First Impressions of Scorpion 70HG

[offsidewing]

I had a chance to get my new Shimano Scorpion 70 out on the water yesterday.  I really wasn't expecting to catch any fish and didn't, but I wanted to test the castability of the reel.  I had the reel mounted on a 7' MF St Croix Avid X.  I fished a Green Pumpkin Fat Ika with a Gammy 5-0 EWG hook on 12lb Abraz-X.  I started out with 2 brakes on and the SVS setting on 1.  

First off the reel felt solid in my hands.  The only other 50 sized Shimanos I've fished are the Core 50 and 2015 Aldebaran 50.  The Aldebaran puts emphasis on being purely lightweight, so comparing the Alde to the new Scorpion is not practical.  This may be vulgar to some, but the Scorpion balanced and palmed as good to me as the Core.  The Scorpion weighs a little more than an ounce more than the Core and it was tough to tell the difference in weight while casting and flipping.  

Now onto the casting.  At first, with two brakes on and the dial set to 1, I wasn't impressed with the distance or smoothness of the cast.  After 20-30 casts, things seemed to settle in a bit.  The casting wasn't any farther, but I didn't feel any 'resistance' as the line came off the spool.  As I flung the Fat Ika around the pond more and more, I decided to start messing with the brakes a bit.  I took one brake off, leaving only one engaged, and set the dial to 3.  There was a noticeable increase in casting distance and efficiency.  I got more distance in the casts loading up the rod the same as I had earlier.  Flipping the Ika 10-20 feet was effortless and required very minimal thumbing before the bait hit the water.  I normally have a Metanium DC on this rod and the casting distance with the Scorpion rivaled the Met DC (worth noting that the Met DC isn't really a pure casting machine).  I was getting 100+ foot casts reasonably loading up the rod with the Ika.  I wasn't making "World's Longest Drive" casts, but was casting for practical distance without fear of a backlash.  Considering the amount of fishing I do in the summer months, I like working Ikas and Senkos from shallow-ish to deep water and this amount of casting distance I can cover more water or have the boat be a little further from the strike zone (anecdotally important to me in clear water).  This job is normally reserved for my Mets, but the Scorpion palms so much better to me.  Given the casting distance I was getting with the Scorpion, I'll be taking my Met XG on my next trip to see how the casting distance between the two compare.  

As far as the Core 50, I wonder if Shimano had the Scorpion 70 in development when they went from the 09 Aldebaran/Core to the new 2015 Aldebaran.  The new Aldebaran is a marked departure from the previous generation and left me scratching my head a bit when comparing old to new.  I think the new Scorpion is closer to the old Core than the new Aldebaran. It's likely the Scorpion will replace the Core on my rod rack/reel bag, but there is still something magical and enchanting about the Core 50MG7.  I don't know how to explain it.  It's like a 60's Era Shelby Mustang - there's tons of stuff out now that's better, but there's just something special about it.

My one gripe about the Scorpion is the length of the handle.  This may be because I fished two Metanium XGs most of last season and they have a slightly longer handle with larger grips.  But with the Mets when I'm burning the bait back to the boat it feels natural and the rotation of my wrist doesn't feel like I'm exceeding the radius of the handle. When I'm burning one back with the Scorpion handle, while 100 percent solid, the handle feels like I'm cranking on a Zebco 33 from my youth.  I see a larger aftermarket handle for my Scorpion coming soon as they are available.  The knobs are a departure from normal Shimano fare, especially if you've never fished the new Aldebaran.  

Also worth noting is that I never hooked onto a fish during my first 90 minutes with the reel.  I expect it will perform the same as the other X-ship equipped bait casters and the drag remains untested.  But as far as casting goes, the Scorpion 70 exceeded my expectations in distance and smoothness.  I will need to see how the reel performs with a fish on before I make a final determination, but I really like what the Scorpion has going on right now.

 

 

[Kevinator1]

Thanks for the review....i've got 2 Scorpion 70's on their way right now....i did buy one of the Curado 70 models and will be testing it out today.

[EvanT123]

Great review! So what your saying is you didn't notice a 1 ounce difference between the two??? 

Man you must be jacked

[Bluebasser86]

Good review. I have one ordered from Japan Tackle. I was hoping it would ship at the end of February like the website says, but here I am in mid-March with no reel and no shipping date in sight  I did get my Curado 70XG this week though. Really liked it what little I fished it yesterday but I agree on the handle. It's not bad, but the paddles feel too small for my hands. I'll probably be looking to upgrade it when I can unless I get use to them. 

[DesertBass]

Any pics of the scorpion next to the core?

[dam0007]

You got my mouth watering lol unfortunately lefties are SOL until May  

[reason162]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Good review. I have one ordered from Japan Tackle. I was hoping it would ship at the end of February like the website says, but here I am in mid-March with no reel and no shipping date in sight 

I'm in the same boat, preordered on japantackle and though the guys are very responsive to my annoying/prodding emails, no ship date in sight. Japanese ebayers have them listed since 2 weeks ago!

[Silas]

Got my email from Japan Tackle today. Told me I was 6th on pre order list and mine would ship tomorrow. 

  If it palms like a Core I'll be well pleased!  

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, Silas said:

Got my email from Japan Tackle today. Told me I was 6th on pre order list and mine would ship tomorrow. 

  If it palms like a Core I'll be well pleased!  

I'm number 12 and received no email 

[Silas]

Bluebasser, I'm sure you should hear something today since I inadvertently ordered 2 and Kayo was ready to ship them. Great service by the way !

  Should be perfect for the Poison Glorious I got on sale yesterday for $199 shipped!  On Amazon of all unexpected places. 

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, Silas said:

Bluebasser, I'm sure you should hear something today since I inadvertently ordered 2 and Kayo was ready to ship them. Great service by the way !

