Shimano Super Baitrunner 10000XTE

The Shimano Baitrunner reels have gone through many modifications and upgrades since the original and, it has to be said, not all have resulted in a better reel than previous models.

But with the Super Baitrunner 10000XTE they have excelled themselves, at least in the carp fishing/big pit size and produced a reel that truly is in a better class than ever before. The 10K, as it has come to be known, was designed to fit in that small gap between the conventional large reels and the huge big pit types, and it has filled that gap very nicely indeed.

The look good in their gunsmoke grey livery and certainly feel good with their solidness and 11 ball bearings. The large aluminium spool also promised much, but would they stand the test of time? Well, I’ve had mine for over six months and so far I’m as pleased with them now as I was the first day I used them.

But will they replace the Big Pit reels with those anglers who specialise, or just enjoy, fishing at extreme distances? Will they be willing to swap their bucket-spooled reels for these reels of conventional size? Well, some of them have, I do know that, for there is a belief in some circles that the 10K’s will outcast the big pits in some instances or, should I say, in some hands.

Take me, for instance (no jokes please!). I never have been what you would call a long distance caster, not with any reel. But with big pit reels I could get a few extra yards. With the 10K’s I can cast quite a lot further. I haven’t measured my casts so I can’t give you any figures, but I can certainly top 100yds, whereas previously I struggled to make 90yds.

It’s the weight and unwieldiness of the big pit reels that is no good to me. I’m getting on a bit and I’m only 5 1/2 ft with my boots on. But apart from that I believe there is a big advantage in the 10K’s over the big pits simply because they have a smaller diameter spool. Where the big pits score on the friction stakes is that the line has a smaller distance to climb to get over the lip of the spool. But the downside is that the large diameter spool means the line is more prone to slapping on the rod. The 10K’s have a deep and tapered spool, but it has a smaller diameter. Combine that with being lighter and easier to use and it suits me (and I believe many others) down to the ground.

Click the link at the bottom of the page for the technical specification.