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Reels

Paul Pittman

Senior Member
Gents,
I am currently using a pair of Shimano 5000 RE's for my barbel fishing but feel I need something a with a little more power while fishing the Thames at the moment. Can anyone suggest something I can look at, would prefer to stick with Shimano if possible, baitrunner etc?
 
Hi Paul,
I own and use shimano 4000, 5000, 6000, 8000 and Penn slammers.
4000, 5000 are to small if you are using 12lb line and are casting too the far bank of the Thames etc. 6000 and 8000 both have the same bodies just the spool size is different, 6000 is actually heavier than 8000. Penn live liners or slammers are a baitrunner type reel designed for sea fishing and have no anti reverse. I use my penn's for cat fishing with 100lb braid, as they are bombproof, cost about £100. For my general Barbel fishing i use 6000 or 8000 shimanos.
 
6000D for Thames. Stopped making them i was told. Got mine for £100 each and very happy with them.
 
Just popped into Cheam Angling to check sizes and weights of reels and left the shop with 2 6000 XTEA's for only £220!
 
Thats not a bad deal second hand ones go for more than that on ebay.
You wont go wrong with XTEA'S.
 
had 4000d great little reels for the thames would go with the 8000d and as jon said have a look at the medium longcast they have some good reviews mate
 
Paul ive got a pair ov 6000D cracking pair of reels the ones with the big knob handles. I let the wife play with them in the shed when shes cleaning them.:D
 
Don't touch the shimano baitrunner ST RA line lay is rubbish. Had three and gave them away. Have a look at wychwood solace 10ACS. I have a pervios wychwood model and have caught cats to nearly 100lbs with it in France. About £75 i think?
 
Just seen on the web you can get a Penn 560 liveliner (slammer) for £75. Holds around 310m of 12lb only prob one spool. Trust me you won't break it. I use the 760 which holds 340m 20lb The main shaft is as thick as a pencil. Heard a lot of people are using these on the Ebro.
 
the ones ive been using are the 460 live liners ,no trouble with them at all

Best allround size for barbel fishing i reckon, the 460L - and unrivaled cranking power. Paul mentioned the lack of a backwind facility but with a clutch that good you don't need one! ;)

The other thing to note is they have remained unchanged for years - unlike shimano's which seem to change with the wind these days.
 
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paul go Ebay Item number:190745152802

2 x shimano 4500b baitrunners with paper work and boxes (1box is a little scruffy but solid)

ive listed these as new other as i think one reel was used in a shops glass display cabinet
reels have never had line on them never left the house
i brought six of these from a tackle shop that was closing down many years ago for pike fishing but these 2 have never been used so time to move them on and let some one else enjoy them
probably the best reels for pike fishing ever made !!!
one of the best reels shimano has ever made with bomb proof engineering
 
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