Long-Term Review: Fox EOS 12000 Reel & Avid Outline Camo

When it comes to reels—or any of our own gear for that matter—we always see them through rose-tinted spectacles due to, the (hopefully) many productive sessions we’ve had with them. That’s why, whenever you see a post online where someone asks for advice on an upcoming purchase, the comments will be flooded with details of everyone’s personal kit with accompanying recommendations. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it shows how much great kit is available nowadays.

This, then, is not a declaration that they are the best on the market, but simply that they are a set of reels, available at an accessible price, that have done all they have needed to do for me over a period of several years.

The Fox EOS 12000s have been paired with my Daiwa Basia X45 12ft rods for a good while now, and they still perform like new. The quick front clutch is as smooth as ever, and it allows for subtle enough adjustments to control resistance, instead of locked-up to freespool in three-millimetres that some reels offer.

Slow oscillation? Never heard of it, mate. A fast retrieve will leave your spool looking like it’s on a pogo stick, but has it ever made casting difficult? Well, not in my fishing, as 100yds is a big chuck for me. If you were to push it further, then you may lose a few yards over a slow-oscillating reel, but for the most part, it isn’t noticeable.

Line, I believe, plays a far bigger part in a reel’s casting ability. My years at CARPology have seen me use dozens of lines, and by far the stand-out for me has been Avid’s Outline Camo, which I opt for in 15lb. It flies off the spool and through the eyes like silk. That, coupled with its relatively low diameter-to-strength ratio means that it casts beautifully. It’s bloody strong, too! Initial tests saw me heaving in small football fields of weed with next to no abrasion and never any hint of it breaking.

So, if you are looking for a great all-round reel only slightly north of the £100 mark, then seriously consider the Fox Eos 12000. Throw another £15 at it and you can grab the FS (freespool) version instead. These two reels have been superseded by Fox’s newer, flagship 12000XC model, but these will set you back upwards of £200 apiece. Will you notice the difference…?