How About Some Reviews Of The Alphas Sv.

[new2BC4bass]

I haven't bought a reel in months.  The Bait Monkey has a choke hold on me.   

 

I don't recall reading any reviews.  Just comments about how easy this reel is to use.  Lots of such comments on TT.  Figured for sure TT would have done a review on it, but if they have, I couldn't find it.
 

Thanks.

 

 

[rippin-lips]

It's light,casts well, and has the SV spool. All for under $200. Only gripe is the 80mm handle, but it's an easy fix. Throw a tatula handle on it.

[Cgrinder]

It's good. The SV spool is the real deal. Anything specific about the reel that you would like to know?

[masterbass]

I have 12lb sniper on mine.  Fluoro for me is a bit finicky, but with the alphas I can cast into a wind with no issues.  I can sling it in calm conditions and get zero fluff.  That 's more than I can say about some of my other reels.  I tried fluoro on my steez 103 and it was too tempermental.  I don't know if the alphas outcasts everything I own, but it sure feels like it does or at least is on par.  I use mine for 4" and 5" senkos and other weightless soft plastics.  When I cast it has that "it" factor where the lure just goes further than you expect vs the amount of force behind the cast.  It pitches really well too which is important for me and guess what, I can skip lures with this reel.  This summer when I hit the shore I'm going use it for some inshore flounder and reds.  This is something I won't do with my steez, ito or r+. 

[kickerfish1]

Not trying to derail the thread but I have a few if I can...

1. Casting distance as good as other low profile reels?

2. Is the stock spool compatible with older Alphas 103 reels?

[rippin-lips]

Not trying to derail the thread but I have a few if I can...

1. Casting distance as good as other low profile reels?

2. Is the stock spool compatible with older Alphas 103 reels?

1. Other as in what?

2. Yes

[kickerfish1]

1. Just other low profile reels around the same price point. Say previous Gen Alphas 103 or Shimano 50 series reels. Whatever you may have experience with.

[rippin-lips]

I have not owned an original Alphas. I do own a decent collection of Daiwa reels though. The new Alphas is just as good as any of them. It's a very impressive $200 reel. Especially considering the SV spool alone sells for $100. I would not hesitate to purchase another if I needed a reel. I won't say too much about Shimano 50 series reels. I've owned the Curado and the Chronarch 51e. I was never impressed with them. Even after the Ch51 was supertuned and the bearings upgraded to abec 7's.

[kickerfish1]

Sounds good. May sell off some gear to make room for one. Finances have been lacking this year do to health care problems.

Thanks for the feedback RippinLips

[.ghoti.]

The only thing I can say is, I wish I had one to review. It's on my list.

[Shanes7614]

I have not owned an original Alphas. I do own a decent collection of Daiwa reels though. The new Alphas is just as good as any of them. It's a very impressive $200 reel. Especially considering the SV spool alone sells for $100. I would not hesitate to purchase another if I needed a reel. I won't say too much about Shimano 50 series reels. I've owned the Curado and the Chronarch 51e. I was never impressed with them. Even after the Ch51 was supertuned and the bearings upgraded to abec 7's.

I don't know this line at all. What's the big deal with the SV spool?

[rippin-lips]

I had power pro #40 spooled up when I took this video. It's equal to #10 mono. Specs on the 105 spool states it holds 90 yards of #10 mono. I don't know exactly how much line it holds. One day I'll walk the line off in my yard and pull out the 150ft tape measure. Then I'll have an exact number. 

[smallies24/7]

Absolutely love mine. Casts great, and isnt as temperamental as some other higher end reels. 10/10 for $200.  

[Shanes7614]

What differentiates a standard spool compared to an SV spool?

[Hogsticker]

I don't use mine for finesse because I've got pixy's for that, but I use the alphas sv for senko and light t rigged plastics on my nrx 893 and 12lb sniper. Yesterday I was kayaking and the wind was blowing me around probably around 15 mph. I cranked the brakes up a bit and threw a senko sometimes directly into the wind with no overruns and I was slinging them as far as I needed. During calm winds the reel is just off the charts. It has the "it" factor. I was fishing in the some of the nastiest weeds I've ever fished and the reel performed just fine pulling bass and 5lbs of weeds too. I didn't set out to fish in such heavy stuff, but that's where I ended up and the reel performed. I can't wait to pull some reds and flounder this summer which is something I don't do with my mg reels.

 

I've never owned a 50mg but I did own a scorpion 1000xt. Comparing the two the alphas won out in almost every category. The alphas was smoother casted farther with less effort and was much tighter tolerance. The scorp by personal preference palmed better and had a bit more top end drag but the alphas was smoother drag. I sold the scorp and have been happy since. I run 8lb flouro and sitting on a 7' ml tatula rod I can cast down to 1/8oz and have casted up to 1/2oz with no problems. What makes the SV spool so special? Casting becomes almost too easy, short pitch or long bombs, wind or no wind it's a piece of cake. Mine is stone stock without even a bearing flush so I'm sure there's more in it. Also its aluminum so salt is ok if you head to the coast.

