Carp Reels

Carp Reels Explained

One common feature of all carp fishing reels is their typically large spools, affording for a high line capacity, fewer rotations of the spool while casting, and a better line lay, making these reels the best choice to cast more accurately over longer distances. Reels with these typically large spools are often known as 'Big Pit Reels'. Another common feature is a line clip - a line clip allows you to clip your line at a certain length, meaning you can cast to the same distance consistently, or have a bit of extra security when fishing up to far margins or island features. When considering which size of reel you need, you'll want to make sure the size balances well with the carp rod you choose.

Free Spool vs Fixed Spool Carp Reels.

Typically, fixed spool reels have a single adjustable drag system allowing you to loosen the drag when waiting for the bite, to let the line unspool without too much resistance, and then to adjust the drag during the fight, to either increase the angler's control to avoid snags & obstacles, or to allow the fish to run with less resistance, and reducing the risk of the line snapping.

Free spool reels offer a secondary drag system, so the angler can quickly flick between two preset drags, and then perform smaller adjustments as you need during the fight. Simply put, with one turn of the reel's handle the angler can switch from a free spool drag to a level of drag capable of controlling the fight, this type of reel is also sometimes known as a 'baitrunner', and is commonly used by specimen barbel, pike and carp & catfish anglers, where these fish are known to pick up baits and swim off.

Without the ability to set a lower drag before the bite, these fish could be capable of pulling your tackle straight off the bank!

A note on Spod Reels

Spod reels share many of the same features as Big Pit carp reels, but the spools are much shallower, because spod reels don't require as much line capacity as your main reels.