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Whisker 25 are brilliant for 10 foot rods. Had cast’izms but just didn’t like them sold them after 1 session. Had shimano 5500 ci4 xtc as well but just prefer the whiskers, so sold those too.
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| | | Belch | | Posts: 4429 |  | | MODERATOR | |
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In reply to Post #16
Remember that vid when it came out . . .(always impressed with his 'average' casting skills!) the only real difference being the folding handle which will create a little more wobble by its very being . . .however for me I prefer the convenience of this, and my whiskers have handled 40lb+ fish to date with zero issues. Do agree with his comments on the clutch - Whiskers def need better washers to mitigate the play; but then all reels do tbf. Either way both great little reels and perfect for the majority of UK fishing scenarios . .
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In reply to Post #13
The 19 TDR Distance 25QD is also a feeder reel - so it has 2x shallow spools. Similar to the early Castizm feeder reels, but it is blue rather than black.
I use one for heavy barbel fishing, but it doesn’t really have enough capacity for longer range carp fishing with mono.
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In reply to Post #13
The original black and red castizm 25 qd was brought out as a dedicated carp reel to compete with shimanos 5500 size mini big pits, it was never a feeder reel, they came later. Theres even a comparison video on youtube between the whisker and the original castizm and his whiskers have loads of play as well. My mates were the same so cant all be a bad batch.
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I much prefer the og castizm 25 qda.... I have some on my 10ft rods and wanted some for tench rods.
Tried the Castizm feeder 19 which are cheaper and found the clutch doesn't go as loose as the qda when set as a baitrunner (cap becomes loose) and the Emcast 25a which are good for the money but not a patch on the qda.
I bought the Emcast to use as marker and spod reel, they are solid and I have made them qd by removing a coil from the cap.
Tried the whiskers in a shop but didn't feel as good to me, the qda has a reassuringly more solid feel but I haven't used one for fishing.
I do like the bling though, but did buy some 18 Emblem 25 C QD and Emblem BR 25A spools in black from fishernator which look good too. Fishernator have the whisker spools for about £38 each at the moment if you like black spools with red rim, I think that would look good but I'm over spooled as it is
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In reply to Post #13
Agreed, mine are lovely, no issues with play, much prefer the understated colour scheme compared to the blingy castizm.
They are a perfect sized reel for smaller rods and for fishing in close. I wouldn’t want anything bigger on a 10ft rod and my sort of fishing means they probably wouldn’t even need more than 60yds of line on them 
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| | | Belch | | Posts: 4429 | | | MODERATOR | |
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In reply to Post #7
If your Whiskers had loads of play then you must have had a duff batch - mine are tighter than a nuns 
The differences in spec other than colour / finish and folding handle are zero . . .the og Castizm is gloss with chromy bits and looks like a baby ISO (spool lip perforations etc)
Its been replaced buy the 19 TDR Distance 25QD (just for additional confusion) as I believe the original Castizm 25s were intended as long range feeder reels . . .
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In reply to Post #1
Emblem 35’s (non-Baitrunner) are available? Ideal for 10 footers imo.
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I have Cast’izms and Emcast 25a (and used to use the Shimano 5500 xtb).
The Cast’izms are in a league of their own. Lighter, better engineered and perfect clutches.
But the Emcasts will catch me exactly the same number of carp. They do everything that is needed.
FWIW I preferred the xtb’s over the Emcast. The spools and the drag were better.
But any of these reels are over specced for carp at short to mid range.
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In reply to Post #8
Just think foldys look cheap. Cant beat a nice machined metal handle. Mine take seconds to unscrew and fold away, dosent really get much easier than that.
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In reply to Post #7
Trouble with the castizms is on the 2nd hand market they are stupidly overpriced and I looked at no end of poor examples at silly money going back.
Just sticking with my old 5500 xtbs myself, hopefully next year shimano will release the Ultegra XRs in 5500 size 👍🏼
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In reply to Post #7
I love folding handles.
Look better on the rests and so much easier when packing down
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In reply to Post #4
User experience. I also hate folding handles. The whiskers had loads of play and just felt like they were made on a friday afternoon. Castizm feel like precision implements and will last for ever. Just my opinion of course.
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Thanks everyone, some castizms on the bay at almost the same price as 3 new whiskers so think I'd rather get new 👍.
Funny I used GS4000's for quite a while and they were good reels, just lacked cranking power and couldn't afford the Whiskers at the time.
Must say though, for anyone on a tight budget the revel 6000 blacks with the shallow spools are exceptional
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| | | Belch | | Posts: 4429 | | | MODERATOR | |
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In reply to Post #1
I'm a loyal Daiwa fan and a 25mm spool convert and have Whisker 25QDs (on 10' Carp Rods) and Castizm BR25As (on 12' & 13' Barbel Rods) I also own several Emblem BR25As but these have been demoted to other setups / spopper utility rods etc . .Daiwa used to do an Emblem 25QD (but now renamed 25C QD) which is the cheaper equivalent to the Whisker (as the Emblem BR25A is to the Castizm BR25A - also now discontinued)
Purists say the original Castizm 25QD was better than the current Whisker 25QD - on this I cannot comment as I've never owned them however I will say the Whiskers are fantastic and for the last few seasons bulletproof, even using 0.40 mainline - they also have folding handles which the Castizms do not (which is annoying IMO). My only 'niggle' is the washers (the originals create a slightly sticky clutch), so these have been replaced throughout with Ice washers, however I do this on all my reels anyway . . .
As for the difference between the Emblem BR25As and Castizm BR25As there is actually very little - the Castizms come with a spare spool and are mag sealed - they're also weirdly a few grams heavier than their cheaper cousins . . .however they are matt and not gloss and I'm a tart so that's enough of a reason . . . .
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In reply to Post #3
Is that user experience or just opening the box and looking at them 
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If you can get a mint set off castizms get them. The whiskers are poor in comparison.
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In reply to Post #1
I’ve been using 25 whiskers for about 3 years now and they’ve been superb, never missed a beat and they’ve been pretty abused at times. Went to them from GS4000’s that didn’t quite have the cranking power I needed to get big fish away from snags and weed.
Using them currently with TA 16lb Fluoro and they are fine, although casting never further than 40-50yds with light leads.
I would have considered the emblems but couldn’t find any second hand, but in hindsight, I’m glad I went for the whiskers.
I might regret saying this but over the last 10-15 years I’ve managed to break just about every top end reel there is and the fact the whiskers have survived my clumsiness is testimony to them.
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When I started with 10ft rods I got some cheapo Penn 6000 LC blacks which have been excellent value for money.
But 12ish months later, I want to replace them with something from Daiwa and I'm down to these two.
Any hands on experience of both, are the whiskers worth the extra, and is it worth looking out for second hand models of each (some emcast 25a's £90 each on the bay) or castizms?
EDIT: from digging around, looks Emblem is only BR which I'm not interested in, so it's if the whiskers are worth the money, s/h emcasts or am I missing something (not SS or GS).
Ta.
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