Fishing reels

[bobthebuilder-1]

Any recommendations on a good model fishing reel Shimano makes. Currently looking to purchase one. 

[fishballer06]

All of them. 

 

 

Seriously though. Shimano has always had an excellent reputation in the reel market. Can you tell us what your budget is? Are you looking at a baitcaster or spinning reel?

[DaubsNU1]

Only reel brand I own...Shimano's rock.

[gim]

I'm mostly a shimano owner too.  I have a couple of diawas which I cannot complain about either.

[FishTank]

@bobthebuilder-1 Casting or Spinning?  Budget?  What rod and baits are wanting to use? Line?

 

For the most part, any Shimano reel as of late has been well made and will be fun to fish. 

 

[DogBone_384]

1 hour ago, fishballer06 said:

All of them.

 

Ditto ... what's your budget?  Stay within that and you can't go wrong.

[bulldog1935]

Instead of all of them, I'd go for a fewer nicer ones.  

 

If you want a spinning reel, Stradic remains the best reel buy ever.  

 

[Randy Price]

You didn't mention your budget.  In the < $ 100.00 range I like the Sahara, in the $ 100-150 range I like the Miravel or Nasci and in the $ 200 + range the tried and true Stradic or Vanford.

[bobthebuilder-1]

4 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

All of them. 

 

 

Seriously though. Shimano has always had an excellent reputation in the reel market. Can you tell us what your budget is? Are you looking at a baitcaster or spinning reel?

Below $200, in a spinning reel using braided line. Freshwater primarily. 

[fishballer06]

19 minutes ago, bobthebuilder-1 said:

Below $200, in a spinning reel using braided line. Freshwater primarily. 

Stradic is your answer then. Go with the Miravel if you want to save a few dollars for line and some baits. 2500 size is a perfect all around size. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I would probably get a stradic FM 2500 or 3k if I were you.  You can get one from digitaka for well under 200$.

I think Daiwa offers better budget reel,120$ or under, but IMO Shimano has the edge on the mid range reels from 120-350, unless you want a jigging reel.  Once you get to the higher end Daiwas with the AL main gear, like Luvias and up, then it gets pretty even again,

[PBBrandon]

+1 on the Stradic FM 2500/3000

 

no brainer slam dunk for under 200

[casts_by_fly]

15 hours ago, bobthebuilder-1 said:

Below $200, in a spinning reel using braided line. Freshwater primarily. 

jdm stradic in a 3k size and call it a day. 

[Randy Price]

I agree with the others regarding the Stradic.  Been using a Stradic since 2000 the FG model I believe.  Can't be beat!

[bobthebuilder-1]

23 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

Stradic is your answer then. Go with the Miravel if you want to save a few dollars for line and some baits. 2500 size is a perfect all around size. 

Thanks

3 hours ago, Randy Price said:

I agree with the others regarding the Stradic.  Been using a Stradic since 2000 the FG model I believe.  Can't be beat!

Thanks

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

jdm stradic in a 3k size and call it a day. 

Thanks

[bobthebuilder-1]

3 hours ago, Randy Price said:

I agree with the others regarding the Stradic.  Been using a Stradic since 2000 the FG model I believe.  Can't be beat!

Thanks

16 hours ago, PBBrandon said:

+1 on the Stradic FM 2500/3000

 

no brainer slam dunk for under 200

Thanks

18 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

I would probably get a stradic FM 2500 or 3k if I were you.  You can get one from digitaka for well under 200$.

I think Daiwa offers better budget reel,120$ or under, but IMO Shimano has the edge on the mid range reels from 120-350, unless you want a jigging reel.  Once you get to the higher end Daiwas with the AL main gear, like Luvias and up, then it gets pretty even again,

Thanks

On 9/23/2024 at 12:23 PM, bulldog1935 said:

Instead of all of them, I'd go for a fewer nicer ones.  

 

If you want a spinning reel, Stradic remains the best reel buy ever.  

 

Thanks

[Jig Man]

If you don’t need the extra line that the 3000 takes get the 2500.  The only difference between them is the spool.  The frames are the same.

[Eric 26]

I’m going to suggest a JDM Stradic to keep the price in check. I bought one a 1000 size based on all the recommendations on here and some really valuable insight from my friend @bulldog1935, I also bought a shallow spool Miravel 2000 and feel the Stradic is well worth the extra money. 

