Reel with baitrunner: how the mechanism works and how to choose

Today we offer the topic: “baitrunner on a reel - what is it and why is it needed” from professional fishermen. We tried to cover the topic as fully as possible. You can ask all questions in the comments after the article.

Bayrunner translated means “running nozzle”. It is a system that ensures free dropping of the fishing line during the process of biting fish. The bayrunner is located in inertialess reels.

A baitrunner is a special mechanism that instantly releases the friction brake of the reel.

It is necessary in the following circumstances:

To place the fishing rod on a stand so that when biting, its top does not bend, and the fishing line itself rewinds thanks to the open mechanism for releasing the fishing line by the baitrunner.
To determine the depth of the bottom of a reservoir using a marker float.

The operating principle of the bayrunner is as follows:

When the device is started, it gives motion to the reel spool and it begins to rotate. Because of this, the fishing line recoil mechanism is triggered.
When the baitrunner is disabled, the entire reel system functions as usual.
If you turn on the baitrunner during the fishing process, it will immediately begin to give up the fishing line.

The baitrunner system is necessary for the reel for the following reasons:

It greatly facilitates the entire process of catching fish , since with a baitrunner the spinning rod is protected from falling into the water when the fish are biting very aggressively.
When the bayrunner is operating, the reel device will function in a harmonious manner.
The baitrunner gives the reel two different modes at once - waiting and fishing, so both of these processes become much easier with the line braking system.

Advantages:

They work more smoothly and balanced than devices that do not have it.
Reels with baitrunners do not have vibration, which can significantly impair the fishing process.
The overall process of catching big fish becomes much easier.
If you attach a marked float to the reel, you can measure the distance from the bottom to the surface of the reservoir.
When using reels with a baitrunner, you can rest assured that the rod will not be pulled into the water during a powerful bite.

Flaws:

They weigh a lot more.
The system is not as durable.
They have a high cost, which may not be affordable for everyone.
You should adapt and get used to the reel with this system, since it has its own operating characteristics.

Reels with a baitrunner system are only spinning. Their mechanism has two adjustable friction brakes, which make it possible to adjust the resistance.

To put it simply, these gears have two separately functioning brakes that can be adjusted to the desired mode.

At the moment, in the fishing community there are a large number of different reels with baitrunner.

All of them may differ from each other in their performance characteristics, appearance, weight, pricing policy and material of manufacture.

Over 7 years of active fishing, I have found dozens of ways to improve the bite. Here are the most effective ones:

Bite activator . This pheromone additive attracts fish most strongly in cold and warm water. Discussion of the bite activator “Hungry Fish”.
Increased gear sensitivity. Read the appropriate manuals for your specific type of gear.
Pheromone -based lures .

When buying a reel with a baitrunner, you should remember the following things:

The reel must be made of quality materials. It is important that all elements of the reel, as well as its body, are made of metal. It is highly undesirable to purchase a reel with a plastic base, as it will be fragile and therefore prone to breakage.
The best coating for the side of the coil is considered to be zirconium or titanium nitride. Oxide coating is also often found on coils, but it is much worse.
The power characteristics of a high-quality reel should make it possible to reel in a catch of up to seven kilograms.
You should not buy a reel if you are not sure of its quality and the original manufacturer. There are many fakes that will not last you a full fishing season, so check not only the device, but also the documents that came with it.
A high-quality reel should have a warranty period of at least three months.

When purchasing a reel with a bayrunner, you should pay attention to the following criteria:

clutch (front or rear);
laying fishing line;
smooth ride;
spool(size);
line laying arm;
ball bearing;
gear ratio;
weight;
handle;

Let's take a closer look:

It is best to buy reels with a handle type that is attached.

The best models of reels with a bayrunner include:

Why do you need a baitrunner on a reel?

The baitrunner in the mechanism of operation of the inertialess reel acts as a second braking device, capable of both spontaneous release of the main cord and its rigid fixation. In combination with the clutch, the main brake of the inertia-free action, the possibility of a backup allows you to configure the reel to more effectively catch large fish and prevent the loss of gear as a result of its being pulled from the supports at the time of an aggressive bite or temporary loss of sight of the gear. Another practical feature of the mechanism is the function of measuring depth using a marker float.

How the mechanism works

Operation in the activated state is the ability to provide the reel mechanism with complete disconnection of the spool from the transmission mechanism circuit. As a result of this action, the cord from the spool becomes free to spontaneously drop, which occurs fully automatically under certain maximum loads. The load on the cord is provided by the fish that takes the bait.

