Shimano Stradic STC5000XGFK
1. Shimano Stradic STC5000XGFK
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Using the latest tech available, the Shimano is an indispensable tool in an angler’s collection as it improves the fishing experience greatly. Its G-free body ensures weight balance is granted so that fatigue won’t occur. It features 6 ball bearings and 1 roller bearing, and it is able to drag up to 24 pounds, which makes it perfect for catching bigger fish. The line retrieve per crank it delivers is 41 inches, and as it weighs a mere 11.3 ounces, it will be a cinch to fish all day long with it attached. When it comes to mono line capacity, it provides 10 pounds per 240 yards, 12 pounds per 195 yards, and 14 pounds per 165 yards. Lastly, when it comes to the PowerPro line capacity, it offers 20 pounds per 220 yards, 30 pounds per 200 yards, and 40 pounds per 160 yards.
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CONS
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- Powerpro line capacity – 20 pounds per 220 yards, 30 pounds per 200 yards, 40 pounds per 160 yards
- Mono line capacity – 10 pounds per 240 yards, 12 pounds per 195 yards, 14 pounds per 165 yards
- 41-inch line retrieve per crank
- Lightweight design – weighs only 11.3 ounces
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| Verdict
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Providing an ideal weight balance to reduce fatigue and specially designed to improve your experience on the water, it is every angler’s dream come true.
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Fishermen know how important the reel can be when trying to pull out a huge fish that is struggling with their needle. All the components are made of rugged metal, including the side plate and rotor, so they are designed to last. There are five stainless steel ball bearings included in the body. The drag system is treated with grease so you won’t experience resistance when pulling the wire. Moreover, the cranking has five stainless steel ball bearings that contribute to the ease of handling it. In order to prevent rotor back play, it has an anti-reverse bearing that helps you set the spool without interruption. The entire construction is designed to make it easy to use, including the rubber gasket on the spool that prevents it from slipping.
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CONS
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- Strong metallic construction
- Fluid cranking with stainless steel bearings
- Patented carbon fiber drag system
- Smooth Superline spool
- High range reel
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| Verdict
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The reason why this product sells so well is because the Penn Battle is a reliable tool that offers power and range in the battle with a saltwater fish. The metal construction makes it very strong and resistant to saltwater and the HT-100 drag system made of carbon fibre ensures a smooth drag.
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Another great and lasting fishing real comes from Shimano and is a truly remarkable tool that will help you increase your capture portfolio. It is built to provide smoothness and you can see that from how easily it reels. However, it’s also very strong particularly thanks to the G Free Body that boasts an interesting design in the meaning that all the interior components are placed very close to the rod. This not only makes it easier to manoeuvre but also more durable. All models are built using 3 ball bearings and an additional reverse bearing. The combination of the Propulsion Line Management System and HAGANE Gear make it a very reliable choice both for novice and expert anglers.
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CONS
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- Innovative body design
- Comes in various sizes
- Smooth handling regardless the weight
- Can be used with both hands
- Line management system
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| Verdict
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This is one of the best selling product because for extended freedom of choice, it comes in variable sizes from 1000 to 5000 that can lift captures from 7 pounds to 22 pounds and you can even choose the double-handled model.
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KastKing Summer and Centron 2000
4. KastKing Summer and Centron 2000
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This is one of the latest products and fishermen are throwing positive reviews at it. Firstly, because it is a great deal that offers the quality of a more expensive model. Secondly, because it is extremely easy to use and very powerful, taking away the hassle of more complicated reels. It’s also incredibly powerful as it is able to stop up to 12 pounds in only one movement. There are 9 Central ball bearings that put it in motion and another one that is able to stop the spool instantly. With such an interesting design and numerous great features, it can certainly be a great purchase for any fishing passionate.
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CONS
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- Lightweight graphite body
- Innovative Centron ball bearings
- Can stop heavy weights with ease
- Made of two layers of elastic material
- Easy to use without causing fatigue
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| Verdict
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The reason why this product sells so well is because it’s made out of graphite, it’s more lightweight than others and it has been built using a computerizes system that provides excellent balance.
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This 10 bearing system features stainless steel ball bearings that are corrosion resistant, ensuring the durability of your investment throughout the years. As opposed to most entries on the market, it features a graphite body and rotor design that makes it lightweight and incredibly easy to handle. With it, you can drag fish that weigh up to 10 pounds, which ensures you won’t have trouble with large catch from now on. For your convenience, it allows you to tie braid directly onto the spool. In addition, the slow oscillation gearing it features helps minimize the twist of the line while improving line lay.
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CONS
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- You can tie braid directly onto the spool
- Slow oscillation gearing minimizes line twisting
- 10 bearing system
- Reasonable asking price
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| Verdict
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As it can handle a maximum 10-pound drag, you can rely on it to catch big fish with ease. In addition to coming at a quite affordable price, it boasts a light yet durable graphite construction that truly sets it apart from other entries on the market.
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Not only does the Sharky III boast a stunning design, but its strong build ensures you will be able to use it in all fishing conditions without fearing it might be damaged. It is designed to be saltwater resistant, so it won’t corrode after contact with it. What makes it so durable is the fiber reinforced graphite body and rotor design. It delivers an outstanding 39.5-pound drag, which means that you can pretty much catch anything without worrying in might break. Due to the braid ready aluminum spool it features, it will deliver a smooth performance. It comes with 10+1 saltwater rated double shielded stainless steel ball bearings, and an instant lock anti-reverse feature which enhances safety in use. Its anti-twist line roller prevents annoying snarls and tangles. Furthermore, it comes at a very low price, and the manufacturing company backs it for a whole year against defects.
