Shimano's flagship spinning reel the Stella 3000FB offers
immense performance, and has the price tag to match
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Date: |
8/21/05 |
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Tackle type: |
Reels |
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Manufacturer: |
Shimano |
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Reviewer: |
Doc |
Total Score: 8.50
Introduction:
Like its predecessor the
Stella FB is a work of art. At the store counter it draws you to it with its
mesmerizing cosmetics. As you are no doubt aware the Stella line is the pinnacle
of Shimano spinning technology and Shimano is always going back to the drawing
board and trying to improve. This time they have walked away with something
more then just an increase in ball bearing count.
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Shimano
Stella 3000FB
Specifications |
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Line Capacity (lb/yds) |
8/220, 10/185, 12/150, 16/100 |
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Gear Ratio |
5.2:1 |
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Line Retrieve per crank |
29 inches |
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Weight |
8.3 oz. |
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Bearings |
12BB + 1RB |
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Additional Features |
ARB bearings,
Fluidrive II, Magnesium Body, Dyna Balance, Super Stopper II, SR power
roller, Floating Shaft, Rigid support drag, one piece bail wire |
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MSRP |
$509.99 |
Impressions: If
you ask different anglers what performance means they would undoubtedly give you
a vast array of different answers. Is it bearing count, the quality of the
bearings, the quality of the drag, or the perfect balance of a reel on a rod, or
simply how long the reel lasts? Given the price of the Stella FB, Shimano has
tried to answer all those questions in one reel. With features like SR – 3D
Gear, Rigid Support Drag, SR Guard Fins the Stella gives anglers a feeling of
owning and driving a posh sports car.
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The Stella
FB is the first Shimano reel to make use of "SR Concept" |
By looking and picking up the
Stella one can not tell that it is made of magnesium. Weighing in at 8.3 oz the
Stella is a “light weight” reel but not a “feather weight.” A quick glimpse of
the reel gives a feeling of confidence and a well thought out plan. The finish
on the reel is a joy to look at and deeper assessment shows the anodized body to
be of the highest quality. The gearing system was upgraded in the Stella FB and
this is seen in the line rating noted for a 3000 class reel. Many companies
today claim that their reel will handle the new braids or gel spun lines, but
still rate the reel on the spool for 8 – 12 lb test for a 4000 class
reel. Shimano now advertises what they believe their reel to be able to really
handle. I took it upon myself to test this on the waters of
Central Florida.
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The Stella
3000FB has a very sleek frame |
The Field Tests:
Shimano actually promotes
this reel as a saltwater reel. The majority of the targeted audience being the
inshore fanatics chasing bonefish, redfish and the likes. Seeing as such, yours
truly decided to unwrap his reel and deliver it to the jaws of corrosion. My
chosen size was a 3000. The spool had enough capacity for most inshore game yet
maintained an enjoyable light weight.
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Complete Rig
for Stella 3000FB Field Tests |
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Rod |
Gary Loomis Greenwater
GWR 782S/6’6” Medium |
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Reel |
Shimano Stella 3000FB |
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Line(s) |
8lb
P-Line CXX X-Strong Blue
14 lb Stren Super Braid Yellow
Ande Fluorocarbon 20lb leader |
I paired the reel with a
Gary Loomis Greenwater 6’6” medium power, fast action rod. The line of choice
was P-Line CXX X-Strong. I then head out to Mosquito Lagoon, Florida’s big bend
on the west coast and the tributaries of the Indian and Banana rivers.
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 |
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The Stella
300FB balanced out nicely with our G.Loomis Greenwater GWR 782S rod |
Casting:
With titanium lipped spool
and a revised line lay system on the spool the Stella can cast with the best,
and indeed is one of the finest. Shimano with the new and improves slow
oscillation in the S-R system comes close if not even with Daiwa’s larger arbor
spools with reverse taper. The line twists were not present as one finds in
other model reels. Most importantly a weightless shrimp on an Owner Flyliner 2/0
hook came off the reel and cast like a dream. The line came off smoothly
repeatedly and without any wind knots that spinning gear is notorious for.
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The Stella
is a work of art from all angles |
Retrieve:
After casting a jig and
beginning the retrieve the bail would snap back into position without
hesitance. The new one piece bail arm is a work of beauty and eliminated any
line hanging that I had ever experienced in the past with other Shimano
reels. Not once in the four months of testing did either the P-Line or Stren
Super braid get caught on the bail. Each retrieve went directly to the
roller. The retrieve itself was smooth and solid. In the past high end Shimano
reels gave the person a sense of "nothingness" with the retrieve, being as they
were so smooth. With the new Stella, the handle screws directly into the main
gear and as such gives the angler a feeling of solidness while maintaining
smooth, fluid and effortless retrieve. This goes only to increase the sense in
the angler’s mind that it is not a toy in their hand. The amount of line
retrieved per turn is very respectable at 29 inches. This gives the angler the
choice of burning a crankbait for Spanish mackerel or bluefish. But with a gear
ratio of 5.2:1 and an oversized main gear one can slow the bait down and work it
slow for a redfish. Once hooked the oversized gear can more then handle most
inshore redfish’ methodical constant pull on the drag.
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Protection
courtesy of S-Finish and S-Guards |
Next
Section: Drag, Price, and Ratings
