Durability: The Stradic FJ has held up well throughout our tests and we will circle back a year from now to see just how well the reel performed up over the long term. In our accelerated durability tests we found the finish resists boat rash very well, and one of the great things about the pearl white finish is that small scratches won’t even show up. Shimano's Maintainance Port feature allows for quick and easy gearing lubes mid-season.

The frame protrudes outward on the right side to accommodate the pinion gear

Price & Applications: Price-wise the Stradic FJ 2500 retails for 20 dollars more than the previous generation Stradic 2500 FI and anglers will also notice that the series no longer comes with a spare aluminum spool, this is unfortunate as an extra spool is always welcome and enables anglers to switch between two types of line in the field when addressing varying applications. When it comes to the actual reel itself Shimano has upped the ante significantly, simply put this is the best aluminum based Stradic to date.

A look at the reel's slim profile

Not only does the new reel deliver in all the key performance metrics the increase in sheer winding feel and power is not only noticeable but it puts previous generation reels to shame. It is hard to appreciate just how good the X-Ship design is when casting and retrieving baits alone, and while the lightweight rotating handle feel is a definite plus, when you get a healthy fish on the line the direct translation of cranking on the handle into sheer winding power is especially impressive.

A washer under the drag adjustment knob makes the entire system waterproof

The Stradic 2500FJ is a great reel for bass fishing and has both the drag pressure and line capacity to handle even the biggest bass. If you really want to lighten your rig or fish with ultralight lines the 1000 size will also pair well with finesse bass rods, and this is the right size for backcountry trout fishing. I was really happy to see that Shimano continues to make the Stradic available in a wide range of sizes all the way up to the 8000 size, with a very reasonable price delta separating the larger reels from their smaller siblings.

The Stradic FJ brought me back. Ten years later this latest iteration really delivers but stays true to many of the key factors that made the Stradic FG so popular

The 1000 to 3000 sized reels all share the same 6.0:1 retrieve ratio and retail for the exact same price of $179.99, which is 65 dollars more than the Stradic FG from ten years ago. Adjust for inflation and the fact that the FJ offers so much more in terms of features and refinement and the FJ series is looking pretty solid and when compared with the competition the Stradic now seems to be positioned above the mainstream segment it once occupied and can be considered a more premium offering. While there is little in terms of competition right now at the $179 dollar mark there are a crop of new reels retailing at the $199 price point debuting now that are a serious threat including the ultralight Quantum EXO and Zaion based Daiwa Ballistic spinning reels. With strong competition like this there couldn’t be a better time for this all new Stradic to hit the channel.

Conclusion: Shimano has taken a lot of heat for the baitcasting reel repositioning strategy revealed last ICAST surrounding their Chronarch and Curado Series reels, just read the forums on the web and you can see the debate still rages on. This became a hot topic among many last ICAST, so much so that it actually distracted many attendees from the significant strides that Shimano made in their spinning reels. We can’t wait to see how the new Sustain FG reels perform when we finally get our hands on one, but if the Stradic FJ is any indication it too may be a very exciting new reel.

The FJ really delivers on refinement and winding power, the Stradic is Back!

The FJ series is everything that anglers were hoping for in a new “Stradic” series reel, and a decade later it is a repeat winner of our Editor’s Choice Award. These new reels leverage proven features from their more expensive siblings and Shimano manages to package it all within a reasonably priced contemporary platform that successfully captures some of the magic that made the original Stradic FI reels so popular. It is so much more than just the pearly white finish that ties this reel to the past, it is what is underneath, and it is the attention to detail and the refined construction that reminds us just how good a traditional aluminum and graphite based spinning reel can be. For Shimano fans or any angler looking for a smooth, highly refined, and powerful spinning reel, it is now official… the “Stradic” is back!

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