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Reels · Feeder reels · Our take
Drennan Red Range Feeder Reel
Red Range Feeder 6-40
The Red Range Feeder 6-40 keeps things straightforward: rear drag, push-button spool changes and a spare spool included. A sensible-looking package for everyday feeder fishing, rather than a reel to buy on big-distance promises.
- 40mm spool plus one spare 38mm composite spool.
- Rear drag with push-button spool release.
- 5.2:1 gearing and five bearings plus one one-way clutch bearing.
- Rubber line-identification marker buttons, folding handle and instant, silent anti-reverse.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Red Range Feeder 6-40, supplied with a 40mm spool and a spare 38mm composite spool. We haven't tested it on the bank.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
Provisional feature-based scores, not bank-test ratings. Loaded performance and long-term durability remain unverified; value also depends on the price you find.
- Product Quality8.3/10
- Performance8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching7.7/10
- Ease of Use9/10
- Value for Money8.3/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Everyday feeder anglers who like rear drag. The controls and supplied extras make a practical starting point for a straightforward feeder outfit.
- Anglers alternating between line setups. A spare spool and identification buttons help keep different lines ready without needing another reel.
Maybe skip if
- Dedicated long-range feeder anglers. Don't choose it for that job without checking usable line capacity, outfit balance and suitability for your casting distances.
- Anglers wanting matching spare spools or front drag. The supplied spools differ in size, and the reel uses a rear-drag layout.
The lowdown
Introducing the Drennan Red Range Feeder Reel
The Red Range Feeder 6-40 keeps things straightforward: rear drag, push-button spool changes and a spare spool included. A sensible-looking package for everyday feeder fishing, rather than a reel to buy on big-distance promises.
- 40mm spool plus one spare 38mm composite spool.
- Rear drag with push-button spool release.
- 5.2:1 gearing and five bearings plus one one-way clutch bearing.
- Rubber line-identification marker buttons, folding handle and instant, silent anti-reverse.
Quick verdict
A straightforward feeder reel with handy extras
The Red Range Feeder 6-40 makes a convincing case through useful features rather than flashy claims. A spare spool, line-identification buttons and push-button release all make sense when you're changing tactics between waters.
It's most appealing if you like a rear drag and want a straightforward feeder setup. We can't vouch for loaded smoothness or long-term toughness, though, and the quoted 100m spool capacity needs matching to your chosen line diameter.
Provisional feature-based scores, not bank-test ratings. Loaded performance and long-term durability remain unverified; value also depends on the price you find.
- Product Quality
- 8.3/10
- Performance
- 8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 7.7/10
- Ease of Use
- 9/10
- Value for Money
- 8.3/10
The practical feature package looks well considered, although component longevity and finish haven't been checked hands-on.
The gearing and anti-reverse offer a sensible basis for feeder work without proving loaded retrieve or drag performance.
Alternative line setups can support sensible tackle choices, but the reel itself won't find feeding fish or fix poor presentation.
Push-button release, identification buttons and a folding handle all help reduce everyday faff.
The included spare spool strengthens the package, though this is a provisional value judgement without a verified current price.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Drennan
Drennan Red Range Feeder Reel (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Drennan Red Range Feeder Reel
A feeder reel doesn't need to make a song and dance about itself. You want to cast to your spot, pick up the slack cleanly and have sensible control when the tip pulls round. The Drennan Red Range Feeder 6-40 takes a straightforward approach, with rear drag, a spare spool and a few useful touches for keeping your tackle organised. Nothing there guarantees a bag-up, obviously. But it's the sort of feature list that makes sense when you're getting ready for an ordinary day on the bank.
First, a bit of honesty over the brew: we haven't fished with this reel. This is a look at what the exact 6-40 model offers and where it fits, not a tale about a brace of carp it supposedly landed. Its 5.2:1 gearing, five bearings plus one one-way clutch bearing, and instant, silent anti-reverse are confirmed features. What those details don't tell you is how it feels winding a loaded feeder back all afternoon, or how the drag behaves after months of regular use.
The supplied spool setup is the main attraction here. You get a 40mm spool and one spare 38mm composite spool, giving you somewhere to keep a different line ready. That's dead handy if your fishing switches between open-water skimmer work and more demanding sessions where a stronger line makes sense. Match that choice to your rod, feeder weight, swim and likely fish, rather than simply going heavier because carp might turn up. A spare spool gives you flexibility; it doesn't change what the rest of your outfit can safely handle.
Drennan also includes rubber line-identification marker buttons. Not glamorous, granted, but useful when two spools look much the same and you can't remember which line you loaded before Christmas. Keep a separate note of the actual line and diameter as well, and you avoid the guessing game. Both spools are quoted as holding 100m, although that figure shouldn't be treated as universal across line thicknesses. Check the relevant capacity guidance before filling up, and don't cram line against the spool lip just to empty the packet.
The rear-drag arrangement will be a selling point for some anglers and a shrug from others. If you're used to reaching behind the reel to adjust resistance, it'll be familiar territory. If every other reel you own uses front drag, this isn't automatically an upgrade. Set the drag sensibly before you cast, with your hooklength and swim in mind. When a better fish turns up, controlled pressure matters more than where the adjuster sits. No drag system makes an under-strength setup sensible beside awkward snags.
Push-button spool release makes changing spools a simple job, while the folding handle is a useful packing-away feature. Just remember that swapping a spool isn't the end of the job. Check the drag again, make sure the line is running properly through the rod rings and establish your fishing distance afresh. If you're fishing clipped up, don't assume the second spool will put you straight back on the same dinner plate. Measure out again, then use a consistent casting action and cushion the feeder's arrival at the clip.
