Anyone else have a shimano Symetre 2500 RD.... Oh my!!!!!!!

[Bassnajr]

Hey all...

I have owned many spinning reels but this is the best reel for the price I have ever owned. I put 20 lb. PP braid on it and it casts a country mile!!! the rear fighting drag is a great feature as well. You can actually fine tune your drag depending on the lure and conditons without the "guess" factor.

Anyone else have praise or criticisim!!!???

bassnajr

[ZEN BASSIN]

What about your Daiwa??? That you suggest I buy.....hmmmm

[Vyron]

I have the same reel but fd

awesome reel for the money

[Bassnajr]

Zen,

I don't have a Daiwa spinning reel...now my baitcasters????

ajr

[RoLo]

Hey all...

I have owned many spinning reels but this is the best reel for the price

IMO, it's the best value in the Shimano house 8-)

I can't agree with rear drag though

Roger

[Hawghead]

I just picked up on older symetre, maybe 2 or so years old for $45, it looks absolutely immaculate..

Its a front drag, I already have a rear drag.  They are dandy for sure.

[Stasher1]

Love my Symetre. It's the only spinning reel I kept last time I "cleaned house".

[burleytog]

Rear drag reels should be removed from the market.

[kms399]

Rear drag reels should be removed from the market.

agreed but that is still a sweet reel.

[Grey Wolf]

Great reel , to bad it has a rear drag.

[Rich G]

Hi Everyone, What is so bad with the rear drag ? I think it works great when fishing light line and you hook into a monster, just flip it to the left a little ways and your good to go. No fumbling around trying to turn the little dial on the front of the reel. Of course, I also like the quick fire on the Spirex and Solstace. When night fishing with lures the quick fire makes locating the line to your finger a piece of cake. I recently purchased a Stradic FI to test it out. I needed a real that was smoother because I make my own fishing rods and recently went to carbon fiber handles. I have a bunch of spinning reels and I could feel the gears turning in every make and model through the handle. I have to say the Stradic seems much better, just hope it stays that way. Also since the spool half turn to center itself never bother me at all with the Quick fire reels, I wish they would make a Stradic Rear Drag with Quick fire but with Stradic quality. I think myself and a lot of other people who night fish would buy one in a minute. Have a great day, Rich.

[Bassnajr]

Well I guess it's good that it comes in both rear and star drag for all tastes huh?

I have noticed certin people always have negative opinions. Wonder why that is???

ajr

[tyrius.]

You can actually fine tune your drag depending on the lure and conditons without the "guess" factor.

An honest question, but why would you want to do that?  Shouldn't you set your drag to roughly 1/3 of the rated strength of your line and then not change it?  If you are changing it throughout the day how would you know if you set it too tight?

[Bassnajr]

Good point,

There are different factors for setting a drag, type of fish, current, what type of line you are using. I think your right with the 1/3 comment, but I also think it's just a guide. IMO

ajr

[Ballpark Frank]

I have two Symetres, one rear drag and one front drag. I love them both, and have a slight preference for the rear drag. I grew up using Cardinal 3 with the rear fulcrum drag. I fish alot for smaller carp and catfish with the rear drag model, I can set the drag light then when a fish is on, I can adjust the drag as necessary. When using it for bass, I set the drag at 1/3 rating and usually leave it there. Everyone has their own opinion, and usually have reasons for their preference. I am glad we have choices and don't have to buy gear based on others preferences.

[Gone_Phishin]

I have an older Symetre 1000FH, and I swear that thing is smoother than some of my Stradics.

*Edit- I meant the 1000FH, not the 100FH (although I'm sure ya'll got what I meant).

[rfrazier]

I have an older Symetre 100FH, and I swear that thing is smoother than some of my Stradics.

It probably is

[tyrius.]

