Stradic FM users - how's your reel now that you've had it a while?

[Recurve1]

I only ask because there have been some spotty reports of noises, "geariness", etc.  I'm presuming these are the minority but wanted to get a consensus opinion now that the reel has been out a year or so.  Planning to order from Japan so no US warranty.

Thanks

[Reel]

I've had one for 2 1/2  years.  It's the same now as when I took it out of the box.  

[Recurve1]

I

Just now, Reel said:

I've had one for 2 1/2  years.  It's the same now as when I took it out of the box.  

Thanks - is it the FM or the FL that you have?

[Reel]

Oups !!! Yes, FL.  Just took a look at it.

[Bigbox99]

A reel warranty is not a is not "my reel will meet my expectations of smooth forever" contract.  You should expect some loss of smoothness with use.  

[softwateronly]

I have a stradic ci4 from 2016 that is still behaving like new.  It threw everything for me for about 5 years, definitely ridden hard and still working great.  No company is perfect, but shimano and diawa from Japan is a no brainer for me.

 

scott

[Reel]

A few years back, a really good reel technician told me that most gear roughness comes from the fact that a lot of fishermen engage their reels ( baitcaster or spinning reel) to stop a lure before it touches water at the end of the cast.  I use my thumb and fingers to do that.  Maybe that's why my reels stay smooth a long time.

[bulldog1935]

Shimano can sell smooth in their bottom-end reels.  

What matters, though is how accurate the reel manages line, and what matters more than how long does it feel smooth is how long does the line management accuracy last.  

I've fished through older spinning reels on big fish, but when they're worn out is when they will no longer give flat line lay.  

The only change from Stradic FL to Stradic FM is a slight increase in spool pitch (slightly taller spool, slightly longer spindle). 

It shows Shimano had so well over-designed FL that they pushed their design a little farther with FM.  

[jejenkyns]

Just as an offshoot question, why would anyone who targets bass buy a Stradic over a Vanford? Legit question!

 

I'm considering one but only for a rod that could use more weight. I'm put off by the rotational inertia when stopping.

[webertime]

56 minutes ago, jejenkyns said:

Just as an offshoot question, why would anyone who targets bass buy a Stradic over a Vanford? Legit question!

 

I'm considering one but only for a rod that could use more weight. I'm put off by the rotational inertia when stopping.

I don't like the feeling of Ci4.  Might be in my head but I feel the flex.  Solid aluminum if I can get it.

[Eric 26]

2 hours ago, jejenkyns said:

Just as an offshoot question, why would anyone who targets bass buy a Stradic over a Vanford? Legit question!

 

 

Well although I don’t have a problem with “carbon” framed reels if they’re built right I purchased a 1000 Stradic FL when they were closing them out for both panfish and small pond bass and I couldn’t be happier. As far as the weight for me I like the solid feel as it just feels right, as many people have pointed out the stem on the Vanford is different so there’s that plus the price difference buys me the line to spool it plus a lure or 2 and lastly different strokes for different folks 👍🏻

[Reel]

In the Shimano family of spinning reels, there are two different families: the power reels and the finesse reel.  These last ones have a free floating feeling, and not a lot of inertia.  The Vanford is in that family.  The Stradic is in the power family: more inertia when starting to turn the handle and a more connected feeling.  

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, jejenkyns said:

Just as an offshoot question, why would anyone who targets bass buy a Stradic over a Vanford? Legit question!

 

I'm considering one but only for a rod that could use more weight. I'm put off by the rotational inertia when stopping.

the vanford if just too light for me. I hate tip heavy spinning setups and the vanford is so light you have to upsize a lot to balance it on most rods. 

[bulldog1935]

the whole power vs. finesse argument in Shimano doesn't quite hold.  

Vanquish is the magnesium-frame upgrade that Vanford wants to be.  

You can only tell the inertia difference when you're winding Vanquish and Stradic side by side.  

 

But you can't go wrong with any worm-drive Shimano, which begins at Stradic and ends at Stella - all reels in that series exchange parts.  

This is my medium-frame Twin Power, which can be a power reel one day, and a finesse reel when matched with a shallow spool for tiny braid.  (happens to be a Vanquish shallow spool).  

[jejenkyns]

1 hour ago, Reel said:

In the Shimano family of spinning reels, there are two different families: the power reels and the finesse reel.  These last ones have a free floating feeling, and not a lot of inertia.  The Vanford is in that family.  The Stradic is in the power family: more inertia when starting to turn the handle and a more connected feeling.  

I just don't understand the appeal of the heavier rotor... I could use an extra oz on this rod though.

[bulldog1935]

I get it - we finesse fish hard in the winter.  Our 5-year gang of small frame Stradic and Vanquish still fish like new.  

 

Go down this page and look at the rotor deflection animation in the middle of the page.  

https://www.jpfishingtacklenews.com/finally-shimano-announced-new-20-twin-power-is-tough-style-spinning-reel/

Spinning reel is the most complicated fishing implement ever devised.  

Stresses on the internal mechanism produced by long levers (spindle and rotor) were not understood before CAD in the last decade - everything before that was built by trial and mostly error.  Spinning reels self-destructed with use from their own internal mechanisms.  (Spinning reels bottomed-out in the '90s, trying to make them lighter weight, longer spindle, bigger rotor dia.) 

Even after a decade offshore, the best spinning reel made, Penn, didn't understand the contact loads on their gears that result from spindle and rotor deflection.  

Brinnelling pinion gear is a short-term overload, but all the smaller damage adds up over time to increase spindle and rotor deflection, and make the reel sloppy.  When the reel is laying line in a reverse cone, it's been fished-through.  

[jejenkyns]

10 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

the vanford if just too light for me. I hate tip heavy spinning setups and the vanford is so light you have to upsize a lot to balance it on most rods. 

I hear that, I'm leaning stradic just for the added weight this time around.

[Hulkster]

15 hours ago, jejenkyns said:

Just as an offshoot question, why would anyone who targets bass buy a Stradic over a Vanford? Legit question!

 

I'm considering one but only for a rod that could use more weight. I'm put off by the rotational inertia when stopping.

a few reasons. 

 

1. the added bit of weight helps balance with longer rods

2. the price difference

3. the red and black color scheme doesn't look great with certain rods 

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, jejenkyns said:

I hear that, I'm leaning stradic just for the added weight this time around.

and it's not like a Stradic is even heavy.  My 3k sized FL is just under 8 oz.  I have a 1k sized FE from 2004? that is the same weight.