Is it Worth Buying 25-year Old Shimano Aero GT Baitrunners?

[@matthewcollinsangler]

➡Watch next ➡ Crack The Code: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5iwZnlqe5yMoNE I haven’t used baitrunner reels for 20 years but when I came across this full set of old Shimano Aero GT baitrunners for £50, I couldn’t resist. They’re a perfect fit for my 9ft 3lbs Dwarf rods. It’s not the first time I’ve bought second hand reels, I still use a set I bought 10 years ago. Special mention to Mike Reddy who’s serviced hundreds of reels over the years and who talked me through how to clean a reel and oil it properly. If you’ve got reel trouble (pun unintended) then do look him up on Facebook 👍 And let’s hear your second hand reel stories!

[@sketch1985]

What setup was that at 3.50?

[@matthewcollinsangler]

@@sketch1985 The rod is a 12ft Harrison Aviator plus (3lbs 6oz TC), reel was the Ultegra 10000 XSA loaded with 12lbs (0.30) Armourline and 0.50 heavy duty mono snag leader. The lead system was my quick change running ledger rig except I swapped out the Fox ring for a run ring made by Drennan. Here’s a link to that video if you missed it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmiWZIWQerdjb5Ysi=7kN2HAT5OwvWulnO The rig itself was a mono hair tied with 25lbs (0.45) Armourline. Here’s the link to that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqupmqGXbpeVqK8si=olNIPznNp3Xw4HiK

[@Chefticles]

I started on Baitrunners in the late 80's as a teenager. I've recently decided to go back to them, having tried countless other reels and brands. I have to say I absolutely love em! They are so well made, so functional, even in the lower price brackets....I can't fault them. Awesome reels, great video again Matt!

[@matthewcollinsangler]

@@Chefticles Cheers mate 👍

[@stephenridd6834]

I ONLY buy baitrunners for ALL my fishing from canal gudgeon to bream/tench. Carp intentionally not mentioned as don't fish for pet fish.

[@dk2428]

Excellent video, Matt. I fished with a secondhand set of Shimano XTEA BR's and the original Big Baitrunners for nearly 2 decades. Phenomenal gear. So many great 90's and early 2000's reels around. Daiwa Emblem Exceler's come to mind...20+ years, zero failures with basic yearly maintenance. First season with a new set of PENN spinfishers in 4500 & 7500LC size, my new favourites.

[@fcgash]

Strangely enough i have been using my old 8010's on my local canal this year, still work as well as the day i bought them. They are getting close to 30 years old now, would definitely recommend them to someone who is just starting out.

[@Kb11466]

I grew up using shimanos and always turned my nose up at Okuma reels back in the day. I took a punt on some Okuma ls8 k bait runners and my word has my opinion changed. Stunning reels and very affordable

[@A10011]

I agree. I have LS6s. Much better than my Shimanos 8010s, which have a lot of 'play' in the spool. I still use my old Cardinal 55s though : )

[@eggcellent6981]

Just got a set of powerliner 6000s and for the money they are lovely. Head and shoulders above the shimano baitrunners I bought about a year ago for the same price. I’m finding more and more that the big manufacturers are being left behind when it comes to reels.

[@ronwood7029]

Got 4 shimano single handle reels bought when they first came out great little reels

[@Y.K.72]

​@@eggcellent6981I have the same reels as you, and I agree that they're not bad at all. However, I fish in wide spots with turbulent waters and very strong currents. The fights with the carp are very extreme, and the main drag of the Okuma reels (although not bad) is not even remotely comparable to that of Shimano or Daiwa in terms of smoothness, precision, and adjustability.

[@KmtHW]

I got rid of the double handle shimies. Instead I have now mini big pits with 10 foot rods which is perfect. In Europe got 12ft+big bait runners. When it comes to tolerances Shimano is the best, but the question is if you willing to spend that extra money.

[@ColinPickney]

Still think Shimano make the best fishing reels,2nd would be DAIWA

[@larryroberts1844]

Great video as usual Matt full strip down vid would be brilliant 👍

[@Carlmasters89]

Still got a set of 3 6010 and I love um . Best reels going in my eyes mate . Tight lines.

[@paulmebay]

Finally someone else that doesn't see the sense in filling up spool with line that will never see the light of day! Been doing that for a few years now and normally strip 50 wraps off the big pits for new line 👍

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Nice 👍

[@Reidy82]

Still have 4 of these shimano reels. Going strong after all these years.

