High End Spinning Reels?

[roadwarrior]

Well, you don't need a Lexus to drive to the store and you certainly don't NEED a 

Stella to catch bass. However, it's not just about "catching", most of the time it's

about "fishing" (cast & retrieve). I have owned a variety of Shimano spinning reels

over the years, but for the past decade or so I have added to my collection of Stella.

They are like holding kitty cat in the palm of your hand.

 

 

[S Hovanec]

3 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

They are like holding kitty cat in the palm of your hand.

 

 

 

Stella is certainly sexy and I'd like it own her some day, the color scheme doesn't do it for me.  I like to match up my rods and reels and I cannot come up with anything to make a Stella look good on a Blue/green flip or forest green SCV.  Maybe on the pearl white SCV Inshore.

 

I guess I'll settle for holding a puppy dog!  My next DS reel will be an Exsence.

[NYWayfarer]

14 hours ago, Stingray23 said:

Tighter tolerances, better quality bearings, much smoother, better components, better quality materials, will last much longer.

If they last too long there is no excuse to go out and buy a new reel!

[Chance_Taker4]

I don't think I'll ever have the budget to purchase a reel over $300. So to me $300 is my high end. I have been using Presidents, Abu Orra SX, Ardent Bolt and Lews Mach II Metal Speed Spin. I grew up using Abu and am starting to gravitate back to their lineup that's why I am considering the Revo Rocket plus I found it new for $130. However the Stradic will look even better on my rod and can't beat how light it is.

[S Hovanec]

As mentioned, one of the biggest difference is longevity.  Most reels in the $150-$200 range feel very similar.  Compare them on 2 years, 5 years, even 10 years.  Some won't be around to do the comparison.  I have a 15 year old Sustain that is as smooth or smoother than most if the $200 reels on the market today.  I think it was a $220 reel.....back in 2002.

[BasserJim]

1 hour ago, NYWayfarer said:

If they last too long there is no excuse to go out and buy a new reel!

What the heck do you need an excuse for? My excuse for buying new tackle is that I want it. 

[Rodney Smith]

I enjoy some high end things, but a Stella reel is at a price most guys would never consider paying for a spinning reel. I’m sure the Stella is the Ferrari of fishing reels, but for 98% of us who would never spend $600 on a spinning reel, the Ci4 would make a great choice.

[BasserJim]

7 minutes ago, Rodney Smith said:

I enjoy some high end things, but a Stella reel is at a price most guys would never consider paying for a spinning reel. I’m sure the Stella is the Ferrari of fishing reels, but for 98% of us who would never spend $600 on a spinning reel, the Ci4 would make a great choice.

They’re actually up to $800 now. 

[NYWayfarer]

8 minutes ago, BasserJim said:

What the heck do you need an excuse for? My excuse for buying new tackle is that I want it. 

You must not be married

[BasserJim]

31 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

You must not be married

Oh contraire, this is my beautiful wife of 3 years and my 2 year old fishing buddy and tackle thief. She doesn’t say anything about my tackle purchasing habits. I don’t smoke, got out to bars or drink excessively or hardly at all, I don’t do drugs or cheat. She figures if spending money on fishing tackle that brings me great enjoyment is the worst habit I’ve got she’s got it pretty lucky. 

 

 

I don’t buy anything I know we can’t afford, and I don’t have to have an excuse or ask permission. On the same token, she has a closet full of dozens of pairs of shoes, lularoe leggings, Coach purses, and the like.... which she doesn’t need an excuse or permission for either. 

[Rodney Smith]

I have had one Shimano Metanium and one Loomis NRX.  To me, that’s about as high-end as I’m comfortable going.  However, if you have one passion and a Stella is within your budget and that’s what you want, I say more power to you. I’d love to fish one myself.  Until that day, my ci4’s will have to do.  The problem is, once you have tried the good stuff, it’s hard to go back. My wife just sent me to El Salto in Mexico for my 50th birthday.  Now, fishing my spots back home suddenly doesn’t seem quite a good as they used to.

[Alpster]

I am also a Stella fan and the "Twin Power" (JDM Sustain), I have is pretty sweet also for less $$. No one wants a Stella until they get to fish with one.

[S Hovanec]

5 minutes ago, Alpster said:

No one wants a Stella until they get to fish with one.

And that's why I'll let them on my boat, but I won't use them!

[Bill B.]

Don't forget that, in about two weeks, you can buy the American versions of these reels at 20 percent off.

 

Also, for the Stella and Steez, consider taking advantage of the favorable exchange rate and buying from Japan. For example, you can get a 17 Stella for right at $400, shipped:

 

http://jpangler.com/index.php/reel/daiwa-spinning/17-steez.html

 

[NYWayfarer]

1 hour ago, BasserJim said:

I don’t buy anything I know we can’t afford, and I don’t have to have an excuse or ask permission.

