• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

Barbel reels

Adam Wylie

Adam Wylie

Senior Member & Supporter
Hi all ,
I managed to view a new pair of DAIWA GS BR LT 5000 reels and have to say they look the perfect tool for Barbel fishing as well as tench etc.
They are a very similiar size to the 4000D ,but the spool diameter is larger .I have been looking at the SHIMANO ULTEGRA 5000 XTD but I think the Daiwa reels would be better as they have the BAITRUNNER rather than the speed drag!
Anyone have any experience with the ULTEGRAS ?🤔
 
I have Adam, but I use them for long range bream fishing

Nice reels and the spare spools and fillers are great and the big spools do help with distance casting but I wish I’d got bait runners instead. Even with the washers to convert to quick drag I’ve never really liked using them as free spool reels, the drag doesn’t loosen up enough.
 
Ash Gould said:
If you like using a clutch then speed-drag or quick drag reels are not the way to go in my opinion. They go from locked up to spinning freely far too quick and make the use of drag facility redundant.

So on that basis Id say go for the Daiwa, I like the sound of the larger diameter spools 👍
Click to expand...
Na I disagree. Quick drag reels have exceptionally good usable clutches. They ain’t like a light switch. Instead of 3 turns to let them fly you’ll do it in one but there’s plenty of adjustment in that 1 turn to set a sweet spot and very quickly.
They come in very handy if you’ve just tightened up to pull from a snag and forget to pre set it before hooking up.
 
For river fishing I have settled on baitrunner reels, the Shimano OC are my favourites.

I have some Shimano 5000 xtc reels which are great for casting but the QD is just not sensitive enough to adjust for river use. With my various OC baitrunners it is simple to adjust baitrunner drag for variations in the river flow. The QD reels are just not in that league!

Pity, the 5000 xtc reels have been brilliant for sea use and heavy spinning, great for distance casting and have excellent fast retrieve.
 
I would say depends on what sort of fishing you do.....most of my fishing is snag fishing so I fish locked up and I sit on the rods even the stretch in the mono is too much....I would only use a freespool facility be it QD or bait runner on bigger rivers like the trent
 
Terry Harman said:
I would say depends on what sort of fishing you do.....most of my fishing is snag fishing so I fish locked up and I sit on the rods even the stretch in the mono is too much....I would only use a freespool facility be it QD or bait runner on bigger rivers like the trent
Click to expand...
Locked up for me too.
My clutch’s are set for playing them, not letting them pick up the bait and piss off under a tree.
 
I’d fish a tight clutch if I was fishing close to a snag but generally I have my clutch set a bit loose and use my finger on the spool as a brake
 
Hi men

Good strong line , good strong reel , good strong rod . Other than the feel and looks of stuff we use , the hardware don't really make much difference to catching barbel . I have okuma bait runners , Shimano baitrunners , and a centerpin that covers all situations , none of them has let me down and I treat them like crap .
The rods are Nash barbel elite , which are fantastic for smashing down undergrowth etc and bullet proof .
But then again would I like a wafer thin rod from Bob ? , Of course , shiney lovely reels ? , Of course , that's where the choice is made 😉

Hatter
 
True up to a point Terry.
Many moons ago I worked in the tyre test department of Pirelli. We were all young and car mad. I used to compete in sprints in my tuned mini. Don't think I would have been very successful if I had been driving a Rolls.
 
Mark Anderson said:
The rods are Nash barbel elite , which are fantastic for smashing down undergrowth etc and bullet proof .
Hatter
Click to expand...

I managed to get hold of an 'as new' Nash 'Elite' last year Hatter, and am a great fan. I mostly use it for roving with a single rod, especially in high water conditions on the Middle Severn (or Teme). After using Nash's Tri-Tips for 15+ years, and having had over a thousand barbel on them, it was a seamless step change. Weird why they stopped making 'The Specialist' barbel range, and god knows what blank manufacture was involved.
 
Mike Thompson said:
True up to a point Terry.
Many moons ago I worked in the tyre test department of Pirelli. We were all young and car mad. I used to compete in sprints in my tuned mini. Don't think I would have been very successful if I had been driving a Rolls.
Click to expand...
but imagine if you had used a rolls if would have been more reliable a lot smoother and a hell of a lot more comfortable and probably would have lasted longer
 
Them wibbley wobbly Daiwa reels are closer to this I’d say if we are going to compare to vehicles 😂😂
652E5E1B-CE3F-43D5-AB1D-15A69625AE90.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top