[@Krom1hell]

I've bought 2 refurbished Aero Technium MSG and they're working just fine . I've also bought an Ultegra XTD upgraded and completely serviced.....works like a gem (bought the XTD to complement my other 3 ones, even mine are in picture perfect condition after fishing and abusing them every year). I also clean my equipment every time I leave the bank with water and a towel and a brush (not electric :)) )...... You gotto love those new Shimano reels with a service port for squirting in a little bit of lube every couple of months, and yeah, every 2-3 years a regrease and bearing check. I have 10 year old reels that work like new (at least I can't feel a difference). My dad has a beast of a reel from Trabucco that is 20 years old, and besides paint going off from where it was held, it's absolutely working fine ......

[@zebedeevlogs32]

Except my spod reel,all my reels are 20 years + Shimano,I got 3 each of...8010gt,Biomasters and original Big Baitrunner LC. All in perfect order.

[@akwamarsunzal]

Top tips! An ancient Shimano reel that is still the best reel I own! My new bait runners are nice but they are not the same quality ofmy Shimano from the mid 90s!

[@WA.angler]

I've got two diawa emblem 4500 t from the late 90's early 2000's. Pretty much bulletproof I use them everywhere.

[@Roguetrooper2635]

I still have 2 Aero 4500’s I bought in 1990, use them on my Barbel rods.

[@Box550]

Brilliant video Matt. I bought 3 Shimano Baitrunner 4000 GT's when they came out in 1987. I have had them serviced once in 37 years and still use them today. They work as good as they did when I first got them. I suppose that's why they still command a relatively high 2nd had price. Buy quality and buy once. I use them on my 9ft 3.5lb TC dwarf ES. Tight lines.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Wow, impressive but I’m not surprised, what a great buy that was 👍

[@steveneveritt4871]

Me too, got mine in '87, I've never had them serviced and they do have a bit of play in the main spindle but are still going strong, they balance much better than big pit reels when fishing sub 70 yards .

[@smileygoesfishing36]

i got given a shimano aero 3000 xt7 around the early 90's of a friend who taught me quite a bit about piking when i 1st started going for pike and still use it today for my piking and even carping as well -- i used to set the bait runner drag to about 4lb pull with a 4lb club hammer but haven't done in a while cos now i set it on the day if i need to -- it's never had it serviced it's just wipe clean - but have always wanted to get more of them love the reel

[@Edurdowobblechops]

Great advice just got some new 2024 Shimano reels and thought they were bang on but auto bail arm doesn't work but now i know why there isnt one and makes sense when chucking big leads at distance bail goes over you crack off leave a live rig in the water everydays a school day even after 36 years of angling keep up the great content

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cheers 👍

[@stephenport4768]

Cult classics wanted a pair in the early 90's when I first bought my carp rods they were expensive and paperboys money couldn't afford these reels I remember a bag of Richworths boilies had to last me a season but I have now 2 ST10,000's with my Sonik Xtractors so it's like going back in time and I'm happy

[@pulchaimago4u]

On eBay you can find ice washers for clutch and the baitrunner washers too. Baitrunner washer prone to loss of friction. Changed both myself, not difficult.

[@richard3822]

I still use my two Shimano TSS 4500 baitrunners that I bought in 1987 if my memory serves me right. Only issue I've ever had was one handle had to be replaced after I cross threaded it. Line lay isn't wonderful but they were a revelation for casting when they came out. I like them so much I bought a third one off Ebay and it was in better condition than my two trusty workhorses so I was very lucky. I have loads of Daiwa Emblem 5000T big pits for range which I have owned from new. I bought a load of spare spools from Ebay second hand and they were in great condition. I've abused three of the big pits on my beachcasters and they have performed admirably on the occasional holiday. Have to wash them with freshwater to avoid corrosion after use though.

[@thomaskass6668]

When buying older reels I would definitely check to see if the manufacturer still supports the reel with parts. I would also do a full service on the reel since you don't know if the reel has ever been maintained.

[@robinhooduk8255]

when i was 12 and went to the tackle shop on my birthday to get my first set of baitrunners, i wanted the biggest spool ones, but they were 2 handle, lol i ended up getting the smaller version as they were single handle. my 12year old brain thought double handle reels were for sea fisherman. thing was for the next 3years i could never make the 100yard chuck to the island at walthamshow no1 res because i got the smaller spool pair of reels. lol they were the only cool carp reels back in the day, the daiwa baitrunners were for dorks.