[Rockhopper]

I own a Stradic, a Stradic CI4+, two Nasci, and two Vanfords.  Personally, I would wait a paycheck and spring for the Vanford.  Well worth it over the standard Stadic.  The Nasci are very very good reals for the money if you want to go the opposite direction and save some money.  I have both 2500 and 3000 sizes.  Personally I see no reason to not get a 3000 over a 2500.  Same frame and spools are interchangeable.  The 3000's typically have a higher gear ratio.

[casts_by_fly]

29 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

I own a Stradic, a Stradic CI4+, two Nasci, and two Vanfords.  Personally, I would wait a paycheck and spring for the Vanford.  Well worth it over the standard Stadic.  The Nasci are very very good reals for the money if you want to go the opposite direction and save some money.  I have both 2500 and 3000 sizes.  Personally I see no reason to not get a 3000 over a 2500.  Same frame and spools are interchangeable.  The 3000's typically have a higher gear ratio.

only difference for me on the vanford is the weight. They are too light to balance most rods. For a 6’8” it might work but even then my stradic which is 1.5 oz heavier is just right on a 6’9”.  

[Rockhopper]

22 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

only difference for me on the vanford is the weight.

That and the elongated narrower spool really helps with casting imho.  It is very noticeably better to me.  The weight savings are great.

 

My favorite combo in my entire arsenal is a spinning rod.  6'10" Loomis Mag Medium DSR with a Vanford 2500.  Crazy light weight.  You can do a ton with that rod too.

[F14A-B]

Don’t go miravel it’s nothing at all like a Stradic or Vanford. Save up a lil more and go Stradic 2500 or 3000c FM

[Spankey]

I’ve been a long time fan of Shimano and the old Stradic’s and Symetre’s. But reels were eliminated and Shimano has made big steps to put out better and newer versions of reels. 
Owning Sahara’s to Vanford reels, if you want a good/great all around not a bank breaker with great quality, I strongly suggest the NASCI or Marvel. I have another Marvel in my next purchase. But you could buy a Sahara and not go wrong. 
I’ve alway thought Shimano put out a good product. Their product has gotten better in my opinion over 30 years. The only thing I miss with Shimano is at one time you got a spare aluminum spool with their reels. That worked out well. I use to like having on a clear blue Fluoro and a spool of low viz green ready to go on if I wanted to. 

[jejenkyns]

On 9/23/2024 at 1:23 PM, bulldog1935 said:

Instead of all of them, I'd go for a fewer nicer ones.  

 

If you want a spinning reel, Stradic remains the best reel buy ever.  

 

 

On 9/23/2024 at 2:06 PM, fishballer06 said:

Stradic is your answer then. Go with the Miravel if you want to save a few dollars for line and some baits. 2500 size is a perfect all around size. 

I respectfully disagree with the above.

 

Regarding the Stradic and Miravel, they have completely different design philosophies. 

 

The Miravel belongs to the Magnumlite series which offers, not only light weight overall, but more importantly, a lightweight rotor. As you spin the rotor you can stop and start on a dime. The idea is to give the angler as much control as possible over really short, precise, movements.

 

The Stradic, on the other hand, is build to wind with power. It will want to keep going by it's own momentum when you stop reeling. You can feel like when you spin the reel in the store. By design this gives more power to the angler under load and improves performance with lures that cause drag in the water.

 

If you want precision over finesse presentations then look at the Miravel, or further up the Magnumlite line if your budget allows.

 

If you fish for bigger fish, or with lures that require a constant retrieve for long periods of time, especially if they create drag in the water, look into the Stradic or other comparable reels. 

 

Every Shimano reel purchase I've made has been incredible, and you can't make a wrong decision per say, but it will pay to decide whether you want to focus on a reel designed to stop on a dime or leverage momentum to reduce fatigue with constant winding all day. No right answer, just two different focuses.

[bulldog1935]

You might ask that question of @Eric 26 who owns both.  

I'm guessing his Stradic (worm drive) has greater line management precision than his Miravel.  

 

I own Vanquish, Stradic and Twin Power. 

Vanquish was designed to be the ultimate finesse reel, lowest drive inertia of all time, and met its mark (Zero start resistance, doesn't push your hand when you stop).

But you need all 3 reels side by side to recognize the slight differences.  Shimano worm drive is that good.  The no-brainer part is these reels will all keep their line management precision over longer life than lower-grade reels.  

The worm-drive series (Stradic to Stella) all share Stella design, and interchange parts.  

Here's my mid-frame Twin Power with a shallow Vanquish spool to let me fish PE#0.6.  It makes a killer finesse reel.