DAIWA CAPRICORN HARDBODYZ FRONT DRAG REEL – 3000
Price: Retail £ 149.99 (expect to pay around £ 100)
What a beautiful reel this is. I do have a very soft spot for front drag reels and the 3000 model of this reel makes it perfect for heavy barbel, light carp fishing (floater fishing mainly) and pike spinning. In fact all fish in the 10-20lb range. I had a similar Daiwa model, a Regal Z, from some years ago and that has served me very well, but this one is 300% better in several respects.
First, the line lay on this one is superb, being very flat and even all across the spool. Second, it is super smooth, like silk, thanks to all the bearings.
The drag is much more refined, although the Regal had a good drag also, travelling from hardly any resistance at all to full on, locked up almost.
The anti-reverse is very positive allowing no reverse play whatsoever. You know with some reels, you can reverse the lever a couple of degrees maybe. Not with this you can’t. And lastly, the finish is excellent, it looks the business.
The specifications boast:
- Hardbodyz rigid metal construction
- Air Bail Infinite Anti Reverse
- ABS anti backlash system
- Twistbuster
- BailSafe. Secures bail in open position during the cast
- Geared down retrieve for high winding power
- Four ball bearings, including “CRBB” Corrosion Resistant Ball Bearings
- High performance front drag
- High crank rate
The BailSafe does seem to work although I did have one small problem with the bail just after trying it out. At the point it is supposed to flick back over, mine wouldn’t. I had to manually push it over, carefully at first to make sure I wouldn’t break anything. It was just the automatic return that wasn’t working. I studied the parts listing and removed a cover from the bail arm housing, peered inside and was still bemused. I left the problem for a couple of days to think about it. Only one possible cause, the washer around a screw wasn’t centred and when I reopened it I wondered why the washer had so big a hole. It’s because when it’s tightened, it fits around a post and this washer wasn’t centred. So, I slackened of the screw, centred the washer and retightened it all. It works perfectly now and just that extra little turn of the screw made all the difference. Just a ‘Monday morning’ reel I suppose when someone wasn’t paying too much attention to their job and hopefully, a one-off.
