|
Shimano’s Stella FK
Spinning Reel is a Moping Legend
| Date: |
11/19/23 |
| Tackle type: |
Reel |
| Manufacturer: |
Shimano |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.66 -
ULTIMATE ENTHUSIAST AWARD!
Introduction: The Stella is to
Shimano what the NSX is to Honda or the GTR is to Nissan – the pinnacle of
engineering, a halo product showcasing the latest technology. Serving as both a
flagship for these respective companies and as a brand builder, there are very
few spinning reels that can even claim to compete with the Stella. After field
testing the latest FK Series over multiple seasons, it's time to assess how this
enthusiast offering stands up.
|
Shimano Stella FK
2500 HG Spinning Reel
Specifications |
|
Line
Capacity (lbs / yds) |
4/160, 6/110,
8/140, 10/120 |
|
Gear Ratio |
5.8:1
|
|
Weight |
7.4 ounces |
|
Max. Drag |
20 lbs max drag
(rated), 21.8 max drag (tested) |
|
Number of
Bearings |
12 S-ARB BB + 1 CRRB |
|
Features |
InfinityXross, InfinityLoop, InfinityDrive, AntiTwist Fin, DuraCross
drag, Micro Module Gear II, HAGANE gears and body, Long Stroke Spool,
CI4+ components, X-Protect, X-Ship, Titanium One-Piece bail, bundled
protective pouch |
|
Origin |
Japan |
|
MSRP |
$799.99 |
A legend in the making, the
Shimano Stella FK spinning reel
Impressions: I fished seriously for over two decades
before I finally had the means in which to buy my first Stella. Like so many
other anglers I worked my way up through the series, starting with a Sedona,
then a Stradic, Sustain, and ultimately pulling the trigger on the Stella FI
back in 2015. Back then the Stella FI retailed for $789 and while that is a
serious hit to the wallet all thoughts of how expensive the reel was immediately
melted away the second that I caught my first fish on the reel.
The Stella FK features a compact
body and stresses balance in design
When I finally
reviewed that reel in 2017 I mused that the Stella Series has “always been about
more than getting from cast to catch, it is all about the journey. This is the
best spinning reel in Shimano’s lineup, and hands down the best Stella to date.
Packed with the latest features the Stella is more than just an amalgamation of
new design philosophies and features, this latest iteration is nothing short of
a fishable work of art.”
A look at the aluminum Long Stroke
Spool
Cal would review
the FJ series just a year later and save for the T-knob design loved everything
that the new reel brought to the table, calling the design “absolutely stunning”
and the “smoothest spinning reel” that he had ever fished to date. Thus, the bar
was set very high with the newest FK Series Stella.
My first look at the Stella at
Bienville Outdoors in Florida
Similar to the
FJ Series this latest Stella focuses on clean angular lines and finally does
away with any gold highlights. This is the darkest and sleekest looking Stella
yet and frankly I’m here for it. Interestingly Daiwa also went a similar route
with their Exist redesign and I feel both of these reels ditched the gold
anodization and superfluous spool porting in an effort to make a more elegant
looking reel.
These are Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson's
Stella FK reels that he would first fish at Bienville and go on to win the
Bassmaster Classic with at Tennessee River
Every Stella is
still made in Japan (as is the Exist) if the country of origin is important to
you. There are some anglers that believe JDM manufacturers reserve the best
tooling and factories in Japan for their highest end products, and while I’m not
sure if that is always the case I think there is an argument to be made that
these in-country factories are ideal for making smaller run products where the
attention to detail under the watchful eyes of the company’s lead engineers and
product managers can be an advantage.
One of the reasons why reels
like the Stella are so unique is because they are not only designed in-house,
but are produced in the company’s own factories. There are only a handful of
reel manufacturers that can claim this, and an even shorter list that are able
to do this with ultra-high end products like the Stella.
Real
World Tests: I have fished the Stella FK for a few
seasons targeting largemouth and smallmouth bass on both coasts. I had the
opportunity to fish some of the first Stella FK reels with Pro Angler Jeff
“Gussy” Gustafson prior to his Bassmaster Classic 2023 win at Tennessee River.
Since then, I have fished the Stella a lot here on my home water of the
California Delta and nearby Northern California lakes targeting bass and trout
using a variety of techniques, including some of which that I learned fishing
with Gussy. Most of my field tests were conducted with the Stella FK spooled
with braided line and Seaguar Tatsu leader but over the last three months I also
have been experimenting with Shimano’s own fluorocarbon entry, Mastiff FC.
Gussy spools up the Stella FK for
the first time
Casting: While it is easier to discern the casting
feel and distances between baitcasting reels there are still important nuances
that impact casting on spinning reels. Key to how well a spinning reel casts is
how well the reel manages the line. The better the line lay the better it will
flow off the spool during the cast, and the better the line will hold up over
time in terms of memory. Other factors that affect casting distance are the
diameter of the spool and the design and material of the spool’s lip.
Gussy typically runs PowerPro
braid to Seaguar Tatsu on all his finesse setups
As you might
expect Shimano has reserved their best designs and materials for the Stella. The
most notable addition to the Stella FK in terms of casting is Shimano’s
“InfinityLoop” technology which extends the spool oscillation to produce a more
even line lay for better winding shape that results in increased casting
distance. Another unique addition is the new “Anti-Twist Fin” which is an
elastic polymer fin positioned under the line roller. The way this fin works is
it helps maintain line tension to reduce sagging which prevents line from
falling off the bottom of the spool or wrapping around the spool unevenly.
Tying a compact and smooth knot is
even more important with the Stella FK with the Anti-Twist Fin in play
At the debut of
the Stella Gussy and I talked about the fin as we were both curious about how it
could potentially affect braid to leader setups. After fishing with the reel
with a variety of line combinations I’ve found that the fin works very well when
fishing with straight nylon or fluorocarbon lines and does indeed do a good job
of preventing line from getting misaligned, reduces loops and dreaded under
spool runs.
Gussy points out the Anti-Twist
fin under the line roller
When fishing
with braid to leader setups the fin still works but depending on the knot size
and quality it can adversely affect the lay of the line with a slight bump
during the retrieve. If the knot is really large it can even stall the line lay
when pinched between the roller and the top of the fin. If you plan on fishing a
lot of larger braid to leader setups, I would advise removing the fin completely
by pressing down and working it off the arm. In most cases the fin should not
interrupt casting and I prefer to leave it in as I find I mainly employ the
Stella for light line and finesse applications.
A look at Gussy's connection knot.
This clean knot had no issues with the Anti-Twist fin
The combination
of all these technologies all adds up to the Stella being able to manage even
stiffer fluorocarbon lines effortlessly, and while it is not immune to blowouts
with well used lines, it does an exceptional job casting both braided and
fluorocarbon setups with ease.
The combination of Infinity
technologies and Long Stroke spool improve line lay and allow for smooth and
consistent casts
Next
Section: Smooth operator and tough too...
|