When a bite is detected, the fishing reel with the baitrunner is switched to normal operation by rotating the mechanism handle or bringing the function lever to its original position, which is identical to the actions of the fisherman during fishing. Further functions of the brake and control of the release of the cord are taken over by the clutch, which completes the manipulations of catching the trophy, bringing it to its logical end.

Scope of application of the function in fishing

Baitrunner reels are simply irreplaceable in bottom fishing for large fish. This is due to the fact that sometimes the fisherman has to wait quite a long time for a cautious fish to bite, and at the same time it is not always possible to observe the loaded fishing tackle. With this method of fishing, which is mainly carp fishing, several rods are often used simultaneously. In this case, simultaneous bites threaten the loss of the rod, simply pulling it into the pond. Therefore, a baitrunner on a reel is needed.

By activating the function on the rods located in the rod, the angler can calmly engage in secondary activities, only strictly reacting to the sounds of bite alarms. There is no need to worry about the integrity of the rod.

Important! The baitrunner ensures unhindered release of the cord before the operation of hooking the fish through the direct actions of the fisherman.

But the rod protection function is not the only advantage of such reels. A baitrunner on a reel is also an excellent opportunity to supply bait or lure to the fishing area. Fishermen carry out this technique when installing live bait or other bait, when they transport the installation by water to the fishing area and install it at a certain point. By activating the cord release function, the rod is delivered to the shore and mounted in its working position.

This feature of a spinning reel performs approximately the same function in trolling fishing. Here the angler activates the mechanism for free release of the cord while the boat is moving, when it is necessary to move a wobbler or other similar equipment to a certain point with particular precision. Leaving the wobbler on the surface, lower the required length of cord, transferring the reel to the clutch operation. When marking and determining depths, it is quite rational to use the capabilities of a coil with this function. Having moved the depth gauge equipment to the required point, after casting it, the free feed mechanism is turned on and the depth level is determined by measuring the cut of the fallen fishing line or braided cord. Using a baitrunner in all the cases presented above is quite simple, comfortable and effective.

Useful video

In the video below we will look at examples of reels with a bayrunner - a separate class of inertia-free reels, which implies the possibility of free movement of the reel.

So, now you know what a baitrunner is and, depending on how and what kind of fish you prefer to catch, you can understand whether your reel needs a baitrunner or not. However, in any case, even if you previously managed without it, pay attention to this additional device. Perhaps one day it will help you a lot.

Well , who hasn’t heard fishermen’s tales about how a very large fish stole the fishing rod or broke the tackle when the fisherman literally left for a short time or was distracted. Maybe not all of them, but of course there were such cases, and it’s not for nothing that many companies began to produce spinning reels with baitrunner , which allows you to almost always save your tackle! Let's try to figure out what kind of device this is, when it is needed, and when it is quite possible to do without it.

A baitrunner is a special device in a spinning reel that allows, using a special lever, to disable the main friction brake. Thus, the baitrunner is a second adjustable friction brake on the reel , i.e. the second level of spool rotation resistance. And, what is especially important, switching between these resistance levels occurs almost instantly. The baitrunner allows you to adjust the spinning reel so that the line comes off the spool freely, but in a controlled manner at the moment a large and strong fish bites. Most often, reels with baitrunners are used for carp fishing.

1. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF THE BAYTRANNER Externally, a spinning reel with a baitrunner is practically no different from a conventional inertia-free reel, with the exception of a small lever located at the back of the reel. This lever allows you to enable or disable the baitrunner.

The baytraner works on the principle of an additional, individually adjustable friction brake . If the baitrunner lever is retracted, then the reel is in the working position - the reel spool is free. If a fish bites at this time, the line will freely come off the reel spool. And the fisherman has time to take a fishing rod, turn off the baitrunner, and start catching fish. After the baitrunner is turned off, the reel begins to operate in normal mode. And here, catching fish will depend on the skill of the fisherman, good gear, correctly configured main friction brake of the spinning reel and, of course, fishing luck!

2. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF A REEL WITH A BAYTRANNER Like practically every technically complex device, a spinning reel with a baitrunner has both advantages and disadvantages. And only you can decide how important the advantages of a baitrunner are for you and necessary for your preferred fishing.

