Daiwa QD Reels

[Ian Woods]

I reckon if I can do it, anyone can, but if people are used to baitrunners, or backwinding, or have fished for many years longer than I have, they may have some muscle memory and preconceptions to contend with.

I use mine exactly as Richard describes. I've often heard it say that QD is an alternative to a baitrunner. And while QD doesn't have the automated mechanism of a BR, the front QD knob can be set as loose as a freespool and adjusted once the hook is set.

You just have to become adept at handling your knob... so to speak.
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You can do exactly the same thing with an ordinary drag, front or rear drag as with the QD. The only difference is it takes more roatation of the drag.
The fighting drag on some of the shimano reels, is imo a much better option than the front quick drag drag.

If you have any of them set soft enough to give line before your rod is dragged into the water you don't need to alter them at all, you could simply use your fore finger on the spool to clamp down, pull the fish back toward you and then wind in as you drop the rod.
I really don't see the point in all that faffing about when the baitrunner facility was designed specifically for the job, and is by far the best option imo.

 

[Kevin Brown]

Must admit these QDs got the better of my curiosity after reading this thread many times always used baitrunners , I panic when it comes to a 3 foot twitch and always cup the spool anyway , then turn the handle to disengage the baitrunner , so I’m pretty sure I’ll get the hang of a QD .
And I do like the shorter more compact body on the QD , they just look a nicer reel imo
I like to try different things and see how I get on , already have a pair of Castizms BR and I’m not too impressed to be honest , the drag and the BR feel like all or nothing , I prefer the BR on Shimanos , seems more adjustable, especially the bit between a completely free spool and a little bit of tension . With the Daiwa Castizm, it’s freespool then quite a bit of tension and nothing in between , the drag feels the same and both act the same so I’m sure it’s a characteristic of the reel.

 

[Chris Belcher]

Quick question on the QDs
When locked up after hooking a fish , how is the drag set for playing a fish ? Or do you just back it off slightly.

You can indeed fish this way and that's exactly how I use QD for carp fishing 90% of the time (prefer to give the fish zero line and want to be instantly connected / create a self hooking scenario) however I am using zero stretch fluro which has little if any give and also at greater ranges than that of on a river a lot of the time. . .

Barbel fishing scenarios can be a little different / takes more aggressive / much shorter ranges etc so perhaps setting the QD slightly looser / cupping on the take then tightening up as required as Rich describes would be a better scenario to begin with especially if you are not used to using QD . .