Shimano Stradic: A perfect balance of Performance versus Price?
|
Date: |
10/18/01 |
|
Tackle type: |
Reel |
|
Manufacturer: |
Shimano |
|
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.83 + EDITOR'S CHOICE!
Introduction: Here at TT we take a look at a lot of different reels, and
when I had the opportunity to get my hands on a Shimano Stradic I wasn't exactly
sure what to think. Positioned near the upper middle of Shimano's line of Reels
the Stradic is touted by Shimano as "graceful as ballet dancers moving across a
stage."
|
Shimano
Stradic (ST-2000) Specifications |
|
Line Capacity |
6/170;8/120;10/100 |
|
Gear Ratio |
6.0:1 |
|
Weight |
9.5 (oz) |
|
Bearings |
4BB, 1RB |
|
Additional Features |
Aluminum spool, Spare Spool |
|
MSRP |
$114.99 |
Impressions: My first impression of the Shimano Stradic was the fact that
it was...to simply put it...pearl white, with sparkles.
These days it seems
most manufacturers are leaning towards black and gold or metallic finished
reels....the Stradic certainly stood out from this fact alone. MP liked the look
of the reel instantly, while I thought it would be hard to match the common dark
colored rods sold today.
Feature wise the Stradic is almost identical to the cheaper Symetre or Sahara
which retail for 84.99 and 59.99 respectively. They all feature Shimano
innovations that include:
-
Super Stopper II: One way roller bearing to
eliminate back play in the handle
-
Dynabalance: Eliminates spinning reel "wobble"
with counterbalancing
-
Fluidrive II: Advanced polished gear design for
smooth winding
Where the Stradic sets itself apart instantly is
in construction. Right away it is easy to tell that the Stradic utilizes a
higher grade of material in it's handle and the grip on the Stradic is wood
rather than plastic. In
addition the entire bail mechanism is made of much more durable metal than the
other reels in Shimano's line which are plastic. I found this bail to be much
more rigid and easy to flip for quick casts. The addition of one more bearing
makes a world of difference, and the Stradic, to my surprise, felt a lot more
like a sustain than a Symetre or Sahara.
Tests: I was lucky enough to test both the
2000 and 6000 model's in real world applications. MP set the 2000FG up on a
Fenwick 8.6" HMG for freshwater tests while I set out to put the 6000FG through
the paces at the pounding surf of nearby Pescadaro beach.
MP found the Stradic to his liking right away and landed numerous Bass in the
4lb class using his top secret rig with ease. He noted the Stradic had excellent
power combined with a surprisingly fluid feel.
In my initial test I combined the Stradic 6000FG with the new Team Daiwa
1002MHRS-C and set out
tossing rock cod rigs and jigs with 6oz pyramid weights from the beach. I was
able to get plenty of distance with 25lb Trilene Big Game and found the Stradic
to be quick and generous with the amount of line that flowed from the aluminum
lipped spool. But, it was only after I dragged a young Ling Cod through the
pounding surf and thick vegetation that I began to appreciate the smooth yet
powerful performance the Stradic was demonstrating. The only negative observance
I had was that while pulling through thick vegetation on the highest drag
setting I experienced some minor slippage. While this didn't affect fishing
performance I did note it in my test report.
Since both these initial tests both Stradics have been problem free and continue to
surprise me in the level of refinement I would expect to see from a reel costing
50% more.
Ratings:
|
Shimano
Stradic Ratings (?/10) |
|
Construction/Quality |
Top notch quality of materials not found in
Shimano reels below this level |
8 |
|
Performance |
Reliable performance across all casting tests,
with only a minor give in the tightest drag setting |
8.5 |
|
Price |
Great price fro a premium reel, and the fact
that this reel is the same price across all sizes up to the 4000 series and
only 35 dollars more for the 5000, 6000 is a plus! |
8.5 |
|
Features |
All aluminum construction and a set of two
aluminum spools combined with Shimano's Super Stopper 2 technology make the
Stradic a feature rich reel for the price |
9 |
|
Design (Ergonomics) |
Excellent wooden handle that fits naturally in
the angler's hand, is the same one found in the much more expensive Sustain. |
9 |
|
Application |
A solid reel that is perfect for a variety of
applications and is just as good for trout and bass fishing as it is for
tackling large surf stripers with a 6000 series. |
10 |
|
Total Score |
8.83 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
|
J Good
features for price |
L Only
comes in white |
|
J
Premium look and feel |
L Drag
performance |
|
J No
Plastic |
|
|
J Silky
Smooth |
|
Conclusion: Once you get over the pearl white finish the Stradic proves
to be an excellent reel in terms of performance and value. The fact that Shimano
gives a extra aluminum spare spool and many of the components found in their
premium reels for just over 100 dollars is a big plus! The Stradic is equally at home tossing lures in a bass pond as it is tackling big
game in the ocean. The Stradic really is the dividing line between Shimano's
good and great spinning reels, but instead of being trapped in bad product
positioning we see it as being in the sweet spot based on price. Outfitted with
features and identical components to reels over 100 dollars more make the
Stradic a great buy. So good in fact we had
to award the Stradic TackleTour's coveted Editor's Choice Award! The Stradic
offers a excellent balance of performance at the right price...and though I
still have a hard time admitting it, it really does look great on my matte black
Gloomis GL3!
Until next time....Tight Lines!
