Specialist Fishing Reels

There are many things to consider when buying a specialist reel as there are many variations and differences to each reel. The ideal specimen reel would be lightweight and be very durable ready for when you hook the huge carp or barbel. As with all disciplines of fishing, there are many sizes of reels the biggest being your big pit reels going all the way up to a 14000 from Shimano fishing reels. We stock a huge range of carp reels from all the huge brands such as Daiwa, Shimano, Sonik and Fox!

Materials and Components

To find the best specimen fishing reel for your needs, you need to consider what the frame/body of the reel is manufactured from. A high-performance carbon material is a popular choice as so it is just as important to look for a reel that boasts precision and alignment to ensure strength or durability to your rod. 

Bearings also contribute to quality and longevity with options such as stainless-steel bearings, roller bearings and corrosion resistant ball bearings (especially useful in saltwater reels). Bearings reduce the pressure points on the internal reel components, reducing friction and ensuring the reel is smooth running, clean casting and pleasant retrieval. Some reels have an ‘anti-reverse’ ball bearing, used to prevent back play, this is found in some of the best barbel reels.

Almost every reel in our range features certain line lay which refers to the way the line sits on the spool, having a serious impact on casting ability. Also, regarding the drag operation of the reel, there are two types of drag operation: rear drag or front drag. Rear drag is normally considered easier to operate because of its position on the back of the spool. However, it usually can’t withstand the force of a big fish and a reel with front drag is preferable in these conditions. Lots of reels will combine a front drag system with a ‘free-spool’ lever (baitrunner system).

Fixed Spool Reels

A popular choice is specialist fixed spool reels which are sometimes known as spinning reels. Fixed Spool reels hang below the fishing rod and have a handle, used for line retrieval, on one side. The side on which you mount the handle is dependent on your dominant hand for casting and the other for cranking. They can hold a lot of line enabling them to cast far beyond the surface. Carp anglers also enjoy this distance casting which can be easily achieved on the big pit reels from the Sonik reel range.

Multiplier Reels

Otherwise known as baitcasters/ overhead reels, multiplier reels are popular for their gear line retrieve, meaning one turn of the handle results in multiple turns of the spool, aiding with pulling in large fish over rough ground. Mounted on top of the rod, rather than underneath it, multiplier reels reel is built on a caged structure, with the spool held completely inside the reel. Abu Garcia is renowned for producing multipliers at the cutting edge of technology, as is Daiwa, making baitrunner reels a carp anglers best friend.

Centrepin Reels

The centrepin reel rotates around a centre pin/spindle and is very popular for coarse anglers looking to target the margins for heavy carp. Most centrepin reels operate on a zero drag system, meaning that the angler has full control over the speed of their spool, controlled by the angler’s thumb. If you’re a fan of trotting then a centrepin can give an exceptionally smooth performance to entice roach and chub. Exceptionally low maintenance, centrepin reels only require you to remove the drum, wipe clean, and apply a little oil to keep everything moving smoothly.