Shimano Sienna

[RyneB]

I just want to start by saying I am an Abu fanatic and dont understand the Shimano hype. I was at Bass Pro today and needed to get my wife a new spinning reel (her $10 Shakespeare died). I was looking at the packaged spinning reels and came upon a Shimano Sienna for $30. I figured i would give it a try. After getting it home and putting line on it and casting it around in the backyard, this reel feels amazing. It is way smoother than my $100 Abu Orra. It only has 4 bearings but feels soooooo smooth. Whats the deal? Im not gonna sell all my Abu baitcasters for Shimanos, but why does this $30 Shimano feel so much better than my $100 Orra?

[Jake P]

I dont have an aanswer for you BUT One of my best friends doesnt believe in expensive fishing gear. He only uses spinning and fishes the Sienna's and loves them. Honestly i like them for the price. I have one i use for creek fishing in the winter for crappie and panfish along with my mitchell avocet. Great cheepo reels!

[vinfish]

My first reel was shimano luved it to death. But always looking at

The compotition they all look and feel good. Shimano has never let me

down. Keep em clean and less lube. I have the citica baitcaster over 20yrs

Now only changed worm guild and one bearing. The Sienna is simply asome

Reel for the price!

[SirSnookalot]

The measure of a good reel is not how smooth it is out of the box, but what's it going to be like 6 months or a year later after a lot of fish are caught, my reels handle some rough elements. I have liked every Shimano reel

(spinning) I've had, even though some have needed repairs and other reels have never been serviced, that does not detour me from buying another. 1 one of my stradics is 4 or 5 years old, it has been serviced for a line roller bearing, the rubber handle is starting to wear off and it's making a little bit of noise. I won't put another nickle into it, 5 years on a reel is long enough, I'll be replacing it with a new stradic fj 4000. I don't think Shimano reels are the most durable, but the performance makes up for it. BTW I have never had a wind knot on my stradics or my spheros', big plus for me, I think they have the best spool lip design in the business.

[LgMouthGambler]

Shimano is proof that you dont need 20 bearings in a reel for it to be smooth.

[fishking247]

how smooth a reel is does not dictate how good the reel is. regardless if a reel has 20 bearings or 2 bearings the reel with 2 bearings could still be smoother. it's not about how many bearings are in the reel it is the quality of the bearings. i personally would not want a reel with 15-20 bearings. it is just another thing to go wrong. the shimano sienna is great reel for the money. i have fished a shimano sedona for about 6-7 years now and have not replaced one part or even opened it up and lube it. while the reel is not as smooth as it was when i bought it it is one of the most reliable reels i have ever owned and i will continue to fish it until it blows up on me. I believe i paid $50 for it.

[RyneB]

The other main reason i bought it is for a saltwater trip coming up in October. I didnt want to use my Abu. I figure if this Sienna takes a crap from the saltwater, i can just buy another. It is also going to be my main small river smallmouth reel, I just cant believe how nice it feels and casts for only being $30.

[SirSnookalot]

@ Ryne, your Abu is a saltwater reel.

[Bair]

Shimano makes great cheapo reels. I bought the 2500 size Shimano sienna a few months ago and my only problem so far is the bail wire but its minor. Still like the ten dollar Walmart special Shimano, had for years and just wont break slamming it on the ground, dunked in fresh and salt water, I've never cleaned it and it's still going strong. Hope the Sienna proves the same

[RyneB]

@ Ryne, your Abu is a saltwater reel.

I know, but the spool only holds about 100 yds of 10lb mono. Im no saltwater fisherman, but i know if i get something of size on, theyre gonna make a run on me and im not gonna have the line to fight it. And i dont want to get sand in it and possibly ruin it. My main caster is going to be my Orra Inshore baitcaster.