It is not surprising that Shimano won the best freshwater/sea water wheel at ICAST in 2017 and 2018. Shimano reels have long since become a recognized industry benchmark, and the AR-C diagonal line cup has attracted many brands to follow suit, and even the top-of-the-range model SALTIGA has since switched to a similar diagonal line cup. In recent years, although the magnetic oil sealing technology of 100 million watts is famous all over the world, but throughout the development process of the fishing reel, 100 million watts is more to play the role of followers, and Shimano is the pioneer of the industry, and its original "twist shaft" cable system can obtain a very uniform reciprocating motion, and the wire arrangement effect is impeccable.
The flagship spinning wheel that is hard to match
Most domestic anglers will measure the size of the fishing reel by the standard of Shimano, and its status has been difficult to shake. However, Shimano's influence is not limited to Asia, and its fishing reels are also highly respected in the European and American fishing circles, especially the STELLA SW. Since 2001, Shimano STELLA SW has launched 01, 08 and 13 models, the latest STELLA SW has been listed in January 2019, the configuration and parameters have not been significantly separated from the 13 models, whether the overall performance soars still needs to be verified by actual combat, it is recommended that consumers give priority to the first three generations of products, the STELLA SW 18000HG on sale in China belongs to 13 models, about 6300 yuan. 01 model than 08 model, 13 more than one line cup, the purchase of the latter two users can from the manufacturer to provide the "dream house" series of options, of which the price of the line cup is about 2000 yuan / piece, STUDIO OCEAN MARK and other professional accessories modification factories also have similar line cups for sale.
Although the 01, 08 and 13 models are separated by three generations, there is little change in the material and surface treatment process of the wire cups, and the high-spec STELLA SW wire cups are all made of stainless steel and plated with titanium on the parts in contact with the fishing line, so that the sea fishing is not afraid of sea erosion. Consumers can initially distinguish the three generations of STELLA SW from the appearance design and line cup shape, the 01 and 08 models are more beautiful, and the 13 models are close to the 100 million watt SALTIGA, which looks sharp and rugged. As for the shape of the line cup, Shimano only invented the bevel line cup in 07, and the 01 model naturally did not have time to adopt this design.
The three generations of STELLA SW are equipped with a double disc brake system (TWIN DISC DRAG), the structure is "3 small pieces on the top and 2 large pieces on the bottom", this "up and down sandwich" design effectively improves the braking smoothness of the fishing reel, the maximum braking value of the 08 and 13 models is reduced from 30kg to 25kg in the 01 model is also to make the throwing line more smooth, reduce the probability of blowing up the line. When the new Stella SW is launched, Shimano lists a dizzying number of stats to prove its performance, but the brake structure of the three generations has not changed substantially. In addition, they all use the same one-way bearing, relatively speaking, the 01 model has the largest number of ball bearings, but only one more is used in less critical parts, which has little impact on the overall performance of the fishing reel.
The real improvement is reflected in the main gear and pinion, the 01 and 08 main gears are made of 7075 aluminum alloy cold forging process, but the 08 model adds an additional surface aluminized bronze treatment process for better wear resistance. The same gears were used in the next 13 models. In determining the pinion of the fishing reel level, the 01 model chose brass for the sake of soft feel, and the SALTIGA of the same period of the 100 million watts was made of stainless steel, which is of high price and hard quality, has higher requirements for processing equipment, the manufacturing cost is higher than that of brass, and the compression resistance is also on a higher level, so there is a situation of "good brakes STELLA SW and strong gear SALTIGA". In order to improve the strength of the gears, Shimano also uses stainless steel pinions in the 08 STELLA SW, which crushes the SALTIGA of the same period in terms of braking performance and compression resistance. Unfortunately, the 13 models were re-equipped with brass pinions, which were criticized by many veteran players and professional anglers.
A basic model with exquisite workmanship
After all, the audience of the flagship STELLA SW is limited, and Shimano is unlikely to dominate the market with its top-notch performance and few users, and it is still its basic and advanced models that really capture ordinary anglers. The basic model is generally produced in Malaysia, and the price is 100-300 yuan, which is higher than most manufacturers on the market, but it is not out of line compared with the two fishing reel giants of Dayiwa and Baoxiong. The basic model of the three giants has the best workmanship, taking the SIENNA FE priced at about 200 yuan as an example, and the same price of 100 million watts and Baoxiong products, the wire baffle and the cable roller are made of plastic, but SIENNA FE has added a layer of technology to the surface of the product, so that the appearance has a metallic texture and is more classy.
