ESP's Onyx Compact Big Pit Reel sits in the mid-tier of their carp reel line-up, designed for anglers who want big-pit casting performance in a noticeably lighter, more compact package. The reel is built to a similar footprint as a 5000 Emblem and comes in 200g lighter than the original ESP Onyx Big Pit, which makes a real difference during long sessions when you're lifting and repositioning rods regularly.
The reel runs on 7+1 stainless steel bearings paired with machined gears, and features a 4.8:1 gear ratio that picks up approximately 0.95m of line per crank. That is quicker than the 4.3:1 ratio on the larger Onyx Big Pit, giving you a good balance of speed and control when retrieving at range.
You get two machined anodised aluminium spools in the box: a Shallow spool holding 300m of 15lb and an Ultra Shallow spool holding 300m of 12lb, both shaped with a long cast taper profile to help line peel off cleanly during a cast. The slow oscillation system lays line in tight, even layers from the first use, with no need to spool up and wind back repeatedly before fishing.
The reel comes with two interchangeable drag adjusters: an FD (Fine Drag) adjuster for precise, incremental settings and an RL (Rapid Lockdown) adjuster that takes the reel from free running to fully locked in half a turn. The front drag features a grit guard to keep dirt and debris out of the system during bankside use.
If you're shopping in the mid-budget tier and want a lighter big-pit reel for close-to-mid range work on day-ticket lakes and commercial carp waters, this is one of the compact options around the £120 mark.
| Feature | What this means |
|---|---|
| Size and Weight | Compact build similar to a 5000 Emblem and 200g lighter than the original ESP Onyx Big Pit. A noticeably lighter reel makes a real difference during long sessions when you are lifting and repositioning rods regularly. |
| Gear Ratio: 4.8:1 | For every turn of the handle the spool rotates 4.8 times, picking up approximately 0.95 metres of line per crank. This gives you a good balance of speed and control when retrieving at range, and is quicker than the 4.3:1 ratio found on the larger Onyx Big Pit. |
| Bearings: 7+1 Stainless Steel | Eight bearings in total, all stainless steel for corrosion resistance, paired with machined gears. More bearings generally means a smoother, more fluid retrieve with less mechanical play. |
| Two Anodised Aluminium Spools Included | You get a Shallow spool (holding 300m of 15lb / 0.37mm) and an Ultra Shallow spool (holding 300m of 12lb / 0.33mm), both machined from anodised aluminium with a long cast taper profile. Having two spools means you can quickly swap between line setups without having to strip and re-spool on the bank. |
| Long Cast Taper Spool Profile | The spool is shaped with a gradual taper designed to help line peel off cleanly and freely during a cast. This reduces friction and can help you reach greater distances, which is exactly what you want from a big pit reel. |
| Slow Oscillation System | Controls how the line is laid onto the spool as you retrieve. A slow oscillation system lays the line in tight, even layers so it beds in consistently right from the first use, with no need to spool up and wind the line back repeatedly before fishing. |
| Two Interchangeable Drag Adjusters | Comes with an FD (Fine Drag) adjuster for precise, incremental drag settings and an RL (Rapid Lockdown) adjuster that takes the reel from free running to fully locked in just half a turn. You can swap between them depending on whether you need subtle adjustment or fast, positive control when a fish runs. |
| Front Drag with Grit Guard | The drag is positioned at the front of the spool, which gives you easier and more intuitive access during a fight. The grit guard helps keep dirt and debris out of the drag system, protecting the internals during bankside use. |
| Quick Fold Handle with Dark Wood Paddle | The handle folds flat against the reel, making it easier to set up rods close together in snug rod pod or buzzer bar configurations. The dark wood paddle gives a secure, comfortable grip when winding in. |
| Large Anti-Reverse Lever | Described as easily accessible and large in size, so you can locate and operate it quickly even in the dark or when wearing gloves. Switching the anti-reverse off allows the handle to back-wind, which some anglers prefer when playing fish. |
| Rotor Brake | Adds resistance to the rotor so it does not spin freely when casting or in windy conditions. This helps prevent slack line from tangling around the reel body between casts. |
| Stainless Steel Line Clip | Stainless steel construction means the clip will not corrode, and the design is intended to hold your line securely without cutting or damaging it when clipped up to fish at a set distance repeatedly. |
| Finish | Matt black with subtle silver decals. A low-glare finish that looks smart on the rod and does not flash light across the water, which could potentially spook wary fish in clear conditions. |
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300m of 15lb (0.37mm) on the shallow spool and 300m of 12lb (0.33mm) on the ultra shallow spool. Both spools are machined anodised aluminium with a long cast taper profile. You get both spools included in the box, so you can swap between line setups without re-spooling on the bank.
4.8:1, which picks up approximately 0.95 metres of line per crank. This is quicker than the 4.3:1 ratio found on the larger ESP Onyx Big Pit, giving you a good balance of speed and control when retrieving at range.
FD (Fine Drag) for precise, incremental drag settings and RL (Rapid Lockdown) that takes the reel from free running to fully locked in just half a turn. Both are included and interchangeable, so you can swap between them depending on whether you need subtle adjustment or fast, positive control when a fish runs.
7+1 stainless steel bearings with machined gears. Eight bearings in total, all stainless steel for corrosion resistance. More bearings generally means a smoother, more fluid retrieve with less mechanical play.
Yes, particularly for close-to-mid range work on most UK carp venues. The long cast taper spool profile and slow oscillation system help you reach distance cleanly. The shallow spool capacity (300m of 12-15lb) suits most situations, though very deep or distant venues requiring heavier line loads may benefit from a deeper spool option.
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