A good reel for carp, what should it be? As everyone knows, carp and carp are strong fish that can reach a weight of more than twenty kilograms, and to effectively fish for such large fish you will need appropriate gear, in particular a powerful rod with a large test and a large carp reel of a power structure.
Key points when choosing a carp reel:
- Housing material
- Bobbin length
- Spool shape
- Bobbin Capacity
- Stiffness and handle length
- Gear ratio (revision)
- Coil pull
- Number of lines reeled out per revolution
- Line winding quality
- Rotor stiffness
- Number of bearings
- Smooth ride
- A bayrunner is required
- Stable friction brake
In this article we will describe carp reels with all their capabilities; you can read about feeder reels in the corresponding article at the link.
Today, visiting fishing stores can be a very difficult task, since deciding to choose any product from a variety of similar products is problematic.
Manufacturers of various fishing equipment, and manufacturers of fishing reels too, try to claim that using their new product you can catch more fish than using another brand of product.
There are many types of reels from many manufacturers - so where to start choosing a carp reel ?
Review of carp fishing reels
First you need to choose a fishing style - and you need to take into account not only your usual fishing trips, but also possible future fishing trips - this is the only way to choose a more or less correct carp reel that is more suitable for your needs.
There are universal reels, and there are reels for a narrow specialization, which include large carp reels. Therefore, it is important to choose a reel based on its practical suitability, and not on its beautiful appearance; it is imperative to have a baitrunner - a special mechanism for dropping the line, read about it further in the text.
Equipment for carp fishing - carp reels
In this article we will talk in detail about how to choose a carp reel. How does it differ from other options, what parameters should it have? Let's figure out what models are needed for working, spod and marker fishing rods , and also consider many other nuances. So, let's start in order, from the very beginning. First of all, reels specifically for carp fishing (as well as any other types, for example, feeder or match reels) are divided into inertial and inertial-free. What does it mean?
Bobbin size
Most carp fishing takes place on large paid reservoirs, where you need to cast heavy equipment over long distances, sometimes even further than 150 meters. So, the casting distance depends, in particular, on the reel and the size of the spool. Carp are strong fish, and in order to prevent the fish from tearing the equipment, you will need a thick fishing line or cord, and the thicker this fishing line, the more capacious the spool of the carp reel should be.
Moreover, there must be a decent supply of fishing line on the reel, since when fishing, the carp may move to depth, and in this case it will be necessary to release the fishing line from the spool so that the carp gets tired and offers less resistance in further fishing.
Features of product selection
The first thing you need to start choosing is the spool of the feeder reel. It should be large: from 3 thousand to 8 thousand in volume. This is justified by the fact that the feeder, as a rule, involves fishing at long distances with many alternating casts. To make it easier to dump and etch the line, you will need a reel with a large spool.
The second important point will be the weight of the reel. It must be such that the entire system is in a balanced state and does not cause discomfort to the fisherman.
According to the advice of professionals , the weight of the coils according to their volumes can be distributed as follows:
- with a volume of 3 thousand, the recommended weight should be 350−380 g,
- 4 thousand weigh 380−450 g,
- 5 thousand and more from 420 g.
The next point of choice will be laying the fishing line or cord. Ideal winding is determined by the presence of an endless screw in the mechanism . Whether it is there or not can be recognized visually. There are bulges on the coil body, inside of which the screw itself is located. Many manufacturers indicate the presence of an endless screw in the description of their products.
It is worth paying attention to the depth of the spool. Monofilament fishing lines are thicker than braided cords, which means they take up more space. The spool must be deep. An advantage to your choice will be the additional spool included in the kit, so that you can use different fishing gear when fishing. Unfortunately, some models from famous manufacturers do not always have such a reserve.
Gear ratio and bearings
The gear ratio is the number of times the line guide rotates around the spool per revolution of the handle. Simply put, how many meters of fishing line are removed with one turn of the handle. On carp reels with a large spool, this number ranges from 4.1:1 to 5.2:1; with such numerical values, the line is reeled out comfortably, and excellent power qualities are also ensured. This matters to carp anglers.
Shimano ULTEGRA CI4
So taking all this into account, the spool of a carp reel must be very large. A carp reel is considered truly carp if its spool value is 5000 or more. This number on the reel indicates the capacity of the spool.
The spool must be made of metal, ideally titanium or stainless steel. Since the hardness and smoothness of the surface of the reel affects both the casting range and the reliability of the equipment, because if there is even a small burr on the spool, this can cause a beard, damage to the fishing line and even breakage of the equipment.
Carp reel baitrunner
In addition to the spool, it is worth paying attention to the baitrunner, since now it is installed on almost all carp reels. Why is a baitrunner so useful, you ask?
So we will answer, the baitrunner is a small bracket located at the back of the reel, which, when pressed, allows the fishing line to calmly come off the reel.
A baitrunner is a kind of analogue of a friction clutch, although when the reel handle is rotated, the baitrunner is automatically turned off.
If, when fishing for a large fish, you feel that the fish has suddenly jerked, and you do not have time to adjust the softness of the clutch, then a baitrunner will come to the rescue.
The baitrunner in a carp reel can also be used as a signaling device, because if a fish pulls the line when the baitrunner is turned on, a rather loud cracking sound is produced, which can be heard many meters away. The softness and hardness of the baitrunner is adjusted at the rear of the reel.
How to choose a carp reel: review and rating of the best reels
A good reel for carp, what should it be? As everyone knows, carp and carp are strong fish that can reach a weight of more than twenty kilograms, and to effectively fish for such large fish you will need appropriate gear, in particular a powerful rod with a large test and a large carp reel of a power structure.
