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Reels (to go with that full armoury of rods)?

how???
better clutch?
lighter?

Better (sealed) clutch, better (one piece) bail arm, different bearings (much smoother), better line lay, all metal spool and just generally better made with higher quality components. I prefer the solid metal single handle on the 4000D too, although it took a bit of getting used to when I've used Shimano double handles for so long. It is also fractionally lighter, but not enough to worry about.

Whether it's worth the extra is open to debate but I'd be very surprised if you couldn't tell the difference between them when compared side by side.;)
 
to be honest, i haven't had that chance yet,
i don't think I'll buy one, i don't think i would buy another XTEA, have seen the GTEC, not alot of difference and cheaper.
 
Actually got both 4000D and FA 4000 DL. Prefer the 4000D in all respects even though the price is much higher.
Cheers
Bob
 
to be honest, i haven't had that chance yet,
i don't think I'll buy one, i don't think i would buy another XTEA, have seen the GTEC, not alot of difference and cheaper.

If you feel that way about the XTEA compared to the GTEC then I suspect you'll have a similar reaction to the 4000D compared to the DL. I bought GTECs over XTEAs too with price being the prime driver (I was lucky enough to get new GTECs for less than most go for second hand). The 4000Ds were one of those brain out of the equation special treats. However, I feel that there's a greater difference between the 4000D and DLs than there is between the XTEAs and GTECs (might be wishful thinking though!;):eek::D).
 
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it dos look nice apart from that handle, that looks a bit urgent, but you could exchange it for a double.
 
The only complaint I would have is the handle, the 5000XTBs I use for Carping have the same, brilliant to use but impossible to keep folded, there doesn't appear to be any way to stop them just simply lifting up when soemthing catches them. Does anyone have a solution to this??
 
An elastic band helps Ian. It seem to be a thing with high end reels that they dont have a folding handle facility. Shame, but it doesnt stop me catching though.
 
If you feel that way about the XTEA compared to the GTEC then I suspect you'll have a similar reaction to the 4000D compared to the DL. I bought GTECs over XTEAs too with price being the prime driver (I was lucky enough to get new GTECs for less than most go for second hand). The 4000Ds were one of those brain out of the equation special treats. However, I feel that there's a greater difference between the 4000D and DLs than there is between the XTEAs and GTECs (might be wishful thinking though!;):eek::D).

Well Chris I had GTECs and then bought an XTEA. I immediately sold the 3 GTECs that I had and bought a pair of XTEAs . The clutch is vastly superior and as I play fish off the clutch I considered that to be important. I will probably buy a 4000D for my stalking set up in a few weeks. They do look very nice indeed.

Conrad
 
Well Chris I had GTECs and then bought an XTEA. I immediately sold the 3 GTECs that I had and bought a pair of XTEAs . The clutch is vastly superior and as I play fish off the clutch I considered that to be important.

I don't disagree, I just had a VFM head on when I was buying. I got the GTECs for £50 as opposed to £120 for the XTEA, it certainly wasn't the quality that was lacking in the XTEAs!;) They are undoubtedly better reels, just as the 4000Ds are, just not £70 better when looking at VFM.;)
 
I'm toying with the idea of getting a pair of 6000d's for the Trent this season,
played with one at Eric's & they felt solid..I did look at the Shimmy Big baitrunner long cast:eek: what a beast..mind you not that much bigger than my Daiwa linears.
 
They could be a good addition Steve, Had a look at them myself and my impression was they can do the Job...
 
I don't disagree, I just had a VFM head on when I was buying. I got the GTECs for £50 as opposed to £120 for the XTEA, it certainly wasn't the quality that was lacking in the XTEAs!;) They are undoubtedly better reels, just as the 4000Ds are, just not £70 better when looking at VFM.;)

Ah, but I bought my XTEAs from Conrad for a price near to that you paid for your GTECs. Bargain!

Now, if I only had time to use them...

:)

R.
 
I personally thought the clutch was **** on the xtea's but then again i though it was **** on all rear drag shimano reels. I've just bought a pair of Korum reels to use on my Torrix and they seem spot on. They feel nice and solid, no play in the anti reverse nice smooth front clutch and a decent line clip which to me is important. If i was fishing up on the Trent on a regular basis i would get myself a set of big shimmy front drag reels of some discription such as ultegra's or use the daiwa infinity 5000br baitfeeder absolutely bomb proof reel.
 
Can't agree there Jez the clutch on the XTEA is not **** although I do concede that they could never be as good as decent front drag reel, it a question of mechanics and surface area.

On the Trent when I'm fishing at distance or with heavy feeders in adverse conditions I do use a front drag reel. The XTEAs do not have sufficient line capacity or torque for this kind of fishing.

The Ultegra 5500 XTB is a fine reel and I wish that I had a pair, what put me off was the lack of a rear baitrunner facility but having used the reel for a day near the end of the season I'm a convert. I will probably get a pair as finances allow.

Conrad
 
Not much comment about the Shimano Stradic in 4000 size. Great reels for the summer, super smooth clutch. Love the things.

Also have the usual 5000's baitrunners for when there's more wet stuff about.
 
TBH honest i am not a Baitrunner user, however i may use it when having a chat or stretching my legs:). I only use my 4000D's when fishing small to medium rivers, and thats not that often. Take the Shimano Stradic FD, XTEA, Okuma Epix, Daiwa TD series, almost any decent Small to medium reel, these will be perfect for almost any small to medium river, IMO. As Conrad has said previously, they just dont cut the mustard on the larger rivers. I probably know 10 Trent anglers plus, and most use either one of the Daiwa Tournament series of Big Pit, BTR reels, XTEA 10000 or Shimano Ultegra XTB/XSB. The overwhelming factor for these reels is the reserves of power/torque and superior line capacity. Through my personal experience, it takes a special reel to cope with the methods used and environmental pressures the Trent can exert on a reel, when employed to catch your quarry. IMO
 
Well armed with all the wonderful advice on here I popped down to Climax on Saturday with the intention of treating myself to a new reel for an outing the following day.I decided that although the 4000D looked an excellent reel it was just a tad too small for The Trent but luckily they had a 6000D so he got it down for me,well the actual reel was absolutely perfect in every respect,the front drag is just what I am after having had the rear drags go for the 2nd time on my 3 year old reels BUT what were they thinking with the handle I think the designer must have been on acid when he came up with that one,its absolutely huge and spherical,no it wouldn't be possible to swap them over for the ones on the 4000D (which is perfect)as the fittings are completely different so back to the drawing board for me!!
 
BUT what were they thinking with the handle I think the designer must have been on acid when he came up with that one,its absolutely huge and spherical,no it wouldn't be possible to swap them over for the ones on the 4000D (which is perfect)as the fittings are completely different so back to the drawing board for me!!

is it that bad? I have still yet to see these as when I went to the tackle box the other day they said they were not going to stock them as the handles were bloody silly.
 
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