 

I am loving my SH. Have it spooled with 12# YoZuri and use it for my lighter T-rigs. This thing is a casting machine, right on par with my CU50E. That SV spool is no joke, and gives you tons of control from long distance casting to short distance pitching. One of the best, if not the best, bang for the buck reel out there today. I dont think there is a current production Shimano that can touch this thing. I have zero play anywhere in this reel, and everything is silky smooth

 

 

This reel continues to impress. I've been casting weightless 3 inch Senkos, 1/8 Oz swimbait jig head with a Lunker City grubster 2.5, all the way up to 5/8 Oz lipless cranks. Spool won't even fluff. Let her rip! 
I should have my 1st SS SV here by end of week. Curious to conduct some head to head stuff.

 

I have to agree with everyone else. This reel is lights out spectacular!

I got mine a few months ago and have it spooled up with 30# Seaguar Smackdown. For the time being I have it mounted on a GL2 853C JWR. I have been using it primarily for throwing trick worms with a 1/8oz, or 3/16oz tungsten bullet weight. I feel that I could probably throw much lighter baits with this reel, but I have a PXL-R for anything smaller/lighter.

The one thing that I am very impressed with is the ability of the reel to "correct" my casting mistakes. The "SV" meaning Stress-free Versatile" is not just a marketing gimmick. I can throw with the wind on one cast, and then the next directly into the wind without the need to make any major braking adjustments, or usually none whatsoever. Add this to the fact that the reel was at $200 with shipping.

A big thanks to those that posted about their orders as that was what got me to pull the trigger on this fine reel!

 

THIS SHOULD PRETTY MUCH SUM IT UP FOR YA! GET ONE!!

[new2BC4bass]

Thanks, guys.  I had already planned on getting the reel, but wanted to hear a bit more about it.  A reel that can "correct" my casting mistakes is a good reel to have. 

 

I've got a little Daiwa collection started, too, including a couple 103L that they call the "Purple" Alphas and an Alphas F.  I really like these reels a lot.  The F has been supertuned and has 6.8 gears in it.

 

The Purple Alphas not only is a beautiful looking reel, but TT had this to say about it in a review:

 

".....was able to cast lures down to one sixteenth of an ounce with relative ease and heavier lures, up to three quarters of an ounce were also easily handled. This is an impressively versatile reel."

 

From what I have been able to garner from the Internet, this new Alphas is just as capable, but with a spool that is amazing.  However, being the super caster I am, I bet I can find a way to backlash it.     

[Raul]

The Alphas ( I have Itö, Type F and R Edition ) series are some of my favorite reels however this time I´m going to pass, I have a brand new SS SV that has seen absolutely no action, but I´m pretty shure that it must be a really good reel.

[rippin-lips]

I rarely touch my ss sv. It has the sv spool, but the braking on that particular reel is too much.

[bootytrain]

I rarely touch my ss sv. It has the sv spool, but the braking on that particular reel is too much.

I fished mine twice and it's been on the shelf since. It's a great reel make no mistake but I much prefer the 15 Aldebaran 50 because it does everything a little bit better.

[new2BC4bass]

The Alphas ( I have Itö, Type F and R Edition ) series are some of my favorite reels however this time I´m going to pass, I have a brand new SS SV that has seen absolutely no action, but I´m pretty shure that it must be a really good reel.

 

Obviously you have accumulated too many reels.  Could always send a couple to me.  I don't have an R Edition or the SS SV........if that would help you decide which ones to send. 

[new2BC4bass]

I rarely touch my ss sv. It has the sv spool, but the braking on that particular reel is too much.

 

Too much braking for an expert like you probably would make it just right for a lot of beginners....and not so great casters like myself. 

 

So you are saying the braking hurts distance.....and most likely accuracy?

[rippin-lips]

Too much braking for an expert like you probably would make it just right for a lot of beginners....and not so great casters like myself.

So you are saying the braking hurts distance.....and most likely accuracy?

I'm pretty far off from an expert. Barely even a rookie. For throwing a 5" senko I have the mag brake set on 1. This is using #16 sniper fc. Which we all know fluorocarbon isn't the easiest casting line. I have not tried throwing anything weighing 1/2oz + I've read the same type of thing before too. It's just too tame. I think I read mention of it being the magnets in the side plate. It's not the spool. I can toss it in another reel and it works great. I'd buy another Alphas over the ss.

[ec1]

I've been following the Shimano lineup since I got my 13met when it first came out, but I am thoroughly impressed with the Alphas SV.

 

Casting wise, it seems to be about the same in terms of distance against my chronarch CI4+, but it seems to be able to do it easier, and with less thumbing required once set properly.

Retrieve wise, it is buttery smooth and the drag seems to be fine for cranks and spinnerbaits. The spool can hold more line than the spool says it can. I currently have a little mono backing and 125yds of sunline sx1 in 20# all on that "shallower" spool.

 

It beats the chronarch in price, for about equal performance. The downside is that there are only 2 gear ratios to choose from.

I wouldn't hesitate to get another one if I were to upgrade one of my other reels.