Carp Fishing

Before buying a reel, the first thing you should do is consider what you want it for. You may have read a lot about Shimano Big Pit Long Cast reels, but if you are only fishing a 2-acre lake where the margins are the most productive areas then the asking price may be a bit steep, especially if you can get away with something a lot cheaper and much more practical. The moral is, always buy the correct tools for the job. Reels are expensive; try to use a bit of foresight and consider where you will be fishing over the next few seasons before you buy. It would be a waste of your hard-earned cash to buy something that will do for now, but may be woefully inadequate in twelve months' time. A good all-round reel is the best bet both practically and financially.

Not only should you consider what you want the reel for, you should also take into account the rod it will be matched to. We don't mean looks here, we mean balance. A large-spooled big pit reel would be completely out of balance on an lift l lb test curve fiberglass rod - as indeed would a small baitrunner reel, such as a Shimano GT 5010, on a 13ft 3 lb test curve rod. The best way to make sure you don't make a mistake is to buy your rod and reel at the same time, or, if you already have a satisfactory rod and just want to upgrade your reel, take the rod along with you to the tackle shop and ask them to attach it to the reel so you can check that you are happy with its feel. This can also save further disappointment if you get your new reel home only to find it won't go into the rod's fittings, which can happen.

Terminology

Spool: The part of the reel that holds the line.

Coned spool: A spool where the front of the spool is narrower than the back to assist long-range casting.

Clutch/drag: Tensioning mechanism on a reel which puts pressure on the spool to stop line being pulled from it.

Anti-reverse: Switch/gear on the reel that stops the handle going backwards.

Bale arm: The metal bar on the front of the reel that collects and lays the line when the handle is turned.