Advantages:

The main and main advantage of a reel with a baitrunner is that it insures the tackle in the event of a sharp bite from a strong fish , and prevents the line from breaking or the tackle falling into the water from the stand or from the hands. When the baitrunner is turned on, the line is freely released from the spool when biting. This is especially convenient when fishing at night, when it is easy to miss a sharp bite, or if you are often away, for example, fishing with other gear.
Sudden loads on the fishing line and rod are reduced, and their service life is accordingly increased.
The smooth and vibration-free operation of a spinning reel equipped with a baitrunner provides additional comfort when fishing and allows you not to worry about the safety of all the gear, which is important.

Flaws:

A reel with a baitrunner is heavier than a conventional spinning reel with similar characteristics. This does not interfere with bottom fishing, but with a regular spinning rod, the extra weight of the reel can have a negative effect; the tackle will either be heavy or not optimally balanced.
Complicating the design that allows a reel with a baitrunner to operate smoothly and without vibration reduces its durability.
The higher cost of a reel with a baitrunner compared to a conventional inertia-free reel.
Using a reel with a baitrunner requires a certain amount of experience from the fisherman. Although any new gear always requires the acquisition of certain skills.

3. USE Reels with a baitrunner are most often used with parabolic rods for long casting or on reservoirs with fast currents. As a rule, this is bottom fishing with carp and feeder rods. They are especially in demand for catching trophy and strong fish, such as carp, catfish, carp, silver carp, and trout. A baitrunner is also indispensable for night fishing, when it is easy to miss a fast bite. Such reels allow you to pull out large fish even with light gear that is not intended for this.

The pre-tuning of the reel with the baitrunner is done on the shore, for example, by securing the fishing line to some kind of support, such as a tree. Pull the fishing line and adjust the friction brake to a slight force. Then the tackle with bait is thrown, placed on the stand and the baitrunner lever is turned on, i.e. the coil is set to standby mode. When there is a bite, when the line is released, the rod is removed from the stand, the hook is turned by turning the reel handle, the baitrunner is turned off, the reel begins to work in normal mode, and the process of landing fish begins.

Happy fishing!

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Coil Setting

Important! The main condition for setting up the mechanism is its synchronization with the main brake or clutch.

The baitrunner adjustment itself, which adjusts the tightening force of the line by means of the spool rotation speed, is carried out by a clamping mechanism, which, when tightened, increases the load on the rotation of the spool, and when loosening the screw, it is completely removed. By adjusting the clamping force in this way, they pull the cord from the spool, determining the desired parameter for the magnitude of the applied force.

But in this case, it is worth noting that not all models of spinning reels that have a baitrunner function are equipped with a mechanism for its fine regulation. Often a function in a mechanism can be either completely turned on or completely turned off using the lever already described above. With this option, there is no practical need to synchronize the two brake mechanisms, but in the opposite case, the clutch settings are made more rigid than the baitrunner settings.

Having lowered the fishing line and switched the reel to the clutch operating mode, the cord should only be pulled in with extreme loads exceeding the strength of the fishing line, which for the operating conditions of a baitrunner descent is not the main and primary task.

External signs and principle of operation

It should be noted that you may only encounter a spinning reel with a baitrunner; other designs are not equipped with such a mechanism . After all, what is a baitrunner in a reel? This is a mechanism whose operating principle is based on disabling the clutch, which allows the trophy on your hook to freely wind the line from the spool. When the baitrunner is engaged, the clutch braking mechanism is not engaged. And, conversely, when it is turned off, the clutch is activated. So it can be argued that a baitrunner and an inertia-free baitcaster with a friction brake is the most effective device, which has a double braking mechanism, which is very helpful in catching large trophies.

Important! Before each fishing trip, carp reels with baitrunners need to have the friction brake properly adjusted. Considering the strength of this type of fish, the clutch should not be tightened all the way, otherwise, when the baitrunner is turned off, the line may break.

Externally, spinning reels with a baitrunner are distinguished by the presence of an additional bracket at the back of its body or, less commonly, an additional lever on the side. With their help, this mechanism is turned on and off.

The friction mechanism on such inertia-free wheels is usually located in the front. It should also be noted that carp reels with a baitrunner initially come with a large spool . This is due to the need to use especially strong fishing line (cord) in carp tackle.

