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New big pits choice (40 posts / 3,236 views)
Tuharax
Posts: 25
Post #1 20 May 2025 10:29
0
Hello, looking for some advice.

Im upgrading my set up to suit more LR fishing. First stop is reels.

Current rods: Daiwa Black Widow Carp Fishing Rod 12ft
Reels: shimano baitrunner st 10000 rb

I like the bait runner function. I know its old fashioned. The reels im looking at are

FOXEOS1200FS - seems to have good reviews.
shimano big baitrunner lc 14000 xtb - mixed reviews. Maybe subject to the clicker noise issue and line guard snapping.

Price wise there's about £90 difference for a set of three.

I was set on the XTB but fear the clicker issue! Nobody wants a silent drag.

Then there's none bait runner recommended ones from brands like PENN and Okuma.
Okuma Obsidian 12000
Penn Affinity IIII long cast 8000

The downside I hear is spare parts etc can be an issue.

I know the rods will need an upgrade. However, short term I will keep the widows and then look to get TX-2's as they seem to be a good all rounder.

Any advice on which pits to go for. My preference is a bait runner. However, if for the money and quality it makes sense move away then Im sure I would get used to it.

OatcakeFred OatcakeFred
Posts: 1,466
Post #2 20 May 2025 11:27
1
In reply to Post #1
My thoughts on this:

Fox reels - wouldn't touch them, my lad had some EOS 10000 and they were crap.

Shimano - usually good.

Okuma - good value, good reels, but you are correct about spares - non existent.

Penn - top quality reels at a reasonable price. Spares shouldn't be an issue, think you get them from Quintin Millman. Might be worth checking this with him.

I'd also add in the Mitchell Avocast 7000, good priced reasonable reels, available as freespool or QD. There's also Daiwa obviously, someone should be able to recommend a reel in a similar price range.

Good luck in your search.
Tuharax
Posts: 25
Post #3 20 May 2025 12:48
0
In reply to Post #2
Thanks. To be honest I'm considering moving to QD the weight savings make sense
braders1978 braders1978
Posts: 18,195
Post #4 20 May 2025 13:51
0
In reply to Post #3
The penn is a big reel in the 8000 size,the 7000 might be better.There is another penn reel a few people on here recommend,penn tidal xt i think it is
Tuharax
Posts: 25
Post #5 20 May 2025 14:30
0
In reply to Post #4
Thanks the Penns looks ok the only thing I've noticed is the max drags are lower than Shimamo 12kg vs 15kg and 18kg. Not really sure what that metric means but higher seems better
0nslow 0nslow
Posts: 1,619
Post #6 20 May 2025 15:56
0
Try and find a deal for Daiwa Tournament 5000T's.

I appreciate they are over budget, but you probably won't need to buy another set of pits ever again (unless you want to 😃

EDIT: you may get a better result out of upgrading your rods first if your after more accurate distance though.

Second hand market could come up trumps for rods or reels too 👍
Tuharax
Posts: 25
Post #7 20 May 2025 16:05
0
In reply to Post #6
They look good but way out of range.
Not really looked at Daiwa. What about the
DAIWA EMBLEM 45 SCW QD
0nslow 0nslow
Posts: 1,619
Post #8 20 May 2025 16:34
0
In reply to Post #7
I've had Shimano, Penn and Daiwa over the years and always gone back to Daiwa.

I believe the emblems are pretty decent (or were) but not used the newer ones myself
ip100 ip100
Posts: 12,494
Post #9 20 May 2025 16:42
0
In reply to Post #7
I have a set of those. The Penn are a much better reel, go for the 7000 size as the 8000 are far too big
Tuharax
Posts: 25
Post #10 20 May 2025 20:08
0
In reply to Post #9
They look decent heavy though
g4fne g4fne
Posts: 15,110
Post #11 20 May 2025 20:20
2
Shimano XTB - Shimano lost the plot with these - Over rated and very average reel imo (i had 6 of them at one point and all had clicker problems)

I dont understand the hate for modern Fox reels - I have FX9s and FX11's and both sets been superb.


If sold on a "premium" brand I would take Daiwa over Shimano for big pits and Shimano over Daiwa for Baitrunners
Tuharax
Posts: 25
Post #12 20 May 2025 20:55
0
In reply to Post #11
You've convinced me to bin the Shimano. I think I'll go for a QD rather than baitrunner. They seem to be the norm and there's less parts to go wrong
essesxandy essesxandy
Posts: 3,199
Post #13 21 May 2025 07:01
0
In reply to Post #1
If you are after more distance, upgrading your rods will make far more difference than changing to a bigger reel.
I had Technium XT10000 big pits and 10000XTE smaller baitrunners, on identical rods my average cast was nine yards longer with the XT10000's. 146yards with the Tech's , 135yards with baitrunners, 3.5oz lead, .35 (15lb) Catana straight through.
ip100 ip100
Posts: 12,494
Post #14 21 May 2025 08:36
0
In reply to Post #10
What does it matter? They spend most of their time sat on rests
PaulBishop PaulBishop
Posts: 371
Post #15 21 May 2025 08:56
0
If you can find them, Big Baitrunner X- TRA are the ones. Alas, in true Shimano fashion they downgrade the internals and release cheaper b,c,d models.
The clickers are still **** though. 😆
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