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Harrison Chimera Specialist Number 2: what reel?

M

Marcus Ruoff

Active Member
As some might remember I am the proud owner of a pair of Chimera 3s (following your recommendations here :)) and also had a pair of 11ft 1.75lbs Chimeras built on new old stock blanks recently.

So I guess you could call me a Chimera fan now.

Thats probably why I just bid successfully on a Chimera 2. A rod that probably will never surface here in Germany anytime again soon.

I wonder now what would be an ideal reel for the Chimera 2 in your opinion?

Coupled my Chimera 3s with Nash Scope 4000 which is a good match because of the carp I sometimes catch with them.

For the 2 I guess something else would more appropriate?!

What would you recommend or what do you fish with your 2s?

Thank you and have a great season! BR Marcus
 
Thanks much for the advise! I should have mentioned that I am not too keen on baitrunner reels but Eil for sure consider them as an option. Or the fighting drag version that is... :)
 
For me, how the rod is 'balanced' by the reel is only a really important factor when using that rod to float fish a river. Yes, if you're float fishing a river, holding the rod for hours and continuously casting, then reel/rod balance is a very important factor. But if the rod is spending 98%+ of its time in rod rests then the factors that would influence my choice of reel would be A/. B.S of line to be used. B/. Casting distance, and C/. Target species. When the rod is in the rod rests than 'balance' isn't an important factor for me, and when you're playing a fish, that fish is pulling your rod 'out of balance' anyway. The only time you might notice the 'balance-ness' of your set up would be when you cast single handed.
How the reel 'looks' on the rod??? Nah, I wouldn't give that a second thought.
N.b... re. baitrunners. One of the great things about them for me is...if you reel has one it's an option i.e. you don't have to use it, but it's there when you wish/need to use it. It may add a few grams to the reel, but I can live with that.
 
On the 11ft chimera 1.75lb I've got a Shimano Aero XR 5000 and it feels like a wand. For the 12ft no2 my Daiwa ss2600 feels well balanced for me.
 
I have a pair of the old shimmy 5000 gte's and have used them on the no1 and no2 chimera rods.
If someone prefers a more recent reel i've also used the shimmy 2500 and 4000 X Aero reels on them also.
For me personally, I think the old shimmy 5000 gte's are one of the best baitrunners ever produced by shimano and they would be my choice.
 
Ian Woods said:
I have a pair of the old shimmy 5000 gte's and have used them on the no1 and no2 chimera rods.
If someone prefers a more recent reel i've also used the shimmy 2500 and 4000 X Aero reels on them also.
For me personally, I think the old shimmy 5000 gte's are one of the best baitrunners ever produced by shimano and they would be my choice.
Click to expand...
Yep an iconic piece of fishing gear, these reels are timeless and still look and act the part after all those years.
 
Thanks all for your great advise as usual! Habe a happy and the health Easter!
The rod will arrive tomorrow and I will See which of your recommendations I will go for :)
 
I posted an almost identical question about 2 years ago. One recommendation was a 4000 size Daiwa baitrunner (copper spool can't remember the exact model number). So I went ahead and purchased a couple. Not a bad reel, but I found it unbalanced and under-gunned. So I sold them and purchased second hand old 90's Shimano aero 6000's to replace. They're a lot bigger but better for pit tenching imho.
 
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