bronzeback01 Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 I know that i'm going to get a lot of crap for this but i have a sustain 2500 fb and from day one i've never been happy with it. The rotor has play and the handle has play so i haven't bought a shimano reel for years .Tonight i thought i'd give them another chance so i went to bass pro and looked at the stradic mgfb 159.99 the sustain fe 249.00 and the stella 3000 fd .I'll give them the stella , it's extremely nice BUT it's also 650.00 ,the new sustain and the stradic both had play in the rotor and handle , granted not as much as the older one but it still had play even the salesman who is a diehard shimano guy was disgusted so i ended up leaving with another pfeluger supreme for 100.00 and NO play in the handle or rotor. SORRY SHIMANO FANS BUT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FACINATION WITH THESE PAPERWEIGHTS.
hawgchaser Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Shimano has a reputation for being durable. They have held up over the years better than many others. However, I will say that I think several companies have caught up to them. I don't get the fascination either. I fish with curados, some older citicas, and several spinning reels. IMO the Bass Pro Extreme reels are just as good as a curado. I do not see one single advantage to the curados. I know that a lot of folks will argue this BUT the extreme reels are every bit as smooth, more durable(see my post from a few weeks ago below), and half the price. There are many other reels that are just as nice. However, shimano makes a darn good real. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1207490444/3#3
Super User KU_Bassmaster. Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 I am a Shimano guy, but I have and have had just about all main brands in the past. I agree there are nicer reels out there that have the "bling" factor that catch anglers at first. The difference I have found with Shimanos is that they will actually be catching fish for years and years to come. In MY findings they stand the test of time better than any other brand I have ever used. That's what is most important to me.
Super User Redlinerobert Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 I'm not a shimano guy. Hving said that, the only shimano reels that I do have that I wont sell are the Stella 3000 and Core. I hate the play in the Core's handle, but it is a good,light reel. There are better reel designs from Daiwa at similar price points.
Super User roadwarrior Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 I've been a Shimano fan for a little more than eleven years. Although I have given my older, introductory models away to friends, every Shimano reel I have ever owned is still in use and continues to perform as well or better than the day they were purchased. Strong, smooth, silent and reliant. These are attributes incorporated in every Shimano reel. This company has grown their reputation by building reels that have stood the "test of time". As competators are forced to improve their product offerings, we all benefit. Individually, there will be preferences among brands and models, but it seems they are all still "compared" to the standard, and Shimano has set the bar high. 8-)
jbasscus Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 I have a Calais 4X8 DC and a Stella 400FB. I couldnt' be happier with either reel. I also have a Steez which I also couldn't be happier with. It's just like guitars or just about anything else for that matter, good to have more than one company to choose from. IMHO
Guest muddy Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Abu-Garcia and Pflueger products last just as long. Actually a lot of the older guys here have old ABU round reels they have been using for over 2 decades.
Super User Alpster Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 Abu-Garcia and Pflueger products last just as long. Actually a lot of the older guys here have old ABU round reels they have been using for over 2 decades. I still have a Shimano Bantam that's more than 30 years old and It still fishes like new. Not trying to argue or defend, just stating a fact. All of the major reel manufactures make awesome reels nowadays, but for some reason, fans of other brands seem to feel a need to attack and degrade Shimano reels. I honestly don't understand it. Ronnie
dave Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 The reason you get bit in the butt is because your in front.
Super User senile1 Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 Abu-Garcia and Pflueger products last just as long. Actually a lot of the older guys here have old ABU round reels they have been using for over 2 decades. I still have a Shimano Bantam that's more than 30 years old and It still fishes like new. Not trying to argue or defend, just stating a fact. All of the major reel manufactures make awesome reels nowadays, but for some reason, fans of other brands seem to feel a need to attack and degrade Shimano reels. I honestly don't understand it. Ronnie Well put, Ronnie. Like others, I like Shimano for the reliability and consistency. My first Shimano was also a Bantam and it was a reliable tool for years. I would agree that some manufacturers are right there with Shimano and some are making products that possibly surpass Shimano's quality. But Shimano has never let me down. The competition among the manufacturers will only lead to better reels from all of them in the future.
tyrius. Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 SORRY SHIMANO FANS BUT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FACINATION WITH THESE PAPERWEIGHTS. Thanks for yelling. I don't think I would have got your point if you had used lower case letters. What's the big deal with this so called "play" anyways? Do mean that the anti reverse allows the spool and handle to turn a microscopic amount? Do you think that is really going to affect your fish catching? There's a saying about mountains and molehills, you're yelling about paperweights certainly fits it.
