Daiwa QD Reels

[Damian Kimmins]

For carp fishing specifically I used to be anti QD but I've been anti bait-runner for a lot longer!. . . the drag range is significantly lessened (2-3 full revolutions vs 1-6 clicks) however like all things you get used to it and I've since QD'd / Carbon washered all my Daiwa reels that were previously standard front drag (SS2600/S5000T/S6000T/X5000A) and use my Whisker 25QD reels more than any of the others in a carp fishing situation. The prob with baitrunners and carp fishing is the aggressiveness / movement in 'sudden' engagement when turning the handle on picking up the rod - it can bump fish off because they're generally already hooked (no striking required). Yes you can mitigate this slightly by getting 'close' to the engaged front drag setting but this mitigates its usefulness - far easier to fish locked up with a QD that you can release on the take with a couple of clicks or conversely if fishing a free'ish spool (margins / very short range) pick up the rod / cup the spool / lift into the fish and stiffen the drag with a couple of clicks / play with finger pressure as and when during the fight . . .

Barbel fishing is a slightly different scenario - most of the time range is minimal (for a carper its akin to margin fishing) so in this instance I find a bait runner convenient if nothing else (Emblem BR25As). Mine are still carbon washered (to alleviate some of the front drag play) but with more frequent rebaiting / casting / mega violent takes and the risk of nodding off without alarms its easier to simply flick on the baitrunner after casting and feel safe in the knowledge that the rod is less likely to go for a swim . . .tbf I could easily use my Whisker 25QD for barbel and use the cup spool & click drag method on the take; however they are permanently attached to my 10' small water set up and with baitrunners you always have a visual representation if you think you've forgotten to engage it . . .

Being honest, would you use the Whisker 25QD for barbel fishing? I have been looking at those inparticular but wondered if they were too big. Rarely fish a couple of rod lengths out.

 

[Brian Penfold]

I’ve been using both TDRs and Tournaments this last past season - all QD. I’ve also fished a few commercials as well since June and taken some good double figure carp. Now that I’ve got used to them, I’m not sure I’d go back to a conventional drag - a simple click up or down is much easier to manage (well for me!)

 

[Richard Isaacs]

You mentioned the ability, with a baitrunner, to preset the clutch (I'm assuming we're both talking about the rear clutch, not the front drag knob) to line strength. Now you're suggesting just setting the clutch to let it run, regardless of the intended quarry, and it sounds like regardless of line strength.

No that’s not what I mean at all.
On a baitrunner reel you have 2 operating systems.
1) Free spool which is set if you want to allow a self hooked fish to bolt without the rod being pulled in. It’s usually set quite loose and it’s simply turned on with a switch.

2) the clutch on the front which is there to give line when needed during the fight much like what you have on your tdms.

If you use the qd to do the first job and act like a bait runner you can’t pre set it before you hook a fish to do the second job so you need to set this during playing a fish.
On a baitrunner reel you can turn the baitrunner on and have a free spool function
But when you turn the baitrunner off you have your normal clutch on the front of the reel already set to fight the fish and set to give line only when needed.

The 2 functions used correctly negate the need to touch the drag system at all during playing any sized or strength of fish

 

[Terry Harman]

Being honest, would you use the Whisker 25QD for barbel fishing? I have been looking at those inparticular but wondered if they were too big. Rarely fish a couple of rod lengths out.

I use these reels for 90% of my barbel fishing and there isn’t a baitrunner that exists that I would swap them for…. I sit on my rods all the time so don’t need a baitrunner I don’t use them fully locked up and if I have to take my eyes of the rods for a minute or so just turn the front drag a quarter turn…. They are great for playing fish and I get zero line twist
Personally I just don’t get the whole infatuation with bait runners
I’m not one for setting my drag and that’s it whatever I hook ….I like to be engaged when playing fish after all that’s the fun bit isn’t it ?

 

[Damian Kimmins]

I think I am going to dig out some old Twin Power Ci4 with Tri Drag out and give them a go. They're still boxed and brand new and rare as hens teeth though.

 

[Damian Kimmins]

I use these reels for 90% of my barbel fishing and there isn’t a baitrunner that exists that I would swap them for…. I sit on my rods all the time so don’t need a baitrunner I don’t use them fully locked up and if I have to take my eyes of the rods for a minute or so just turn the front drag a quarter turn…. They are great for playing fish and I get zero line twist
Personally I just don’t get the whole infatuation with bait runners
I’m not one for setting my drag and that’s it whatever I hook I like to be engaged when playing fish after all that’s the fun bit isn’t it ?View attachment 33316

It is Terry, that's why I enjoyed the fightin drag reels and essentially what makes playing fish on a pin an enjoyable experience.

