To baitrunner,,, or not to baitrunner

[Cheech]

Guys,

I am looking at buying a new reel for use around morton bay and mostly Mud Island bottom bashing. Got some good advice from a few of the guys recently about what size I need. Is a bit of a toss up between a tss4, Shimano 4500b baitrunner, and a Tica Camry.

The baitrunner is the most expensive, but that is ok if it is worth paying for the feature. Heading for this size as the tss4 just seems a bit big if I don't do any outside fishing (but can get one for $155.00 at amart).

I have a small baitrunner that I use for estuary, but I don't think I use it properly as it seems like there is a heap of drag just through the rod so seems like a waste of time, so mostly I don't bother turning it on.

So I suppose my question is am I just doing it wrong (probably) and does it work better once a big kritter gets on to it so making the Shimano 4500B actually feed the line without relative resistance (compared to small fish on a little baitrunner).

Pushing my luck, but one last question,,, Is about 20lb fireline about right for Morton Bay?

Thanks in advance,

Cheech

[banshee]

Let me say this,there is no better snapper reel than a baitrunner,in my opinion the Shimano is the pick of them,having said that,to use this reel as a bottom bouncing rig would be sacreligous,if you get the Shimano spool it with 15-20 lbs mono and use it the way the Dunphy's intended.A mate of mine often says the next good snapper he sees caught of the bottom will be his first,I tend to agree.

[jeffo]

go the 4500 baitrunner... i have both the baitrunner and a tss4 and like the baitrunner better. the new version of the 4500 is a huge improvment on the old ones so id go for it. load it with 6kg and your laughing! ;D

[cHiCo]

too much line might be getting fed out because of the current, big currents/tides and baitrunners dont mix.

[basserman]

i persanily like the charter special but thats a overhead ,but as a float lineing reel (feeding your lightly weaghted bait down a beraly trail for big snapper) it has to be one of the best
but i would agree it would be a wait if only used for botom bashing as you don't want any fish to take any line ;)
hope this helps
20lb fireline would be good but be careful as that stuff can cut fingers badly when onto something solid or when something is takeing a run!
i'm looking to change my 20lb fireline over to 30lb bionic

[Cheech]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Banshee, when I first read your post I had no idea what you meant about being saceligious to use for bottom bashing. One of the things I originally said was that I did not think I was using it right,, because I did not know what right was. That was the point really as I wanted someone to tell me what I was doing wrong and how and when you use them. But because of your comments, I started asking the right questions. Had a talk today with Nugget and then to Jason Comino at the tackle show, and I think I get it. Thanks for that.

Jason in particular was great and even put me on a couple of spots and technique.

Anyway, I bit the bullet and went for the Shimano 4500b. Jason gave it to me for 215.00 so I know I got a good reel for a really good price. Thanks Jeffo. After your recommendation of the 4500, then Nuggets as he has one, then Jasons, as he has 2 of them, I then knew what I needed and what suited me.

Regards,

Cheech

[jeffo]

top buy mate... ill be getting another for this seasons run of knobbies

[BORGY]

I agree, the Shimano Baitrunner 4500 is the best free liner threadline I've used. My wife has a Okuma Epix bait runner EB60 in a similar size which has never been the same after she accidently hit the free spool while hooked to 2.5. metre reef shark and then re-engaged it at warp speed, '"crunch" That sort of thing just doesn't happen with the Shimano because the whole reel and mec hanism better thought out and better made. I also have the TSS4 and 3 they are great reels, but designed for speed. [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

[Dan_Muir]

Have a look at the Banax Si series - they have a metal body and worm drive - extremely solid construction.

Dan

[kemplers]

maybe ignore the baitrunner feature, unless you obviously need it (??), it may open your eyes to a wider world!

[Cheech]

Have now had it for a while. Can see the benefits when to use it, but also what I have found out is that it is an exceptional reel with or without the baitrunner feature.

Last night I had a wobbygong shark that went about 1.3, 1.4 metres. Nearly as big as one I saw the week earlier that my fishing partner caught. Took a heap of effort to get it to the surface. Would a guess be around 30 kilo? anyway it was big and the baitrunner took it all in it's stride.


Very happy with my purchase. If I had spare cash I would get another.

Cheech

[dooley]

baitrunners are awesome - other imitations aren't anywhere near as good, especially after a few years of solid useage