This time, we’ve got a good one for you in this Shimano Torium Star Drag Reel Review. This review will review why this mid-tier reel, available in 5 sizes and various gear ratios, is perfect for all your offshore jigging and bottom-fishing techniques.
If you’re in the market for a reliable and high-performing conventional reel from Shimano, this one is a great option. It works well with jigging, trolling, and casting, plus it has a variety of features that make it stand out among other reels in this price range.
This saltwater reel takes your fishing to the next level by offering Shimano’s High-Efficiency Gearing and an ultra-high gear ratio. This means you’ll get smooth cranking no matter how much of a fight you find yourself in.
The incredibly rigid one-piece Hagane body eliminates flex in the drivetrain, which increases your leverage, strength, and durability against the hardest-fighting saltwater fish such as grouper, kings, tuna, and AJ’s.
The Bottom Line
- An excellent option for offshore jigging, live bait, and bottom fishing
- Very solid construction with a cross-carbon drag system
- High level of manufacturing with robust, smooth, high-efficiency gearing
- Very durable aluminum frame
The Shimano Torium reels are excellent and are available here.
You get the variable braking system and aluminum cold-forged spool for precision and accuracy, which help you get that perfect cast regardless of the conditions.
With a name like Shimano, you know you’re dealing with a great reel from a company that understands quality. While you pay a bit for this, it is similar to buying a Lexus vs. a Toyota — it is generally just a better fit and finish.
The Shimano Torium Star Drag Reel comes in five sizes, ranging from 14 to 50, with eight total models. (Three of those models are left-handed). With a comprehensive option of sizes and gear ratios, you can select just the right reel for your targeted species, whether you’re going for a more undersized snapper or those hard-pulling ALs.
Features
Hagane Body
This reel labels itself under the “metal series,” the word Hagane means steel. This frame offers a rigid design that graphite cannot compare to.
Metal frames usually have a higher price tag because you won’t experience frame twists like with graphite. The only thing that can compare to a metal frame is high-grade aluminum, which is typically cheaper.
The importance of this very stiff frame can not be understated. The frame keeps all of the gears in alignment, which means you get a very smooth feel when retrieving a fish, and the gears will not wear out as quickly as there is almost zero play in them.
AR-B Anti Rust Bearings
The reel contains Shimano’s one-way roller bearings for their anti-reverse mechanics. These bearings will withstand all conditions and prevent corrosion due to extreme saltwater fishing.
All bearings that go through the A-RB treatment are ten times less likely to corrode than standard ball bearings. They come with a no-shield design that makes it easy to clean out any debris and lubricate during maintenance.
Super Stopper With Assist Stopper
One thing that always separates Shimano reels for me is their super-stopper. It eliminates any back play on the reel, and once it’s in gear, you get an instant and practical hook set every time the fish takes your bait.
Cold Forged Aluminum Spool
This Shimano reel screams durability and strength. They use a cold forging process compared to a die-cast to form the open-faced spool on their Torium line of reels. As an angler, you end up with a more substantial piece of aluminum on the spool to handle higher stress and pressure from a taut line.
HEG – High-Efficiency Gearing
The HEG system is designed to prevent the reel from binding under pressure, and it includes not just the gears but also the sideplates and frame. This system reduces twists on the gears, and when combined with the enlarged drive and pinion gear, you have a high-performance reel designed to crank in larger species.
Precision “Click” Star Drag
The star drag system has a definite click that lets you know exactly where the drag is set. The other advantage of this is that it keeps the star knob from reversing and taking drag off of the reel unexpectedly.
Oversized Clicker Button For Ease Of Use
The size of the clicker button is generous and makes it very easy to engage and disengage. When the drag is set to a low setting, the clicker alarms you when a fish has taken the bait and is running with it. I don’t know about you, but I never tire of hearing the reel scream when I catch a fish.
Manual Oversized Clutch
The clutch system is manual and has a nice large lever, making it very easy to switch between free spool and drag. This is a manual clutch, so it will not automatically engage when you crank on the handle.
Adjustable Handle Shank
The adjustable handle shank helps reduce the reel’s weight without sacrificing strength and durability. You get the best of both worlds with the Shimano Torium Star Drag reel.
Features at a Glance
- Hagane Body
- AR-B Anti Rust Bearings
- Super Stopper With Assist Stopper
- Die-Cast Aluminum Frame
- Cold Forged Aluminum Spool
- HEG – High-Efficiency Gearing
- Precision “click” Star Drag
- Oversized Clicker Button For Ease Of Use
- Adjustable Handle Shank
If we look at the specifications of the Shimano Torium Star Drag Reel, we have five sizes ranging from 14 to 50. Each offers a selection of line ratings, and they have both mono and braided ratings.
The smallest of the reels – the 14, gives you 300 yards of 14-pound monofilament, while the most significant 50 size offers 490 yards of 40-pound monofilament. If you prefer a braid, the size 14 provides 240 yards of 65 lb, and the size 50 can be loaded with 540 yards of 100 for your biggest catch.
If you combine the Shimano Torium Star Drag with a fast action rod like the Shimano Trevala Jigging Rod, you’ll feel every tiny nibble; plus, you’ll have the right reel to get a solid hook set and crank in the biggest of fish. This reel has a thin spool, ideal for jigging with the braided line because it’s easy to manage and produces a solid connection between the fisherman’s hand and the rod.
