LONG TERM TEST: Shakespeare Mach 3 Reels - 26/03/2009

One of the key tackle components of this style of fishing is the reel; my rod choice changes depending on the situation I’m facing or the tactic required, but my reel choice always remains the same. I’ve been using the Mach 3 3500 front drags for nearly a year now, and most of this period has been spent fishing the Method feeder at venues like Boddington Reservoir or Manor Farm Leisure. The reels have taken a lot of punishment in this time and I’m very happy with how they’ve performed – it wasn’t until recently that I had to add the first squirt of WD-40 into the handle casing, because it started squeaking mid-match!

On one recent match I had 44 fish while casting 60 turns with a feeder, now that’s 2,640 rotations even without considering the cast where I didn’t come back with a carp! This happens most weeks, so you can see why a smooth but solid reel is essential. The 10 ball bearings, excellent front clutch system and tough bail arm come under a lot of strain when feeder fishing. The 3500 size is perfect for me, it’s small enough to use with a waggler while being powerful enough to crank back fish on a feeder. I own four of these reels – and 16 spare aluminium spools – so that eradicates the hassle of getting reels to match or even spools to fit on other reels, as I have had in the past.

Like most feeder anglers, I like to know the exact distance that I’m casting, so I’ve measured the distance of line you wind in on one full rotation of the handle (52 centimetres). This means I can judge the distance by simply counting the turns and doing my sums. Easy peasy. If you’re looking for a set of reels that won’t break the bank but perform admirably and look the part too, I can fully recommend the Mach 3s. The reels all come with two handles – a single grip and a double grip, so you can use whichever you’re happier with – four spare aluminium spools and a segmented reel case to store them in. You get all this for just a pound over £50.

• Mark Williams