Shimano or Daiwa reels for my Acolyte's

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

Not so sure about backwind... for me, anyway. I've done a bit of coarse fishing over the years, but not as seriously as I intend to now, and I can't recall ever using it. But I've got three reels to choose from, all yet to arrive. I've already got the rods.

I bought a 4000 DL Baitrunner for the feeder rod, but I was, and still am, in two minds about whether I want to do any feeder fishing - I'll give it a go, but I like the idea of sticking (no pun intended) to float fishing... maybe a hangover from my youth, when that's all we ever did. I know that might mean fewer fish in certain circumstances, but as the adage goes, it's called fishing, not catching.
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[nottskev]

Backwind is not just an option for playing fish. It's useful when: you've wound in a bit too much and want to let out a bit of line when netting a fish; you've tightened up to a quiver tip too much and want to back off a bit; you're about to cast but you've left yourself too short a line and want to drop your float/lead/feeder down a bit; you've wound in to re-bait but you need to drop your hook a bit lower; you want to adjust your rig and need to let more line out. etc. You can let the reel turn backwards in a controlled way with your rod hand; opening the bail arm is not an option in most cases as slack line is to be avoided, and you need two hands to pull line off a drag. Some anglers are happy not to have a backwind facility, but I won't have a reel without it and I don't see a case for not having the option.

 

[mikench]

Felindre Innovations repair and service all makes and types of reels but specialise in Shimano. Give them a call to check.

 

[rob48]

Backwinding can also be a useful method when the float needs to be eased down the swim slower than the rate of the surface current. It can help to increase the number of bites if that's how the fish want the bait presented on the day.

 

[The bad one]

I've never backwinded in my life, I hate it! My mate does it all the time and loses far to many fish for my liking. I lose about 1 in 12/15 fish hooked and we're talking barbel here, my mate is losing between 1 in 5/7. He takes so long to land fish I fall a sleep watching him. My contention is, the longer you have a fish on the line the more chance you have of losing it.
With today's modern reels/clutches, if you set them up right, you should rarely is ever lose a fish off it.

As to letting line off the reel for whatever reason, I like the small baitrunners Shimano 240s and or equivalent (float fishing, 5001 for feeder fishing) where I can just flick the runner on and have precise control over the drop of either. The key to this is setting the runner up at the right tension so it does it once you set the tackle up.

 

[nottskev]

Backwinding can also be a useful method when the float needs to be eased down the swim slower than the rate of the surface current. It can help to increase the number of bites if that's how the fish want the bait presented on the day.

I forgot about that - it's advanced level stuff.

 

[rob48]

I forgot about that - it's advanced level stuff.

Not really Kev. If it's the right method on the day it's pretty easy. If it becomes difficult to do then you should probably be doing something else.

 

[nottskev]

Not really Kev. If it's the right method on the day it's pretty easy. If it becomes difficult to do then you should probably be doing something else.

For you and me, maybe. I'm answering someone who says they've done "a bit" of coarse fishing. When you're at that stage, backwinding a float down the swim will take a bit of practice. If it proves tricky, I'd say do it some more rather than do something else. It's easy to forget when you've been fishing for a lifetime the challenge of simply manipulating all the gear when you're starting.

 

[rob48]

For you and me, maybe. I'm answering someone who says they've done "a bit" of coarse fishing. When you're at that stage, backwinding a float down the swim will take a bit of practice. If it proves tricky, I'd say do it some more rather than do something else. It's easy to forget when you've been fishing for a lifetime the challenge of simply manipulating all the gear when you're starting.

Fair comment. I was replying to you rather than the sentiment of the OP. Must remember to take that on board.

 

[nottskev]

I don't see any need to take an always/never attitude. The reels I use let me use drag, backwind or a bit of both as I judge best. I'm surprised anyone opts to play barbel just with backwind. Playing a barbel with plenty of energy left via backwind is likely to give you poor control, a jerky line release and bruised knuckles if the handle spin gets out of control. Plus they're so big these days that I find it often needs your reel hand to hold the rod further up the blank to steady it and apply pressure. I use the drag for most of the fight, but often flick the anti-reverse off when coaxing the barbel to the net on a short line where you can manage things by letting the reel, controlled by the fingers of your rod hand, revolve a turn or two.

We're not always playing big powerful fish. Fishing for small to medium size fish with light tackle I prefer to soak up any bumps, dives or little runs by backwinding a turn or two. Good as they are these days, mechanical drags are still not up to the standard of human sensitivity and flexibility.

