Shimano Aero XR and Aero BB comparison

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

This is the feeder variant.

Would you say your line lay was slightly concave, Mike, or as some describe it, hourglass shaped? I've put line on both the BB and the XR and the line lay is distinctly concave. Not sure whether I should be disappointed, or whether it's normal. I can only find one other comment on this online and the conclusion was that it's normal. Didn't get it on my Baitrunners.
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[mikench]

No I don’t think I would. If I cast out 70 yards or so and wind in under just the load of a feeder the line line you see is what I have. If the last cast has produced a decent fish the rewind pulls the line a touch tighter. That is acceptable line lay to me. I haven’t used the reel for a few months as I prefer my baitrunners.

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

Spare alloy spools are now available from Felindre Innovations for about £19.00 (October 2022). Not yet received mine, but I don't think they come with spool reducers.
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[mikench]

I have recently bought a couple of spare spools for 3 reels. Kev pointed out that indifferent line lay occurred more frequently with front drag reels which made me think and check. Sure enough all my rear drag reels( baitrunners mainly) have great line lay achieved with little effort or worry. I have a Daiwa TDM 3012 which I rarely used as the horrible ( to my eyes) line lay offended my ocd tendencies. Gordon gave me some washers and it’s cured it so I use the reel far more. I struggle sometimes spooling a reel for no obvious reason other than ineptitude on my part. I have too many reels.

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

Thread resurrection, for anyone comparing the Aero and BB, there are two more differences that I failed to mention previously:

- the Aero has sealed drag
- the Aero has the one-piece bailing arm, which I guess must be stronger, but looks more elegant too (edit: looking back, I did mention this).

There's now an in-betweener for 2023 called the Aero. It has a sealed drag, but I don't think it has the one-piece bailing arm... and no spare spool? And it's not Ci4+ construction. I've not seen one for sale yet. Can't quite see the point - you either want/need to save money, so you buy the BB, or for not a huge outlay you buy the XR with the spare spool.
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[nottskev]

Hi Kevin. I found this thread useful when chasing up an ad elsewhere for Aero XR reels. I don't really need a new reel, far from it, but a fair number of mine are 20 years and more old, so my conscience would be clear(ish). I quite like the look of these two, but I really dislike those big toggle handles on 3000 size reels which I'll use for float/light lines - I much prefer the small, flat, finger-and-thumb type to the type of thing Scuba Chris would probably call a Power Knob. That aside, how have you found yours in use? Any particularly good or bad points?

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

Hi Kevin. Can't offer you much of an update I'm afraid, because I sold mine and switched to Daiwa reels.

I now use Daiwa 19 TDM 3012's. In comparison the bail arm is flimsy and 'clicky' on the Aero's (as it is on all current Shimano's) and I was often getting line wrapped around the spool. That might be user error, but I don't get it with my Daiwa's.

I also bought the Daiwa's because I started targeting barbel and large chub and wanted a beefier feeling reel, although these are still about 300g, which is light enough for me. The drag is quick drag, which I know a lot of people don't like, but I really like. The drag seems a lot smoother than the Shimano reels and it has a higher rating, 12kg I think. You won't like the large round knob.

I just bought a similar reel which is the Daiwa Fuego. It has a flat handle and no quick drag. It's 4000 size and only 235g. Not used it yet; I made a silly offer on eBay which was accepted, so I'll see if/how I like using it... I thought I'd put 6lb line on it and use it for trotting as it's 6.2:1 (or something like that).

But what do I know? I sold a rod to a chap the other week who has recently gone in the opposite direction - sold his Daiwa's and bought Aero XRs. Not a member of this forum.

Sorry I can't be of more help.
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[nottskev]

Thanks Kevin. Coincidentally, I bought a Daiwa TDM when they first came out last century. I kept it for 3 months, whilst some of my Aero’s I’ve had 25-30 years. All part of life’s rich pageant.
I don’t mind big handles on eg barbel reels but for me they just don’t fit with the delicacy of light gear and smaller species.
Also coincidentally, having perfected in the 90’s a design which meant line never got behind the spool, Shimano came up with a new rotor design 20 years later which made it possible, so it could be their fault as much as yours.

 

[@Clive]

I've bought three Daiwas in the last 12 to 13 years and all have been moved on and replaced by Shimano Aeros. The only issue that I have with the Aeros are the unnecessary double handles. All the rest are positives.

 

[nottskev]

I've bought three Daiwas in the last 12 to 13 years and all have been moved on and replaced by Shimano Aeros. The only issue that I have with the Aeros are the unnecessary double handles. All the rest are positives.

I don't like them either, and I've swapped all mine over the years. I've 9 or 10 Aero's in 2500. 3000 and 4000, most second hand. I struck lucky when I phoned Felindre and thy sent me 3 or 4 single handles at a surprisingly low cost. A couple of weeks back I spotted an ad on MD from a bloke who wanted to swap his single handle for a double and I had several lying around. I sent him my double, which just fitted but couldn't be folded. He sent me his single, and I got an empty envelope, cut with scissors, in a plastic bag with an apology from Royal Mail "if anything is missing". Lol. Thieving gits. He offered to send mine back, but I said he could keep it and neither of us could be bothered to chase it up.

 

[@Clive]

That is annoying

Mine are 5000/6000/7000 sizes. Only the 5000 came with a single handle circa 2006. No chance of a swap here. They only use baitrunners in the large sizes for carp fishing. I use vintage ABU 506 & Mitchells for 'pêche douce' when a centrepin isn't suitable. There is nothing to beat the hum of a Mitchell 440A Match at full chat.

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

I don’t mind big handles on eg barbel reels but for me they just don’t fit with the delicacy of light gear and smaller species.

I agree. I almost bought another Aero XR for my Acolyte Plus float rod, but the Daiwa Fuego appeared on eBay.

Just in case anyone joining the thread is confused, there have been several Shimano Aero models - this range (BB, Aero and XR) doesn't have double handles.
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[@Clive]

I agree. I almost bought another Aero XR for my Acolyte Plus float rod, but the Daiwa Fuego appeared on eBay.

Just in case anyone is confused, there have been several Shimano Aero models - this range (BB, Aero and XR) doesn't have double handles.
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No confusion here. Shimano initially tended to favour double handles on their larger baitrunners (6000+) which is what I replaced two of the Daiwa 5000 baitrunners with. Unfortunately they then started to put them on the smaller baitrunners like the Aero 4000 that replaced the Daiwa Emcast that I gave to Steve.

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

No confusion here. Shimano initially tended to favour double handles on their larger baitrunners (6000+) which is what I replaced two of the Daiwa 5000 baitrunners with. Unfortunately they then started to put them on the smaller baitrunners like the Aero 4000 that replaced the Daiwa Emcast that I gave to Steve.

No. I realise that, Clive, but others joining the thread midway might be confused between the various Aero's, as it started life about a specific range of non-bairunners. To that end I've edited my previous post to read : "Just in case anyone joining the thread is confused..."
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