Next Gen Spinning Shootout: Shimano Stradic Vs. Daiwa Capricorn
 

Introduction: Spinning reels have come a long way in the last 2 years, and it is now possible to take advantage of premium features on reels costing half as much as their past counterparts. The Shimano Stradic FH and Daiwa Capricorn represent the latest next generation reels that deliver an unprecedented level of performance and features for a price tag under 120 dollars. While both are fine reels, which one would better suit your personal fishing techniques?

Impressions: Sometimes as products strive to differentiate they somehow become more of the same, this is certainly the case with these two contenders. Characteristics that were once unique to each company are exhibited by both reels. Shimano chose to incorporate their Stradic with their new S-Concept design philosophy to make this reel the most affordable S-Concept reel in their lineup. Daiwa on the other hand chose to introduce the Capricorn, which is the current flagship of their new "Hardbodyz" lineup.

The Real World Test: For our tests we chose the workhorse sized reels that most anglers would utilize for the majority of freshwater fishing. The Stradic makes a jump from their 1000 size up to 2500 so we had to compare both of these to the Daiwa Capricorn 2000. The Stradic 1000 is impressively lightweight weighing in at only 7.9oz. The Capricorn (similar to the Stradic Mg) fabricated one body for both their 1500 and 2000 sized reels, the only difference is the size of the spool...and unfortunately this also means that the Capricorn bears the identical weight to the 2000 model at 9.5oz. For our tests the reels were placed on light and medium GLoomis GL3 SJR783 and SR842 travel rods for a series of bass and trout fishing.
 

Materials: Both reels make good use of aluminum alloy, and sport very few plastic components. In stark comparison to the matte finished Capricorn, the Stradic is gloss coated on the main body and gold plates, giving it a shiny look and feel. The only component that is plastic on both reels is the bail arm. Both reels use clever porting on the rotor in an effort to reduce total weight. In this category it would have been a complete tie except for the fact that Shimano goes one step further by supplying anglers with an identical spare spool, while the Capricorn comes with an aluminum spool with a non-coated lip. (Category winner: Stradic)

Profile: Hardcore Daiwa fans had to adjust to the new Hardbodyz series of reels when first introduced. The whole philosophy behind the Daiwa "Hardbodyz" was to build a series of reels with a more compact design, offering anglers more precision. All of our past shootouts have marveled at the sleek profile of reels like the Shimano Sustain. The Capricorn is now near identical to the Sustain profile while the Stradic looks very much like the older Daiwas! With this role reversal the Stradic is now the shorter wider reel. A lot of this has to do with the new gearing incorporated into the S-Concept reels, and the inclusion of Shimano's maintenance port in the base of the reel. In terms of choosing a profile that you like it will ultimately come down to pure preference, as both designs feature a short reel stem putting the spool within easy reach of your fingers for great line control. Both reels also do a good job of minimizing the bail and rotor reach so you don't need to worry about bruising your knuckles. (Category winner: Tie)
 

Casting: When you cast the new Stradic you will notice a significant gain in casting distance over the previous model. This is caused by what Shimano calls "super slow oscillation." The oscillation of the spool has been adjusted both through gearing and a wider spool to be less then the previous models. Line is then wound onto the spool slower and in a more even manner. This line management allows the line to flow from the spool in much nicer curls minimizing energy loss, and resulting in longer more accurate casts. While this technology definitely works, it is not much different then what Daiwa has been preaching for years with their ABS spool design. The Capricorn continued to beat the Stradic FH in almost every cast with test plugs and a variety of lures. The Capricorn casts easier and farther thanks to the extra wide ABS (Advanced Ballistic System) spool. The Capricorn's enlarged reverse taper spool allows line to flow out of the spool in larger coils, producing less line memory, and results in less casting friction for longer more effortless casts. (Category winner: Capricorn)

The Retrieve: Speed is the combined function of ratio and spool size. The Stradic is the faster of these reels and does an excellent job burning spinnerbaits or reeling fish in quickly with authority. With its enlarged spool the Capricorn is still quite fast, but still better suited for finesse applications rather then ultra fast retrieves. In terms of smoothness both reels are very smooth at the get go, and exhibited almost no oscillation in the spool. Both are well balanced and feel solid, never wobbling no matter how fast the retrieve.

