THE BADGER ULTRACAST 6050 REEL
Price: £ 44.99

Specification

  • 6 ball bearings
  • Worm shaft oscillation
  • Front drag
  • Free spool system with tension adjuster
  • Aluminium diecast spool
  • Ultra lock anti-reverse system
  • Titanium coated Line roller
  • Graphite spare spool
  • Left or right hand retrieve
  • Quick fold-away handle
  • Line capacity is 250yds of 10lb line
  • Gear ratio of 5.1:1

I use free-spool type reels for any fishing application where I want to sit back and relax and not have to worry about having my rod pulled in should I accidentally nod off, which at my age is not at all difficult. Especially if the fishing session has followed a period for refreshments in the local ale house.

In fact, unless I want a truly lightweight reel for float fishing, lightweight lure fishing or roving the river, I see no reason for not having a free-spool reel for most of my fishing. You don’t have to use the facility but it’s really handy when you need it, if only for that brief moment when you turn round to take a leak. As every experienced angler will tell you, then, or when pouring a drink, is when the bites are most likely to happen.

This free-spool reel from Badger is quite heavy for its size, but not unduly so, the front drag and the free-spool mechanism work well, as does the tension adjuster on the free-spool facility. This is an important feature on free-spool reels for there are times when you want a very free-wheeling spool and other times when you want to present the fish with some resistance. Easy and efficient adjustment, therefore, is essential.

Badger call the anti-reverse mechanism ‘ultra-lock’, which means that there is no free play before the next cog on the anti-reverse mechanism engages, which is the case with many reels that haven’t yet progressed to the new ‘tapered bearing’ type.

Badger website: www.badgerclassics.co.uk

FISHINGmagic VERDICT

I honestly don’t know how they make them for 45 quid and still make a profit. If there was nothing inside the body you’d still be impressed.

That aside, the reel functions well, line lay is quite good and the anti-reverse as good as any I’ve tried. The front drag and free-spool system work well and the free-spool tension adjustment is exceptional.

But I do have one small criticism, not so much for me personally, but for those who rely on turning the reel handle to re-engage the bale-arm. It just can’t be done without excess force, or coming from an almost complete turn, which isn’t always convenient. So, like it or not most times you have to return the bale-arm manually. As I said, not a problem for me because that’s my preferred choice of doing it anyway. So that’s something to bear in mind if you normally re-engage the bale-arm by turning the reel handle.

To finish on a positive note, you will be hard pressed to find a better reel in its class unless you shell out a lot more money.

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