The next year’s Fishing Festival 2021 has been cancelled – it is so sad news. But new products will be kept releasing like previous fishing shows!
Today I introduce you the previous Fishing Show OSAKA 2020, SHIMANO Booth part. 2 – baitcasting reels and overhead reel here!
Wanna check spinning reels? Please check the previous post Fishing Show OSAKA 2020 Review – SHIMANO Booth Part. 1 – Spinning Reels.
20 Metanium
Personally, this news excited me really much – 20 Metanium.
Tough and compact metal frame Coresolid Body, Magnum Light Spool III is featured, and SVS Infinity Brake System, Micromodule Gear II – from spec, it is very close to 19 Antares but even 50g lighter!
When I firstly had in my hand, yes I felt it is very light.. But when you spin the handle, that was so smooth. Of course 19 Antares is the best in SHIMANO, but no doubt this 20 Metanium is very nice and smooth.
When you try spinning the handle of 19 Antares and 20 Metanium, I would actually say, 19 Antares is more like 18 STELLA. Well designed clearance and the best quality gear, wet and smooth reeling – thats 19 Antares for me.
For 20 Metanium, to me it is more like 19 Vanquish – not such wet feeling when you spin the handle, but I felt the lightness of Magnum Light Spool III. From beginning to the end spool spin is really light and therefore it should have very nice sensitivity to catch a lot of information from your lure.
Moreover, this 20 Metaniumu has XG – extra speed gear models. It really depends on what style you do, but especially for saltwater use, XG gear ratio can also be an option.
This is really, versatile baitcasting reel for sure, both for freshwater and saltwater use.
Calcutta Conquest DC
Next one is Calcutta Conquest DC.
This baitcasting reels already released #200 size but this year, #100 size normal gears and HG – speed gears, and #200 speed gear models are added.
This #100 size line capacity is 12lb – 100m, lighter and smaller for more sensitive game.
Size is of course, a little smaller with smaller spool, so weight is of course, a little lighter.
So, #200 is more for like a big swimbait game, or for larger fish use, and this #100 is more for smaller fish, with lighter lures.
This DC digital brake system is really useful as well, I have used #200 DC though the setting is very easy, but really effective. 10g lure, is still fine to use, but for 30 – 40g big lures are still fine. Actually, I tried casting heavy sinking minnow for seabass type of fishing but it was no problem.
This new #100 size is of course, line capacity is smaller, but the round shape body still has more than enough power to fight against bigger fish, but as SHIMANO staff says it has ability to cast around 6-7g lures! Professional angler did use even 5g rigs…
It could also mean you may be able to use this from freshwater big / small mouth bass game, or saltwater bream to middle size fish like mangrove jack, bluefish, trevally, seabass, and more with this.
20 SLX DC
Affordable price baitcasting reel from SHIMANO now has DC model!
SHIMANO’s DC – digital brake system is highly effective, especially for castability DC reduces much of line troubles.
This is affordable entry baitcasting reel therefore not feeling good like 20 Metanium or 19 Antares of course, but not as less as you would imagine from its price for sure.
Body size is fit to your hand very well, smooth reeling but one thing, I just felt the spool is a little heavy. So when you start spinning the handle you would notice it is a bit heavy. But it is like Coresolid Series of SHIMANO’s spinning reel, when spinning is started then you won’t really notice it. I actually felt it was even a little heavier than SLX MGL, so maybe this was because of DC?
But as SHIMANO staff repeatedly said, this reel’s castability is really enhanced very well with new i-DC4 brake system. The dial is very simple to use. This dial has 4 options but each step covers wide range of lure weights and conditions with no line troubles.
I can’t wait to try this reel, especially for open water area.
20 Torium
If you wanted overhead jigging reel for offshore, especially for bigger game, OCEA JIGGER could be the only one choice from SHIMANO.
OCEA Jigger is of course, very nice products but also expensive.
Now this – SHIMANO 20 Torium is like affordable version of OCEA Jigger.
HAGANE Body and X-Protect gives extra strength for tough use, and S-Compact body can fit into your hand very well.
#2000 size has around 550g of its weight and it is actually lighter than OCEA Jigger. Reeling is very smooth comparing to the price, and as long as I touched this reel, I thought this is pretty strong enough, especially for beginner use.
If you haven’t tried offshore jigging for overhead reel, and are thinking to purchase, this may be the one for it.