When considering sheer smoothness we were surprised to find the Capricorn still smoother then the S-Concept based Stradic. While both started out almost identical in smoothness, by day three the Stradic just didn't feel as smooth as it did in the earlier tests. Suspecting that the factory lubrication had begun to wear thin we opened the maintenance port to add some gear oil. While the reel did become smoother it still did not demonstrate the friction feel retrieve illustrated by the Capricorn. Nonetheless the Stradic still has a respectable retrieve, and both reels do well with a total bearing count of 5 a-piece. In this category anglers will need to ask themselves whether they prefer the advantages of the Capricorn's enlarged ABS spool coupled with a slower gear ratio, or the Stradic's new super slow oscillation combined with a faster gear ratio. (Category winner: Capricorn)
 

The Bail: This is the one category that there is a apparent winner. The Daiwa Capricorn far outshines the Stradic's conventional wire implementation. The Capricorn's tubular stainless air-bail is stronger, has a more positive line pickup and exhibits fewer line snags. Key to the smooth line pickup is the fact that at the air-bail connection to the teardrop shaped goes over the connection, so no mater how thin the line it slips neatly onto the roller. In stark comparison to the slick Air-Bail the Stradic uses a standard wire that connects into the teardrop, at the connection the teardrop has two very sharp points that can actually catch your line, backing it up, or in some cases actually cutting it. This was a known problem when the new Stradic was first introduced in Japan, and it is disappointing to see no improvement prior to US introduction. Anglers in Japan have found adding epoxy or glue to smooth out the connection eliminates this concern. (Category winner: Capricorn)
 

The Drag: Shimano ups the ante with the introduction of the smoother more precise S-Concept drag which is a world better then their previous design. One of the main reasons Daiwa spinning reels are a favorite among anglers is due to their excellent drag performance. Well now Shimano S-Concept reels are boasting drags that truly rival Daiwa's latest offerings. Increased drag surface area and a new micro click function allow the Stradic to make drag adjustments in finer increments then the Capricorn! In terms of total drag pressure the new Stradic is also able to generate as much counter pressure as the Capricorn! Where the Stradic's drag falls short is in its open drag knob design which is much more prone to contaminates like grit and sand then the sealed system employed by the Capricorn. In order to step up to a completely sealed Shimano drag anglers will have to opt for the new Sustain or Stella. (Category winner: Capricorn)

The Ergonomics: In a complete role reversal Shimano and Daiwa trade handle implementations on these reels. Daiwa in the past has always relied on its breakaway handle design, while the upscale Shimano reels came with machined aluminum handles. The machined aluminum handles are arguably more handsome in design, and are also designed to be more rigid so there is no play in the handle. The breakaway handles are built for functionality and can instantly fold over for more compact storage. In this category Shimano has done an excellent job in designing a breakaway handle that folds neatly away but still feels completely solid when being utilized. In addition the Stradic's handle implementation is more ergonomically friendly and comfortable then the hardened plastic Capricorn knob. Both reels have absolutely no back play thanks to well implemented anti-reverse roller bearings, so getting consistent hook sets is painless.

Daiwa reels which have always felt more brawny in design make a sharp turn in favor of refinement with the ultra smooth and slim Capricorn. Shimano reels which have always been known for elegant refinement modifies their design to be more muscular with a widened body and tougher drag and hardened pinion gears. The Stradic also sports new features like the well implemented maintenance port, which for the first time allows anglers easy access to the main gearing. (Category winner: Stradic)

Shimano Stradic Ratings:

Daiwa Capricorn Ratings:

Pluses and Minuses:

Conclusion: After our fierce shootout the Capricorn walked away claiming triumph in 4 out of 7 categories, and tying in one. The Shimano Stradic FH has come a long way with the implementation of the new S-Concept design philosophy but the bar has been raised, and reels like the Daiwa Capricorn exhibit a better overall balance of performance and refinement. Daiwa did a great job engineering a reel with new attributes while making sure to preserve their most popular features, which include the ABS spool and Air-Bail. Tournament and weekend warriors are not the only people taking a keen interest in the Capricorn, as manufacturers like Cabelas and St. Croix are now releasing OEM versions of the Capricorn. In fact the Cabela's Prodigy uses the same Hardbodyz frame but delivers even more silky smooth performance from a total of 8bb, and Daiwa worked hard with Cabelas to shave off additional weight from the reel! The Stradic FH is a fine reel, but the Capricorn is the clear winner of our shootout as it offers problem free performance across all categories, and begets a new level of refinement to the already high performance Daiwa lineup.

Want to put in your two cents? Post your own opinion on the
TackleTour Forum!