Good point,

There are different factors for setting a drag, type of fish, current, what type of line you are using. I think your right with the 1/3 comment, but I also think it's just a guide. IMO

ajr

What would these factors be?  I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, but I don't get why you would want to tighten down your drag or loosen it while you are fighting a fish.  Setting the drag once at its optimal setting should be enough, but I most certainly do not know everything (or maybe even half of everything).

[roadwarrior]

I don't get why you would want to tighten down your drag or loosen it while you are fighting a fish. Setting the drag once at its optimal setting should be enough...

There is no situation where I would EVER adjust the drag while fighting a fish.

8-)

[Rich G]

  Hi Gone_phishin, You could be right that a Symetre is just a good as a Stradic, I had never fished a Symetre long enough to make a comparison.

  Hi roadwarrior, I can give a example of when you would want adjust your drag while fishing. I use mostly light line and smaller baits. A lot of times there is not a lot of cover I need to keep a fish out of, then again if I hook into something large and there is cover that the fish is running for, I just tighten the drag a little at a time until I can control the fish or the line breaks. If the fish was to make it to cover the light line would break anyway, so why not try and slow the fish down before it gets the the structure. I have never had a line snap by adjusting the drag to stop a fish that is fifty or sixty yards out and running for a fallen tree. If I had the drag tight to begin with when the fish was a lot closer there would not have been enough line out to stretch and stop the fish, the line would just snap and the fish would be gone with my lure. I like the rear Shimano rear drag, it has saved my bacon many times with light line. Have a great day, Rich.

[roadwarrior]

Although I recommend #6 (11.9 lb test) Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft, for smallmouth fishing I generally fish #4 (8.5 lb test). The drags on my reels are initially set up with a scale, but once you have "the feel" this can be done without an actual measurement. I have complete confidence in moving a fish with the drag setting I use and it never changes. As a result, I have never been broken off by a fish using Ultra Soft.

8-)  

[Bassnajr]

I gave you several factors...

Also, read the post below mine regarding lite line. I don't consider anyone on here a jerk.....just NEVER say NEVER until you throw it around with other people, like you are doing. Setting your drag to 1/3 is not wrong by any means. Nor is what I do wrong. I can get a good feel for the drag just by setting and pulling some line off the reel. I have done this since I was young, so maybe I am just used to doing it this way. I don't use a scale, although that is an option, I guess. I have never lost a fish due to my drag being set improperly. It's what works for you and what you fell comfortable and confident with. Fishing is always about learning and adapting every day out on the water.

Peace,

ajr

[roadwarrior]

I don't consider any of the factors you listed important. The drag should be set at 25-30% of the line's breaking strength as long as that does not exceed the capabilities of the rod. You then have drag/ line compatability which NEVER needs adjustment.

If you feel you will need more power to move a fish than this formula allows, you need to fish heavier equipment, i.e., higher rated pound test line and maybe a heavier rod. This is why most guys fishing timber, lilly pads or thick cover tend to use Heavy Power baitcasters and 25+ pound test line. If I fished the same locations that some of our guys in Florida and Texas fish, I would probably use 50 lb braid.

8-)

[Bassnajr]

Well there are many ways to do things I guess RW . You seem like a by the book guy, which is cool. I feel all of my factors are pertinent, in some way. If I have to get a scale out to set my drag, I think it kind of mechanizes fishing. I like to keep it more easy going. Even using artifical lures VS live bait has an affect on drag...I'd bet.

peace ajr

[roadwarrior]

Hey Bassnajr, peace...

I get a little carried away because my #1 pet peeve is stories about guys getting broken-off. Unless you are wrapped around a tree or cut on a rock, a bass should not be able to break anyone's line. The simple solution is using different (stronger) line!

I generally fish open water (Tennessee River or the White River and associated reserviors). I quit using braid because rocks fray and cut that type of line. With copolymers, this is less likely, but you still have to constantly check for nicks and such.

Anyhow, that's my take which doesn't mean I'm right, but it is the way I roll. I hope it helps some guys and mostly, I hope no one ever tells another story about the giant fish that broke their line.

-Kent