Shimano Saros... worth the $$$?

CCMI

CCMI

Joined
Aug 4, 2010
Messages
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I just started fishing again this past year for the first time since I was a kid and I'm looking to get some advice from more experienced anglers about a new reel.

Right now I have an el cheepo Shakespere Bass rod & reel combo with a 6'6 medium heavy rod that I'd like to upgrade, partly because I messed up the reel a bit and partly because I can :D. I've been stockpiling Bass Pro gift cards as my go-to gift suggestion so I've got a decent amount to spend. I've pretty well decided on a Shimano spinning reel at his point. So far I've mostly been fishing from shore using soft plastics for bass, but I'd like to get a canoe or small boat this spring (which I expect would expand my lure selection). I think the 2500 size would suit my needs since I've been using either 8 or 10 lbs line.

I'm wondering if the Saros is worth the extra money over say the Sedona or Sahara? Or even the Symetre? From what I understand, the Saros has sheilded bearings, more durable gears (Paladin), and comes with a second spool. I have no problem spending more on a Saros if it's a much better reel in some way or if I should expect it to last significantly longer.

So, whadya think?
 
I don't think so, I think my much cheaper pflueger president is just as smooth, I can't speak about the strength of the gears I haven't had either fail. I mainly canoe fish for river largemouth, a 3 pounder is a big fish for me. My favorite rig right now is a pflueger president 6730, spooled with 10 pound power pro, 6'6", 2 piece Berkely amp, medium light action rod, I have more expensive gear but right now this is what I am liking. I have broken a lot of rods in tight creeks out of my canoe and have beat the crap out of this cheap berkely, it has taken it like a champ, is sensitive and has enough backbone to set the hook. Chris

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Go with the shimano Saros 3000, its a damn good reel and will outlast a Pflueger any day.
Personally I would get the 3000, its the same reel with a deeper spool, paddle handle and a more powerful drag.

I have used the Shimano stradic and sustain for over 10 years and they are the best spinning and casting reels out there IMO, Japan made reels are made with precision, the bearings, machining and tolerances are perfect....

I have a BNIB Stradic FI 3000 I'm selling for $100.00 if your intersted just PM me.
Since I don't use spinning reels anymore I'm selling it.
arendtsen1@yahoo.com I can send you pics also if needed
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...imano-Stradic-3000-FI?p=10329385#post10329385

My favorite set-up
St-Croix LTB 7''0" fishing rod
Shimano Chronarch 101D7
Upgrades
Orange Seal Bearings
Power-Handles
Black Star Drag

4813971652_150566a77e_z.jpg
 
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The Spirex RG is wonderful and costs half as much, so I'd vote "no" on the Saros. Had a Pflueger President and got rid of it; replaced it with the the Spirex. I love the one-hand casting, balanced handle, and rear drag features.

shimano_spirex_rg_spin_reel_2.png

(mine is the 1000, matched to a Bass Pro MicroLite)

Still, there's no substitute for heading to the store to try one in person. I was at a Cabela's last year for the first time and couldn't freakin' believe their in-store selection! I'm sure Bass Pro's stores are comparable.
 
Different strokes and all that, no doubt the shimano is better quality all the way around, and no doubt any st croix is a fantastic rod, however I would not recommend for someone that hasn't fished since they were a kid to drop that kind of coin on their outfit. After I broke my second 100 dollar plus rod I decided that I could catch fish dang near as well with a 40 dollar rod and my 4 year old, well used pflueger is still going strong. Where you fish and what you fish for makes a huge difference, a one piece rod and casting reel is next to useless in the tight, overgrown creeks that I like.

Chris
 
Dang Flexx, I saw your post earlier this morning when I woke up, but it looks like I've been beat to the punch already. That's a good deal though and I didn't think it'd last long, thanks for the offer though. I might take your advice on the 3000 size since it's rated for 8-12 test. I have a BPS light setup with 6lbs test (even though I did lose the top half of the rod somewhere on a trail :rolleyes:) so I doubt I'd ever use anything smaller than 8lbs on this reel.

