SHIMANO TWIN POWER 4000XT-RA REEL

I have had 2 2500 xt-ra and a 4000xt-ra for about 5 years, the smaller reels I have used for mulleting and the larger 4000 for plugging, although they are not designed fot the saltwater there is no sign of corrosion and the bale arm roller still works and I have hardly looked after them. I believe these reels have been updated and I handled one that a visiting rep showed me. If my memory served me correctly it has front drag as well a rear drag. the drag on the smaller reels was fantastic having played good mullet on light lines and if the new reel is as good as the old I thought that they were good value for money. If you think that the twinpower 4000fb is getting on for double the money and they are not designed for the salt either, to add I have seen 2 of these that became faulty one to an Irish angler and one to one of my fishing mates

The Twin Power XT-RA is a very nice reel, I personally dont like rear drag reels for sea fishing, although I used one for many a year myself. The old rear drag Stradics and Twin Powers were my favourite reels for years, they never let me down and I could totally strip one and service it very quickly, they were amazing reels and I think the best rear drags that Shimano have ever made. About 5 years ago they changed the design to what they have now, I really had high hopes for them but sadly they were/are not a touch on the old ones. The rear drag system is now so complicated and you need a special tool to work on it. The old ones just had a screw holding the drag i place, now some bright designer had made it screwless, so it looks prettier, but its a nightmare. It undoes with a reverse thread, therefore when you tighten the drag up it actually is undoing the drag knob. What I have found that has happened is some anglers have over tightened the knob and it has come off in their hand, usually losing a washer or something on the rocks. It was this reason that I swapped over to front drag, and I have never looked back. Now I am not saying buy a front drag, I am just saying dont over tighten it, and look after it. (Buy a front drag) :roll: