When I started with 10ft rods I got some cheapo Penn 6000 LC blacks which have been excellent value for money.
But 12ish months later, I want to replace them with something from Daiwa and I'm down to these two.
Any hands on experience of both, are the whiskers worth the extra, and is it worth looking out for second hand models of each (some emcast 25a's £90 each on the bay) or castizms?
EDIT: from digging around, looks Emblem is only BR which I'm not interested in, so it's if the whiskers are worth the money, s/h emcasts or am I missing something (not SS or GS).
Ta.
But 12ish months later, I want to replace them with something from Daiwa and I'm down to these two.
Any hands on experience of both, are the whiskers worth the extra, and is it worth looking out for second hand models of each (some emcast 25a's £90 each on the bay) or castizms?
EDIT: from digging around, looks Emblem is only BR which I'm not interested in, so it's if the whiskers are worth the money, s/h emcasts or am I missing something (not SS or GS).
Ta.
In reply to Post #1
I've been using 25 whiskers for about 3 years now and they've been superb, never missed a beat and they've been pretty abused at times. Went to them from GS4000's that didn't quite have the cranking power I needed to get big fish away from snags and weed.
Using them currently with TA 16lb Fluoro and they are fine, although casting never further than 40-50yds with light leads.
I would have considered the emblems but couldn't find any second hand, but in hindsight, I'm glad I went for the whiskers.
I might regret saying this but over the last 10-15 years I've managed to break just about every top end reel there is and the fact the whiskers have survived my clumsiness is testimony to them.
I've been using 25 whiskers for about 3 years now and they've been superb, never missed a beat and they've been pretty abused at times. Went to them from GS4000's that didn't quite have the cranking power I needed to get big fish away from snags and weed.
Using them currently with TA 16lb Fluoro and they are fine, although casting never further than 40-50yds with light leads.
I would have considered the emblems but couldn't find any second hand, but in hindsight, I'm glad I went for the whiskers.
I might regret saying this but over the last 10-15 years I've managed to break just about every top end reel there is and the fact the whiskers have survived my clumsiness is testimony to them.
If you can get a mint set off castizms get them. The whiskers are poor in comparison.
In reply to Post #3
Is that user experience or just opening the box and looking at them
Is that user experience or just opening the box and looking at them
In reply to Post #1
I'm a loyal Daiwa fan and a 25mm spool convert and have Whisker 25QDs (on 10' Carp Rods) and Castizm BR25As (on 12' & 13' Barbel Rods) I also own several Emblem BR25As but these have been demoted to other setups / spopper utility rods etc . .Daiwa used to do an Emblem 25QD (but now renamed 25C QD) which is the cheaper equivalent to the Whisker (as the Emblem BR25A is to the Castizm BR25A - also now discontinued)
Purists say the original Castizm 25QD was better than the current Whisker 25QD - on this I cannot comment as I've never owned them however I will say the Whiskers are fantastic and for the last few seasons bulletproof, even using 0.40 mainline - they also have folding handles which the Castizms do not (which is annoying IMO). My only 'niggle' is the washers (the originals create a slightly sticky clutch), so these have been replaced throughout with Ice washers, however I do this on all my reels anyway . . .
As for the difference between the Emblem BR25As and Castizm BR25As there is actually very little - the Castizms come with a spare spool and are mag sealed - they're also weirdly a few grams heavier than their cheaper cousins . . .however they are matt and not gloss and I'm a tart so that's enough of a reason . . . .
I'm a loyal Daiwa fan and a 25mm spool convert and have Whisker 25QDs (on 10' Carp Rods) and Castizm BR25As (on 12' & 13' Barbel Rods) I also own several Emblem BR25As but these have been demoted to other setups / spopper utility rods etc . .Daiwa used to do an Emblem 25QD (but now renamed 25C QD) which is the cheaper equivalent to the Whisker (as the Emblem BR25A is to the Castizm BR25A - also now discontinued)
Purists say the original Castizm 25QD was better than the current Whisker 25QD - on this I cannot comment as I've never owned them however I will say the Whiskers are fantastic and for the last few seasons bulletproof, even using 0.40 mainline - they also have folding handles which the Castizms do not (which is annoying IMO). My only 'niggle' is the washers (the originals create a slightly sticky clutch), so these have been replaced throughout with Ice washers, however I do this on all my reels anyway . . .
As for the difference between the Emblem BR25As and Castizm BR25As there is actually very little - the Castizms come with a spare spool and are mag sealed - they're also weirdly a few grams heavier than their cheaper cousins . . .however they are matt and not gloss and I'm a tart so that's enough of a reason . . . .
Thanks everyone, some castizms on the bay at almost the same price as 3 new whiskers so think I'd rather get new ðŸ‘.
Funny I used GS4000's for quite a while and they were good reels, just lacked cranking power and couldn't afford the Whiskers at the time.
Must say though, for anyone on a tight budget the revel 6000 blacks with the shallow spools are exceptional
Funny I used GS4000's for quite a while and they were good reels, just lacked cranking power and couldn't afford the Whiskers at the time.