[@richpeas1924]

Oi I resemble that remark 😂 just posted about my daiwa br2050's. What a great feeling though going into a tackle shop at that age with your hard earned birthday/pocket money & coming out with some nice new tackle & showing it off to your mates. Nowadays I gotta hide it from the wife when I get it home 😁

[@stevemccrory9130]

@@richpeas1924 And your £500 Basia reels will be at a carboot sale for a tenner each when she finds out you've bought that new bivvy.

[@richpeas1924]

@@stevemccrory9130 😂

[@richpeas1924]

@@stevemccrory9130 🫤 😂

[@Stellis-carpy112]

Use my GTB’s (the grey metal onesies) for float fishing live baits for bonito in the Canary Islands , still super smooth despite the abuse over the years

[@Argento261]

When i respool my reels with new line, i always just take off around 230m. i use my distance stick for accurate measuring . with a 1000m spool of line i can respool 4 reels. also, if you just want to empty your spool, it´s very quick with the DS. I have mine 4m apart, 50 wraps 200m. easy to do

[@kevinlawes591]

Most big fish over the years have been reeled in with these than any other brands proper classic reels 👍🏻

[@Uk_carp_diaries]

I have 5 Shimano 10,000’s in blue. Absolutely love them for anything up to 100 yards distance. A lot of people look down on anglers for using Shimano’s, especially newer carp anglers (tackle tarts) who have probably never played a fish on a shimmy. I will never part with mine, lovely to play fish on the clutch with too.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

👍

[@fenpitt6825]

I have a pair of 5010 Aero gt's, I bought from new I cant remember exactley when I bought them, it was over 20yr ago, they still work perfect, i use them for pike fishing these days as I gave up carp fishing 15 yr ago, I tell every one who ask about, there is no better reel than these.

[@markjefferys2549]

Used to love my old 4500

[@robinmoon3980]

Good video. I still use xtea 1000's and big pit LC's. They are excellent reels. I winced a little when you were cutting off that line. Maybe cutting towards the skirt would avoid risking notching the spool rim?

[@philnotley5138]

I guess like most second hand things it comes down to how well it’s been looked after and how hard it’s been used

[@SiersBv-t9k]

1 more tip look inside the spool. Some older spools ten to warp when they get to warm or when spooled to strong😊 I think the 3500 whit the plastic spools where prone to do this

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thanks mate 👍

[@johnroman4608]

Wish I never sold mine .. one of the best sets I ever owned 😢😢

[@richpeas1924]

I still have my (3) Daiwa br2050 I bought brand new many moons ago, replaced now, but they still function well, but enough said about the daiwa sensitron alarms I bought as well, made great paperweights!

[@richpeas1924]

Good watch & what a bargain, These are super reels, I borrowed my mates reels once, but the bait runner switch works back to front then other reels 🤔

[@Leeroynorthlondon1]

All the tackle tarts I come across are the guys with the daiwa tournament 5000t reels so I disagree about every one wanting black reels there gold and blue lol, I’m not a tackle tart I use basic shimano baitrunners cheap and reliable.

[@v.rudeboy9829]

still using my Aerlex 4000's from when I got 'em for my 16th birthday '86...

[@markeasey469]

I have 3 reels from the mid 90s, 2 x single handle and 1 double handled. Still using them on a weekley basis. 2 are coupled to Diawa 11ft 2 1/4 kevlar carbons from the same era. "Strangely" they still catch carp..........😂

[@raybriggs4529]

I always reverse mine on to a spare spool, so the top becomes the bottom, & the bottom becomes the top. Do that with my 6010s & my 4500s always worked for me.

[@floopis22]

still use my aero 8010 baitrunners you just need to look after them and their good

[@beachcaster56]

detailed and very useful...................thanks

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cheers mate 👍

[@peternufc1981]

Great content

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you

[@ColinPickney]

I currently still have a pair,run like new bought 1996 I believe, how anyone can bend the handles I don't know,

[@JLSGamingYT]

Up until recently I still had a pair that I bought second hand back in 2003, caught me my first 20lb er and had many a fish with them and never let me down but I sold them last year as a result of financial difficulties... I massively regret selling them now, it still bothers me 😢

[@bobelton2752]

It is. I have 3 and work perfectly !!

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Nice 👍 So pleased I found this old set.

[@stevemccrory9130]

Got a set of 3 Aero 5000RE's, with 3 spare spools. Never for sale.

[@robparkes3865]

I'd go for Stradic for a few extra quid tbh.

[@NeneValleyFishing]

Shimano always been decent. I still use a 15yr+ Shimano Catana 2500ra for my feeder fishing.Just stuck some WD40 on it a couple of times. The worse reels I had were Nash H-guns, only lasted about 10 sessions before the baitrunners stopped working.

