Wychwood - Carp Riot 65S Reel, Matt Black

Product Information

These reels are awesomely priced for the build quality. They will definitely out perform any reel in this price range but are still up there with the big boys. It’s a timeless reel so it will not only last years but it will still be a good contender in years to come. Other pros are mentioned above. One of the main reasons we have the Shimano Ultegra XTD near the top of our list is the perfect line due to the incredibly slow oscillations in this reel. We’ve compared it to reels double its price and we seriously can’t tell much, if any difference. It is perfect for casting long distances and targeting those larger fish. The only con is, it’s not one of the best names out there for reels but if you can put up with that then there’s no issue at all.

If you’re an angler that does require long-distance casting the Shimano 10000RB will have a huge advantage over its smaller brother and you also get better line lay with the larger spool but it’s also quite a bit more expensive. Value I had the old riot 65, had a set of 3, 2 broke and the front drag messed up on them both, the last one for relegated to a spod reel but that'll be going in the bin soon. I hope they'd have sorted this issue in the new models but I can't comment.I've got 3 65s and they are great value. I'm going to be upgrading them soon and I'm looking at the Okumas as well For those who will be casting long-range, it may be worth considering the larger 4500A and the 5000A. The larger spool will also mean that you have a better line lay in retrieval due to the slower oscillations. Value Shimano has been pumping out great quality reels for a long time now and we have no hesitation in recommending their products, everything we find on any Shimano reel is always practical and precise, their attention to detail is superb, and in our opinion, the Baitrunner one of the best carp reels in this budget.

Brand: Wychwood are obviously a strong and recognisable brand for making great Fishing, so you’d expect Wychwood Riot Big Pit 65S Reel to deliver to these expectations. But always consider the brand when you’re thinking about the quality of the product you’re going to buy, and where quality is an important factor to you, look only at those well known brands (of course only if your budget allows). The machine cut aluminium spool is the base on which the graphite body and rotor have been built. Graphite is an exceptional material, and is simultaneously high-strength and lightweight. This makes it the perfect material for top quality reels, as it maintains performance whilst keep overall weight to a minimum.The okumas are larger than ss2600 I can't say in comparison to other 6000 reels. I have mine on 10ft xtractors and love them, I'm not against putting them on my 12ft rods either but I have my Penn's for that.

The Instant drag system is another reason why the Shimano Ultegra XTD is at the top of our list. Most modern carp fishing reels today have a dual drag system but not many do it as well as the Shimano Ultegra XTD. It allows you to seamlessly switch between two drag settings, one for freespool and another for fighting fish. Like most reels on the market today Shimano baitrunner ranges in sizes as well, from 2500-10000, personally, we prefer the Shimano baitrunner ST4000FB which is on the smaller end of the spectrum as we fish a lot on small commercials. Put simply the bigger the reel, the better it will cast and the stronger it will be, the trade-off, however, is the price!Fights are also incredibly exciting on Shimano Ultegra XTD – which is important! It still is fun when fighting fish but it also provides plenty of control and it performs excellently in most circumstances, you have a great sense of maneuverability with this reel, providing that it is paired with an appropriate rod. Value Wychwood recommends that this reel is coupled with any of the top end rods the company have manufactured. This paring ensures that the Riot Big Pit Reel balances perfectly, and offers improved performance during casting. If you enjoy playing fish, then this reel is the perfect one for you.

The Shimano Ultegra is one of the more expensive reels on this list but for good reason, it is equipped top to bottom with high-quality features and a finish you’d typically find on reels that cost several hundred pounds.

For most anglers, the reel is usually the most expensive bit of gear that you’ll buy and arguably the most important. With a vast array of options in the market, it’s a hard choice to decide which reel to invest in, which is why we’ve compiled a thoroughly researched list of our favourite carp fishing reels in 2023.