When I head out with my sea fishing tackle on an excursion to one of our country’s great fishing spots, I can’t help but think how lucky we in the UK are to have such a long and rich fishing tradition. I often feel that I am part of a continuum of countless fishermen who have stood on our shores, seeking to reap the riches of the sea. But enough of lyricism! I take fishing seriously and I also like my equipment to be serious. Since I don’t have unlimited funds to spend, I’m always interested in finding a bargain to add to my tackle box. I recently came across a pretty cool surf reel, the Shakespeare Tidewater 60. Here are my thoughts on it.
Tidewater Surf Reel Key Features
This reel is part of Shakespeare’s range of saltwater resistant front drag reels. It has many quality features and excellent specifications, including a reinforced graphite body that will not corrode and a precision machined anodized spool. I like a front drag because I prefer the drag control knob location to be at the top of the spool. I’ve found the front brake spools to be a bit stronger than the rear brake models, mainly because there are fewer gears which means you’re less likely to go wrong – always a good thing! The reel comes with a spare spool and holds 130 yards of 20lb test line.
More about Shakespeare Tidewater 60
The Tidewater 60 also features a ball bearing and has a comfortable weighted handle. Shakespeare has thought of everything – the real thing even comes with 210 meters of 17lb Stren Test Monofilament line included, which is a significant cost savings. The gear ratio is 4.5:1. As far as sea fishing tackle goes, this reel is packed with positive features, including not only the multi-disc smooth drag system, but also the machined and anodized aluminum spool. It weighs about 550 grams. The reel easily accommodates left or right handed winds, a feature I appreciate, being left handed. Expect to pay around £30.00 for this good quality fishing tackle but, with a little research, you can find it on the internet for around £20.00.
About the Shakespeare Company
Shakespeare has been a division of the well-known Pure Fishing since 2007. Pure Fishing is a global company with a wide collection of brands including Ugly Stik, Penn, All Star Rods, Pflueger and XTools. Pure Fishing is dedicated to meeting the needs of anglers around the world with innovative products.
Final Thoughts on the Shakespeare Tidewater 60 Surf Reel
My brother who is also my fishing buddy tried this for real at my request. Here are his comments: “Although this is a budget reel, it has all the essentials needed for top performance. It’s well built and, although a bit heavy, it performs flawlessly every time.”
I totally agree – this is a great piece of sea fishing tackle.
