Buyers’ guide...

Nine top barbel reels

IF YOU target barbel, one of the most powerful fish on these shores, you’re going to need the beefiest tackle possible. Put simply, a reel that has the muscular backbone to get the upper hand is vital. IYCF looks at nine of the best on offer.

SONIK VADER X 6000 FS RRP: £ 49.99

This compact freespool reel is perfect for targeting microsmall to medium- sized rivers. It has a freespool adjustable front drag and an independent impressive, rear drag adjustment. Build quality is hard- wearing and the reel is made from a light but mainshaft), graphite material ( with a stainless steel oversized and comes with solid aluminium handles, aluminium line- friendly line clips and two anodised no lack of spools. With a gear ratio of 5.5: 1, there’s easily hold cranking power and the wide spool can of the heavier lines. Clutch adjustment on front facility spool, and tension settings for the freespool they won’t are functional rather than precise, but understated let you down. All- black aesthetics and for the graphics give this reel a classy look, and asking price you’ll struggle to find better. better. www. soniksports. com Gear ratio: 5.5: 1 350m/ 12lb ( 0.32mm), Line capacity: 270m/ 15lb ( 0.35mm) Weight: 455g

KORUM RODIAC 6000 RRP: £ 54.99

Built with a graphite body and rotor, this is a robust yet lightweight reel. The internal high precision gearing, comprising five ball bearings and a single needle bearing, provides a fast- reacting freespool system with a powerful front and rear drag. The anti- twist titanium line roller ensures your line flows freely and smoothly and the CNC handle can be fixed on either side of the reel. Other features include a high accuracy one- way clutch anti- reverse system, oversized aluminium bail with Water Drop Bail Holder and a machined and anodised aluminium spool. www. korum. co. uk Gear Ratio: 5.5: 1 Line capacity: 170m/ 0.28mm, 150m/ 030mm Weight: 435g

MITCHELL FULLRUNNER MX6 5000 RRP: £ 99.99

This workhorse of a reel is ideal for barbel anglers targeting larger rivers such as the Trent where heavy lines and 2lb- plus test curve rods are required. The reel has been specifically designed a to provide a compact freespool with large line capacity. This means you can fish with a freespool function at long distance while keeping the overall reel size close to that of a standard front drag, long cast reel. The ease with which line can be taken on the freespool setting can be adjusted via a small dial directly in front of the lever. Once you’ve hooked a fish, a quarter turn of the handle will disengage the freespool system and you can then continue the This fight playing the fish off the clutch. can be adjusted at the front of the spool. The slow oscillation provides an excellent line lay and the thick aluminium bail arm is rigid to prevent misshaping. www. mitchell- fishing. co. uk Gear ratio: 4.3: 1 Line capacity: 390m/ 0.30mm Weight: 645g

KORUM NEOTERIC 6000 RRP: £ 74.99

The Korum Neoteric Freespool utilises new S- Stroke technology for perfect line lay and has a sealed drag system and an anti- friction spool lip for longer and more accurate casting. A smooth performance is ensured thanks to the five doubleshielded ball bearings and single needle bearing and it comes with two CNC handles – one single and one double – both of which have moulded EVA grips for comfor t. The shallow machined and anodised aluminium spool has a line- friendly line clip. www. korum. co. uk

Gear ratio: 4.6: 1 Line capacity:

170m/ 0.28mm, 145m/ 0.30mm Weight: 525g

DAIWA BLACK WIDOW OW 5000 BR RRP: £ 65

Daiwa describes the Black Widow range as high value for money. And we’d say that’s a pretty accurate description of the 5000 BR. Modelled on the incredibly popular shape of the Emcast BR, the Bite ‘ n’ Run technology is backed up with a host of other features. These include AirBail, which enables even loose line to slide on to the line roller without hooking or snagging, and Twist Buster that reduces line twist on the line roller. The Black Widow BR is fitted with an aluminium spool and handle as standard, and the handle knob is soft touch for ease of grip. Finished in a stunning all black, this reel looks great and performs exceptionally well. www. daiwaspor ts. co. uk Gear ratio: 4.6: 1 Line capacity: 310m/ 14lb Weight: 470g

DAIWA EMCAST BR RRP: £ 95

The elegant Emcast BR is an incredibly lightweight reel, thanks to its featherlight graphite body and it boasts eight ball bearings, which give the reel a silky smooth performance. The reel comes supplied with a full specification spare spare spool, spool, as as well well as both a single and double handle. The Bite ‘ n’ Run system is fully supported with an additional front drag system, allowing for the precise increase of drag during the fight, vital when trying to control a powerful barbel. Other features include Daiwa’s hollow tubular bail system known as Air Bail. This protrusion free, Air Bail is lightweight and ensures you don’t experience any snagging. Twist Buster technology is also utilised to ensure you don’t suffer from line twist. Finally, eight ball bearings give the reel a silky smooth performance. www. daiwasports. co. uk

Gear ratio: 4.6: 1 Line capacity: 310m/ 14lb Weight: 490g

DRENNAN BR R 9- 40 SPECIMEN RRP: £ 54.95

excellent choice for the The Series 7 BR 9- 40 Specimen is an of a freespool facility angler who requires all the advantages with an alloy spool as but on a smaller reel body. The reel comes spool and a useful set of standard plus a shallower composite no risk of forgetting what line identification buttons so there’s

The spools are fairly strength of line you’ve put on each spool. smaller rivers where long shallow so this reel is better suited to drag system is backed casts aren’t required. The reliable front reversible handle. up with nine ball bearings and a single, www. drennantackle. com Gear ratio: 5.5: 1 250m/ 0.30mm Line capacity: Weight: 462g

SHIMANO BAITRUNNER X- AERO 6000RA RRP: £ 159.99

The spools on the Baitrunner X- Aero reels have a 30 per cent larger circumference than the standard Baitrunner spools which results in an improved casting performance. Range and accuracy is also aided by the spool’s angled lip which enables the line to leave the spool with less friction and in smaller coils. An impeccable line lay is produced by the slow oscillation which puts down 32 lays of line with each oscillation. Inside the reel you’ll find six six A- A- RB corrosion- resistant bearings plus one roller bearing. The balanced double handle gives you plent y of control when you’re attached to a hard- fighting barbel barbel and and the the hybrid body has a stylish black satin finish. There’s There’s even an easy maintenance small lubrication port that enables direct lubrication of the inner workings of the reel. Supplied with a spare cold forged aluminium spool. www. fish. shimano- shimano- eu. eu. com com Gear ratio: 4.6: 1 Line capacity: 320m/ 0.30mm Weight: 615g

SHIMANO BAITRUNNER ST- RB 6000 RRP: £ 59.99

If you want to use the famed Shimano Baitrunner technology but you’re on a budget the ST- RB Baitrunner is the reel to go for. The XT- 7 body and rotor is covered with understated graphics, a traditional easyto- use rear Baitrunner system, balanced double handle, aluminium AR- C spool and Varispeed line lay all combine to produce an affordable reel packed with technology that won’t let you down. A single turn of the handle will retrieve 85cm of line so you can quickly wind in leads and swimfeeders. www. fish. shimano- eu. com Gear ratio: 4.6: 1 Line capacity:

270m/ 0.30mm Weight: 550g