Shimano Symetre Rj Spinning Reel, Thoughts On This One?

[Roadblock]

I've been rocking a Shimano TX-110Q for YEARS. Was my fathers reel back in the 80's. He passed when I was 13 and now at 37 years old, it's the only reel I've ever used in my life for more than just a couple casts to try out a friends.

 

I just upgraded! Picked up a Shimano Curado I Series yesterday. I've only had it out once but so far I like it!

 

Got me to thinking though. I wouldn't mind picking up a new Spinning Reel too. My wife has an old Quantum with the front drag and we were out last week fishing and she got a 14 incher that she had to fight. Unfortunately because the drag was set too loose. I kept trying to explain how to tighten the drag and she was turning the knob but not knowing how much to turn, it wasn't helping much!

 

While I was shopping for my Curado, I saw the Symetre with the rear drag like my old TX-110Q and I thought it would make a good upgrade for the wife! We have a spare 6 foot 6 inch pole just sitting so we could just add another pole to the boat.

 

Plus, it's green which is one of her favorite colors!

 

I found one locally for $89.00 dollars. The one feature I wish it had but it doesn't it Shimano's Quick-Fire II thingy. My old TX has that but this one does not. Although my wife's Quantum does not have anything like that either so she will be used to the style of the Symetre's bail right from the go. Plus it's for her, not me so yeah I guess it doesn't need Quick-Fire II.

 

Anyway thoughts?  What is the opinion of this reel? I was OK with spending a little more BUT the one main feature I wanted was the quick rear drag settings. This was the highest end reel they have that I found that offers it.

[Tywithay]

I don't care for the RJ. However, the FJ is a nice little reel. They're eessentially the same, but the RJ has a rear drag. Rear drags are just a poor design in a spinning reel.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Front drags are a hands down winner when it come to ease of maintenance, in use you won't likely see much if any, difference. The "Quick Fire" trigger is a weak link over time and just added parts imo.

[Capt.Bob]

X3 the Front drag is much better in my opinion. The QF is only used on reels with out instant AR, since the Symetre has instant AR that isn't an option. You will definitely smile when you use the FJ over your older one.

[fishballer06]

Ugh... I hated the Quick Fire triggers.

[jtharris3]

I have several Symetre's of various ages, I have two 2500's with rear drags and several other Symetre's with front drags. The front drag reels are so much better to fish with! 

[Roadblock]

I have to admit I'm a bit shocked to hear all of you say you do not like the rear drag models.

 

I can't see any reason why you wouldn't want a rear drag. I've been using this TX-110Q since I was like 8 years old. My father bought one when they first came out and I like it so much he bought me one too. I actually still have both of them. I'm currently fishing with my fathers on a regular basis. I fish almost every weekend and it's not failed on me yet. It's never been serviced or cleaned internally and it works GREAT. The Quick-Fire II has never broken and I love how it has the two drag settings, the main one and the quick flip thingy.

 

If it ever goes down, I have mine as a backup. Unfortunately I went threw a bit of a Star Trek phase when I was a kid so I took the crank off mine and pretended it was a ray gun and have since LOST the crank. Also I lost 3 of the 4 spools. Both reels came with two spools each and somehow I've only got ONE spool left, the one on my fathers reel. Kinda wish I could pickup a couple spare R1 spools and a spare crank.

 

ANYWAY!!! I personally can not stand the front drag system. You have to crank the tick out of it to tight it up if it's too loose. So much easier to just flip the rear drag lever.

 

I almost thought about just getting my wife the Spirex RG as it has both the Quick-Fire II and the rear drag but the dual crank handles are TOO bulky for this type of reel. Also they are not spaced out very well at all.

 

I'm curious to ask this... Why do you prefer the front drags on this type of reel though?

 

I can maybe understand the Quick-Fire II on newer reels because I just looked at my TX-110Q and the Quick-Fire II lever seems to be made from some type of carbon based material. It's very heavy duty stuff. On the Spirex RG I looked at today, well, it seems to be more plastic like. Maybe that is the difference now days? They cheapened them?

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Rear drag reels dont have much drag surface .even though if you set your drag the proper way with your line size,you shoulnt need to touch it ever.But some ppl do just as many ppl continue to reel when they catch a fish with a spinning reel.Its not made for that the spool is made to hold slack line,and to work your lure and bring in the slack

[SmokeRise1]

I have both rear and front drag Symetres. I got the rear drag one by mistake and while I had read a lot about how bad they are, it is probably my favorite spinning reel. I also can't stand the quickfire trigger on other reels. I think the lever on the back of the rear drag is something like a "fighting drag" where you can increase or decrease the drag a few pounds either way with a quick flip of the lever. I've never needed this, but I guess it is cool to have.