Shimano or Daiwa reels for my Acolyte's

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

Edit: now considering Daiwa or Shimano

Hello!

I'm switching from fly fishing to coarse fishing - float fishing and ledgering, mostly on Birmingham Anglers stretches of the Warwickshire Avon. I won't fish matches and I'll only fish lakes during closed-season. I have no interest in carp fishing. I'll try to target perch, bream, roach, chub and the odd bonus barbel, with maggot hook bait and feeders, to keep it simple to start with. (I did a bit of coarse fishing on-and-off about 20 years ago, but not enough to learn anything.)

Please let me have your suggestions for reels for the rods I've bought:

1) Acolyte Plus 14ft Float Rod - 4lb Supplex line
2) Acolyte Plus 11ft Feeder - 5lb Dave Harrell Pro Feeder line

I'd like the two reels to come in at around £120.00 for both. If you think I could just use one reel/two spools for both rods, let me know.

I've no idea whether I'd prefer front or rear drag, although I understand the thinking behind both. I'm drawn towards a small Baitrunner for the feeder, simply to have that option if required. As for the float rod, I've looked at a Stradic 3000 rear/fighting drag, but I don't know if it's overkill for float fishing and I could buy two reels for the price of it.

Lots of people currently seem to recommend a Daiwa Ninja for float fishing and my (excellent) local dealer doesn't sell Shimano or Daiwa reels, otherwise I'd ask for his advice... the rest all seem to be carp tackle dealers and don't seem to know what a river is!

Thanks and sorry for the long-winded post (and sorry if I've offended any carp experts).
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[chevin4]

I think you are on the right track. For feeder fishing in rivers I use a Shimano 4000GT with fighting drag. For float fishing I use a Shimano 3000GTM also with a fighting drag. I have no experience of Daiwa reels but heard good reports about the Ninja range which are keenly priced.

 

[mikench]

I think you will struggle to buy 2 modern new Shimano reels for £120. For feeder fishing I would look for a decent baitrunner second hand and a second hand X aero, or Aero Gtm X7 or Stradic for the float rod. Any one of those with a spare spool would suit both rods. The baitrunner function doesn’t have to be used.

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

I think you will struggle to buy 2 modern new Shimano reels for £120.

The Catana, Nexave and Sahara are only about £45-60, and about £70 for a front drag DL Baitrunner. I know I bought relatively expensive rods (cheap by fly fishing standards), but I thought low- to mid-range reels would do the job - I'm not going to be as hard on my gear for general river fishing as I imagine a carp or specimen fisherman would be. (I take your point about the Baitrunner function not having to be used, thanks.)

I wonder if anyone has a view on the front drag Catana and Sahara?
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[rob48]

The Shimano Aero Match's balance 14' and longer rods nicely. I've got one myself and I think these Japanese built models are as good as anything marketed today. This one:

Shimano Aero Match III + Spare Spool | eBay

I have seen these reels make over £60 in worse condition with no spare spool. The drag is fully working and the anti reverse works as it should.

www.ebay.co.uk

looks a decent buy so long as the bidding doesn't go crazy.

 

[mikench]

DL baitrunner in 2500 or 4000 size are excellent. I have no knowledge of the other reels you mention.

 

[terry m]

I use Shimano Sahara reels in 4k size with my 14ft Accy. No idea if the Sahara is still available but they work fine together.

In an ideal world I would use a 3k size, maybe one day,

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

DL baitrunner in 2500 or 4000 size are excellent. I have no knowledge of the other reels you mention.

Are these the same sized reel, but with different spool sizes? I thought I'd read that somewhere, but I might very well be mistaken. Thanks.

 

[mikench]

No they are not the same size. The 2500 is smaller


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[John Aston]

For heavier stillwater fishing - tench - I use a Shimano Exage 4000 on my 14' Acolyte plus . It's rear drag , which I prefer, and I cannot fault it . For my 12 'Ultra I use a 2500 Exage and have landed nuisance carp to mid doubles on this set up.

But - seriously - one of the most decent fixed spools I used was a 15 quid Shimano Hyperloop. I bought it as I put my toe in the water of light lure fishing . It accounted for hundreds of perch , chub , and pike to mid doubles and was faultless until finally wearing out after 8 years very hard use. Brilliantly controllable rear drag , smooth retrieve in any conditions and not too free running - you don't want the handle auto rotating under its own weight when working lures slowly . I replaced it with a Shimano Catana which was pricier , but rubbish , having a slightly sticky retrieve in wet or very cold conditions- again , useless for lures. I replaced that with a Daiwa Legalis - near perfect, even though I prefer rear drag to its front system .

