Baitrunner Combos
Baitrunner and baitfeeder combos that let a fish take your bait freely before you strike, ideal for strayline snapper and live baiting kingfish. Our range features Okuma, alongside Daiwa, Shimano and Jarvis Walker.
A baitrunner reel has a secondary free-spool drag that lets line run off smoothly when a fish picks up the bait, then engages the main drag with a turn of the handle. Rig up with circle hooks and light sinkers, and keep your bait lively in a bait tank from our nets and aerators.
Order online for tracked delivery across New Zealand, or ask the team about baitrunner setups at our Grey Lynn concept store.
Frequently asked questions about baitrunner combos
What is a baitrunner or baitfeeder reel?
A baitrunner or baitfeeder reel has a second, very light drag system that you engage with a lever at the back of the reel. With it switched on, a fish can take line freely without feeling resistance, which encourages it to swallow the bait. When you turn the handle, the reel switches back to its main fighting drag. Different brands call it a baitrunner, baitfeeder or free swimmer.
How do I use a baitrunner for strayline snapper fishing?
Straylining means drifting a lightly weighted bait down a berley trail towards feeding snapper. With the baitrunner engaged, the bait can drift naturally and a snapper can pick it up and run without feeling weight. When line starts peeling off steadily, turn the handle to engage the main drag and wind tight to set the hook, ideally with a circle hook that sets itself in the corner of the mouth.
Are baitrunner combos good for live baiting kingfish?
Yes, baitrunner combos are popular for live baiting because the free-spool lets a live bait swim naturally and lets a kingfish grab and turn with it before you engage the drag. Choose a heavier baitrunner combo with a large reel and strong drag for kingfish, and spool it with heavy braid or mono. Set the free-spool tension so the bait cannot swim off line on its own.
How tight should I set the baitfeeder drag?
Set the baitfeeder drag just tight enough that the current or a swimming live bait does not pull line off, but loose enough that a fish can take line freely without feeling resistance. Test it by pulling line off by hand. The main fighting drag, which engages when you turn the handle, should be set separately to around a quarter to a third of your line's breaking strain.
What is the difference between a baitrunner combo and a normal spin combo?
Both use a spin reel, but a baitrunner combo's reel has the extra free-spool drag system. A normal spin reel requires you to open the bail arm to give a fish free line, which is easy to forget and can lead to tangles. A baitrunner makes bait fishing simpler and more effective, while still working like a normal spin reel for casting lures and soft baits.
Can I use a baitrunner combo for soft baits and lures?
Yes, with the baitrunner switched off, the reel works exactly like a standard spin reel, so you can cast soft baits, metals and lures as normal. That makes a baitrunner combo a versatile all-rounder: switch the free-spool on for bait fishing and live baiting, and off for casting lures. Just remember to disengage it before retrieving a lure so the drag is set correctly.