The best barbel fishing reels

Daiwa describes their Black Widow range as high value for money. And we’d say that’s a pretty accurate description of the Daiwa Black Widow 5000BR reel. Modelled on the incredibly popular shape of the Emcast BR, the Bite ‘n’ Run technology is backed up with a host of other features.

These include Airbail, which allows even loose line to slide onto the line roller without hooking or snagging, and Twist Buster which reduces line twist on the line roller.

The Black Widow BR is fitted with an aluminium spool and handle as standard, and the handle knob is soft touch for ease of grip. Finished in a stunning all black, this reel looks great as well performing well.

The elegant Daiwa Emcast BR is an incredibly lightweight reel, thanks to its feather-light graphite body, and it boasts eight ball bearings, which give the reel a silky smooth performance.

The reel comes supplied with a full specification spare spool, as well as both a single and double handle. The Bite ‘n’ Run system is fully supported with an additional front drag system, allowing for the precise increase of drag during the fight, which is vital when trying to control a powerful barbel.

Other features include Daiwa’s hollow tubular bail system known as Air Bail. Completely protrusion-free, Air Bail is lightweight and ensures you don’t experience any snagging. TwistBuster technology is also utilised to ensure you don’t suffer from line twist. Finally, eight ball bearings give the reel a silky smooth performance.

The Daiwa 20 GS BR LT is an evolution of a legendry reel. Available 2 sizes 3000, & 5000.
Daiwa utilising its latest light, and tough (LT) technology have produced a lighter weight rugged version of one of the most iconic free spool reels.

It has a one touch folding handle allowing for compact storage whilst still in situ on the rod, perfect for storing made up or for those roving sessions on the river.

Combining a smooth drag with powerful performance means this reel can handle any situation whether it be hauling in big fish or the free spool system giving line when those hard biting barbel pick up you bait and charge down river.

If you’re looking for a versatile reel that’s feature packed, then look no further than the Daiwa 20 GS BR LT

The Drennan Series 7 BR 9-40 Specimen is an excellent choice for the angler who requires all the advantages of a freespool facility but on a smaller reel body.

The reel comes with an alloy spool as standard, plus a shallower composite spool and a useful set of line identification buttons, so there’s no risk of forgetting what strength line you’ve put on each spool.

The spools are fairly shallow, so this reel is better suited to smaller rivers where long casts aren’t required.
The reliable front drag system is backed up with nine ball bearings and a single, reversible handle.

The spools on the Shimano Baitrunner X-Aero 8000RA reels have a 30 per cent larger circumference than the standard Baitrunner spools, which results in an improved casting performance. Range and accuracy is also aided by the spool’s angled lip, which enables the line to leave the spool with less friction and in smaller coils.

An impeccable line lay is produced by the slow oscillation which puts down 32 lays of line with each oscillation. Inside the reel, you’ll find six A-RB corrosion-resistant bearings plus one roller bearing.

The balanced double handle gives you plenty of control when you’re attached to a hard-fighting barbel, and the hybrid body has a stylish black satin finish. There’s even an easy maintenance small lubrication port that enables direct lubrication of the inner workings of the reel.

Supplied with a spare cold forged aluminium spool.

If you want to use the famed Shimano Baitrunner technology but you’re on a budget, the Shimano ST-RB Baitrunner 6000 is the reel to go for.

The XT-7 body and rotor is covered with understated graphics, a traditional easy-to-use rear Baitrunner system, balanced double handle, aluminium AR-C spool and Varispeed line lay all combine to produce an affordable reel packed with technology that won’t let you down.

A single turn of the handle will retrieve 85cm of line so you can quickly wind in leads and swimfeeders.

The Shimano Baitrunner X-Aero 4000 FB is Shimano’s top-of-the-range compact Baitrunner reel and is one of the best reels on the market for barbel anglers.

The famous, easy-to-use Shimano freespool facility is a reassuring advantage when fishing bolt rigs and feeders, especially for barbel when bites are often sudden and very aggressive. When engaged, the spool will give line with minimum friction until you pick up the rod and turn the handle, which instantly engages the front drag and enables you to continue the fight. Although relatively small in size, the Baitrunner X-Aero 4000 FB is remarkably powerful, and over the years, it has been responsible for catching many exceptionally large specimen fish.

The X-SHIP gear provides efficient smooth winding when under pressure and combines with the hi-torque 4.8:1 gear ratio and S A-RB bearings to produce impressive winding power. The large diameter AR-C spool enhances casting performance and enables large diameter mono lines to be used with minimal trouble.

The N Gauge specimen reel offers a variety of features at a competitive price. The multiple sizes available, smooth cranking power and adjustable free spool option are all essential features.

With a graphite body and aluminium handle these reels are lightweight and offer durability from regular use.

It has a sleek finish with green highlights it’s one of the more aesthetically pleasing reels on this list.

If you’re looking for a reliable well-regarded reel at a good price point then the Fox EOS 5000, this reel is a solid option.

Available in 3 sizes (5000, 7000 & 10000) there is a reel to suit most applications, the 5000 stands out as a reliable, resilient reel for barbel fishing.

The EOS does the basics well and offers a reliable, dependable workhorse of a reel that can go through the rigours of whatever barbel fishing can throw at it.

The compact Sonik Vader X 6000 FS freespool reel is perfect for targeting small to medium-sized rivers. It has a micro-adjustable front drag and an independent freespool rear drag adjustment.

Build quality is impressive, and the reel is made from a light but hardwearing graphite material (with a stainless steel main shaft), and come with solid aluminium handles, oversized line-friendly line clips and two anodised aluminium spools. With a gear ratio of 5.5:1, there’s no lack of cranking power either, which is handy when retrieving heavy leads and swimfeeders at long ranges, and the wide spool can easily hold heavier lines.

The clutch adjustment on the front of the spool, and the tension settings for the freespool facility, are functional rather than precise, but they won’t let you down. All-black aesthetics and understated graphics give these Soniks a classy look, and for the asking price, you’ll struggle to find better.