That 5.2:1 ratio is a gearing figure, not a measurement of line recovered with each handle turn. Spool dimensions and line fill play a part too, so there's no honest basis here for promising lightning-fast retrieves. For everyday feeder work, the more useful questions are whether the reel balances your rod and feels comfortable for repeated casts. If you're planning heavy feeders or proper long-range work, check those demands separately. Buying something with 'Feeder' on the box doesn't mean every feeder-fishing job is automatically covered.
Where this Drennan looks most at home is with an angler who wants a straightforward reel and will actually use the spare spool. Perhaps you've got one feeder rod doing several jobs, or you simply like keeping another line option in the bag. The practical extras give it a clear purpose without needing daft promises about extra bites. Price still matters, of course, and we haven't got a verified current figure to compare. Put it beside similarly priced reels, check what spools they include, and decide whether rear drag suits you.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Model
- Red Range Feeder 6-40
- Supplied spools
- 40mm spool and one spare 38mm composite spool
- Quoted line capacity
- 100m on both spools; confirm the relevant line diameter before filling
- Drag and spool release
- Rear drag; push-button spool release
- Gear ratio and bearings
- 5.2:1; five bearings plus one one-way clutch bearing
- Other features
- Instant, silent anti-reverse; folding handle; rubber line-identification marker buttons
Specs checked with Drennan, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
The spare spool is the useful bit
Having a second spool ready gives you options: one line for lighter open-water work, another for more demanding feeder fishing. That's more useful than a flashy badge when you're sorting tackle the night before.
The supplied spools aren't identical in size, so treat them as separate setups. Changing spools means checking line fill, drag and casting distance again—not assuming everything stays bob on.
The useful details
Closer look: what you're buying
The 6-40 package combines a 40mm spool with a spare 38mm composite spool. Those are different sizes, not a matching pair. The spare is useful for an alternative line, but don't assume identical line fill or casting behaviour when you swap between them.
Rear drag, push-button spool release and a folding handle keep the layout straightforward. The five bearings plus one one-way clutch bearing describe the mechanism, but a bearing count alone doesn't prove smoothness, durability or resistance to bank-side grit.
Worth knowing. Both spools are quoted at 100m capacity. Line diameter matters, mate. Confirm the guidance for your chosen line rather than assuming every 100m packet will fill either spool perfectly.
Finding its place
Who it suits: practical feeder fishing
This looks a sensible option for general feeder anglers who prefer rear drag and want a second line ready. The spare spool has a genuine job if you move between waters or tactics. If you'll never load it, that particular advantage matters rather less.
For a first feeder outfit, concentrate on rod balance and comfortable controls rather than the bearing count. If possible, fit the reel to your intended rod before buying. Something that feels right in your hand is more useful during repeated casting than a feature you'll barely notice.
Dedicated distance work calls for a closer check of capacity and suitability. Likewise, don't treat this as a substitute for specialist heavy-duty tackle simply because you might hook a lump. The whole outfit needs to match the swim, casting load and fish you're targeting.
Quick answers
FAQs in full: spools, drag and line
Does it include a spare spool? Yes: a spare 38mm composite spool accompanies the 40mm spool. Rubber line-identification marker buttons are included too. Use them alongside a note of the line you've loaded, especially if spare spools spend a while tucked away in your tackle bag.
Which drag system does it use? Rear drag, with push-button spool release. That's a familiar arrangement for anglers who like adjusting resistance behind the reel. After a spool change, check the setting again before fishing; your alternative line or hooklength may call for different pressure.
How much line goes on? The quoted capacity is 100m for both spools, but the supplied details don't tie that figure to a line diameter. Check before loading, fill under steady tension and avoid overfilling. Good line management is a better starting point than dealing with loose coils once you're clipped up.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Included spare spool makes carrying an alternative line setup easier.
- Push-button release keeps spool changes straightforward.
- Line-identification buttons help distinguish prepared spools.
- Rear drag suits anglers who prefer adjustments behind the reel.
Worth knowing
- Rear-drag layout won't suit everyone, especially committed front-drag users.
- The spare spool is 38mm rather than matching the supplied 40mm spool.
- The quoted 100m capacity doesn't establish capacity for every line diameter.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Does the Red Range Feeder 6-40 come with a spare spool?
Does the Red Range Feeder 6-40 come with a spare spool?
Yes. It comes with a 40mm spool and one spare 38mm composite spool, plus rubber line-identification marker buttons.
02Is it front drag or rear drag?
Is it front drag or rear drag?
Rear drag. It also has push-button spool release, so removing the spool doesn't involve unscrewing a front-drag cap.
03How much line do the spools hold?
How much line do the spools hold?
Both are quoted as holding 100m. That isn't a promise for every line thickness, so check the capacity guidance for your chosen diameter and judge the final fill carefully.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a straightforward feeder reel with handy extras. The strongest reasons to choose it are included spare spool makes carrying an alternative line setup easier. and push-button release keeps spool changes straightforward.; the main trade-off is rear-drag layout won't suit everyone, especially committed front-drag users..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Included spare spool makes carrying an alternative line setup easier.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Everyday feeder anglers who like rear drag: The controls and supplied extras make a practical starting point for a straightforward feeder outfit.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “Rear-drag layout won't suit everyone, especially committed front-drag users.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Drennan Red Range Feeder Reel
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Owner reports
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