Older Shimanos

[Quarry Man]

i am seeing a bunch of older shimano reels on eBay. Are they any good compared to today's reels. For $150 they seem like a steal. They might not have today's best technology, but they were the high-end reels a few years back. what do you think? I saw an Antares 5 maybe for 150 or less. seems like an awesome deal but i really don't know.

[kickerfish1]

What reels are you specifically looking at besides the Antares? What size Antares? Is it a DC model? Lots more info is needed. The Antares is the JDM version of the Calais. What does that mean? It is basically one super smooth shiny toy that is build like a tank. What is the downside? The reels weigh a good amount by todays standard and if you are looking at the 200 sized Antares the frame is pretty large. I actually prefer many of the older Daiwa and Shimano reels to many of the newer ones.

[Mobasser]

I think some of the Japanese made Shimano reels are some of their best. Made in the 90s

[The Bassman]

I would say that the technology of Shimanos (and others) from say 10-15 years ago isn't inferior to today's. Some of these reels cast at least as good as new stuff. As mentioned the main improvements have been with weight and ergonomics. I have a Curado 100B with a Chronarch 50 MG spool that casts as well as anything I own. Biggest concern with these reels is parts availability.

[TOXIC]

"Normally" all of the advancements in reels today vs older stock has been in weight reduction.  There is one manufacturer that has come out with a reel with no bearings (***).  The "guts" have remained pretty much the same and there's a lot of visual changes to catch anglers.  ?

[Quarry Man]

I am looking at the Scorpion 201, 71, and Aldebaran. I was browsing eBay and saw some older BFS Aldebaran and chronarch 50mgs for around $150

[Sodaksam]

The old green Curados still cast as good as any of my new Lew’s and Diawas.  Bought a used Shimano Metanium— some Japanese-issued reel.  It’s older,but solid.

[Log Catcher]

I went fishing today and used Curado B for a while. It still casts as good as my newer reels.

[Bluebasser86]

I sold all my newer Shimanos, but kept all my Curado, Chronarch, and Calcutta B series, if that says anything. 

[scbassin]

I own 4 Scorpion 1001's & 6 Scorpion 1001mg's . The mg's are great for fishing light weight lures. These reels are bullet proof.

[nd1225]

I’m a Daiwa guy and the OG Zillion platform is my favorite line up still.

 

Having said that I do have a Steez SV TW and you can tell a difference in the newer tech.

 

But you can take an 103 SV and you get the best of both worlds with the exception of a lighter reel.

 

One of my fishing buddies is hardcore Shimano and it’ll be a cold day in hell before he quits using his Bantam Chronarchs lol.

 

 

[JustJames]

I sold my old Shimanos and bought all new shimanos LOL.

[RB 77]

On 6/6/2018 at 12:05 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I sold all my newer Shimanos, but kept all my Curado, Chronarch, and Calcutta B series, if that says anything. 

 Yup. Love my "older" CU's and CT's!

[scbassin]

I have kept my old ones & have purchased new ones along the way. My total of Shimano's is now at 86.

[OnthePotomac]

Was on the big river yesterday and gave my Curado 70's and Curado K a work out and if there is anything wrong with either of those reel designs I sure as heck could not tell it.  They were used in addition to my Curado 100B's and Curado 200 E7's, so I do have something to compare them to.

[JustJames]

Seriously, I prefer the 200K over 200e in general fishing and also prefer 70 over 50e in casting. I still like my 50e series but sold my chronarch 50e for this one.

 

[The Bassman]

2 hours ago, JustJames said:

Seriously, I prefer the 200K over 200e in general fishing and also prefer 70 over 50e in casting. I still like my 50e series but sold my chronarch 50e for this one.

 

Somehow I don't think you broke even.  I'm always telling my wife that I'm selling one to buy another.  Been there, done that.  Seriously, tell us how the Bantam fishes.

[JustJames]

@The BassmanMe too, That how I getaway with buying new reel. I know it not even close for the price of chronarch and bantam, but at least I can tell my wife "honey I sold one reel can a buy a new one to replace it" lol.

And I also have a source that I can buy brand new Chronarch to replace the old one for not much more than what I sold it.

I intend to use bantam for top water and chatterbait since I'd need bigger line capacity than my 70 and 50e.

[soflabasser]

Shimano makes great spinning reels that is for sure and that's why I don't mind spending more money on these reels. My first Shimano Spirex lasted over 20 years and I used it for both freshwater and saltwater fishing ( bass,snook,tarpon,jacks, groupers, snappers, mackerels,kingfish, bonitos, mahi mahi,and many other species of fish). I still have this +20 year old Spirex for memories since it was the reel I caught my current PB bass and other very nice fish on. I also have a Shimano Stradic that is +10 years old and still works good, even after catching lots of big bass, big snook, and even a shark that was +7 feet long. 

[Quarry Man]

Im thinking about an older mg shimano as a beater rod that i can use for frogs of something like that that i won't be concerned with keeping it brand new for resale purposes