Treated myself to a new Shimano Charter Special TR2000 this year, and I've used it now for several months, probably around 12+ trips or thereabouts.
It's largely constructed of a black resin material that doesn't feel cold to the hands - a bonus on a cold day - but I wonder how durable it'll be in the long run?
I use it for general bottom fishing on the drift, and for pirking/rubber eel work as well. It's loaded with 100lb braid (I don't like losing line!) which cuts losses to a minimum on the very rough ground we tend to fish.
The lever drag system takes a bit of getting used to initially, but once that period passed it's one I'd not like to do without now. The reel's internals seem to me to be well constructed, and the level wind means I don't have to keep spooling line to and fro on retrieves - something I've never liked about reels lacking this feature. Plenty of other fishers do fine without a level wind I know, but - I like them! This one seems to do its job quietly and efficiently.
The drag is very smooth and progressive - not something I've found on many star drag reels so far.
I've used this reel for a bit of boatcasting off and on, and have found it to allow easy casts of 40-50 yards without trying too hard. I use a cheap carbon boatcaster of around 9.5 feet for this, (does the job just as well as the expensive Daiwa version I lost in ten fathoms just off the May Island in the summer)
Overall I'd buy this reel again or would recommend it to a pal without any reservation. I bought it from Summerlands of Westward Ho, whose mail order service/prices I think are pretty good.
It's largely constructed of a black resin material that doesn't feel cold to the hands - a bonus on a cold day - but I wonder how durable it'll be in the long run?
I use it for general bottom fishing on the drift, and for pirking/rubber eel work as well. It's loaded with 100lb braid (I don't like losing line!) which cuts losses to a minimum on the very rough ground we tend to fish.
The lever drag system takes a bit of getting used to initially, but once that period passed it's one I'd not like to do without now. The reel's internals seem to me to be well constructed, and the level wind means I don't have to keep spooling line to and fro on retrieves - something I've never liked about reels lacking this feature. Plenty of other fishers do fine without a level wind I know, but - I like them! This one seems to do its job quietly and efficiently.
The drag is very smooth and progressive - not something I've found on many star drag reels so far.
I've used this reel for a bit of boatcasting off and on, and have found it to allow easy casts of 40-50 yards without trying too hard. I use a cheap carbon boatcaster of around 9.5 feet for this, (does the job just as well as the expensive Daiwa version I lost in ten fathoms just off the May Island in the summer)
Overall I'd buy this reel again or would recommend it to a pal without any reservation. I bought it from Summerlands of Westward Ho, whose mail order service/prices I think are pretty good.
