Budget Carp Reels Which Are Actually Good!
Nash’s Scope sub-brand normally steals all the limelight, but not this month: the price-sensitive Dwarf brand has two stunning new reels to showcase…
We’re a long way down the line from the big-pit reel revolution that Kevin Nash himself helped to kickstart when he imported some Japanese sea reels more than 30 years ago, but the Nash empire still has a finger firmly on the pulse in this field and continues to expand their range of products. The latest are two new reels in the budget-friendly Dwarf range.
Remind me about the Dwarf range—what’s it all about?
No problem. I’m sure you’re familiar with the all-conquering Scope range of shortened and lightened products aimed at the roaming angler. Well, the Dwarf line up is based on that same ethos of travelling light, but with more affordable price tags.
Gotcha. And now there are new Dwarf reels?
Yep, two of them. There’s the Dwarf Freespool, available in two sizes, and the Dwarf Compact Big Pit.
Let’s start with the Freespool…
As you can see just by looking at it, it’s a classic freespool-style reel with a big lever at the rear to switch instantly from a freely rotating spool to a drag set for playing and manoeuvring the fish during a fight. Designed to complement the Dwarf range of short rods (and other brands’ short rods, of course), these aren’t too bulky and are available in either a 4000 or 6000 size.
What features do they have?
Plenty, as you would expect from Nash! There are 5+1 bearings, a one-touch folding handle and a line-friendly clip to aid with hitting spots when using wrapping sticks. The gear ratio is 5.1:1 and an enlarged anti-twist line roller and Nash’s Level Wind line lay system helps with casting and retrieval. The smooth multi-disc front drag has a power rating of 8kg and the 4000 model can retrieve 90cm of line per handle turn.
What if I want something a little beefier?
Then it’s worth looking at the Dwarf Compact Big Pit, which boasts the same features as the Freespool model but has a drag power rating of 12kg. Obviously, you don’t get the freespool function present on the other new model, but the front drag can be precisely adjusted. Just like on the Freespool model, there’s also a one-touch folding handle, the Level Wind line lay system and a line-friendly line clip. The Compact Big Pit has 4+1 ball bearings and it retrieves 103cm of line per turn of the handle, which is the same as the 6000 version of the Freespool model.
How big are the spools?
The Compact Big Pit can take 400m of 0.33mm line and so can the 6000-size Freespool model (the 4000 swallows 300m of the same diameter).
And cost?
The RRP of the Compact Big Pit is £64.99 while the Freespool options are only £54.99 and £59.99. Impressive, eh?
