Steez/Antares

[MiceNReets]

if You had the chance to get a Steez A2 or Antares 70a…  what would you pick and why?
 

Anyone have experience with both? What are the pros and cons?

 

Thinking of it as an all around reel with braid. 

[FishTank]

I have both. 

 

The smoothest and furthest casting too me is the Antares.  It's also great to work on despite the tight tolerances. Downside is the finish. When it's cold it's like holding an ice cube. Otherwise, it's a pleasure to fish. 

 

On the other hand, the Steez AII is a workhorse and it feels more like a big lure reel. It's definitely a bigger reel.  I liked it so well I bought two of them, one for deep diving crank baits and the other for heavier Texas rigged soft plastic and some topwater. 

 

In the end, if I was only buying one, I would probably get the Steez but if I was looking to add a pleasure reel, I would go with the Antares.  I would also think of which reel would fit your needs better and which reel palms better for you. 

 

To confuse things some.... day in day out, you should also consider the Metanium. Great reel as well. 

[djhands]

I have a Antares 70a 6 speed on a raid gladiator Maximus Baltoro Heat 2.   It's an amazing junk fishing combo.    

[thunderblack]

Steez. The Antares will blind fish. 

[MiceNReets]

On 7/22/2024 at 2:38 PM, thunderblack said:

Steez. The Antares will blind fish. 

Ha!  Yeah I’m sure it would blind me if I forgot my shades.   LoL

 

 

[king fisher]

I would get 10 - 20 years in jail, because the only way I would be able to afford either of those reels is if I robed a bank.

[MN Fisher]

^ What he said...

[Maverick2017]

Antares. Period.

 

I tried a 23’ Steez A II and wasn’t crazy about it. Palmed awkward for me. That was my last time trying Daiwa reels for a second time, and I was left underwhelmed again.

 

Shimano is the juice. 

 

 

[Cgrinder]

When they say the Antares get cold in cold weather, they mean it. Plus when you ding em, it's noticeable. 

 

I would buy neither because the Zillion exists. I find 6 pin SVS to be fussy and don't care for it. 

[Bigbox99]

For me it would be the Steez for all around.  I prefer the braking profile and spool swap options for all around use.  Centrifugal reels like the Antares are chuck and wind on open water kind of reels which is more of a specialty to me than an all around.  I don't know how skip friendly the Steez A2 spool is but there is the option to drop in an SV spool if needed.  To me, that's a huge advantage for the Steez.  

[MiceNReets]

On 8/7/2024 at 10:40 PM, Maverick2017 said:

Antares. Period.

 

I tried a 23’ Steez A II and wasn’t crazy about it. Palmed awkward for me. That was my last time trying Daiwa reels for a second time, and I was left underwhelmed again.

 

Shimano is the juice. 

 

 

Ahhh that’s weird.   I find the steez a2 palms the best for me out of all my reels.  I’m just curious on if I’m missing out on an antares or not.  I’m content with the steez a2 but I do enjoy trying new gear lol

On 8/8/2024 at 9:58 AM, Cgrinder said:

When they say the Antares get cold in cold weather, they mean it. Plus when you ding em, it's noticeable. 

 

I would buy neither because the Zillion exists. I find 6 pin SVS to be fussy and don't care for it. 

Yeah I’m in Canada.    We’re cold 7 months of the year.  Preparing to build my igloo soon

 

in all seriousness I’ve heard they get pretty cold.  My bass season is usually April to May and then it’s closed for a month to 1.5 months.  Then I have July to October pretty much and wait for the next year.  I don’t know if I’ll make it too cold weather for bass fishing but anything is possible.    
 

I was wondering on how easily they get marked up.  I’ve gone 2 years with my zillion looking mint.   Let my kid try it once and it has its battle scars now lol it mark up easier than the zillion?  Being a chrome finish and how scratches show it might drive me insane.   I already have a steez a2.   Was offered a trade for a new antares 70a but I haven’t been able to find time to trade yet anyways so lots of time to think about it  
 

 

On 8/8/2024 at 10:03 AM, Bigbox99 said:

For me it would be the Steez for all around.  I prefer the braking profile and spool swap options for all around use.  Centrifugal reels like the Antares are chuck and wind on open water kind of reels which is more of a specialty to me than an all around.  I don't know how skip friendly the Steez A2 spool is but there is the option to drop in an SV spool if needed.  To me, that's a huge advantage for the Steez.  

I have the steez already.   Great reel.  Was offered  trade so I was trying to see if it was worth it.   Feels like the steez a2 fishes more my style but wasn’t sure if I’m missing out anything by not trying an antares lol    🤷🏻‍♂️   I haven’t even tried skipping with the steez to know how it does.  Not something I excel at or really have the opportunity to try when fishing from shore.   Lately I’ve been stuck to rivers since I moved so it all seems to be cast and reel back.  

[Bigbox99]

49 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

Ahhh that’s weird.   I find the steez a2 palms the best for me out of all my reels.  I’m just curious on if I’m missing out on an antares or not.  I’m content with the steez a2 but I do enjoy trying new gear lol

Yeah I’m in Canada.    We’re cold 7 months of the year.  Preparing to build my igloo soon

 

in all seriousness I’ve heard they get pretty cold.  My bass season is usually April to May and then it’s closed for a month to 1.5 months.  Then I have July to October pretty much and wait for the next year.  I don’t know if I’ll make it too cold weather for bass fishing but anything is possible.    
 

I was wondering on how easily they get marked up.  I’ve gone 2 years with my zillion looking mint.   Let my kid try it once and it has its battle scars now lol it mark up easier than the zillion?  Being a chrome finish and how scratches show it might drive me insane.   I already have a steez a2.   Was offered a trade for a new antares 70a but I haven’t been able to find time to trade yet anyways so lots of time to think about it  
 

 

I have the steez already.   Great reel.  Was offered  trade so I was trying to see if it was worth it.   Feels like the steez a2 fishes more my style but wasn’t sure if I’m missing out anything by not trying an antares lol    🤷🏻‍♂️   I haven’t even tried skipping with the steez to know how it does.  Not something I excel at or really have the opportunity to try when fishing from shore.   Lately I’ve been stuck to rivers since I moved so it all seems to be cast and reel back.  

You would like the Antares.  The T Wing and braking profile of the Steez is helpful with stiff plastic lines and sending baits to targets along cover but you use braid and are bank bound.  The Antares would be great for you considering it's the new 70 and a fair trade to the Steez A2.