Is A Shimano Stella Worth The Money

[Bass&PanMan]

Hi all,

I have 4 Shimano Stradic CI4+ reels, 1 x 1000 and 3 x 2500 but I have just bought a G Loomis NRX 822s SYR for Shakey Head fishing using 10lb braid and 7lb Fluro with 1/8oz weight.

I wondered if the Shimano Stella is worth the money over the Stradic CI4+ ?

Thanks in advance

Matthew

 

 

[John G]

Are you familiar with JDM Shimano's? Japan Lure Shop has prices on the Stella that makes it much more appealing.

[Kidflex]

The term worth it is all subjective. For bass and small gamefish I don't think it's worth it or necessary. Ive used Stella 10k & 20k for deep jigging amberjack and and throwin poppers for tuna. For those applications there is no doubt it's worth it along with the saltigas and twin spins. But there is a certain level of satisfaction using high end gear like the Stella. I'm certain you'd never be disappointed using one. The stradic is plenty of reel as far as function, style and quality. Get what you want. Enjoy, it's only money.

[Bass&PanMan]

The Stradic is a sure nice reel and has most of the tech that the Stella has. Strange thing is that the Stella actually weighs more than the Stradic too

[FishTank]

Short answer no.  But think of it this way.......  A super car that goes 0-60 in 4 seconds cost $150,000 and one that goes 0-60 in 3.2 seconds can cost $350,000.  Is the .8 seconds worth the extra cost?  The Stella falls into that category of, "the better it gets, the less return you get on your investment". 

 

It is an amazing reel though.

[EvanT123]

I would imagine when you get to that price point "value" isn't factored into the equation. A timex will tell the time just the same as a Rolex.

There is a saying with luxury goods. If you have to ask the price you don't have enough. Lol.

[dave]

Kent not here yet...?

[curtis9]

Not worth the money, but it will pair up nicely with the NRX. You've got a $500 rod might as well put a great reel on it and enjoy fishing it

[kickerfish1]

As mentioned above when you are talking Stella money you are talking the ultimate spinning reel. There isn't a better freshwater spinning reel made for bass. Part of what you are buying is the prestige and the other part is in the intricate fine tuning, attention to detail. and high quality parts/machinery. Once you get past the Stradic model the amount of "additional benefits" to be felt diminish. What I look for in a spinning reel is a reliable drag, smooth retrieve under load, reliability, and something that feels comfortable to fish.

 

Frankly I would slap a Stradic on it or better yet wait for the NEW Stradic FK model which should hit around I-Cast. This reel is $200ish and will probably have a few new bells and whistles that no other Shimano spinning reel in production has. Color wise it would match nicely with a blue NRX for the most part. I would highly consider this option and save the $ for another NRX rod or something else you may need/want.

[S Hovanec]

I was real close to pulling this trigger on a Stella for my new DS rod, then the new Twinpowers were released. That's where I threw my money. Plus, the Stella wouldn't have matched the new rod as well!

[tomustang]

Nope, more like a status piece. They still pretty though.

[Bass&PanMan]

The new Stradic fo looks interesting. From looking on a JDM site, it thought it would run more Han $200, more of a Sustain replacement.

What's the difference between a 2500s and a 2500hgs ?

Then what's the difference between C3000, C3000HG and C3000XGM ?

[S Hovanec]

S is shallow spool

M is medium spool

HG is high gear

The C prefix is compact body. Meaning a c3000, is a 2500 body.

[Bass&PanMan]

S is shallow spool

M is medium spool

HG is high gear

The C prefix is compact body. Meaning a c3000, is a 2500 body.

thanks fella, really helpful. s and m make sense but what are the advantages to HG a C models ?

[Bass&PanMan]

I was real close to pulling this trigger on a Stella for my new DS rod, then the new Twinpowers were released. That's where I threw my money. Plus, the Stella wouldn't have matched the new rod as well!

novice question but if you do to ask, you don't learn, how come you went with the Twin Power instead of the Stradic CI4 ?

[BasshunterJGH]

thanks fella, really helpful. s and m make sense but what are the advantages to HG a C models ?

With the hg you're getting a faster gear ratio, just like in baitcasters. For example, a Metanium 100 (6.3:1) vs 100hg (7.4:1) vs 100xG (8.5:1). This has advantages for different situations, personally I would prefer the hg for anything I do with a spinning combo, dropshots, shakeyheads, tubes, etc. Basically the benefits of the c are a 2500 size reel with a 3000 size spool, which does nothing for me. I'd rather have it the other way around.

[BasshunterJGH]

I'm also interested in hearing about the twin power. Looking at both the 2500s and 3000xg models.

[Hooligan]

Is it worth the money? I have six of them and say not in a million years. It's no more functional than the Sustain or Stradic.

Is it worth the money? I have six of them and they're absolutely flawless in build quality and performance. They are one of the finest finished reels that I have ever had the pleasure of fishing.

Depends on who is answering the question, and which should he happens to be sitting on. It also depends on whether I'm actually fishing a spinning feel, or not, when you ask me. When I have an Antares in my hand, nope. Not worth it for the Stella. When I have a Stella in my hand, you better believe it.

[S Hovanec]

novice question but if you do to ask, you don't learn, how come you went with the Twin Power instead of the Stradic CI4 ?

Not a bad question. There are a few different answers to it too.

1. I already have 2 USDM CI4s and wanted to try something different.

2. The black and red of the CI4 wouldn't match the new rod.

3. I wanted a metal framed reel.

4. Wanted a reel with a shallow spool.

5. Quite possibly the biggest reason, I wanted something that was different!

I could have got the Rarenium CI4 to achieve 1, 2, 4 and 5 and almost did that too, but the size/gear/spool configuration I wanted wasn't offered in the Rarenium.

[S Hovanec]

I'm also interested in hearing about the twin power. Looking at both the 2500s and 3000xg models.

Once I fish mine, I'll post a review. It may be a while as the intended rod is still in pieces.

[Bass&PanMan]

I never thought about the red color scheme clashing with the blue of the NRX.

S Hovanec mentions that he went with the Twin Power as it gave him the size/gear/spool config that the CI4+ didn't. That leads me to another question, what is the size/gear/spool config best suited to the NRX 822s SYR for Shakey Head fishing using an 1/8oz and 10lb Sunline SX1 braid to 7lb Sunline Shooter Fluro ?

[John G]

I never thought about the red color scheme clashing with the blue of the NRX.

S Hovanec mentions that he went with the Twin Power as it gave him the size/gear/spool config that the CI4+ didn't. That leads me to another question, what is the size/gear/spool config best suited to the NRX 822s SYR for Shakey Head fishing using an 1/8oz and 10lb Sunline SX1 braid to 7lb Sunline Shooter Fluro ?

If I had that rod, I would have a Shimano Rareneium 2500 CI4+ mounted on it.

[S Hovanec]

I chose the HGS because I dropshot in deep water and wanted a fast retrieve to get the lure up quick a d the shallow spool because I only put 50 yards of braid on my reel. Don't need much backing with the shallow spool. The 2500s is rated to hold 100 or so yards of 4# mono.

[Bass&PanMan]

The drag ratio of the Stradic CI4+ is 6 vs 5 of the Rareneium. For Shaky Head fishing, would a higher drag ration be preferable ?

[S Hovanec]

To me, maximum drag means nothing on a spinning rod that light. you're never going to have a drag setting over 3 or 4 pounds and more likely less than 2.5 for your 7# leader. If you lock it down, you'll probably snap the leader on the hookset.