Must say though, for anyone on a tight budget the revel 6000 blacks with the shallow spools are exceptional
In reply to Post #4
User experience. I also hate folding handles. The whiskers had loads of play and just felt like they were made on a friday afternoon. Castizm feel like precision implements and will last for ever. Just my opinion of course.
User experience. I also hate folding handles. The whiskers had loads of play and just felt like they were made on a friday afternoon. Castizm feel like precision implements and will last for ever. Just my opinion of course.
In reply to Post #7
I love folding handles.
Look better on the rests and so much easier when packing down
I love folding handles.
Look better on the rests and so much easier when packing down
In reply to Post #7
Trouble with the castizms is on the 2nd hand market they are stupidly overpriced and I looked at no end of poor examples at silly money going back.
Just sticking with my old 5500 xtbs myself, hopefully next year shimano will release the Ultegra XRs in 5500 size ðŸ‘ðŸ¼
Trouble with the castizms is on the 2nd hand market they are stupidly overpriced and I looked at no end of poor examples at silly money going back.
Just sticking with my old 5500 xtbs myself, hopefully next year shimano will release the Ultegra XRs in 5500 size ðŸ‘ðŸ¼
In reply to Post #8
Just think foldys look cheap. Cant beat a nice machined metal handle. Mine take seconds to unscrew and fold away, dosent really get much easier than that.
Just think foldys look cheap. Cant beat a nice machined metal handle. Mine take seconds to unscrew and fold away, dosent really get much easier than that.
I have Cast'izms and Emcast 25a (and used to use the Shimano 5500 xtb).
The Cast'izms are in a league of their own. Lighter, better engineered and perfect clutches.
But the Emcasts will catch me exactly the same number of carp. They do everything that is needed.
FWIW I preferred the xtb's over the Emcast. The spools and the drag were better.
But any of these reels are over specced for carp at short to mid range.
The Cast'izms are in a league of their own. Lighter, better engineered and perfect clutches.
But the Emcasts will catch me exactly the same number of carp. They do everything that is needed.
FWIW I preferred the xtb's over the Emcast. The spools and the drag were better.
But any of these reels are over specced for carp at short to mid range.
In reply to Post #1
Emblem 35's (non-Baitrunner) are available? Ideal for 10 footers imo.
Emblem 35's (non-Baitrunner) are available? Ideal for 10 footers imo.
In reply to Post #7
If your Whiskers had loads of play then you must have had a duff batch - mine are tighter than a nuns
The differences in spec other than colour / finish and folding handle are zero . . .the og Castizm is gloss with chromy bits and looks like a baby ISO (spool lip perforations etc)
Its been replaced buy the 19 TDR Distance 25QD (just for additional confusion) as I believe the original Castizm 25s were intended as long range feeder reels . . .
If your Whiskers had loads of play then you must have had a duff batch - mine are tighter than a nuns
The differences in spec other than colour / finish and folding handle are zero . . .the og Castizm is gloss with chromy bits and looks like a baby ISO (spool lip perforations etc)
Its been replaced buy the 19 TDR Distance 25QD (just for additional confusion) as I believe the original Castizm 25s were intended as long range feeder reels . . .
In reply to Post #13
Agreed, mine are lovely, no issues with play, much prefer the understated colour scheme compared to the blingy castizm.
They are a perfect sized reel for smaller rods and for fishing in close. I wouldn't want anything bigger on a 10ft rod and my sort of fishing means they probably wouldn't even need more than 60yds of line on them
Agreed, mine are lovely, no issues with play, much prefer the understated colour scheme compared to the blingy castizm.
They are a perfect sized reel for smaller rods and for fishing in close. I wouldn't want anything bigger on a 10ft rod and my sort of fishing means they probably wouldn't even need more than 60yds of line on them
I much prefer the og castizm 25 qda.... I have some on my 10ft rods and wanted some for tench rods.
Tried the Castizm feeder 19 which are cheaper and found the clutch doesn't go as loose as the qda when set as a baitrunner (cap becomes loose) and the Emcast 25a which are good for the money but not a patch on the qda.
I bought the Emcast to use as marker and spod reel, they are solid and I have made them qd by removing a coil from the cap.
Tried the whiskers in a shop but didn't feel as good to me, the qda has a reassuringly more solid feel but I haven't used one for fishing.
I do like the bling though, but did buy some 18 Emblem 25 C QD and Emblem BR 25A spools in black from fishernator which look good too. Fishernator have the whisker spools for about £38 each at the moment if you like black spools with red rim, I think that would look good but I'm over spooled as it is
Tried the Castizm feeder 19 which are cheaper and found the clutch doesn't go as loose as the qda when set as a baitrunner (cap becomes loose) and the Emcast 25a which are good for the money but not a patch on the qda.
I bought the Emcast to use as marker and spod reel, they are solid and I have made them qd by removing a coil from the cap.
Tried the whiskers in a shop but didn't feel as good to me, the qda has a reassuringly more solid feel but I haven't used one for fishing.
I do like the bling though, but did buy some 18 Emblem 25 C QD and Emblem BR 25A spools in black from fishernator which look good too. Fishernator have the whisker spools for about £38 each at the moment if you like black spools with red rim, I think that would look good but I'm over spooled as it is