Today

Mike Concannon, from Fishing Dartmouth, looks at the different types of multiplier fishing reels.

"You may have read lately of the availability of some ranges of the very best manufacturer's multiplier fishing reels, in a choice of either wide or narrow spool versions.

If you were previously unaware of this useful option, take a look at the photograph of a pair of the latest offerings from Abu Garcia (right).

So, I hear you murmur, "Why the difference?"

Do you ever more than half empty the spool on your present reel while fishing, or do you find that you only ever seem to use the top 100 yards of line?

Do you prefer to fish with monofilament line, or the modern braid alternative, which is perhaps only half the diameter for the same breaking strain?

Do you sometimes find that when holding your rod, while fighting a specimen fish that it can feel a little unwieldy as it rocks from side to side while you crank the handle?

Clearly the capacity of the narrow spool version is less than the standard width model, but use reveals other benefits.

I fill the spool of my standard Abu 7000 Big Game LD reel with 330 yards of Berkley Trilene low stretch "Sensation" clear mono line of 20 lbs nominal B.S. It fills the standard spool perfectly and is great for deep water wreck fishing with all my regular angling pals who prefer the inherent stretch in mono line which can soak up the crash dives of an angry specimen fish.

The narrow spool version accepts a little over 200 yards of the same line.

When I choose to use braid line such as the Berkley 20 lb "Fireline", then I can wind 300 yards onto either model with ease. The diameter of this braid line is only about 0.25 mm, while the equivalent strength mono is approximately .45 mm.

Braid being so very much thinner allows you to fish deep water with less weight. Because it has no inherent stretch, you can feel every touch and bite with ease.

With the standard width 7000 spool, I first have to install about 120 yards of mono line as backing before topping up the wider spool with the braid, or it appears to be half empty. This would adversely affect the retrieve rate and tightly coiled springs of the line on the spool, due directly to the reduced diameter of the line on a partly filled spool.

This means that I then have something in the region of 420 yards of line on my reel, which, unless you are teasing up "Wahoo" in some tropical paradise is far more than is necessary.

Choosing the Abu Ambassadeur BG 7000 Lever Drag Narrow Spool model, I firstly install about 30 yards of mono backing and then wind on 300 yards of the 20 lb b.s. Berkley 20 lb Fireline braid. It fills the spool perfectly.

I find that with less weight, the narrower spool version is better balanced and feels more comfortable in use.

I reckon the narrower spool version would also be great for fishing the shallower inshore marks for those big Bass and Huss, when filled with Mono, if that is your preference. It would probably still hold sufficient line to fish very deep wreck marks in excess of 200 feet.

I recommend both of the new Abu Big Game 7000 Lever Drag reels, with their 4 to 1 retrieve rate and level wind. They are well made and a joy to use.

Abu also produce their Ambassadeur Big Game 7000 series for those of you who prefer a "Star Drag" clutch control and slightly higher gearing at 5.3 to 1.

The choice is yours. Whichever you decide, I know that it will provide you with many hours of pleasurable sporting enjoyment."