Super User FishTank Posted February 9, 2020 Super User Posted February 9, 2020 So someone I know is selling a Shimano Antares left from 2012 that is pretty much mint in the box for $275, which is half of what he paid for it. It has hardly ever been used and has been sitting in the box for about 2 years. I have been wanting one of these ever since I have sold my old Shimano Calais 201A. My question is..... should I jump on it, look at something else around this price or save my cash and get the new one? Quote
NathanDLTH Posted February 9, 2020 Posted February 9, 2020 IMO if it isn’t DC then no. If it’s DC I’d consider it. That’s the only thing which Shimano has that Daiwa doesn’t. For me that’s the deciding factor. Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted February 9, 2020 Super User Posted February 9, 2020 I am a Daiwa fan, but I'd probably jump on that since I've never had an Antares. I've read they are great reels. Let me know if you don't want it and your friend is willing to sell it to someone else at the same price. 1 Quote
Maico1 Posted February 9, 2020 Posted February 9, 2020 8 hours ago, FishTank said: So someone I know is selling a Shimano Antares left from 2012 that is pretty much mint in the box for $275, which is half of what he paid for it. It has hardly ever been used and has been sitting in the box for about 2 years. I have been wanting one of these ever since I have sold my old Shimano Calais 201A. My question is..... should I jump on it, look at something else around this price or save my cash and get the new one? There lies your answer , still have 2 in my quiver........ Quote
Crankin4Bass Posted February 9, 2020 Posted February 9, 2020 The Bait Monkey says YES!!!! (You can always sell if you don't like it.) Quote
Super User FishTank Posted February 9, 2020 Author Super User Posted February 9, 2020 4 hours ago, NathanDLTH said: IMO if it isn’t DC then no. If it’s DC I’d consider it. That’s the only thing which Shimano has that Daiwa doesn’t. For me that’s the deciding factor. I like both Daiwa and Shimano reel but both in different ways.... The reel I am looking at is the JDM version and not the DC (I wish it was). I have the Daiwa Steez SV TWS and I think it probably the best reel I have ever used but it's not my favorite. That will probably always be the Shimano Core. It's just fun to fish and has been my lucky charm since I bought it. Quote
Shimano_1 Posted February 9, 2020 Posted February 9, 2020 Yes I would pay that for a mint one right now! As stated if u dont like it I'm sure it wont be hard to get ur money back Quote
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted February 9, 2020 Super User Posted February 9, 2020 I am a huge Shimano fan and I have owned that reel. IMHO it is a novelty reel more than anything. It's one of those, "yea I have an Antares". There are way better reels out now for what you would be paying for that one. The Bantam MGL is light years ahead of that reel in almost every way aside from the name. I used mine for a little bit and realized it was nothing more than name as I had many reels that out performed it. You mentioned the Core, same way in a sense. There are reels out now that exceed the Core in many ways, but they don't have the name Core tied to them. Had Shimano named the Aldebaran 50 a Core and painted it black, people would have lost their mind. LOL All that being said, if I could get a deal on a 67 shortbed fleetside Chevy pickup I would buy one simply because I have always wanted one. So I say, if you want it simply just because, then get that sucker. Quote
TBAG Posted February 9, 2020 Posted February 9, 2020 I'm a Shimano fanboi so I'd have a hard time passing on that deal...... I'd say go for it, surely you can get your money back if you change your mind. Quote
Super User FishTank Posted February 10, 2020 Author Super User Posted February 10, 2020 It's on the way. We will see what it's like when it gets here. 2 Quote
Super User DitchPanda Posted February 10, 2020 Super User Posted February 10, 2020 Atta boy..see the bait monkey gets what he wants..mine is more like a silverback guerilla..I don't want the stuff but I'm afraid if I don't give in he will tear my arm off and beat me to death with it In all seriousness I don't own anything near that nice but making the jump from $50 to $150 reels for me and seeing that difference..I dont think you could possibly be disappointed in the antares especially at that price Quote
Crankin4Bass Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 1 hour ago, FishTank said: It's on the way. We will see what it's like when it gets here. Good job! Now you just need to buy another rod to go with it. ? 1 Quote
Super User FishTank Posted February 10, 2020 Author Super User Posted February 10, 2020 18 hours ago, Crankin4Bass said: Good job! Now you just need to buy another rod to go with it. ? That's my thought.... I am going to Indy Boat Sport and Travel Show next weekend. The last time I went, several years ago, I scored a G.Loomis GLX 803C for half price from a Loomis vendor. Luckily it was not a demo or a second. It was close to the last day and they wanted to move some stock. If I had the cash, I would have bought everything I could put my hands on. I am not sure what I will get just yet. I want to get the reel in my hands first. 1 Quote
Crankin4Bass Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 That's a deal! Good luck at the show! How do you like that GLX 803c? I've been thinking of getting that one for jigs. I have the GLX 783c MBR and it's great all around. Quote
Super User FishTank Posted February 11, 2020 Author Super User Posted February 11, 2020 38 minutes ago, Crankin4Bass said: That's a deal! Good luck at the show! How do you like that GLX 803c? I've been thinking of getting that one for jigs. I have the GLX 783c MBR and it's great all around. I have the 783C GLX as well. It is one of my favorite rods. I use for just about anything but I like it for jerkbaits. The 803C is a great rod but the version I have came just after the one with the Recoil guides (which was a better rod in my opinion). The new version is supposed to capture what the orginal one felt like. I use the 803C for small jigs and t-rigged soft plastic. 1 Quote