Many anglers are often limited to brands that focus on the mass market such as Dijia and Wolf King when buying basic fishing reels, but in fact, Shimano also has a great advantage in the same price range, and does not lose any brand in terms of cost performance.
An advanced model across Europe and the United States
The layout of Shimano spinning wheels in the Chinese market is clearly divided into two categories based on the origin boundary, in addition to the basic model produced in Malaysia, there are also advanced models imported from Japan. The advanced model with a price of more than 2000 yuan is the mainstay of Shimano, and there are 3 main products on sale in China, namely TWINPOWER SW, TWINPOWER XD and VANQUISH, and the price is around 2500 yuan. The TWINPOWER SW and TWINPOWER XD of the same series can be distinguished by the product characteristics, "SW" indicates that the wheel is mainly used for sea fishing, and "XD" means "Extreme Durability", which means "extreme durability". There is no significant difference in the configuration of the two, and the wire cup is equipped with a ball bearing under the felt, which improves the smoothness of the brakes, and has obvious advantages in the application of casting fishing methods. The baffle feels good when it is opened and closed, because the spring-back mechanism is thicker than the basic version. The most intimate thing is that it is equipped with Shimano's unique one-piece wire ring, which can hold the fishing line in the groove and prevent the fishing line from getting stuck in the gap between the guide ring and the bracket. In addition, there is a protrusion next to the outlet ring to prevent the line from becoming tangled due to slackness.
The VANQUISH can be seen as a sister version of the TWINPOWER series, which uses the Micro Module II gear system instead, which increases the contact surface between the gears and makes the return feel very smooth when fishing. The bearing part of the bearing part has also been changed from TWINPOWER's plastic bushing to ball bearing, which is stronger overall, and has been enthusiastically sought after since its launch.
The water drop wheel series that swept the ICAST exhibition
Domestic players prefer Shimano spinning wheels and tend to ignore its outstanding drop wheels. Of course, because the water drop wheel is not easy to get started, novices need to practice for a long time to be proficient in using it, but compared with the spinning wheel, the water drop wheel throwing accuracy is higher, and the line is easier to control. The market layout of Shimano drip wheels is similar to that of spinning wheels, and the product levels are divided by origin. However, the first choice for the cost performance of the water drop wheel and the first choice for the advanced model are all made in Malaysia, especially the CURDO series, which has won the "Best Freshwater Wheel" of ICAST one after another. Although the material and process of the model imported from Japan are more guaranteed, the price is about 200-1500 yuan higher, and the performance may not be significantly improved.
Shimano's classic CURDO series is a good illustration of the characteristics of the water drop wheel. THE FIRST CURADO WAS LAUNCHED IN 1991 AND THE ENTIRE COLLECTION WAS HIGHLY PRAISED BY FISHING FANS, BUT THE 2011 CURADO G WAS CRITICIZED FOR ITS BLOATED SHAPE, AND SHIMANO CHANGED COURSE IN TIME TO DESIGN A COMPACT MODEL. In 2017, the CURADO K was launched with the help of ICAST, which improved the spool guard design, allowing the angler to maintain the gear system by simply moving the side plates, avoiding accidental drop damage to the delicate components inside. The SVS casting control system enhances the overall stability of the reel, while the X-Ship gear design helps to reduce friction and make the system run more smoothly, thus improving the accuracy of the casting. The CURADO K sold in China is produced in Malaysia and is priced at about 900 yuan.
Another IVAST award-winning drop wheel is the 2018 CURADO DC, which is also made in Malaysia and costs about 1,500 yuan, which is equipped with Shimano's improved bearing system, which can transmit the throwing force to all parts of the fishing reel, and the angler can hardly feel the weight of the bait or sinker during the casting process. Anglers tend to constantly change their casting points due to changes in current, and the high efficiency of CURADO DC's casting and slalom shortens this process, resulting in a wider range of fishing and an increased catch rate. In addition, the CURADO DC's braking performance is excellent, and the combination of 6 ball bearings and side plates makes it handle more smoothly than other products in the same price range on the market, even for some of the larger fish.
Purchase details
Shimano has production sites in many countries, and different countries produce different products. The head office mainly produces high-end spare parts and fishing gear, and the main business of the Chinese factory is bicycles. At present, domestic e-commerce platforms do not have official flagship stores, only agents. In view of the rampant prevalence of counterfeit Japanese fishing gear, consumers need to be extra cautious when purchasing.
