First look at the Shakespeare Agility 2LC reel
PAY AROUND
£59.99, £79.99 and £89.99
This latest Agility 2LC model, which comes in three body sizes - 4000, 7000 and 8000 - has been designed specifically for the match angler as a long cast feeder reel. The smallest version is well-suited to commercial fishery work as its wide spool can be used safely with thicker diameter lines, while the reduced sized body makes it easy to transport.
Korum Front Force Reels
TECH SPEC
FRONT FORCE 4000/3000
Gear ratio: 5.1:1
Features: Powerful front drag, soft-touch handle, lightweight, compact body, Uni-bearing system
Capacity: 4000 takes 25m of 0.26mm (0.23mm for the 3000)
Extras: Spare spool
PAY AROUND
£34.99
FAST RETRIEVE
The 5.1:1 retrieve rate is perfect for lure work and floatfishing when you need to get line back at a good speed. Smoothness comes via the Uni-bearing oscillation system.
LIGHTWEIGHT
The reel’s body is made from a sturdy yet light material finished in fashionable black livery and balances perfectly with the Xpert 11ft Lure Rod, also from Korum.
SOFT TOUCH HANDLE
A comfortable handle is especially important on a reel in constant use, such as when spinning or drop shotting. This one has soft touch technology, and can be converted from left to right-hand wind.
The £34.99 new Korum Front Force reels in 3000 and 4000 body versions offer super high quality at a bargain price.
In their stunning all-black livery, they are packed with features including quick folding soft touch handles, a super-fast 5.1:1 gear ratio and a dependable Uni-bearing oscillation system.
This makes them ideal for a wide range of applications including feeder, float and lure fishing, although the more compact 3000 model would be my first choice for float work.
TFG Centrepin reel
PAY AROUND
£129.99, line guard £14.99
This centrepin reel from TFG comes close to attaining perpetual motion. The precisely engineered ’pin runs smoothly, silently and with absolutely no vibration.
Little more than a breath is needed to get the spool turning, so even the lightest of stick floats will see the line peeling-off unaided as the float travels downstream. An optional line guard completes the pleasing retro look.
Browning Quantum Fire reel
PAY AROUND
£49.99
The ideal foil for the Magic Perch rod is this super little front drag graphite-bodied Quantum Fire reel. Its stunning livery, with flashes of red, silver and black, perfectly matches the rod’s whippings and finish.
The 015 sized model weighs a featherweight 203g and boasts a very speedy 5.2:1 gear ratio which retrieves an impressive 60cm of line per handle crank.
Other features include folding aluminium handle, large line roller with anti-twist system, and a silky smooth performance courtesy of 10 ball-bearings.
The live test model was filled with Quantum’s specialist low stretch Quattron Fluoro carbon coated line (7lb/ 0.20mm), classed as being somewhere between ordinary mono and braid, very low in stretch and so ideal for drop shotting. It didn’t spin up on the retrieve, tangle in the guides or cause me a single problem all day, and it costs a fraction of the price of a decent braid at just £7.95 per 250m spool.
Daiwa Legalis 1500HA Reel
PAY AROUND
£79.99
New for 2015, the Legalis reel family has five members of which the 1500HA is the smallest. But far from being the runt of the litter, this tiny terrier has an uncompromising tenacity which belies its petite form.
For test purposes one of the spools (it comes with a spare) was loaded with a very fine (0.12mm) braid, which makes the casting of light weights much easier and transmits plenty of feeling. Braid also has a clear advantage over mono lines when using lures because its lack of stretch puts you in direct contact with the fish when you get a take, so setting the hook is a quick and clean process.
However, the downside to braid mainlines is that they will take their toll on any reel not up to the job. Both line-lay and bail-arm pick-up has to be perfect, quick and precise if tangles are not to result. I can happily report that after several weeks of near constant use either side of the live test, not a single tangle could be blamed on the reel.
It’s also important that the line roller guide is top-quality to prevent the braid from cutting in, an area of expertise in which major reel producers such as Daiwa and Shimano really do excel. After close inspection not so much as a scratch was to be seen on the Twistbuster line guide. Other top features on this model include a lightweight Air Rotor system, a hard-wearing aluminium body and machine cut handle built to last and a quick 6.0:1 gear ratio that’s ideal for fishing small lures. And the whole lot weighs only 8.5oz.
Preston Innovations PXR Pro 3000 Reel
PAY AROUND
£79.99
If you fancy a classy high-performance reel to partner the Korum Twin Tip Drop Shot rod, look no further than Preston innovations’ striking PXR Pro 3000.
This lightweight (252g) aluminium-bodied reel in superb black and red livery boasts a host of features ideal for drop shotting.
You get a fast retrieve 5.1:1 gear ratio, hard chrome braid-resistant plated line roller, shallow spools (which cut the cost of spooling up with expensive braid), as well as a precision front drag system.
The reel purrs along effortlessly on six stainless steel ball-bearings.