This is a fantastic little reel which I am using on my soft bait rods. It is beautifully balanced (which I was expecting given that I also own a Thunnus 12000 ). It casts smoothly and the bait runner function is an added bonus. Would recommend to anyone.

Top softbait reel. The bait runner function will let out line to drop the lure behind the drifting boat to entice the best bites. Very spooky and irresistible. Plus birds nests are much reduced as well as high stick rod breaks as the line is controlled while boating the catch. Bravo Shimano and MarineDeals.

This is a brilliant reel. Carbon Fibre, Baitrunner function. Had a classic Baitrunner 3500B (which i gave to my son) and replaced it with a Thunnus 8000. Have caught lots of fish on this reel, solid as. Just bought a second one from marine-deals as I want another rig for mates on the boat. Great service rang team on Sunday to check stock, ordered online immediately, reel arrived on Tuesday!

A step above the rest (spinner)

So far this reel has lived up to it's name one of the smoothest and lightest reels made by Shimano. The live bait drag system works great. It's a spinner that acts like a conventional reel. 300 yds, of PowerPro V2 slick 8 and your ready to have some fun. I have only used it 4x but it's now my go to reel. I have an OC 6000 backup live bait reel, Put my Saragosa on the side for now. You really can't get that performance without the dual drag live bait system the Thunnus has. The only thing that's holding it back is the 20 lb drag.

Best Spinning Reel

Been switching my reels from Baitcasters to Thunnus's. All in all I am really a huge fan of both. I have the older Baitcaster that have the metal frame verse the Composite that is used in the Thunnus. The 12000\8000 Thunnus does still have some Metal in the Frame. This is the only downside to the Thunnus that I have hit so far. One of the reels I received the composite base was broken and I had to return for a replacement. This makes me worry about the long term durability of the new Thunnus. This does make reels much lighter, though. Time will have to be my judge on if the composite holds up as well as the metal for the older Baitcasters. As of now I am extremely happy with the reel and transition.

Best bait runner for money

Absolutely love this reel upgraded from another brand and would never go back. Great baitrunner feature. Beautifully smooth bearings and great drag

Best reel I have bought from Bcf

I tossed up between this one and a Penn slammer. I'm glad I bought this one, alot smoother than the Penn. As usual the boys in the Warnambool store looked after me. Couldn't get hold of any 50 pound braid so decided to put on 65 pound. Good luck to whatever gets a hold of my bait on this thing! It's a winch! And I will skull drag whatever is on the end of my line

New pair of Shimano Thunnus 8000's..

Two new 8000 Thunnus reels make my fishing room look like a showroom, next to two new Stradic's, I feel at 72 like I have died and gone to heaven...these are the finest spinning reels I have ever owned, Grandson at 19 has new pair of Twin Power 8000's...he recently earned his Captains license and will be using for decades TO COME! He knows he will inherit all my Shimano's as well...my last retired Stratic was purchased in 1995 and used daily!

Very versatile reel

This reel does it all for me in New England for stripers. I can slow troll mackerel on live liner, which lets the bass take the bait for a bit before switching over to the main drag. Previously I had to use conventional gear to produce the same results.I also used this reel when snagging pogies was still legal - great casting reel to get the hooks into the pogie schools, and then switch over to the live liner once a bait is snagged - worked like a charm. Still using the reel for live lining pogies, but have to bring them to the boat first now.In a pinch, the Thunnus also makes a good plugging reel. Casts great and not so heavy that it feels like you are using the wrong gear. I prefer other setups for plugging, but if I had to have one reel to do it all, this ... MoreThis reel does it all for me in New England for stripers. I can slow troll mackerel on live liner, which lets the bass take the bait for a bit before switching over to the main drag. Previously I had to use conventional gear to produce the same results.I also used this reel when snagging pogies was still legal - great casting reel to get the hooks into the pogie schools, and then switch over to the live liner once a bait is snagged - worked like a charm. Still using the reel for live lining pogies, but have to bring them to the boat first now.In a pinch, the Thunnus also makes a good plugging reel. Casts great and not so heavy that it feels like you are using the wrong gear. I prefer other setups for plugging, but if I had to have one reel to do it all, this would probably be it.

great offshore reel

Bought this with a loomis pro blue, use it in south florida for live baiting dolphin and tarpon.Handles the tarpon under the bridges in excess of 100 lbs and is great for drifting live baitoffshore with the bait runner feature. it overmatches the schoolie dolphin but easily handlesthe larger gaffers. I would buy 10 more if they didn't update the modelsevery few years making parts to previous models obsolete. I have a dozen shimano reels(more?) and take care of them. when they finally need parts, you can't get them a few yearsafter they come out. Good news is if you take care of them, you can give them to your kids.Smooth and strong, good drag and love the bait runner feature. kids can put it in the rodholder and walk away...as they do, turn the crank and ... MoreBought this with a loomis pro blue, use it in south florida for live baiting dolphin and tarpon.Handles the tarpon under the bridges in excess of 100 lbs and is great for drifting live baitoffshore with the bait runner feature. it overmatches the schoolie dolphin but easily handlesthe larger gaffers. I would buy 10 more if they didn't update the modelsevery few years making parts to previous models obsolete. I have a dozen shimano reels(more?) and take care of them. when they finally need parts, you can't get them a few yearsafter they come out. Good news is if you take care of them, you can give them to your kids.Smooth and strong, good drag and love the bait runner feature. kids can put it in the rodholder and walk away...as they do, turn the crank and your fish is still on and they do nothave to adjust the drag, just crank in your fish. I use it more than my stellas because they areseveral generations old and can't afford to have them break. not much of a drop off in performance.