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How to choose a reel with this system

An angler who has decided on the question of why he needs a mechanism with a baitrunner must also understand the principles of choosing the appropriate thing, based on its appearance and functional capacity. It is worth choosing a spinning reel in a metal case and preferably made of light alloys, since the presence of great functionality of the product significantly increases the bulk of the reel.

The components of the case must be screwed together without flaws, which indicates the high quality of water resistance of the mechanism. The operation of braking systems is determined by the application of force to a piece of cord tied to the spool. The movements of the spool should be even and smooth, without lameness or extraneous noise. The regulating mechanism should allow maneuvering the tightening forces of the cord both upward and downward, which should be clearly felt.

A good product has adequate weight, it is not very light, it has a neat appearance, without sagging in the coatings or dissimilarities in the gaps. We can definitely say that cheap plastic plagiarisms will show their weaknesses even at the first significant load, and their practical implementation will only cause frustration from missed opportunities.

Rating of reels with baitrunner

The rating of reels is based on their quality and cost characteristics, which allow the fisherman to combine the reliability of using the mechanism and at the same time not put undue pressure on his budget, observing the principle of democratic accessory cost.

Mechanisms produced by Shimano are very popular among carp anglers. Exage 4000 RC reel in the manufacturer’s line deserves special attention. After all, the lightweight body and high gear ratio provide the most comfortable conditions when catching large fish. The price relative to other top companies is much more pleasant, but the reliability of this company has been tested over the years and is beyond doubt.
The well-known Daiwa is no less loved by anglers. Its fishing accessories are valued for the reliability and balanced operation of the mechanism. The price of the company's products is only slightly higher than that of the previous top manufacturer, but such an excess is not a hindrance for fans of the brand. I would like to mention the lightweight reel with the Regal 3000 XIA . Smooth running and meticulous adjustment of the brake mechanisms provide ideal control over the fishing of especially trophy specimens.
Okum has presented a masterpiece in this field of fishing products. Epixor Eb Dfitfeeder model is distinguished by high water resistance and a large spool volume, which in addition has a titanium non-wearing finish on the side and the base itself. The budget is also reasonable.
BANAX GT Extreme-3000 is worthy of being among the top buyrunner representatives. The manufacturer was able to achieve high reliability of the mechanism by making the working gear transmission from a brass component, and the body itself from a duralumin alloy, which significantly reduced the weight of the product and eliminated the possibility of corrosion, without compromising its performance qualities. Price is in the middle range.
The top five will be closed by the representative of the Salmo company, the hard worker Diamond Baitrunner 5+1 RD . A lightweight reel with an elegant main aluminum spool with a hinged side and the ability to wind up to two hundred meters of line. Five bearings of the mechanism guarantee reliable operation and fast winding. The price is budget.

I hope that the presented list will help a beginner save on money and get a reliable base of gear at the beginning of his career, and will provide food for an experienced fisherman for a comparative analysis with mechanisms proven by personal experience in practical use.

What is a Bayrunner

Let's start with the most important thing. What is this part called a baitrunner? To be more precise, this is a kind of reel braking system. The baitrunner looks like an additional mechanism or lever. By activating it, the fisherman disables the clutch. That is, it gives the bobbin free movement - both for winding and unwinding. This is extremely useful when biting such strong fish as carp.

For example, there was an effective hook. Or the carp, having swallowed the bait, got caught on the hook. Naturally, it will immediately twitch sharply or try to go deeper, to the side, etc. If the carp weighs more than 4-5 kg, then it can easily throw the rod off the stand and drag it along with it (especially if the clutch is set to high resistance). Then getting the tackle out of the reservoir is an unpleasant task. Also, when self-hooking, the carp can pull the line with such force that it simply breaks. In both cases, a fish escape is almost guaranteed.

If the reel is equipped with a baitrunner, then when you bite, the spool will begin to rotate, releasing the line. At this moment, the angler will have time to react, pick up the rod and begin fishing.

A reel with a baitrunner will also help in another situation. Not only when a bite is expected, but also during the fishing process. For example, a large carp pulls the rig deeper with all its strength. Naturally, the fishing line and the strength of the connections are at their limit. One wrong action on the part of the fisherman, and the treasured trophy will be gone. However, by pressing a special lever and engaging the baitrunner mechanism, you can reset the resistance and give the spool a little free movement. As a result, your chances of catching a trophy will seriously increase.

Reels with baitrunners are actively used not only for carp fishing. With them, fishing for other large fish is also more effective - grass carp, carp, pike, bream, etc.