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CONS
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- EVA grips ensure it won’t slip out of your hands
- Water resistant frame design
- O-ring sealed front drag
- Braid ready spool prevents the braid line from slipping
- All-around model
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| Verdict
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One of the more affordable selections on the market, one that you will love as your new fishing companion due to its smooth retrieve and durable design, the Sharky III is any angler’s dream, being perfect for all-around fishing.
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It’s not easy finding the spinning reel that will make your fishing more comfortable but you can give this one a go and see how well you get along. It boasts a very powerful multi-disc drag system that helps you handle the spool with more ease. It also comes with a set of anti-reverse ball bearings for increased precision and smoothness. The body is made of a corrosion-resistant material so you can use it in saltwater without worrying about any damage. Speaking of which, the spool is made of a strong aluminum that can resist 2-tone weights. To make sure you enjoy the best of it, the manufacturer offers a limited 1-year warranty.
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CONS
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- Rigid body
- Ergonomic handle for ease of use
- Strong spool that resists to heavy weights
- One year warranty
- Multiple ball bearings
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| Verdict
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This is another best seller because the Ergo Grip handle is very easy to hold onto and it eliminates hand fatigue even if you have to put some effort in dragging a heavyweight.
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Penn is undoubtedly one of the manufacturing companies of gear for anglers, and the Pursuit II 5000 is a perfect example of their excellence. With a stunning 20-pounds drag and a high bearing count of 5 – 4+1 – this is a must have for any angler who is serious about catching big fish. It features a stainless steel bearing system, and it is made with corrosion-resistant graphite which ensures it will last a long time and look perfect regardless how often you use it. It comes with an anodized aluminum spool which is machined. In addition, it features Instant Anti-Reverse which eliminates rotor back play completely, delivering instant hook-ups every time.
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CONS
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- Instant Anti-Reverse eliminates rotor back play
- Pursuit II model is available in other sizes as well, ranging from 3000 to 8000
- Oiled-felt drag system makes it ideal for saltwater anglers
- Great price to quality ratio – affordable purchase
- Features line capacity rings
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| Verdict
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Affordable, durable, and reliable even when dealing with big catches, this is the reel any passionate angler must try at least once. It comes at a much more reasonable price when compared to other top entries in this niche, and its graphite body makes it surprisingly durable.
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If the design were the main choosing detail, this would certainly be your top favorite choice. But this is not all there is to the Sougayilang. It is also very powerful while maintaining a low weight, which is what mainly makes it easy to use. The metal it’s made of is very solid and the overall aspect is of a rigid reel with a metal collapsible handle and an aluminum spool. You can easily control it thanks to the S-Curve oscillation system that lines the wire and allows you to retreat it with short movements.
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CONS
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- Great design
- Multiple ball bearings for smoothness
- Full metal construction
- Easy to maneuver
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- Low maximum drag weight
- Some customers report that the design is quite flimsy
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| Verdict
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You can go ahead and confidently purchase this item because there are 12 ball bearings inside it and an extra one for the reverse manoeuvre. Another good thing is that you can choose from various sizes so you can adapt it to any sort of fishing.
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10. Cadence Fishing CS5 Reel
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This lightweight carbon composite frame and side plates have 8 balls bearing plus an instant anti-reverse bearing. The efficient powerful carbon fiber drag system, has an aluminum spool, an ergonomic EVA handle knob, a stainless steel main shaft, and an aluminum pinion gear and metal handle arm. In other words, this model has been made to ensure efficiency, strength, and comfort for numerous years to come.
This model is the ideal solution to use for gamefish including fish like bass, walleye, and trout. As well as, it’s also popular to use on species such as redfish, speckle trout, and flounder with a rise after fishing. As well as, the oversized ergonomic handle will allow you to hold it for a long period of time without feeling hand fatigue.
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CONS
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- Carbon composite frame and side panels
- Multiple ball bearings for smoothness
- Machined aluminum spool
- Easy to maneuver
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- Limited warranty period
- Doesn’t boast the same durability in the long run as other models do
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| Verdict
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The reason why we recommend this model is because it has been made from superior materials that will resist excessive wear and tear. In addition to this, it provides reliability and comfort so you can use it for as long as you wish.
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If you want only the best for your money, there are certain things that you must take into consideration before you purchase whatever model you wish. Whilst it is true that some features are more important than others, they all have similar ones. This is because we have only chosen the companies that are worthy of mentioning. We strongly believe that you shouldn’t waste your money on a meaningless purchase.
- Drag – This is probably the most important feature because you want a top quality drag system. You will notice that when you are dealing with big fishes, you want a smooth system so you can bring them to the surface without too much hustle and energy. This is also the case even for the smaller sized ones. In addition to this, if the dragging system operates smoothly, you will notice that you will engage much faster with the hook even if the fish is continuously jumping in and out of the water. If you do not pay attention and purchase a knock-off version, the drag will break off whatever the size of the fish is.
- Material – There are many jobs you can choose from. For example, plastic, high-grade metal, and carbon. In this situation, it all depends on what you find the most suitable for your needs. Of course, you will find that plastic and aluminum are popular because of their price. In comparison with carbon and magnesium as they are more expensive due to the fact that they are lightweight yet rigid. If you are a beginner or you do not want to invest a lot of money into this, we recommend one that is made out of plastic or metal.
- Bearings – You will notice that such product comes with more than just one bearing. You should note that the amount of bearings does not have an effect on how effective the model will be. Nonetheless, you should remember that 4 bearings are more than enough. Anything more is just a strategy by the companies to add value to your model. Thus, ensure that you pay close attention to the brands you purchase from.