  Should be perfect for the Poison Glorious I got on sale yesterday for $199 shipped!  On Amazon of all unexpected places. 

Man I hope you're right, but with the way my luck has been lately, they probably took my name off the list or highlighted that I already got one. 

[fisherrw]

Thanks for review will be getting one soon!

[reason162]

10 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Man I hope you're right, but with the way my luck has been lately, they probably took my name off the list or highlighted that I already got one. 

I'm #17...and your comment just made me seriously paranoid

[BryanBrown]

On March 17, 2016 at 8:45 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Man I hope you're right, but with the way my luck has been lately, they probably took my name off the list or highlighted that I already got one. 

I was #18 and finally received an email yesterday saying...

Your reel is ready now. JapanTackle is closed from March 19th to 21st for Japanese national holidays.

The shipping will be after the holidays. 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

47 minutes ago, BryanBrown said:

I was #18 and finally received an email yesterday saying...

Your reel is ready now. JapanTackle is closed from March 19th to 21st for Japanese national holidays.

The shipping will be after the holidays. 

 

 

Got the same thing yesterday. 

[Kevinator1]

MIne just came in the mail today! Bought 2 of them.......woo hoo....only took 7 days from Japan after i ordered them.......

[Silas]

I took mine out yesterday just to cast off my pier. Put it on a 7'medium moderate St Croix Avid and 11#Defier I just received. Reminds me of my Steez 103H as it took awhile to dial it in. I was casting a 3/16 oz Jika rig with a craw. I was ok with the casting and kept fiddling with the brakes until I was side arming easily and accurately. 

   I don't think the Avid gave it its best showing. Put it on a Shimano  EXPRIDE 6'10" Medium to try this evening.   I'm sure it will be better. I'm thinking it's going to take more fiddling to get it where it's even more "effortless" to cast. 

    Strangely, I was testing 2 outfits yesterday: the other a Conquest 50Shallow spool filled with 20" Tasline white braid on a St Croix LTB 7'2" medium moderate custom with a one piece Eva handle. ( I don't really care for split handles) casting a 1/16 oz weighted jerk bait hook with a small Little Dipper. 

  I cast the 70 Scorpion for about half hour and caught a one pound bass. 

I put it down and picked up the Conquest rig. To my surprise and delighted shock I found the Conquest even smoother and less effort than the 70. With a lighter bait too 

and it cast farther. It was my first time with the Conquest also. 

Im thinking maybe it was the small diameter Tasline braid over the much larger 11# Defier. 

Or the better Rod. I'm VERY SATISFIED with BOTH setups and look forward to more experimentation. 

  ( and I get to compare to Offsidewings Aldebaran shortly!!

[new2BC4bass]

On 3/25/2016 at 1:28 PM, Silas said:

I took mine out yesterday just to cast off my pier. Put it on a 7'medium moderate St Croix Avid and 11#Defier I just received. Reminds me of my Steez 103H as it took awhile to dial it in. I was casting a 3/16 oz Jika rig with a craw. I was ok with the casting and kept fiddling with the brakes until I was side arming easily and accurately. 

   I don't think the Avid gave it its best showing. Put it on a Shimano  EXPRIDE 6'10" Medium to try this evening.   I'm sure it will be better. I'm thinking it's going to take more fiddling to get it where it's even more "effortless" to cast. 

    Strangely, I was testing 2 outfits yesterday: the other a Conquest 50Shallow spool filled with 20" Tasline white braid on a St Croix LTB 7'2" medium moderate custom with a one piece Eva handle. ( I don't really care for split handles) casting a 1/16 oz weighted jerk bait hook with a small Little Dipper. 

  I cast the 70 Scorpion for about half hour and caught a one pound bass. 

I put it down and picked up the Conquest rig. To my surprise and delighted shock I found the Conquest even smoother and less effort than the 70. With a lighter bait too 

and it cast farther. It was my first time with the Conquest also. 

Im thinking maybe it was the small diameter Tasline braid over the much larger 11# Defier. 

Or the better Rod. I'm VERY SATISFIED with BOTH setups and look forward to more experimentation. 

  ( and I get to compare to Offsidewings Aldebaran shortly!!

Whoa buddy!  Trying all the new stuff you can, huh.  Most of it I've never heard of.

 

On 3/17/2016 at 5:35 AM, Silas said:

Poison Glorious

What a name! 

Offsidewings?  Sounds like something a fly fisherman would be tying.

[Silas]

You are right Dale!  

Trying to squeeze it all in as time grows short!  And having fun doing it. 

 

[fletch616]

Updates? One season almost gone with the 70..Looking at ordering two of these to take place of my metanium XT's..what you owners of these are going to say now after several months on the water with them??

[Bluebasser86]

12 hours ago, fletch616 said:

Updates? One season almost gone with the 70..Looking at ordering two of these to take place of my metanium XT's..what you owners of these are going to say now after several months on the water with them??

It's been better than I'd hoped for. I've used mine for topwater and also light T rigs and it's done everything I could ask of it. 

[sprogk]

Hi Guys.

Will the scorpion 70 (6.3ratio) make a good jerkbait reel? Thinking of getting two of them for my dedicated jerkbait/shallow crank rods...

What do you think? Should be strong enough to hold up as a cranking reel? Is the main gear brass or aluminum?

thanks for your input

[johnD.]

17 minutes ago, sprogk said:

Hi Guys.

Will the scorpion 70 (6.3ratio) make a good jerkbait reel? Thinking of getting two of them for my dedicated jerkbait/shallow crank rods...

What do you think? Should be strong enough to hold up as a cranking reel? Is the main gear brass or aluminum?

thanks for your input

gears are brass and it will hold up to cranking.