Super User FishTank Posted February 15, 2020 Author Super User Posted February 15, 2020 So the Bait Monkey delivered today...... 2 Quote
AmSO4 Posted April 13, 2020 Posted April 13, 2020 So how do you like the 2012 Antares? Have you had a chance to fish it? Quote
Super User FishTank Posted April 13, 2020 Author Super User Posted April 13, 2020 5 minutes ago, AmSO4 said: So how do you like the 2012 Antares? Have you had a chance to fish it? Love it so far. I have fished about 6 times since I got it. It did need a lot of work though. I have replaced the brake ring, 4 bearings, the drag washers, the main gear and the pinion. It did look perfectly new on the outside but the guy that owned it before me probably fished this as his only reel. The insides were toast. Yesterday I was out on the water for about 8 hours and fished it for about 3 of those hours. I only caught one fish though. My only complaint is that it maybe too solid and too smooth. It's so effortless that I sort of loose some of that connection I like to have with the reel but it casts a mile and smoothness is off the charts. I will be probably be using this as a topwater/jerkbait reel. Quote
AmSO4 Posted April 13, 2020 Posted April 13, 2020 Thanks for the information. I was thinking about getting one off Ebay. There are some brand new 5.6:1 leftys going for auction that look interesting. I already have SLX MGL, Chronarch MGL, Bantam MGL, SLX DC, Curado DC, Scorpion DC, Engetsu, Aldebaren 51 and Aldebaren BFS, and a new Metanium on order. But no Antares. So far my favorite reels are the Bantam and the Aldebaren 51. Not sure why I would want a 7.8oz 5.6:1 reel other than its an Antares and want to see what its like. Maybe for 10XDs or something. If I can get a new on for under $300 it may be worth it to give it a whirl. Quote
Super User FishTank Posted April 13, 2020 Author Super User Posted April 13, 2020 11 minutes ago, AmSO4 said: Thanks for the information. I was thinking about getting one off Ebay. There are some brand new 5.6:1 leftys going for auction that look interesting. I already have SLX MGL, Chronarch MGL, Bantam MGL, SLX DC, Curado DC, Scorpion DC, Engetsu, Aldebaren 51 and Aldebaren BFS, and a new Metanium on order. But no Antares. So far my favorite reels are the Bantam and the Aldebaren 51. Not sure why I would want a 7.8oz 5.6:1 reel other than its an Antares and want to see what its like. Maybe for 10XDs or something. If I can get a new on for under $300 it may be worth it to give it a whirl. I picked my second one up from the same guy on eBay. I definitely got a good deal. I have paired it with a St. Croix Legend Glass and use it for crankbaits. I also put 13lb Sunline Defier on it and this line is amazing. Best cranking line I have ever used. I wish I would have found it sooner. Also, nice collection you got of Shimanos. If you ever want to branch out, the Daiwa Steez SV TWS is an amazing reel. In someways, I like it better than the Antares (any of them). The Antares has the amazing look and buttery smoothness but the Steez has a better feel for functionality. Quote
AmSO4 Posted April 13, 2020 Posted April 13, 2020 Funny you mention that. A reel (Aldebaren) I bought used from Japan had some line on it and I fished with it. I thought, wow this reel is so smooth. I took the line off since I did not know for sure what I had, and I spooled up with Sniper and it lost some of the smoothness it had. I should get some of the Defier and see if it gets super smooth again. I did not know line could make such a difference. Also, what is the reel second from the left? Quote
Super User FishTank Posted April 13, 2020 Author Super User Posted April 13, 2020 3 minutes ago, AmSO4 said: Funny you mention that. A reel (Aldebaren) I bought used from Japan had some line on it and I fished with it. I thought, wow this reel is so smooth. I took the line off since I did not know for sure what I had, and I spooled up with Sniper and it lost some of the smoothness it had. I should get some of the Defier and see if it gets super smooth again. I did not know line could make such a difference. Also, what is the reel second from the left? I don't know if the line will help with smoothness but it's worth a shot. I have tried Sniper in the past and it's not bad. I never noticed it effecting the smoothness of a reel though. As far as the reel that is second from the left, it's an Antares 19 70A Left. I ordered it from a store on eBay in Japan. I paid $360 minus a $50 coupon I got for signing up for PayPal Credit so $310. It is, so far, beyond belief. I have never fished anything like it before. It's so smooth, it feels invisible. Quote
AmSO4 Posted April 13, 2020 Posted April 13, 2020 Nice deal on the '19. Based on your comments I will go for the '12. I have never tried the Steez SV. I have a few to the Tat TW SV and I use them for skipping, pitching and roll casting jigs mostly. I find the Shimanos cast longer and feel nicer for other things, but I am comparing higher end Shimano to lower end Daiwa. The Daiwa brakes definitely are more forgiving, doing short range jig work. Quote
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted April 13, 2020 Super User Posted April 13, 2020 1 hour ago, AmSO4 said: Nice deal on the '19. Based on your comments I will go for the '12. I have never tried the Steez SV. I have a few to the Tat TW SV and I use them for skipping, pitching and roll casting jigs mostly. I find the Shimanos cast longer and feel nicer for other things, but I am comparing higher end Shimano to lower end Daiwa. The Daiwa brakes definitely are more forgiving, doing short range jig work. Of all the Shimano reels you listed, the 12 Antares will probably be your least favorite reel you have. Like you, I wanted one simply because it was an Antares. It is no where near the reel a Bantam, Chronarch MGL, or even Curado DC is. If I were you (I am not) but I would just splurge for a 19 Antares. The 12 might be good for deep cranking (which seems like that may be what you want it for) or throwing a swimbait, but all the other reels you already own will do a better job at 99% of any other style fishing. JMHO 1 Quote
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