If you go by popularity to assess the quality of fishing tackle, you won’t go far wrong, as anglers are an incredibly demanding bunch and quick to spot any faults in their gear. You might assume, as with many other sports, that getting the best tackle requires paying top prices. However, the Daiwa Ninja Match and Feeder proves that sometimes you can find hidden gems offering incredible value for money.
The newest range still boasts all the features and quality anglers have come to expect with a few new additions to make them a slightly more versatile match reel. The Ninja Match and Feeder now boasts an improved Distance Control line clip, to cater to those anglers who require accuracy, as the old clip was quite poor and something we would have changed ourselves.
The reel features slightly revised sizes of 3012 (in single and double handle) and 4012 (in single handle only) options, with a 2508 reel added to the range to balance the new wave of shorter 7ft and 8ft rods that have hit the market recently.
The graphite body and Air Rotor have helped keep the weight to a minimum, even in the larger sizes as to not unbalance even delicate float rods. The oversized rotor system on the reel significantly reduces any wobble whilst winding in, something that can often occur with slightly cheaper reels.
The same great winding power has been enhanced slightly, by Daiwa opting to include a geared down retrieve and the ever reliable smoothness is achieved via 4BB and Infinite Anti-Reverse.
Despite its name Match and Feeder, this reel excels in a number of fishing scenarios, and makes for a great reel for spinning too. The drag is really smooth, and it makes a really satisfying ticking noise when you're playing a fish, alright its not the reason you by a reel but it is nice to hear it sing gracefully and you will land more fish because of how easily it rotates.
The verdict
We were really impressed with the original Ninja reels, which are super smart, practical and really versatile little reels. These new Ninja reels have seen slight upgrades to their cranking power and sizes to cater for the more serious match and coarse anglers. This is my reel of choice for the majority of my rod and line fishing, as I haven't found a situation it isn't able to excel in.
The Ninja Match and Feeder is great for doing exactly what it says, for any sort of feeder fishingthe bigger 4012 reel is superb. Its smooth and effortless winding capabilities, coupled with the slightly larger spool to improve casting distances, just make them a really fantastic reel and for less than £70 it offers remarkable value for money.
The reel also doubles up as an excellent spinning reel, having used it abroad when lure fishing for some hard fighting-saltwater species like sharks, tarpon and bass on them. I can assure you, if it can tolerate these, your local coarse species are no problem.
The 3012 is a great all-round reel, I have used them for catching barbel and chub on the float, feeder fishing on local commercials, just about anything you can think of, this is by far the most popular size for anglers we have found.
If you want a versatile and durable reel, then the Daiwa Ninja Match and Feeder reels take some beating in their price bracket and we still aren't sure if Daiwa have mistakenly priced these up, as they feel and perform far above what they cost, get one before they realise!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT AND OTHERS FROM DAIWA HERE.
TECH SPEC
- New Distance control line clip
- Double handle options
- Air Rotor
- Twistbuster II
- Digigear II
- ABS
- Infinite Anti Reverse
- Spare Spool
- Sizes: 2508, 3012, 4012
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The perfect fishing reel for all manner of methods. Available in three sizes and packed with Daiwa's best features at a super affordable price.
Pros
- Comes with a spare spool
- Improved cranking power to cater for more serious competition angling
Cons
- There are better reels for really heavy duty end tackle and feeders
| New distance control line clip. | |
| Double handle options. | |
| Air Rotor. | |
| Twistbuster II | |
| Digigear II | |
| ABS | |
| Infinite Anti Reverse | |
| Spare Spool | |
| Sizes: 2508, 3012,4012 |
Our pick of the alternatives
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The Daiwa 23 Matchman Reel is a very impressive item of tackle, it's really hard to believe you will get the reel and change from £50. The range covers three sizes, including a 2500 model, which is compact and great for lure fishing or light float work, it is also great for kids or beginners.
The 3000 size is the most versatile in the range, it is the perfect size to allow you to fish normal wagglers and balance a light rod when fishing for silvers or trotting a float. It also still has the cranking power for pellet waggler fishing or chucking a Method Feeder out catching big carp.
If you were just looking for a feeder reel to target the rivers after barbel and chub, or take it to chuck a long way on your local commercial, the 4000 is definitely the size to go for, as it just has that extra power you'll need. It also has a retrieval rate of 95cm per turn, so you'll have those feeders back in and back out in no time.
Pros
- A reel that performs way above its price tag.
- Easy control when trotting.
Cons
- Handle knob is a little clunky.
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
Preston’s Extremity reels have been the go-to for feeder anglers who fish at range. The new SD versions bring meaningful upgrades without losing the core attributes that made the originals so popular.
The biggest change is the new Speed Drag system. A simple half-turn takes the drag from locked up to free running, which is ideal to stop your rod disappearing after a savage take or when you’re playing powerful fish on lighter hooklengths. It gives you instant control, crucial for dealing with those last-minute lunges under the rod tip.
Still featuring the worm drive system which delivers smooth and consistent power when cranking in heavy feeders from distance. It delivers the power you want when fishing big waters or dealing with deep venues and long chucks.
The SD range comes in two sizes 520 and 620, these cover everything from standard commercial feeder work to serious distance fishing. Both feel solid, cast cleanly, and balance well on modern feeder rods.
Pros
- Lee Kerry's go to reel.
- Updated drag with faster adjustment
Cons
- Bail arm is a little heavy.
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
The opportunity arose to run the rule over Shimano’s Nasci in the three most popular body sizes – 2500, 3000 and 4000. The test did obviously include three rods, all the same model but at lengths of 10ft, 11ft and 12ft. It seemed an ideal way to match them to the reels, as we’d use them on the bank.
So, let’s now take a closer look at the smart grey and chrome-liveried Nasci reels. All three have a fairly fast 5:1.1 gear ratio that retrieves around 73cm (29ins) of line per handle crank. All three were a little faster than I’m used to, but using a short Method feeder hooklength there were absolutely no issues with spin-ups and the like.
They run smoothly, silently and completely wobble-free thanks to high-quality Hagane gearing and a 5+1 bearing assembly. With plenty of winding power, and zero play between the handle and the gearing, they respond instantly when the handle is engaged.
They weigh around 8.5oz which, in my book, is quite acceptable for both float and feeder fishing, and they slot painlessly into their seatings on the rods and are forgotten about once in situ, just as it should be!
The Nasci does not have an anti-reverse facility. I asked Shimano why this is so, and the company gave me these two main reasons why it stepped away from having this feature on most of its spinning reels: “Not adding the anti-reverse lever improves the waterproofing quality of our reels. It is easy to imagine that the lever section allows water and dirt to slip into the reel over time, potentially damaging or hampering its performance."
So there you have it. For me, playing a fish straight off the clutch is something I do anyway – I can backwind if I have to – but so precise are front drag clutch systems these days that there seems little point. The absence of an anti-reverse didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the Nasci reels, or their performance, one bit.
YOU CAN WATCH MARKS FULL REVIEW OF THE SHIMANO NASCI HERE...
Pros
- Very smooth
- Lightweight design
- Effortless winding, ideal for lure fishing or float fishing
Cons
- The exclusion of anti-reverse might not appeal to everyone
Author Aidan Bordiuk is an enthusiastic angler who enjoys all fishing disciplines from match fishing to beach casting. He is currently occupying the position of Digital Editor at Angling Times.