Carp reel with baitrunner, how does it stand out and what is a baitrunner? The operating principle of a carp fishing reel is no different from a conventional spinning reel: the same spool, the same rotor reverse stopper, the same braking system. But, a carp reel has one important part - a braking system - a baitrunner.
When choosing this or that model of carp reel, first of all, you should take a closer look at reels from Shimano and Daiwa , since they have reels of any size and capabilities.
How does a baitrunner on a carp reel work?
Typically, the baitrunner on such reels is made in the form of a kind of bracket, which, when pressed, turns on an additional mechanism of the braking system.
This mechanism gives the spool movement, which can be very useful and convenient, and sometimes simply necessary when fishing for carp.
If the baitrunner is turned off, the spool works due to the standard clutch, and if the baitrunner is turned on, the reel spool rotates, releasing the fishing line. The baitrunner, just like the clutch, can be adjusted.
Usually the baitrunner is made softer than the friction clutch in order to quickly release the line when fishing, but you can also make the clutch softer than the baitrunner itself, and in this case the baitrunner will not work, since the fishing line will go down only due to the softness of the clutch.
Therefore, always adjust the baitrunner softer than the clutch.
If you are interested in the topic of spinning reels, we recommend our review - link.
Such reels are most often used for catching carp, carp, grass carp, and silver carp. So, if the reel only has a front brake system, when biting a large fish can easily drag the rod along with the reel, since the clutch will have a lot of resistance, although it can also be adjusted. But if the baitrunner is still turned on, the spool will be released, and the fish will remove the line from the spool without dragging the rod along with it.
Having visually or auditorily noticed a bite, you take the rod and turn the reel handle, turning off the baitrunner.
The Bayrunner can also be turned off via a bracket. This gives the carp angler the opportunity to quickly switch to a conventional fishing system after a bite.
Reel device with bayrunner
The Bayrunner is located at the rear of the product body. It looks like a lever that can be installed in two positions. In the photo below the bayrunner is turned off :
This picture shows it in working order:
Before you start fishing, set the clutch to a certain force. On carp models it is located in the front or back. After casting the rig, the fishing rod is placed on the stand, and the baitrunner lever is switched to the working position. If desired, the angler turns it off if he catches medium and small fish.
The operating principle of the bayrunner is as follows. If it is in working condition, then the clutch is turned off at this time. When the mechanism on the fishing reel is turned off, the clutch is automatically turned on. The convenient location of the lever allows the angler to switch it with his thumb while fishing.
When a fish bites, a hook is made and reeling begins. After the first turn of the handle, the baitrunner automatically turns off and the reel begins to operate in standard mode. The fishing process is further controlled by a friction clutch.
The main purpose of the baitrunner is to relieve the load from the rod and line at the moment of a powerful fish bite. Thanks to this mechanism, the fish will not be able to pull the fishing rod into the river, and will not tear the fishing line and leash.
The baitrunner, like the clutch, is adjustable. There is a small wing located at the back of the reel body. If we turn it counterclockwise, we will weaken the spool and the line will come off with little effort. If we turn the adjuster clockwise, we will increase the force to release the line from the spool.
You can adjust the required line tension in different ways. The simplest and most reliable is with your hands. Hold the rod handle with one hand and pull the line from the spool with the other. With a certain amount of effort it will come off. If this force is enough, then you leave the baitrunner setting in the current position. If there is insufficient force, twist the lamb left or right.
Some people resort to tuning using a large container of water. A certain number of liters are poured into it. The bottle is then hung on a hook and held in an upright position. Liters are converted into kilograms, and it is possible to adjust the work of the baitrunner to the specific efforts of the fish. The line release system is located on large models with spool sizes from 6000 to 10000.
Rating of carp reels
- ESP Onyx - $120
- FOX EOS 12000FS – $80
- DAIWA EMCAST – $130
- DAIWA WINDCAST BR – $130
- Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD – $170
- FOX 12000 Xt - $440
- Ultegra Ci4+ 14000 XTC — $270
- Shimano Aero Technium 6000 XSC - $590
It is worth noting that the prices shown in the rating may differ slightly from the real ones. You can view and compare current prices in online stores.
Photos of the best carp reels in our rating
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- They work more smoothly and balanced than devices that do not have it.
- Reels with baitrunners do not have vibration, which can significantly impair the fishing process.
- The overall process of catching big fish becomes much easier.
- If you attach a marked float to the reel, you can measure the distance from the bottom to the surface of the reservoir.
- When using reels with a baitrunner, you can rest assured that the rod will not be pulled into the water during a powerful bite.
Flaws:
- They weigh a lot more.
- The system is not as durable.
- They have a high cost, which may not be affordable for everyone.
- You should adapt and get used to the reel with this system, since it has its own operating characteristics.
How to set up the coil?
The clutch is adjusted in the same way as in a regular reel, namely: we tie the line, for example, to a tree, tighten the line and gradually begin to tighten the clutch until we feel a strong tension, release the friction brake a little - the reel is ready to catch a trophy carp
The line wound on the reel will not break during strong jerks of the fish. Then you should adjust the baitrunner, it is located in the back of the reel, and is a drum, rotating which in one direction or another you adjust the softness of the baitrunner to your needs.
The reel spool, when the baitrunner is turned on, rotates freely, the carp removes the fishing line, after which you work with the reel as usual. Further fishing for carp occurs with the help of a friction clutch, the same as in float and spinning fishing. So we figured out the baitrunner of a carp reel.
The baitrunner is an additional element of a carp reel, which slightly increases its weight, price, and slightly reduces its reliability.