Hope you didn't take offense to my post, the winky face was there to avoid that.

 

By the above quote, it sounds like you have it all figured out. Money is the cause of a lot of anxiety and problems for many couples. When one person is a spender and the other is a saver, they have issues with excuses and permission. When both people are spenders...yikes! If both are savers, well they die leaving their kids a lot of money.

[BasserJim]

18 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

Hope you didn't take offense to my post, the winky face was there to avoid that.

 

By the above quote, it sounds like you have it all figured out. Money is the cause of a lot of anxiety and problems for many couples. When one person is a spender and the other is a saver, they have issues with excuses and permission. When both people are spenders...yikes! If both are savers, well they die leaving their kids a lot of money.

I am incredibly, immensely offended. You should immediately offer me a craft beer and a back seat on your boat for a day on Champlain to make up for this egregious error!!!!

 

Its all good!

[skno]

Penn

[burrows]

On 11/4/2017 at 6:40 AM, PatrickKnight said:

First off skip the Revos imo, when it comes to high end spinners Shimano and Daiwa are a class above everything else. The main thing you get is longevity and overall ease of use. Most bass fisherman tend to skimp a bit on spinners but since its all I use I can say anything from the Stradic and above you really see what Shimano is all about. Also that Luvias is a remarkable reel.

 

If you have a 300 dollar budget the Luvias is where I would spend my money for 200 I would go with a Stradic FK (I personally don't care for the Ci4 as I find its so light it makes most rods pretty tip heavy).

 

As of late I have been extremely happy with my purchase of a Daiwa BG. It is hands down the best 100 dollar spinning reel I have ever used. 

 

If I could go back to Jan 1 of 2017 I would buy the reel below and be happy very very happy. However I am still happy with my FK and BG combo.

 

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_Luvias_Aluminum_ABS_Deep_Spool_Spinning_Reel/descpage-LAA.html

My stradic ci4 doesn't make my rods tip heavy. For finesse fishing I find this reel to be extremely comfortable for fishing all day. A heavy reel finesse fishing all day long cramps up my hand.

23 hours ago, Rodney Smith said:

I enjoy some high end things, but a Stella reel is at a price most guys would never consider paying for a spinning reel. I’m sure the Stella is the Ferrari of fishing reels, but for 98% of us who would never spend $600 on a spinning reel, the Ci4 would make a great choice.

Agreed 

[S Hovanec]

On 11/6/2017 at 11:57 AM, BasserJim said:

 She doesn’t say anything about my tackle purchasing habits. I don’t smoke, got out to bars or drink excessively, I don’t do drugs or cheat.

 

 

 

 Mine either.  Actually, mine likes it when I get new stuff.  I get a new SCV with TwinPower, she got my old SCV with Stradic Mg. I am repossessing the Stradic Mg and getting her a new JDM Stradic FK.

[hoosierbass07]

My highest end spinning reel is my Stradic CI4+ and it is so light it feel like it's made out of paper.  I love that reel! lol. 

[bigfruits]

On 11/5/2017 at 5:43 PM, davecon said:

Do not, I repeat, do not try a Shimano C14 !!!

 

I made that mistake and am now not happy with the other spinning reels I have.

 

i cannot fish aluminum reels for fresh water bass any more.

On 11/5/2017 at 6:38 PM, djektd said:

It's a proven fact that the more money you spend on a reel, the more fish it catches.

youre missing the point.

[.ghoti.]

I have some flooger spinning reels, and I can truly say nice things about them. I have one Supreme I bought the first year they came out. Don't rightly recall how long ago that's been, but it still works like it did when I got it. Of the three Supreme XTs, one was bought the year after i got the first supreme, and it still works like new. They are all light, smooth, nice smooth drags, and appear to be durable. Very good bang for the buck. Recommended.

 

However, I also have two Certates. All I can say is, yeah, there is a difference.

[Yumeya]

On 11/6/2017 at 11:29 AM, Bill B. said:

Don't forget that, in about two weeks, you can buy the American versions of these reels at 20 percent off.

 

Also, for the Stella and Steez, consider taking advantage of the favorable exchange rate and buying from Japan. For example, you can get a 17 Stella for right at $400, shipped:

 

http://jpangler.com/index.php/reel/daiwa-spinning/17-steez.html

 

I got the Steez on its way right now

[Lost..]

@bigfruits Not missing the point at all, it was a joke. I'm all for buying quality gear. I have a few older Stradic Ci4's and 2 newer ones.. Can't say enough good things about them. 

[Hulkster]

the best thing Shimano ever did was change the horrible round EVA foam handle knob on the first few generations of Ci4s to the septon one. over on tackletour on the support forum, every other thread was about how to change out the handle knob lol

 

at least Shimano listened.