TESTING TIMES:WSB Bow Wave Boat Reel - 08/07/2010

WSB is becoming firmly established in the marketplace and offers anglers good-quality gear at affordable prices – the Bow Wave reel is no exception.

First Impressions
My initial thought was about how incredibly light it is, which is due to its graphite body. This ticks box number one because it means that the reel is corrosion resistant. The next positive came when I loaded it up with line, because it holds an impressive 360 yards of 20lb line. On loading I watched closely as the levelwind did its job and, by the time it was just a quarter full, I was pleased with how evenly the line was going on. The reel has a comfortable and big handle and a star drag that offers smooth drag adjustment. It seems very well put together and is, by all accounts, robust. However, I was a bit put off by the amount of play in the free-spool lever, which I tried to sort out by tightening it but it made no difference. Still, that’s just one criticism so far!

Test!
I put the reel through its paces during a wrecking session in the English Channel. It wasn’t long before the reel felt its first fish, a 10lb pollack that fought like the devil. This was followed by more pollack and a few cod. I was half expecting the reel to give in but it didn’t, and after the battle I inspected it for signs of stress and there weren’t any. The drag was effective and I was able to adjust it in small increments when playing a feisty pollack. I could also lock it down to bully the fish away from the wreck. In addition, the free-spool lever soon wasn’t a concern anymore as it did what it’s supposed to and didn’t fall off like I thought it might – so a tick back in that box!

I envisage a really good market for these with charter skippers who are looking for reels for their clients to use – so if you’re a skipper reading this, you might consider these an option. As for the reel’s position in the public domain, I feel it will be popular and will suit many anglers for its robustness and price. Sometimes it was hard to get away from the fact that the reel is so inexpensive, but it survived the workout and impressed me. What’s more, you can also buy a combi rod-and-reel deal for just £44.98! I’ll make no bones about it, this reel is a budget multiplier suitable for newcomers to the sport… and it gets the job done!

Bearings: Two ball bearings
Gear ratio: 4.2:1
Line capacity: 15lb/450yds; 20lb/360yds; 25lb/320yds
RRP: £26.99

Appearance: 9
User-friendliness: 10
Fishing: 9
Value for money: 10

Contact: WSB Tackle Ltd 01209 340010
Website: www.wsbtackle.com