Daiwa’s automatic Bite N’ Run allows a fish to take a trolled or drifted bait while feeling little or no line resistance. When you’re ready to set the hook, a turn of the handle instantly gives you the maximum drag tension you’ve pre-selected.
The secret to making this work is an industry-proven “dual drag” concept that is instantly switchable by the angler. The standard drag, like most spinning reels, is a pattern of metal and fiber discs that is set into the forward part of the reel spool and is adjustable in graduating increments to an impressive 33 pounds of max fish-stopping resistance. The secondary drag, which drives the bait-feeder function, allows the user to control the level of resistance when either employing live baits or fresh dead baits by rotating a knob that’s located on the aft end of the spinning reel frame. Turning it clockwise increases the amount of felt resistance, while going in the opposite direction will allow the line to peel off your reel with less effort. So if you are trying to get a wary gamefish to pick up your offering with minimal interference, the “bite n’ run” feature should work exactly as advertised. The bait feeder function on all Opus Plus spinning reels can work either automatically, by simply turning the reel handle forward to engage the primary drag, or manually, by flipping the top aft-mounted drag lever forward to do the same thing.
Other notable features on every Opus Plus BRi Bite N’ Run spinning reel include an air bail, which is a hollow bail that is super strong yet light in weight, with no protrusions to snag your fishing line; an automatic Bite N’ Run clutch; a super-smooth main drag with front adjustment knob that can be dialed in to a max of 33 pounds of fish-stopping pressure; convenient rear preset drag adjustment; a handy forward/reverse lever set on the underside of the reel frame; an infinite anti-reverse; a strong-but-lightweight ABS spool design; a “Twist Buster” line twist reduction feature; a six-pack of ball bearings, plus one roller bearing; plus a machine-cut anodized aluminum handle with comfortable “Soft Touch” handle knob. The unique “Digigear” digital gear design insures a perfect mesh between the ultra-tough, surface treated alloy drive gear and the marine bronze pinion gear for optimized speed, power and durability.
FOUR SIZES
The Opus Plus BRi family of Bite N’ Run spinning reels includes a quartet of siblings, with a size that should match your needs. All four reels offer the same number of ball bearings and roller bearings (7) and drag pressure (33 pounds max), but after those similarities, that’s where things begin to get different. The model 4000 BRi tips the scales at a svelte 16.9 ounces and with its 4.9:1 gear ratio, can take in 33.7 inches of line with every turn of its crank handle. The other three sisters in the family are a bit heftier, with the 4500BRi, 5000BRi and 5500 BRi all weighing approximately ten ounces more than their little sister at 26.8 ounces. With slightly larger profiles and bail diameters, the larger Opus Plus bait feeder spinning reels use a slightly reduced gear ratio of 4.6:1, which will take in 39.1 inches of line with every crank of the reel handle. Although other spinning reels might offer faster retrieves, the more moderate gear ratios on the Opus Plus BRi spin-fishers should afford anglers increased leverage in actually being able to get some turns on the crank handle when attempting to coax a large, stubborn and heavy gamefish to boatside.
EXTENDED FAMILY
Other newbies in the Daiwa spinning reel lineup for 2013 include the standard Opus Bite N’ Run (with fewer ball bearings and less features than the Opus Plus reels), in addition to the Opus Plus A (same reduction in features, slower gear ratios and no bait-feeder function), so they’ve got you totally covered if you are looking to upgrade your spinning reel lineup for this season.
The investment cost for the feature-rich Opus Plus BRi Bite N’ Run spinning reels is very reasonable, with a street price around $100.
Specifications: (all feature 6 ball bearings; 1-roller bearing; 33 pounds max drag)
Opus Plus BRi Model Gear Ratio Line Retrieve per Handle Turn Weight Line lb Test/Capacity
OPP4000BRi 4.9:1 33.7 inches 16.9 oz 10/300; 12/260; 14/210
OPP4500BRi 4.6:1 39.1 inches 26.8 oz 12/360; 14/290; 17/220
OPP5000BRi 4.6:1 39.1 inches 26.8 oz 14/340; 17/250; 20/190
OPP5500BRi 4.6:1 39.1 inches 26.8 oz 20/290; 25/230; 30/190