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

I'm now being a bit less myopic about Shimano and thinking of Daiwa as well as Shimano. The Ninja looks to be great value. Maybe a Ninja for float and a Baitrunner for ledgering... best of both worlds.

 

[mikench]

One reel is never enough. Do remember that a baitrunner offers you the same and more than a non free spool reel and the free spool facility is optional in use.

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

... Do remember that a baitrunner offers you the same and more than a non free spool reel and the free spool facility is optional in use.

Yup, I get that, thanks. I do keep coming back to just getting a small Baitrunner, since it'll be more than adequate to get me started with lightweight feeders and for float fishing - and, as an ex-designer, I like the unfussy, non-bling looks.

What I didn't throw in to this thread (for simplicity), is that I also bought a Drennan Specialist Twin Tip 11ft 1.5oz. In case anyone is under the mistaken belief that I'm loaded, I got three coarse rods for the price of a fly rod I sold. The Specialist was 'mis-sold' to me by a carp-specialist dealer, as an all-round river feeder rod, I've since been told it's a barbel rod. One reason I will no longer rely on carp shops to advise on river fishing (this was before I discovered Manor Angling, outside Evesham). I might not keep it, but if I do, then I'll buy a used heavier-duty Baitrunner for it, and use it on the Wye, which is less than an hour from home.

Thanks for the contributions so far chaps.
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[mikench]

Look for, and be prepared to exceed your budget , a Shimano X Aero 4000 baitrunner second hand which will suit your twin tip and your feeder rod. It came , when new, with a spare spool and spool reducers and is probably my favourite reel. It was also available in 2500 Size.

 

[Ray Roberts]

Look for, and be prepared to exceed your budget , a Shimano X Aero 4000 baitrunner second hand which will suit your twin tip and your feeder rod. It came , when new, with a spare spool and spool reducers and is probably my favourite reel. It was also available in 2500 Size.

I think they are discontinued Mike. A real shame as they are superb reels. I have two 2500 and two 10,000 size. The spools are larger than most reels for their size. Worth a punt used if you can find them.


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[mikench]

They are Ray and inexplicably. I have both sizes and love them. I did say try second hand but they sell for silly money i.e. as much as when they were new.

 

[markcw]

My baitrunners are old Shimano 4010 around 30+ years old , made in Japan, I have 3 possibly 4 all with spare spools,
My newer one is the 4000dl came with a spare spool, this cost me £30 in a flood damage sale , the boxes had got wet.
All of them have handled decent sized carp,
I did have two old Shimano 6010 but I sold them along with a couple of old school Tricast carbon pike rods about 3 years ago to a member on here ,

 

[markcw]

I'm now being a bit less myopic about Shimano and thinking of Daiwa as well as Shimano. The Ninja looks to be great value. Maybe a Ninja for float and a Baitrunner for ledgering... best of both worlds.

The ninjas are brilliant reels,.
Also have a look at the new Shimano Sahara reels .
A good tip is if you have a cash converters or cash generator shop nearby , keep checking on those , the majority of the staff don't have a clue on prices , so you could end up with a bargain .
I go in a cash generators when I am in the north west , I won't say where in case anyone on here starts using it and beats me to a bargain on the week I may be up there .
I have seen reels in there at give away prices , due to staff lack of knowledge, a couple of phone calls to people I know who are after reels , same goes with rods and poles ., Bought said reels and sold them over the phone at a profit before I have left the shop .
Some try and sell the spare spools separate , you have to tell the staff the reel came with a spare spool originally .

 

[markcw]

Yup, I get that, thanks. I do keep coming back to just getting a small Baitrunner, since it'll be more than adequate to get me started with lightweight feeders and for float fishing - and, as an ex-designer, I like the unfussy, non-bling looks.

What I didn't throw in to this thread (for simplicity), is that I also bought a Drennan Specialist Twin Tip 11ft 1.5oz. In case anyone is under the mistaken belief that I'm loaded, I got three coarse rods for the price of a fly rod I sold. The Specialist was 'mis-sold' to me by a carp-specialist dealer, as an all-round river feeder rod, I've since been told it's a barbel rod. One reason I will no longer rely on carp shops to advise on river fishing (this was before I discovered Manor Angling, outside Evesham). I might not keep it, but if I do, then I'll buy a used heavier-duty Baitrunner for it, and use it on the Wye, which is less than an hour from home.

Thanks for the contributions so far chaps.
.

If you can hang on , Go to the Evesham Festival, You will pick up some bargains there .

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

If you can hang on , Go to the Evesham Festival, You will pick up some bargains there .

I can't wait until August, but thanks anyway.