| In its strictest sense, a baitrunner reel refers to a | | | | position and your fish is on. |
| reel that uses technology developed by Shimano. | | | | Baitrunner reels still have the normal clutch facility |
| In actual fact, the term 'baitrunner' is a registered | | | | and this should be set to control the tension |
| trademark belonging to Shimano and so it has | | | | during the playing of the fish. There is also one |
| been since 1987. Therefore reels by any other | | | | other setting that controls the freespool tension |
| manufacturer using similar technology should be | | | | when the baitrunner is on. This is usually positioned |
| called 'freespool' reels, not baitrunner reels. | | | | at the back of the reel below the baitrunner |
| However, anglers have been using the term | | | | clutch and in front of the rear drag at the rear of |
| baitrunner for so long to describe this type of | | | | the reel. This can be tensioned up a little tighter |
| fishing reel, just as we tend to say the word | | | | when there is a danger of a fish screaming off |
| hoover which is a brand name when we should | | | | towards a snag whilst the baitrunner is in free |
| say vacuum. And so what is a baitrunner reel? | | | | spool mode. |
| A Shimano Baitrunner reel has an extra facility as | | | | The best way to set up your baitrunner reels is |
| well as the normal drag. The majority of fixed | | | | to have your rod or rods supported on a rod pod. |
| spool reels have a clutch system on the front of | | | | You can use rod rests if you prefer but rods |
| the reel spool or sometimes at the rear of the | | | | should not be held by the angler at all. This way |
| reel. This clutch can be adjusted to allow a running | | | | there will be no movement of the rods or line until |
| fish to take line more or less easily in order to | | | | a bite registers. When the baits are cast and rods |
| prevent breakage of the main line during playing a | | | | are set up in their rests or pod, flip the baitrunner |
| large fish. | | | | lever forwards into the freespool position allowing |
| This extra baitrunner facility can be used to let | | | | the line to be taken with little or no resistance |
| line flow freely from the spool even when the | | | | detectable by the fish. This can be adjusted to |
| bale-arm is engaged. However, with one part turn | | | | suit different wind conditions etc. On the strike, |
| of the reel handle or a flick of the baitrunner | | | | simply make a small turn of the reel handle or |
| switch, the reel is placed back into the engaged | | | | switch the baitrunner back into the engaged |
| position and normal clutch tension is again | | | | position again. Tension is now again controlled by |
| restored. | | | | the ordinary drag. Personally I do tend to hold the |
| Why do specimen and carp anglers need this? | | | | spool still using my fingers to apply tension when I |
| Well, suppose you have positioned your rods in | | | | strike and then as soon as I know a fish is on, I |
| the rod pod or rod rests and set your bite alarms | | | | start to reel in order to re-engage the baitrunner. |
| and detectors, you can now simply set the | | | | Baitrunner reels are best used with a bolt rig. |
| baitrunner clutch to the free spool position and set | | | | These rigs were designed to scare a fish as it |
| the baitrunner tension. Now when a fish takes off | | | | picked up a bait and felt a hook or resistance |
| with your bait, maybe already hooked if using a | | | | from the weight, thus causing it to bolt off and |
| bolt rig, the line is easily pulled freely from the reel | | | | hook itself against the weight of the lead, hence |
| and your alarm will sound. Imagine however if | | | | the name bolt rig. If you are using a bolt rig and |
| your line still been fixed, then the reel would be | | | | not using a baitrunner reel, a large carp can bolt |
| back winding or worse still your rod may have | | | | off and easily pull a rod into the water. Worse still, |
| been pulled into the water. Worse still, the line | | | | for the carp anyway, it can snap the rig or main |
| could have snapped causing injury to the fish. With | | | | line, causing distress and injury to the fish. A good |
| a baitrunner reel correctly set up, you can | | | | carp rig should of course be designed to pull apart |
| respond to the alarm by a turn of the reel handle | | | | or break away in an incident like this. |
| or a flip of the baitrunner back to the closed | | | | |