc)

In reply to Post #1
I've been using a set of Shimano 10000xte baitrunners for years.
They suit my Harrison Baby Ballista's perfectly.
You can pick sets up for very reasonable money and some will even have additional single handles, as mine have.