With the Shimano Torium Star Drag, you’ll have no problem finding one small enough to fit the smaller reel seat on the Shimano Trevala Jigging rod.
This reel is excellent for offshore live bait and bottom fishing. One thing that stands out is the flexibility in the variety of fishing you can do with this reel. You get everything you need packaged up into a reel priced accordingly, between $200-300 retail, depending on your size.
Something I love about the Shimano Torium Star Drag is the smaller profile of the reel overall. You’re able to palm the reel if you’re vertical jigging. It’s also a great step up from the original Torium reel if you have previously fished one of those models.
Every reel you pick up from Shimano comes equipped with a one-year manufacturer warranty, and they have service centers all over the world. When you purchase the reel, you’ll have the opportunity to register it on their website if something goes wrong. In many cases, you can have it serviced or repaired at your local repair shop.
Shimano Torium Star Drag Field Test
We paired the Shimano Torium 30 with the Shimano TVSC63L Trevala Jigging Conventional Rod for this field test. This combination works perfectly for vertical and butterfly jigging, as well as for live bait, for a variety of reasons. When you pair this rod with the Shimano Torium, you’ll have a combination that can withstand large, hard-fighting species while still producing a feeling of finesse in a heavier-duty setup.
For the initial test, I took this setup on my recent trip to Southern California, where we were targeting yellowtail in the mid-water column between 150 and 200 feet. Since this is a high-gear model of 6.2:1 with a retrieval rate of 46″ per crank, moving the butterfly jigs through the water was very easy.
Later in the day, we had some tremendous top-water action, and I could cast the irons effortlessly and then retrieve them quickly just below the surface. The combination of this rod and reel worked exceptionally well.
Something I’ve preached so far, but I’ll say it again: the size of this reel fits perfectly into your hand when you need that extra grip to get the fish into the boat. The rigid one-piece body proved worth it, and the setup felt extremely solid. It is like the difference between an average car and a higher-end model, where the fit and finish make it feel and perform better.
The second time I took the rod out, I was visiting my friend Jack down in Cape Coral, and we took the Del Rio out to our favorite grouper hole about 100 miles offshore. The water down there is incredibly shallow compared to fishing off the coast of California. We were 100 miles out and only in 100–130 feet of water on one of our favorite wrecks.
I dropped the rig with a nice 4″ pinfish and a four oz piece of lead, and thump thump boom, I was on. The gear ratio of this reel makes it quick to get the catch back to the boat, which can be very important on a day like we had when there were several sharks in the water. Personally, I prefer to get the whole fish back to the boat, not just the head and shoulders 🙂
We quickly got our limit of groupers in the 27″-29″ range, so it was time to see if we could hook into a few AJs.
All in all, I was very impressed with the solid feel of the reel and how smooth it was.
Pros
- Hagane Rigid Body = No Flex
- Easy-to-adjust star drag system
- Overall smoothness and feel
Cons
- Issues with the star drag and speed control being too close together
Alternatives
I always think that the best way to understand the quality and performance of a fishing reel is to compare it to other similar reels in price, size, and performance. Let’s look at some of these to see how they stack up to the Shimano Torium Star Drag Reel.
First, look at the Daiwa Saltist Black and Gold Star Drag. This reel offers a one-piece aluminum frame, so it also has a metal body. It’s not quite like the Hagane body, but it’s solid and doesn’t flex under the load.
This one also has an infinite anti-reverse, eliminating all backplay for a solid hook set. This high-speed retrieval reel is close to the Shimano and comparable in price.
We also want to look at the Okuma Cortez Star Drag. You get an excellent reel for the money here, and this star drag reel works perfectly for trolling and jigging, just like the Shimano Torium Star Drag Reel. Here, you’ll find a graphite frame and corrosion-resistant side plates that make this reel great for saltwater fishing but don’t offer the same level of strength that you get with the Shimano reel.
One exciting feature of this reel is the Magnetic Cast control, which uses magnets on their smaller models. It helps you get a smooth cast, and when the reel slows down, the magnets engage to prevent back spooling. You’ll also pick this reel up for about 3/4 the cost of the Shimano.
Finally, let’s take a look at the Penn Squall Star Drag. This reel is the smallest of the squall series and is intended for the angler who desires an open-round conventional reel without a level wind system.
One of the standout features of this reel is the live spindle design that allows the spool to float freely from the pinion gear and spindle. The result is less friction on your cast, leading to longer casts with less work.
You should be able to reel in the Penn Squall Star Drag for nearly 2/3 the Shimano Torium Star Drag cost, so it’s definitely a bargain at this price.
In Conclusion
If you’re looking for a middle-of-the-road conventional saltwater reel for jigging and bottom fishing, this reel provides enough power and strength to take on heavy loads. Conversely, you can still finesse fish for your smaller bottom dwellers when paired with a quality rod like the Shimano Trevala Jigging rod.
The high-efficiency gearing and star drag make this reel easy to use, while the Hagane body and high-efficiency gearing system provide you with the strength and durability you need to battle your bigger and harder-charging fish.
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