Locking Bail Arms ???

[Dave W]

Hi all,

Just a query about reels with bail arms that lock open while you cast (such as some of the Daiwa hardbodies I think ), only engaging when you turn the handle.

Having never used one do you find them annoying?

I always manually close the bail arm, and pull the Fireline tight in the same motion (I'm paranoid about 'loose loops', haven't had any for a long time and want to stick to my formula ), but my understanding is you can't do this??

Please enlighten me, I'll be hitting the tacklo tomorrow to have a look, but want personal experiences as well

And also, can you disengage this feature?

Cheers all,

[yaker]

I use a Diawa Kastor that has the locking bail arm and in use I don't really notice it. I can still close the bail arm manually. Hasn't closed accidentally yet, so I guess it's working!

cheerz!

[Dave W]

Forgive my ignorance, but if it's a locking bail arm, how can you close it manually?

It just seems a bit contradictory...

[chris_lemess]

Are you talking about the spool brake that all smooth reels seem to have? ie. the handle will barely turn when the bail arm is flipped over? If so, this is because smoother reels can spin with simply the weight of the handle during a cast, causing the bail to flip over and you line to possibly break with the force. This can be overcome by manually closing the bail arm, or by giving the handle a fair bit of momentum to close the bail that way...

dunno if this is what you're talking about?

[pw-bream]

Dave,
I have a Daiwa Laguna with the BailSafe feature, there is no difference in operation to a conventional internal trip bail system. I beleive it is just a spring-loaded ball detent or similar that provides a positive click into the open position. There is no initial high resistance to winding after a cast, there is no difference to the feel of the bail arm when you open or close it manually. It just works. If the ad didn't say "BailSafe" you wouldn't know it was there.

I have the Samuria, and i can say that there is a very definate click when opening the bail arm. It feels like it is locked in position, but it closes manually without any hassles. It is a really safe system. Having lost quite a few metals due to unlocking bail arms on my previous reel, i find this feature very good!!!

Dave

[Dave W]

Thanks for that guys

I had the drunken idea that 'Bail Safe' or 'locking bail' meant it was locked in the open position until you turned the handle - that would have really pssttd me off

Cheers,