But if you consider that without it you can lose an expensive carp rod, a reel and a trophy fish, then we can confidently say that the advantages of a baitrunner exceed its disadvantages. So if you catch really big fish, think about purchasing a reel with a baitrunner.
Rating of reels with baitrunner
Let's make a rating of the 3 best reels equipped with a baitrunner. 1. Shimano Baitrunner CI4+ XTR-A Longcast (price RUR 27,000). This reel has a spool size of 14000 and weighs 650 grams. The maximum weight for adjusting the bayrunner is 20 kg. Inside the product there are 6 reliable ball bearings and 1 single roller bearing. The spool is made of durable aluminum. A high-quality Power Roller together with the Aero Wrap II system guarantees even laying of the cord, maintaining its integrity. The line winding speed can be switched to two modes. You can lubricate the parts of the product without disassembling it. For this purpose, special holes are provided in the housing.
2.
Tica Sportera (price 4500 rubles) . This model is designed for fishing with carp fish using heavy and extra-heavy class feeders. It is equipped with a graphite body and has front and rear clutches. The model is represented by elongated spools with sizes from 3500 to 6000. When the baitrunner is turned on and while reeling out the tackle, the line comes off smoothly and is laid out. There are 7 ball bearings located inside the product. The smooth running of the rotor is ensured by the main pair. No vibrations or backlashes were detected.
3. Daiwa Infinity-X 5000 BR 9 (price - 25,000 rubles) . This model with a front drag is designed for catching trophies with donks and carp at long distances. It has an aluminum body and weighs 765 grams. The 5000 size spool ensures smooth winding of lines. It holds 370 meters of fishing line with a diameter of 0.35 mm. Together with powerful feeders and carp hooks, this model allows you to cast equipment over 100 meters.
Best models
Okuma Power Liner PL-860
It takes months, or even years, to find a good model of carp reel with baitrunner for feeder fishing. Therefore, beginners should listen to the opinion of experienced followers of carp fishing with a feeder.
Banax Helicon 500NF
The body is made of durable graphite material, the side cover is made of metal. The model is equipped with a rear clutch, a baitrunner, a gear ratio of 5.1, there are 5+1 bearings, the line roller is coated with titanium nitride. The spool holds 140 m of fishing line with a diameter of 0.41 mm.
Okuma Power Liner PL-860
The body is made of impact-resistant metal graphite, the aluminum spool has a side coated with titanium nitride. The reel is equipped with a multi-position clutch with smooth adjustment, a powerful baitrunner, gear ratio 4.5, number of bearings – 7+1. The capacity of the spool is 240 m of fishing line with a thickness of 0.4 mm.
Trabucco Kalos CRB 6000 Brass Gear
A special feature of this reel is the use of brass in the manufacture of all parts. Gear ratio – 4.9, number of bearings – 5+1, spool capacity – 240 m of fishing line with a diameter of 0.4 mm.
A guide on how to choose a spinning reel, what parameters to pay attention to and make sure of the quality right at the time of purchase.
A practical guide to the feeder - we learn to fish with a feeder from the very basics.
Tips on how to choose the right feeder rod - test, length, action, material and how to protect yourself from a poor-quality purchase.
About the buyrunner
An important factor in how to choose a carp reel is some inertia and regularity of carp fishing. There are no frequent casts, as in a spinning rod, or frequent bites, as in a feeder.
The rods are mounted on rod pods and equipped with bite alarms. To prevent a pecked carp from dragging the gear into the water, they used to remove the bail from the reel to allow the line to flow freely, but now this is no longer necessary. The design of a carp fishing reel includes a mechanism called a baitrunner. It is a lever that locks the spool. If you turn it off, the line will begin to unwind from the reel without any effort, allowing the fish to calmly leave without encountering resistance.
The baitrunner lever is located at the bottom of the reel, and the tension of its force is adjusted by a cone-shaped nut
The spool is locked back by switching the lever or rotating the knob, and the reel begins to operate in normal mode. Thus, we can conclude that a modern reel for catching carp or carp must certainly be equipped with a baitrunner. This mechanism will help protect the gear from the sharpest initial jerk of the fish.
Attention! A carp reel with a baitrunner is equipped with a front clutch, the rear nut is responsible for the force of the locking mechanism itself.
Features of carp reels
It is no secret that such a common inhabitant of our reservoirs as carp is a fairly large prey. The weight of some individuals is more than 20 kilograms, which means that cheap tackle of dubious quality is useless and can fail at the most inopportune moment. To effectively fish for such a trophy, you should use a durable feeder blank with a large test range, as well as a large power carp reel.
As a rule, high-quality spinning reels equipped with capacious spools are used as carp Such devices are capable of sending a feeder with bait and hooks over a long distance, while the number of turns is reduced. To ensure free movement of the fishing line when fighting large carp, the reels are equipped with a baitrunner, and for more comfortable control of the tackle at the time of fishing, a friction brake is used.
If we talk about the baitrunner, it is a complex mechanism that triggers the automatic release of the fishing line during a sharp bite. As a result, the rod does not dive from the stands into the water, but maintains its position and allows the fisherman to calmly approach the tackle and begin fishing. After one revolution of the reel handle, the front clutch is engaged.
When choosing a good tool for carp fishing , you need to pay due attention to the style and intensity of fishing. Try to take into account not only periodic trips to the pond on weekends and holidays, but also more serious trips, for example, overnight or for a week. You should also pay attention to the conditions where you will be fishing in order to choose a good tool that will meet your requirements.
On sale you can find universal reels, as well as highly specialized ones, which include large models. Therefore, the choice should be made taking into account the practical suitability, and not the external attractiveness of the device. It is important to understand that the lighter the reel, the easier it is to handle.