 

[The bad one]

It make for interesting watching zzzzzzzzzzzzzz him back winding furiously to keep in contact with the fish, that's for sure! He also comes from a match fishing background.
Nope Kev I'll stick with my method of playing them off the clutch and letting the rod take the bumps, dives, leaps, that's why it bends, or should do, if you're using the right TC for the fish you are fishing for. If you're using brush handle rods then you might have to find another way to play them.

 

[nottskev]

It make for interesting watching zzzzzzzzzzzzzz him back winding furiously to keep in contact with the fish, that's for sure! He also comes from a match fishing background.
Nope Kev I'll stick with my method of playing them off the clutch and letting the rod take the bumps, dives, leaps, that's why it bends, or should do, if you're using the right TC for the fish you are fishing for. If you're using brush handle rods then you might have to find another way to play them.

For barbel, I'm using Harrison brush handles: Chimera's and Torrix'es, Phil.
Let's assume, unless proven otherwise, we both get them out better than your mate.
If you look closely at my post, you'll notice I largely agree with you, re barbel anyway

 

[The bad one]

Seriously he has some strange Ideas. He bought two Hs Torrixs of 3.8 lb TC for bream fishing in the misplace belief they'd help him cast further on a big pit. I could still do the same distance as he was doing with 1.75 Hs. Just wouldn't have it, it was his technique that was ...p!

 

[nottskev]

Seriously he has some strange Ideas. He bought two Hs Torrixs of 3.8 lb TC for bream fishing in the misplace belief they'd help him cast further on a big pit. I could still do the same distance as he was doing with 1.75 Hs. Just would have it, it was his technic that was ...p!

! I thought rods like that were for catfish!
My rods have scaled up over the years as the average barbel size has grown.
I started with a Harrison Avon, then 1.75's and Chimera 11'.6"'s - not sure what tc, I'd say 2lb+, but still very enjoyable to use.
The lighter ones are fine in open water. But for fishing near snags - often the best way to catch in daylight - the Chimera's are great.
I start off with the drag screwed up tight until they've been held and moved away from the snag, and then back the drag off some to let them burn off energy where it's safe to let them do so. Backwinding doesn't come into it.

 

[The bad one]

He was doing 90 yards with them and at a very big push I could do that with my Hs. So I got hold of one and showed him what they could really do, hitting a measured 140 with them. He went sulking in his bivvy for a couple hours!

 

[nottskev]

That's some distance. I'm expecting nearly every barbel I'll catch this summer will be no more than 15 yds away.

 

[The bad one]

Long story short, the pit was big around 70 acres more or less square. The carpers had force the bream really well out using bait boats and huge drops of bait from the boats. When I first started fishing it before the carpers found out about the carp in it, you could catch double figure bream at 40 yards.

 

[Golden Eagle]

Late to the party here but cadence reels represent excellent value for money in my humble opinion.

That said, my go to float and feeder reels are Rive. Could almost put them on the sideboard, as they are items of beauty. Sadly discontinued and the newer models look ordinary.

 

[Kevin aka Aethelbald]

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

Just revisiting this thread, as I ended up with the DL2500FB and more recently the DL4000FB. The bodies of the two reels are exactly the same size - it's just the front end (rotor, spool, bailing arm) and handle that are larger on the 4000. Just in case anyone is wondering.

I bought the Nasci 2500 for my 14ft Acolyte Plus float rod, but have swapped that for the 4000 size Aero XR, which comes with a spare aluminium spool (can't get the latest Nasci ones anywhere).
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[Keith M]

I’m sure that I’ve never used my backwind when playing decent sized hard fighting fish; even in the days of my Mitchell reels back in the 70’s and 80’s when clutches weren’t as good as today’s reels. However I’ve always had my clutch set a bit towards the looser end of the scale, and often tightened up or loosened my clutch several times during a longish fight. I do it now without even having to think about it; and if I need to add sudden pressure I use my finger or hand over the spool for any extra pressure that I may need if my clutch has been loosened off a bit.

Using the backwind may be fine for slightly smaller fish or easier controlled fish like the average Bream up to around 5 or 6lb-ish, but using the backwind for Barbel and Carp and large Tench is definately a ‘no’ ‘no’ for me as apart from occasional bruised knuckles I could loose most of the finer control on a big fish that my clutch and added finger control gives me.

I often adjust my clutch several times during a hard fight without having to think about it; and I rarely lose a Barbel even on the small streams full of streamer weed that I now usually fish; unless it finds sanctuary of some tree roots or manages to get around a sudden bend in the river; like the last one I lost a year ago; (famous last words)

Keith