Shimano Charter Special Schematics

Shimano Charter Special: Reliable Lever Drag & Levelwind Performance

For anglers seeking a robust and user-friendly conventional reel that won’t break the bank, the Shimano Charter Special series stands out as a perennial favorite. This reel uniquely combines the smooth, adjustable power of a lever drag system with the convenience of a levelwind mechanism, all backed by trusted Shimano engineering. It’s a workhorse fishing reel designed for reliability and performance in various demanding fishing situations.

The Best of Both Worlds: Lever Drag Meets Levelwind

The core appeal of the Shimano Charter Special lies in its intelligent combination of two highly desirable features, often hard to find together in an affordable conventional reel:

Smooth Lever Drag System

Unlike traditional star drag systems, the Charter Special reel utilizes a lever drag. This allows anglers to make quick, precise, and incremental adjustments to the drag pressure while fighting a fish, simply by moving the lever. It provides a wide range of settings, from free-spool to full lockdown, offering excellent control for battling powerful species encountered during trolling or bottom fishing.

Convenient Levelwind Mechanism

Managing line lay on a conventional reel can be challenging, especially for novice anglers or when focusing on boat handling during trolling. The Shimano Charter Special solves this with its integrated levelwind system. As you retrieve line, a moving guide travels back and forth across the spool, ensuring the line wraps evenly. This prevents line build-up in one spot, reduces the chance of backlashes or line digging into itself, and generally makes the reel much easier to operate.

Built for Reliability: Charter Special Features

Shimano designed the Charter Special to be a durable fishing reel ready for tough use:

Durable Construction: Features a lightweight yet strong and corrosion-resistant graphite frame and sideplates, making it suitable for harsh saltwater environments.
Proven Gearing: Reliable internal gears provide dependable performance under moderate loads.
Audible Clicker: Includes a loud clicker mechanism, essential for signaling strikes when the reel is in free-spool while trolling or bottom fishing.
Comfortable Handle: Equipped with a comfortable, counter-balanced handle for easier cranking.
Bearings: Utilizes Shimano’s A-RB (Anti-Rust Bearings) for smooth operation and added corrosion protection.

Shimano Charter Special Models (TR1000LD & TR2000LD)

The Charter Special series typically includes two main models:

Shimano TR1000LD: The smaller of the two, offering ample line capacity for many light trolling and bottom fishing applications.
Shimano TR2000LD: Provides significantly more line capacity than the TR1000LD, making it better suited for deeper water, longer trolling spreads, or targeting species that require heavier or greater amounts of line.

The core features (lever drag, levelwind, construction) remain consistent between the Charter Special models, with size and capacity being the primary differentiators.

Ideal Fishing Applications for the Charter Special

Thanks to its robust design and versatile features, the Shimano Charter Special excels in various scenarios:

Saltwater Fishing: An excellent choice for light-to-medium trolling applications targeting species like mackerel, bonito, bluefish, smaller tuna, and dorado. It’s also a highly capable bottom fishing reel for snapper, grouper, cod, halibut, and other reef or wreck dwellers. Its ease of use also makes it suitable for live bait fishing.
Heavy Freshwater Fishing: The durability and line capacity make it a viable option for anglers pursuing large freshwater fish such as catfish, musky, lake trout, or even salmon in bigger river systems.

Why Choose the Shimano Charter Special Reel?

Anglers opt for the Charter Special for numerous reasons:

Unique Feature Combo: The blend of lever drag and levelwind is rare at its price point.
Shimano Reliability: Offers the dependability and quality associated with the Shimano brand.
Ease of Use: Both the lever drag and levelwind make it simpler to operate than many other conventional reels.
Versatility: Capable of handling various trolling, bottom fishing, and heavy freshwater tasks.
Excellent Value: Provides robust features and performance, making it a fantastic affordable conventional reel.

Conclusion

The Shimano Charter Special has earned its reputation as a reliable, user-friendly, and exceptionally versatile conventional reel. Its smart combination of a smooth lever drag and a convenient levelwind system, packaged in a durable body at an accessible price, makes the Charter Special reel a true workhorse. For anglers engaged in trolling, bottom fishing, or heavy freshwater applications who demand performance and value, the Shimano Charter Special remains a benchmark fishing reel. Sources and related content