[@leepullon1147]

Yeah I had an issue with nash bp10 reels, the drag stopped working and wouldn't tighten up! Trying to get hold of nash to warranty the reels was near on impossible! I sent 10+ emails and numerous calls to only get hung up on! Haven't bought a nash product since

[@leepullon1147]

And I ended up giving up on trying to get hold of nash

[@NeneValleyFishing]

@@leepullon1147 I stopped using baitrunners quite a while back. Tried alot over the years, Nash, Fox, Sonik etc but Daiwa/Shimano are probably the best I've used. Using Daiwa Emblems scw QD atm. Have to say the Hgun rods felt nice though, shame about the reels

[@leepullon1147]

@MidlandsFishandWildlife the bp10s weren't bait runners they were front drag! I grew away from bait runners as in my opinion it's another thing to go wrong!! Don't get me wrong my best mate fishes with diawa windcast bait runners and he loves em but also drives an auto car lol

[@NeneValleyFishing]

@@leepullon1147 think mine were FR-8, if I remember right the baitrunner got stuck on 1 & the drag knob turned but didn't work on another. Baitrunners were ok but the minute I stopped using them I didn't look back, not used one in over 10yrs.

[@markstockley4097]

i still have my 5010's 1 of which i brought off my brother ,but i asked him to sell it to me with a single handle so it matched my others. must have been nearly 30 years ago.i'll never sell them.

[@speakupreality633]

I'm after 10ft spod marker rod Matt, what would you recommend? I like the look of the diawa super spod 5lb. I can't really afford the Nash top end rods, what you recommend in a rod please

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Hi mate, a 10ft 5lb spod rod would be a heavy broomstick… not something I’d pick TBH. I do very little spodding but I do a lot of leading around so I use a Nash 10ft 3.5lb X-series rod for this. It’s very lightweight and far easier to use than a traditional spod marker rod that weighs a ton. Customers are always shocked by how little it weighs when compared to a traditional marker/spod setup. The x-series rods are at the lower end of the price spectrum so they offer good value for money IMO. Nash also does the Dwarf range which are excellent value for money. If you feel the need for a heavier TC than 3.5 lbs then they do a Dwarf abbreviated handle version in 4.5lb TC. If money is tight, remember you don’t necessarily need a spod rod, you can use PVA stringers, throwing stick or a catapult. Hope that helps.

[@speakupreality633]

@matthewcollinsangler thankyou so much, so many different rods and points, brands. I use Nash terminal bits and baits, can't complain. Still not sure with brand to go for for a spod rod. It is fashionable spodding. I really enjoy the channel, keep up the good work.

[@araven3888]

I've still got mine from 30 years ago and they still work perfectly 😂😂

[@speakupreality633]

Which brand of oils do i need for these reels please matt? Got a few of these reels

[@matthewcollinsangler]

You can use 3 in 1 or bicycle oil, any lightweight machine oil will do 👍 I talk about this here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3K0aa2Dl52Ug5Y

[@ColinPickney]

There was the one handle aero and gt with more barrings double handles

[@franswensink76]

Shimano usa 4500 baitrunner,stil fish them

[@AndrewLomax80]

Doesn't using bait runners give you tonnes of line twist?

[@matthewcollinsangler]

There are several ways to minimise line twist with baitrunners, the key is to use the drag system as little as possible.

[@SteefStevens]

Even scatreels when they first came out

[@guggsdusty3674]

I’d be more worried about buying Kevin Trash rods than the reels personally!

[@stevereeves5248]

I telephoned Shimano UK and asked about a spare part for a reel that was only 4 years old. I was told "we dont sell parts for that particular reel, the reel is no longer manufactured. You will have to buy a new reel" I went out and bought an Okuma reel, its better than Shimano. I will never buy another Shimano.

[@TheTroose]

I would not recommend these reels, the drag is not smooth. The 8000 series were famously the first ones not produced in japan contrary to previous 3000 and 6000 series and although they share the same looks, there is a very big difference in quality. I have had three of these and I was glad to see them go.

[@tomgarrett7567]

No you can’t get parts as I’ve just found out

[@Mk-oy9ns]

3 for £50........really...? Wanna sell them...😂

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Ah, no mate, I'm keeping them 😅

[@ColinPickney]

Walk away if they have bent handles,

[@stephenridd6834]

Not worth buying new or old .... Totally crap reels, full stop!!!