Baitrunner / Alarm Buying Advice

[Anderoo]

I always say the same thing when this topic comes up, so apologies to everyone who's bored of it by now! I would always recommend a good quality 2nd hand older Shimano over a new Okuma or similar. Specifically, the old Aero GTE (not GTE-B or GTE-C - these are more recent models and not as good) like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SHIMANO-BAITRUNNER-A...=item5d2b6391e7

 

I recently bought another one of these from ebay for £40, amazing value. No warrantly of course, but it's an old Shimano baitrunner and so you don't really need one! If it needs a service at any point, PM Budgie on here and he'll sort you out.

 

As for alarms, it depends on what you think you need/want. I use very basic Fox Micron M and the cheapest GF alarms, which are very reliable and go beep when the line moves. Why people spend hundreds of pounds on alarms I will never know. I did once own a delkim, but spent all my time fiddling with the sensitivity setting so it only beeped when a fish was responsible. I then realised that the cheap alarms had this 'setting' built into them, so I sold the delkim and went for the cheapies!

[Fours]

I always say the same thing when this topic comes up, so apologies to everyone who's bored of it by now! I would always recommend a good quality 2nd hand older Shimano over a new Okuma or similar. Specifically, the old Aero GTE (not GTE-B or GTE-C - these are more recent models and not as good) like this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SHIMANO-BAITRUNNER-A...=item5d2b6391e7

 

I recently bought another one of these from ebay for £40, amazing value. No warrantly of course, but it's an old Shimano baitrunner and so you don't really need one! If it needs a service at any point, PM Budgie on here and he'll sort you out.

 

As for alarms, it depends on what you think you need/want. I use very basic Fox Micron M and the cheapest GF alarms, which are very reliable and go beep when the line moves. Why people spend hundreds of pounds on alarms I will never know. I did once own a delkim, but spent all my time fiddling with the sensitivity setting so it only beeped when a fish was responsible. I then realised that the cheap alarms had this 'setting' built into them, so I sold the delkim and went for the cheapies!

Quality answer.Couldn't agree more.

[luckydenvermint]

Thanks again for all the replies,

 

On this occasion I ended up buying a Fox Micron Warrior plus a GFX Alarm along with an Okuma Interceptor Baitfeeder. The quality of the Shimano Baitrunners has been taken on board and I will be saving for one/watching ebay in the meantime for a good quality one, if I do get second hand then it has to in mint condition for my liking!

[Bartman]

shimano 1 year warranty

Okuma 5 years warranty

 

no contest

 

Ah but there's more Okumas that go wrong than Shimanos ( especially with disengagement on their baitrunner models ) . Nothing wrong with Okuma reels, great value for money and I own several but where baitrunners are concerned Shmano rule supreme. Great little workhorses that go on and on with a little TLC. For a basic bombproof alarm go for a second hand Garner TLB, tough as a cheap steak !