I agree with you August in that part of me is hesitant to jump straight into a more expensive reel. However, if I'll probably end up getting something comparable down the road I'd rather just get it now while I have the house money and start enjoying it sooner. As for the rod, some of you may cringe when I say I'm planning to throw on an Ugly Stik :barf: :D. I'm just not ready for the sticker shock of breaking an $80+ rod. I figure I can always upgrade it later if I want. I know the basic ideas of cheap vs nice rods, but I feel like I "know" nothing about them, if that makes sense.

Bob you're right about the selection at Cabelas and Bass Pro. The BPS by me is an Outdoor World which I think means the store is larger than normal. My soon to be brother-in-law is from Arkansas and he said the one down there (I think it's actually in Missouri) is the original and is massive. I browsed a little bit when I was there last week, but I plan to go back and try a bunch in person.
 
You sure about that ugly stick, they are tough and I love my ugly stick catfish rod, but for anything other than hucking a big wad of stink or cut bait, there sure are a lot of rods I like a lot better. Chris
 
I have a 1000F saros and love it. It is super smooth and worth the extra money. My next reel will be the 2500 saros.
I have a 2500 Sahara and it is nice but the Saros is nicer. I have the Sahara on a 7ft ugly stick-lite with cork grips. I catch everything from striped bass to trout on it.

I used to have a spirex and they are nice but the trigger has to return back to the same spot to be able to use it. I would rather open the bail by hand anyways.

I'm too poor to buy cheap and would rather buy a reel or tools once instead of every couple of years.

If there is a Bass pro store or Cabellas near you go and try them out, they are all on display.
 
I haven't seen the ugly stik lite, I'm going to go check one of those out. Might have to run down to Gander this afternoon. Chris
 
Chuck Gedraitis Knives said:
would rather buy a reel or tools once instead of every couple of years.
Click to expand...

That was my thinking exactly, glad to hear you like your Saros. Any particular reason for choosing the 2500 instead of the 3000?


Chuck Gedraitis Knives said:
7ft ugly stick-lite with cork grips
Click to expand...
August West said:
I haven't seen the ugly stik lite, I'm going to go check one of those out. Might have to run down to Gander this afternoon. Chris
Click to expand...

I should have specified it was the "Lite" version I was considering. I only saw the regular Uglys at BPS when I was there so I may have to order it online, but I swear they used to have 'em. Their knife counter looked pretty depleted too so they may just be out of stock after the hordes tore through for Christmas.


Also, does anyone know if the higher end reels usually go on sale at some point during the year? It didn't seem like they had a lot of reels on after-Christmas sale. I'd hate to buy and then see the price drop before fishing season starts around here.
 
Nothing wrong with Ugly Stick rods. But if you'd like something a little more 'different' than everyone else has, the Bass Pro Tourney Special IM7 are on sale for about the same price as an Ugly Stick. I've got the Medium-Light action Tourney Special matched to an older Shimano TX120Q reel. That's my everyday setup; those older Shimano reels seem to never wear out.

And if you change your mind budget-wise and decide to save your cash for gas money, my little boy has a Quantum Snapshot 10 combo that cost under $30. It's comfortable and smooth enough that I could use it all day. And don't tell me those cheap sets can't catch fish:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJq3mMqtASE

:D
 
Any shimano reel ive had has been great, either spinning or baitcasters. For friends looking for a good cheap spinning reel I always recommend a Shimano Sedona. Ive had one for probably 8yrs and its still butter, even with no maintenance. I abuse my reels to. I also have a Sahara and its great, wouldnt go up much past that til you get a bit better.

What you mainly fishing for?? Bass?
 
That Saros looks like a top notch reel.

I like spinning reels, and I use an el-cheapo reel and a Berkley lightning rod.

I like to use ultra-light to make it sporting.

