Shimano Antares DC owners, are they worth the price?

[BassGuyJoe]

I am very interested in buying a new Shimano Antares DC but it has been hard to spend the coin because no one I know fishes with JDM tackle, let alone an Antares DC. Would just like to hear some peoples opinions on this reel. How do you like it? Would you buy it again or recommend it? Anything you wish you knew before buying it that you learned once you owned it?

[FishTank]

I don't have this one but I have 2 Antares 12's and the 70A.  I picked up the 70A instead of the DC.  I have a Curado DC though and it is a fantastic reel but the DC portion of it is just another tool for the job.  I like the old school brakes better for most of the stuff I fish.   

 

Are the Antares reels worth the money?>

 

From a fun and function stand point, Yes.  They are the smoothest reels ever.  The drag is amazing and casting is just fantastic (maybe the best), especially the 70A.  

 

From a practicality stand point> No.  I would invest the money in a top of the line rod or go to the Steez SV TW or CT for that matter.  The Steez reels are not as buttery smooth in some ways (not by much though) but they do a better job of being a fantastic reel that gets the job done.  To put it another way, if I was going to get 5 Antares 70A's or 5 Steez SV TW's for tournament fishing.  I would get the Steez. 

 

Would I get the Antares DC? > Maybe, it would depend if I am planning on fishing into the wind or using it for baits I find difficult to cast.   I still think if I was to buy another Antares for all around use, I would get the 70A.  It works better for my style of fishing. 

 

[detroit1]

nice post fishtank.

[Phil77]

Do some reading on the 4x8 DC brake system and see if it would benefit your fishing style. My brother has one and it's a Cadillac of a reel but I would rather have the non DC personally for the way I fish. Then again the curado and slx mgl reels make parting with $600 for a chromed out version hard for me. Don't be afraid of buying JDM, the DC system recharges itself and the most you would have to worry about maintenance wise is lubricating it yourself unless you break something internally. 

[KP Duty]

The Antares will be worth it.  Whether or not to go DC is more debatable. 

[bulldog1935]

To me, buying JDM tackle is a no-brainer. 

They offer five-times as many options in JDM as they export to USM - both prices and inventory are better. 

Shipping JDM to US is quicker and more reliable than shipping within US. 

 

The choice for DC is going to depend on your thumb.  If you tend to set brakes high and not use much thumb, especially at the end of your cast, you'll prefer DC. 

If you prefer light brakes, know how to set them, prefer lightweight free-spinning spools, and modulate distance and finish cast with your thumb, you'll probably prefer non-DC reel.  Shimano's marketing for DC is kind of the opposite of the reality - you can get better distance from a light free-spinning spool than one that applies brakes 1000-times per second. 

 

I put my money earlier in the Steez/Zillion camp, and couldn't be more delighted with the result and spool options out there. 

[DanTheFireman]

I have the '18 Antares DC MD and love it, if you have the extra coin I would say just do it. Mine was about 520 shipped two years ago. The smoothest reel I have is a '16 Antares non DC, the shiny one but this one is almost as smooth. I have a Curado DC and an Exsence DC for salt water and they are excellent also, my buddy loves his SLX DCs so you can't go wrong with any of them.

[Frezzy]

I have the JDM 21 Antares DC.  Fished it the last couple months of the season.  Its amazing.  My only complaint is the spool tension knob is a real pain in the ass to adjust.  I got mine new from Digitaka for $530 shipped.  At that price point its an absolute no brainer.  Its superior to all my 2020 Metanium MGLs and only cost about $100 more.

[CrankFate]

Unless you are a weight weenie and you have no other choice for reels that are less heavy, the only way a reel over $250 is worth it is dependent on how much you want it.

 

[ATA]

YES they are

[QED]

10 hours ago, CrankFate said:

Unless you are a weight weenie and you have no other choice for reels that are less heavy, the only way a reel over $250 is worth it is dependent on how much you want it.

 

So you would hate the 2021 Steez CT SV TW 70 then?  Despite it being the best casting reel Daiwa ever made, per Daiwa...

[CrankFate]

10 hours ago, QED said:

So you would hate the 2021 Steez CT SV TW 70 then?  Despite it being the best casting reel Daiwa ever made, per Daiwa...

???I never said anything about hate. But according to every manufacturer, basically every product they make is the best.