Tackle Tuesday… Shimano XT-A Longcast Medium Baitrunner

This entry was posted on 1st April, 2014

Shimano XT-A Longcast Medium Baitrunner

Does size matter? The simple answer is yes.

The modern trend is for Carp anglers to use a rod of 3.25lb-plus test curve and fit them with a large big pit reel. This is fine if you fish waters where distance casting is required but there are plenty of anglers who really don’t need these great big reels for their fishing.

The Shimano XT-A Longcast Medium Baitrunner is ideally suited to the type of angler who only fishes large waters occasionally. This allows you to use a smaller reel that is lighter but still very robustly made. Nevertheless, the longcast spool will allow you to cast some very impressive distances if the situation calls for it.

The moment you pick up this reel you get the impression that it is a serious bit of kit. It is not the lightest but it feels really solid and built to last. If you send these to Shimano’s excellent service department every couple of years for an MOT then they should last you a very long time indeed!

You get all the same features with the Medium Baitrunner as the Big Baitrunner, just in a smaller package.

Five shielded A-RB bearings plus one roller bearing make the reel incredibly smooth with increased durability and slow oscillation, Aero Wrap II, plus Slow 2 Speed gives you superb casting performance. The single, machined, long aluminium handle offers improved cranking power.

The verdict… a small big pit reel with all the features of its big brother… outstanding!

Description

The original Big Baitrunner LC had an unsurpassed reputation as the definitive Big Pit reel. In fact it started the trend for big reels over 15 years ago. Its replacement, the sleek, modern, XT-A LC, is set to enhance the reputation further.

Powerful, understated and full of the best Shimano technical innovation, the new Big Baitrunner features AR-C spool with slow oscillation Aerowrap II line lay. This combination ensures maximum distance casting performance.

Internally all ball bearings are shielded A-RB for increased durability and the gears have been redesigned to minimize friction and increase power transfer from the long aluminium handle to the rotor.

The result is the ultimate long range carp and specimen reel.

Features

Baitrunner System: A feature that has proved so beneficial that it has become a standard on big fish reels. Baitrunner is a lever located on the rear of the reel that allows the reel to be set so that line is released in controlled free-spool.

Dyna Balance: Reduces reel wobble and allows produces ultra-smooth performance.

Super Stopper II: With the reel set in anti-reverse mode you'll find zero free-play on the handle thanks to Super Stopper II. Unerringly positive every time, its practical benefits include micro increment settings of quiver tips or specialist bite indicators and faster hook setting.

Power Roller: The special design of the Shimano Power Roller significantly reduces line twist during the retrieve and is a big advantage when using thin mono and braid.

Floating Shaft II: The key friction area on most fixed spool reels is where the spool drive shaft meets the pinion. Shimano designers have overcome this by reducing a large percentage of surface area contact, and incorporating bearings on either side of the shaft. The resultant design leaves the shaft in a "floating" position, considerably improving efficiency and longevity.

Varispeed: Good quality line lay is the most important feature for precise, long and accurate casting. Shimano’s revolutionary Varispeed System consists of two specially designed gears. One is oval and the other a remarkable square shape!

AR-C Spool: A spool design with a V-shape spool lip ensuring that the line comes off the reel in smaller loops for further and more accurate casting. The AR-C spool will minimise the risk of backlash.

Aero Wrap II: By improving the internal friction efficiency Shimano succeeded in bringing its line lay systems close to perfection. Close parallel coils in combination with 2 speed oscillation ensure smoother and further casting.

S-ARB: The original high corrosion resistant A-RB ball bearing with a shielding for improved protection and sealed lubrication.

Buy The Shimano XT-A Longcast Medium Baitrunner