I live in a lake community, and I like to catch large mouth bass.

photo.jpg


You won't be sorry you spent the extra dollars on a quality reel - it will be smoother and give better feedback.

best regards -

mqqn
 
Bob W said:
Nothing wrong with Ugly Stick rods. But if you'd like something a little more 'different' than everyone else has, the Bass Pro Tourney Special IM7 are on sale for about the same price as an Ugly Stick. I've got the Medium-Light action Tourney Special matched to an older Shimano TX120Q reel. That's my everyday setup; those older Shimano reels seem to never wear out.

And if you change your mind budget-wise and decide to save your cash for gas money, my little boy has a Quantum Snapshot 10 combo that cost under $30. It's comfortable and smooth enough that I could use it all day. And don't tell me those cheap sets can't catch fish:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJq3mMqtASE

:D
Click to expand...


Funny you should say that, I just saw that Tourney Special rod on their website last night and I think that's what I'm going to go with since it's on sale for the same price as the Ugly Lite. I called my local store and they are out but I can get free shipping to the store from the website :thumbup:

I'd like to try a 7ft rod, just need to decide between medium and medium-heavy.....


That video is pretty funny, it goes to show it's skill not gear. On the other hand I doubt you could reel in too many sharks before the reel gave out.

Edit: just ordered the 6'6 in MH
 
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Well I trucked it up to Bass Pro this morning and I didn't come home empty handed...

IMG_38803.jpg


I ended up going with the Sahara instead of the Saros. I played around with a dozen or more reels and I really couldn't tell much difference between the two. Now the new Stradic, phew, that was definately nice, but at $180 I'm just not there yet. Ultimately decided based on the amount of fishing I get to do (2-5 times per month) I wouldn't notice the difference. Maybe some day, but not today.

Thanks for all the advice. Hopefully I'll have a few pics to post in the 2012 Fishing Pic thread in the not too distant future :thumbup:
 
One thing to consider when comparing cheap and pricey reels is how often they'll be used.
Way back when rear drag spinning reels first came out, 3 of us bought the same Diawa $20 special... freshwater spinning 8# line.
This was when I was fishing 3-4 nights a week after work and every Saturday, along with my buddy who bought one of the other reels.
We both wore them out in the course of a season, March to October.
The gears had so much slop in them they were all but unusable.
Now I'm sure my BIL still has his.
If he fished 3x a year it was a lot.

I'm sure the OP will be pleased with his new reel.
I have a Shimano Sedona and a Spheros... the difference is obvious. I'm sure the step up to the Saros would be as well.
Sometimes the differences aren't ones you feel right away, but in how they last and age.

The new model reels come out at i-cast http://www.icastfishing.org/
This year it will be in July, IIRC last year was November.
Usually the older models go on sale when the newer ones hit the shelves shortly after i-cast.
There were some good deals on the old Curados that I should've jumped on, but didn't.
 
Way to go!

I looked at them, then looked at the ABU Records and then back at the Curados and back at the Records....

...and didn't buy nothin' :)
 
CCMI, congratz on the new reel, I have an older model Sahara and it's still going strong, no problems at all. I think you may have already decided on the rod your going to buy so if you have just forget the rest:D.
I was going to tell you that on some Shimano rods they offer an "over the counter" warranty. If you break it you just take it back to the store and the hand you a new one. I think you can get this warranty on rods starting at $99 but it may be a little higher than that, can't remember for sure. Shimano is my favorite brand of tackle and I've dropped WAY to much money on their products over the last 10 years. Either way you go enjoy that new reel and catch one for me.
 
I recently switched over from shimano actually after burning out two Caenen baitcasters in one summer. I now have a mixture of Pflueger and quantum tour spinning reals and only use Plueger Patriarch baitcasters. By far the smoothest best casting baitcaster I have ever used. It is spooled with 50 lbs suffix 832 and I use it for walleye smallmouth and pike. So far this year it has landed me a 44 inch pike, an 18 inch smallmouth weighing just over 4lbs and a 31.5 inch walleye that weighed 12 lbs. I also fish at least D times a week from opening day right until freeze us.
 
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