 

[Terry Harman]

It is Terry, that's why I enjoyed the fightin drag reels and essentially what makes playing fish on a pin an enjoyable experience.

Funnily enough I’ve recently looked at fighting drags but the 6000 size are pretty rare… there is a pair on ebay but they look like they have been dragged out of the bottom of a canal

 

[Tim Marks]

It is Terry, that's why I enjoyed the fightin drag reels and essentially what makes playing fish on a pin an enjoyable experience.

Fighting drags are the best of both worlds - you leave the preset reel drag alone and simply dial in the tension you require for registering a take. Then when you get a bite you simply brake the spool with your fingers and tighten the fighting drag.

I find them much more versatile than the on/off nature of baitrunners.

 

[Terry Harman]

What about lever brakes anyone had any experience of those ?

Daiwa Whisker Ss750 Tournament | eBay

This listed here is a superb rare Daiwa 750 LB whisker SS tournament reel - the LB is for lever break and is in a nice small size ideal for stalking it comes with a spare spool (both spools are stainless lipped) Pick up welcome.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Chris Belcher]

Being honest, would you use the Whisker 25QD for barbel fishing? I have been looking at those inparticular but wondered if they were too big. Rarely fish a couple of rod lengths out.

100% - and agree with Terry H's synopsis . . .Whisker 25QD is a fantastic and versatile reel - I've landed carp to 40lbs on them and they are small light and powerful. The only reason they are not on my barbel rods is because I use Emblem BR25As (which are the same 25mm Daiwa spool concept / same reel as Castizm BRs) They're actually slightly bigger than the Whiskers but balance perfectly on both 12/13' rods. TBF I'm used to using larger reels in general and find my SS2600s (mainly used for floater fishing / margin float fishing) tiny!

The thing I really like about the Daiwa 25mm Spool concept is the compact size / lack of line twist (smaller 5000/8000 sized Baitrunners are prone to this), the smooth front drag (I detest rear drag) and the cranking power above anything else. Baitrunner function for me is a security blanket (I can nod off during days when arriving at a swim at the crack of dawn) and primarily for bigger rivers (eg Trent) where you can be away from your rods / fish through the night etc but this is just personal barbel fishing preference and I could happily use QD reels instead . . .

 

[Damian Kimmins]

Fighting drags are the best of both worlds - you leave the preset reel drag alone and simply dial in the tension you require for registering a take. Then when you get a bite you simply brake the spool with your fingers and tighten the fighting drag.

I find them much more versatile than the on/off nature of baitrunners.

Totally agree with that statement Tim and have decided to go with some new fightin drags from Japan.
Some swims I fish these days requires the rod top to be submerged which changes the resistance required (consistently) for the registration of small chub bites/takes, coupling that with the ability to rapidly adjust during playing makes the FD a no brainer almost.
I might have gone for the QDs if consistency was there.

 

[Alan Palmer]

Funnily enough I’ve recently looked at fighting drags but the 6000 size are pretty rare… there is a pair on ebay but they look like they have been dragged out of the bottom of a canal

Have a search for shimano GTM 4010, they are very capable reels, they do t have the cranking power for large feeders on the Trent but smaller rivers they are perfect. I have a couple of these and the fighting drag is superb - good condition models do still come up on eBay…if it wasn’t for getting some Thunnus last year I’d still happily use them for most situations

 

[Cliff Turner]

I still use Stradics on my ipowers in 4000 size, perfect for summer levels and small rivers

 

[Ben Jennings]

I’m not a big QD fan. I used to like them years ago but now the newer QD reels especially i’ve found shimano are too quick, there appears to be around 1/4 of a turn from freespool to locked up on my Power aeros 1400 that i use for carping and the 5500 CI4 xtc’s i used to have, which i’ve now replaced with Whisker 25’s. The QD on the Whiskers is around 1/2 a turn from feeespool to locked up i’ve found which is still more than my old Daiwa theory sp’s which i feel have the perfect qd (more of a full turn).

However i’ve also change my barbel reels and now use the static ci4’s as love the fighting drag want to get a couple more for my feeder and chub set up. Always sit on my rods but can flip the fighting drag if i have to look away to grab a drink or something.