Key points when choosing a carp reel:
- Housing material
- Bobbin length
- Spool shape
- Bobbin Capacity
- Stiffness and handle length
- Gear ratio (revision)
- Coil pull
- Number of lines reeled out per revolution
- Line winding quality
- Rotor stiffness
- Number of bearings
- Smooth ride
- A bayrunner is required
- Stable friction brake
In this article we will describe carp reels with all their capabilities; you can read about feeder reels in the corresponding article at the link.
Today, visiting fishing stores can be a very difficult task, since deciding to choose any product from a variety of similar products is problematic.
Manufacturers of various fishing equipment, and manufacturers of fishing reels too, try to claim that using their new product you can catch more fish than using another brand of product.
There are many types of reels from many manufacturers - so where to start choosing a carp reel ?
Coil clutch
Great importance should be paid to the clutch, which is located on the spool. The friction clutch is a standard mechanism of any spinning reel, which in automatic mode allows you to release the fishing line from the spool under some load.
The friction is fast and smooth. The fast clutch of a carp reel , and of all reels in general, is a clutch whose rigidity is limited to one revolution, that is, if you turn it in one direction, the clutch is completely tightened, in the other, it is completely relaxed. So take this into account and choose what you need.
It is worth noting that there is not a single carp reel that could satisfy the needs of every fisherman. carp reels in stock , which are intended for any situations and conditions.
Important parameters for choosing a carp reel
In order to successfully choose the most suitable (ideally: high-quality, but inexpensive) carp reel specifically for your carp fishing conditions, you need to pay attention to its main characteristics. In fact, all modern manufacturers, some of them necessarily indicate on the products themselves, while the rest can be easily found on the “virtual showcases” of official websites. So, what should you pay attention to first?
Spool dimensions/dimensions
According to the majority of experienced fishermen, the most suitable for carp fishing are spinning reels with baitrunners from Daiwa. With spool sizes from 7000 (this characteristic is measured in thousands) - for the first) and 4500 - for the second (i.e. the Daiva brand).
It doesn’t make sense to use other reels from these companies (or any others), but smaller in size, since according to their operating parameters they are not intended for carp fishing, but for ordinary / amateur feeder tackle (or match).
the line from larger spools . And also (in tandem with the gear ratio values) on the length of the fishing line or cord that will be unwound from the reel in one turn of the handle.
Some experienced carp anglers, recalling the beginning of their journey in carp fishing, recommend that beginners at the beginning do not rush and start their training using less expensive (in cost) Daiwa reels. Further, as you gain experience in long/heavy casting, you can already buy cool Shimano models (sizes over 8000).
External spool shape
The optimal choice specifically for sport carp fishing are fishing reels with two types/shapes of spools: “ABS” and “Long Cast”. These parameters must be indicated in the product characteristics.
Spools with the designation “ABS” have a reverse cone-shaped design, which in practice allows you to wind the fishing line (and even cord or braid) in such a way that its upper turns do not slip at all when casting. That is, good winding can be done even under the very edge.
Spools marked “Long Cast” have the shape of a regular cone, so, unlike the previous option, the line from the “top” can still slip off. But specifically for the longest and most powerful casting, you won’t find a better alternative. And the problem with slipping is easily solved: do not wind the fishing line 2-3 mm to the edge of the side. And everything will be fine!
"Lumber capacity"
Behind this specific (common especially among fishermen) term lies how much fishing line a spool of a certain diameter can hold. Subject to maximum filling, that is, to the very edges of the side. As you can already guess, this parameter directly depends on the size of the spool (the larger the dimensions, the more fishing line it will hold). For visual convenience of choice, some global manufacturers indicate this value directly on carp reels.
usually indicates “line capacity” and other important parameters on the reel
Gear ratio
If everything is quite clear with the previous values (by the very meaning of the words), then the gear ratio for a beginner, at least, can raise many questions. But in reality, everything is not so difficult. This term tells us how many revolutions the rotor will make around the spool if we turn the handle completely. For example, the numbers in the specifications 5.1:1 mean that with one turn of the handle, the rotor will turn a little more than 5 times, while reeling in or reeling in more than 1 meter of fishing line. By the way, it is an ideal option for repeatedly casting bait using a spod rod.
It is logical that the higher the gear ratio of a fishing reel, the more capable it is of holding fishing line (especially of small diameter). However, its power/traction characteristics “suffer” at the same time. That is why branded manufacturers produce exceptionally powerful “carp reels” specifically for carp fishing with an optimal ratio of gear ratio to spool size.
Designed not only for the longest casts (sometimes more than a hundred meters), but also for comfortable fishing even for powerful trophies. That is, they can freely accommodate a sufficient amount of fishing line (and of normal diameter), and have a gear ratio that is not too small. In the presence of which, “escorting” the carp to the shore (usually fiercely resisting), and even from a distance of 100 meters, will quickly turn into eternal torment.
Friction brake (“friction”)
At the moment they are produced in three varieties: fast, semi-fast (sort of an intermediate option) and slow. The main difference between them: the number of turns of the clutch until it is completely loosened (to freely release the fishing line from the spool) or until it is completely tightened (i.e., its rotation is blocked). Accordingly, a fast friction brake “works” after a couple of turns, a slow one - after a much larger number of them.
According to many carp anglers, for working / main fishing rods it is better to choose carp reels with a fast front drag. For spods - similarly, with a front clutch, but with a semi-fast (medium) clutch. To equip a marker rod, seasoned fishermen of the “old school” use the option for a spod “stick” (described above), but this time, modified with their own hands, cunningly - for a fast drag. At the same time, achieving cost savings and ease of use.
Number and quality of bearings
Despite the fact that this characteristic is necessarily indicated by any manufacturer in the technical data sheet of the product, beginners (and ordinary fishermen equally) should not go into details. This information is intended mainly for workshops, where it is important to know both their location and their design. And other nuances necessary to repair the product.
