Shimano Stella - any surf guys use them?

[libassboy]

I had a stella but sold it, bought annother VS instead, it would be a nice reel for a boat but not from the surf.
Slingah, i use a stradic on one of my sticks that doesnt have a vs and i love it, smooth and ive beat it up pretty bad and it still works. I still use it a decent ammount, its been dunked, and had fish up to around 30, good reel for the money.

[Slingah]

lilbassboy....no complants on the stradic ....i love it.....but I need complete waterproof.....nothing worse than a wet drag.....it is time for me to step up...

[maddog2020]

I was told the current Stradic has ceramic drag washers? If it gets wet it shouldn't be an issue.

I don't need to know any more about VS reels. They pretty much do it all except they still arent perfect. The larger reels wind braid on well - smaller ones don't do as good of a job. Supposedly when you do your yearly service drop a note in there about it and they have a fix for it.

I want to hear about folks who use/no longer use the Shimano Stella.

libassboy - you had the current Stella or the genration before that was more silvery? WHY did you sell it?? (u just wanted another VS so you sold it?)

[libassboy]

I fished it a few times and figured for the money..id rather have annother VS. It was the newer one(blue). Its a really nice reel, smoothe as anything and well built, but the Vs with the bail came out..had to have it.

[maddog2020]

VS w/ a bail? That just isn't right .... lol. I hear the new anti-reverse in the bailed reels are much better/stronger designed. Too bad they can't retrofit that to the old style.

Ok, so it wasn't anything really wrong w/ the Stella - what you don't like the blue .... lol.

Let me know how you like/dislike the bail on the VS at end of the season. You are only person I've seen them post to say they had the bail verson (not shop or store).

I wonder why Shimano shows no interest in the waterproof high end market? The price fixing good enough for them and they don't want to add more sku number?! :P

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by maddog2020

VS w/ a bail? That just isn't right .... lol. I hear the new anti-reverse in the bailed reels are much better/stronger designed. Too bad they can't retrofit that to the old style.

They've never made any improvements that could be retrofitted to the old style reels

After all, folks with the old $400 ones would have no incentive to spend $700 for a new one

[Back Beach]

Have both VS and Saltiga. VS is definitely a tougher reel, but feels like a coffe grinder. The drag is outstanding. Saltiga fishes like a wet dream,but I can see where there may be future wear/tear issues with the bail assembly. I wouldn't purposely dunk the saltiga,and don't swim unless forced or provoked, so its good for my applications. The drags are absolutely super too. I personally like the smoothness of the saltiga over the vs, and fish it exclusively now. Can't give a real good report on the durability. Ask Tlapinski,the tackle testing and torture technician about that,he's had one for a while and recommended it to me.