I'll bet most of you have never heard of a big pit reel. If you lived in Europe, you would see them sold in every tackle store around. I have seen them used here in the US in carp fishing tournaments by fishermen who bought them from UK online stores. I even saw a few used in the Cape Cod Canal this summer by Big Ditch sharpies. I believe they will be the next rage for striper casters who fish areas where long distance casting is a plus.
Big pit reels are large spinning reels that feature way oversized spools. They are engineered to hold a lot of line with an even line lay. It's main advantage is that it will cast significantly further than traditional spinning reels. These reels also generally feature high speed retrieve and beefed up drags. In a place like the Cap Cod Canal, they would be super tools to use on a ten to eleven foot rod to achieve casts way out in the middle of the Canal.
So, why don't we see them around. Quite simply, they have not been sold in the US (except for Diawa). Companies like Shimano produce a whole line of them that are only sold in Europe and Japan. Daiwa has now come up with a new release of a big pit for US fishermen. It is called the Emblem Pro-A reel (to replace the old Emblem) and it has more corrosion resistant bearings and material than their old model. I believe these will soon become popular in specific striper spots where long casts are needed and salt corrosion is not a big issue (not for Van Staal junkies who dunk reels in the surf). In places where one stands on a dry beach or rocks and casts long distances, these are ideally suited. They are also ideally suited to fish with bait on the bottom.
One more thing to note here. These reels are fairly heavy. The Daiwa model tops out at 22 oz., which is not overly heavy, but not light either. They retail for about $160. Check them out at http://www.daiwa.com/reel/detail.aspx?id=562