Guest muddy Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Ronnie I don't knock Shimanos. The only one I have, Well Elaine has was a gift from RW, it is a Stradic and a fine reel. In relaity, if you look at these forums a lot of Shimano guys talk down other brands, some who never used the other brands, it is not to hard to find Shimano guys talking down other reels here at all, almost every few pages or so. I believe like you there are a lot of maufacturers making excellent reels basically we all use waht we like , and like Lady Day BILLIE HOLIDAy says' Taint nobody's business but my own" This forum is very Shimano heavy and biased, I am sure some comes from long time experience and some guys just are talking outta the other ends of their bodies ;D
Super User senile1 Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 Dom, I always took any comments you have made about Shimanos as jokes and good fun . . . . like the text below your avatar. I always think of Blazing Saddles when I read that. "Badges?! We don't need no stinking badges!"
Guest muddy Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 Hey Ed: I don't really have any opionion on Shimano products, because it's not what I use. I put that up to give the Sherriff (RW) some heartburn : Many of my friends use them and love them, most of my friends here use Pfluegers and ABU's , including myself. They are great products and I can say this from fishing them.
Super User Grey Wolf Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 I know that i'm going to get a lot of crap for this but i have a sustain 2500 fb and from day one i've never been happy with it. The rotor has play and the handle has play so i haven't bought a shimano reel for years .Tonight i thought i'd give them another chance so i went to bass pro and looked at the stradic mgfb 159.99 the sustain fe 249.00 and the stella 3000 fd .I'll give them the stella , it's extremely nice BUT it's also 650.00 ,the new sustain and the stradic both had play in the rotor and handle , granted not as much as the older one but it still had play even the salesman who is a diehard shimano guy was disgusted so i ended up leaving with another pfeluger supreme for 100.00 and NO play in the handle or rotor. SORRY SHIMANO FANS BUT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FACINATION WITH THESE PAPERWEIGHTS. Way to stir the pot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bronzeback01 Posted April 16, 2008 Author Posted April 16, 2008 The big deal with play is that a fishing reel that cost $250.00 should not have any play at all , it's pretty sad that a 99.00 reel has no play or a 110 diawa has no play but a 229 or 250 dollar shimano does.
Super User Dan: Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 I should preface this by saying I don't know that much about reels but I am a fan of Shimano and Pflueger but not enough to bias me against other reels... but just because something costs more and doesn't have one feature doesn't make it worse. A Rolls Royce without power windows is still a nicer vehicle than a Ford Escort that does...even though it costs more but lacks one feature.
djmax22 Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 I started out using ABU ambassadors many years ago before switching to Shimano. Last year I decided to give a Pfleuger President instead of buying the redesigned Curado. It is a solid reel. I havent tried a Revos yet, but all many people on this forum have postive things to say about them. My money still goes to Shimano just because of past performance. However, it seems like the competition has caught up and that is good things for all consumers. The proof is in the pudding. The shimnao curado is getting redesigned once again.
Hawg Fan Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 They must have something good about them, because the cream rises to the top.
Super User .RM. Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 IMPO don't try to understand it. Just use what you can afford these days, and what you feel good with.... Tight Lines!!!!
Super User roadwarrior Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 The big deal with play is that a fishing reel that cost $250.00 should not have any play at all , it's pretty sad that a 99.00 reel has no play or a 110 diawa has no play but a 229 or 250 dollar shimano does. The "play" is designed into the reel to protect the gearing. Other companies have decided this is not important to them. This has nothing to do with engineering tolerances or craftmanship, it is a feature Shimano feels is important.
tyrius. Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 The big deal with play is that a fishing reel that cost $250.00 should not have any play at all , it's pretty sad that a 99.00 reel has no play or a 110 diawa has no play but a 229 or 250 dollar shimano does. Why shouldn't it? What's the impact to the reel's ability to catch fish?
Guest muddy Posted April 16, 2008 Posted April 16, 2008 IMPO don't try to understand it. Just use what you can afford these days, and what you feel good with.... Tight Lines!!!! WHAT HE SAID, thats it RW Case Closed Mooks!!!!!!!!! 8-)
Super User Dan: Posted April 16, 2008 Super User Posted April 16, 2008 that's true, even a well maintained Ford Escort can get you from point a to b like a Rolls.
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