The Shimano Stella SW Spinning Reel has been called many names, including “The King of Saltwater Spinning Reels” and “The Premier Big Game Spinning Reel on the Market Today.” With names like that and a reputation that follows comes a high price tag.
In this review of the Stella SW reel, I will try to uncover the truth about this legendary reel and determine if it is worth the $1,000+ price tag that accompanies it. The Stella SW falls into the “Super Spinners” category, explicitly aimed at the Big Game market.
The Shimano Stella was first introduced in the spring of 1993 and has always been the flagship of Shimano’s saltwater spinning reels.
The Stella is usually the first reel in the lineup to get the newest and best technology, and it had new models released in 1998 and 2008, and the latest revision in 2013 represents that.
The most recent version of the Stella SW is available in 8 sizes, ranging from a 5,000 to the new monster 30,000, and comes in one or more of the three gearing ratios. HG – High Gear for popping; PG – Power Gear for jigging; and XG – Extreme Gear for the fastest retrieve rate.
The gearing ratio can be found at the end of the model number, for example, STL8000SWBHG.
Now let’s dig into the details and see what makes a Stella SW a Stella SW and if it is worth the money commanded.
Features
Power aluminum body, X-Rigid rotor, X-Rigid body, and X-Rigid handle
These three components are all constructed of metal and reduce the loss of power found in lesser-designed reels due to flex.
X-Tough Drag
The X-Tough drag offers between 29 and 66 lbs of drag, depending on the model of Stella SW that you select. Simply put, this is the toughest drag that has ever been offered by Shimano and is known to provide a very smooth and robust drag to go up against hard-fighting fish such as Tuna and Amberjacks that love to run hard.
The drag consists of a top stack of carbon fiber washers, and the bottom stack uses two-eared carbon fiber brake washers separated by a metal washer. One nice improvement over the 2008 model is the new seal on the drag knob that sits further outside of the spool and therefore keeps water from penetrating as deep into the spool as the previous design.
New for 2013 is the use of the double-disc drag on the smaller 8k, 10k, and 14k models.
X-Ship
As with other Shimano reels that use the X-Ship technology, two bearings on each end of the pinion gear provide support. This means that the gears can stay in alignment when they are under a heavy load.
When a large Palegic such as a Tuna or Sailfish makes a run, there is a large amount of torque placed on the reel, and it is not uncommon in many reels to feel like it is getting bogged down. This is due to the gears getting torqued out of alignment.
X-Shield & X-Protect
Combined with these two technologies, they provide the best waterproofing protection available on the market today. Together, a series of o-rings and sealing gaskets are located in the most critical areas of the reel to keep water, sand, and dirt from penetrating.
While I have not personally tested these reels while submerged, it has been reported by numerous individuals that the reel can be operated while fully submerged and still not have water penetration, which is pretty impressive.
Propulsion® line management system
The propulsion line management system is composed of a spool with a longer stroke design and a new spool lip that allows for your line to easily peel off the spool when casting without any backlashing or wind knots.
Aero Wrap® II oscillation
Aero Wrap is part of the propulsion line management system. Shimano can use a special worm gear oscillation to ensure that the line lays very evenly on the spool.
Of course, you can shim the spool to control this even more. Even line lay means that all of the energy you put into your cast will be transferred so that you increase the distance of your casting consistently.
Paladin® gear durability enhancement
Shimano combines cold-forged aluminum drive gear with specially hardened brass gear that has proven to provide the long-lasting smoothness that Shimano is famous for.
Cold-forged aluminum spool
The cold-forged aluminum spool is designed for strength and is much stronger than a die-cast aluminum or graphite spool.
14 S A-RB® bearings (Shielded A-RB)
The use of shielded anti-rust bearings adds to the reel’s durability, especially when it comes to saltwater.
Super Stopper® II
As do several other manufacturers, Shimano uses a one-way roller bearing to instantly set the hook when you want without any backplay in the reel. This is also called a stopperless design, meaning that the anti-reverse is always on and does not require a switch to engage it.
Septon® handle grip – models 10,000 and up
Septon is a specific type of material that has a very sticky or tacky feel to the handles. This prevents your hand from slipping off the handle when fighting larger fish.
This is one area where I think that personal preference comes into play. Some people will want to replace the handle with a carbon fiber or metal knob.
Fluidrive® II
Fluidrive refers to the cutting process used when cutting the gears to get an extremely tight tolerance; thus, the gears mesh better and provide a more fluid feel.
Dyna-Balance®
You get wobble when your car tire is out of balance. The same can be said for the rotor on a spinning reel. Shimano used computers to aid in balancing each rotor and fine-tuning it.
Features at a Glance
- Power aluminum body
- X-Rigid rotor
- X-Rigid body and handle
- X-Touch Drag
- X-Ship
- X-Shield & X-Protect
- Propulsion® line management system
- Propulsion spool lip
- SR one-piece bail wire
- Aero Wrap® II oscillation
- Paladin® gear durability enhancement
- Cold-forged aluminum spool
- Ceramic Coating on the entire spool
- Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) line roller coating
- 14 S A-RB® bearings (Shielded A-RB)
- Super Stopper® II
- Stoppers Design (no anti-reverse switch)
- Septon®; handle grip – models 10,000 and up
- Fluidrive® II
- Dyna-Balance®
One of the things that stands out the most to me with the Shimano Stella SW is the attention to detail when it comes to making this reel waterproof. This is accomplished by what Shimano refers to as X-Shield, which locates gaskets and o-rings in 12 potential penetration points to keep the saltwater and grime out.
What makes this reel waterproof is called X-Protect. X-Protect is a triple-lipped seal/gasket that is located around the rotor. Using a series of lips makes it nearly impossible for water to enter the rotor.
The first lip is the first line of defense and keeps most water and grime out. We find grease between the second and third lips that will repel higher-pressure water when the reel is inadvertently submerged.
While it is not recommended, we have been able to fully submerge the Stella and crank the handle for 10+ minutes, and there was no evidence of water getting into the reel.
The Shimano Stella SW is an excellent reel, as you would expect for the price you pay. The latest release has several new additions when it comes to technology, such as the coil wave spring that makes dialing in the drag much more precise, especially under the heavier drag settings.
You have to ask yourself: Is the Stella SW worth the asking price for the few extra bells and whistles you get?
Pros
- Waterproof, well, nearly
- Mostly high-end construction
- Improved castability
- Smooth and Durable
- Bragging rights
Cons
- High price point
- Slightly heavier than the 2008 version
- Service port no longer exists
- Some plastic parts
- No standout features as compared to the Shimano Spheros SW
Shimano Stella SW Alternatives
Staying with the Shimano brand, I would probably skip the Twin Power SW and settle on either the Shimano Saragosa SW or even the Shimano Spheros SW, which are approximately one-third and one-fifth the cost, respectively, with MANY of the same components as the Stella SW. Yes, that is right; they have interchangeable parts but do not carry Stella’s prestige.
I have not finished my review of the Daiwa Saltiga Saltwater yet but it will be a very good and similarly priced alternative.
Suppose you want larger sizes, 20,000 and 30,000 spinning reels, to target those large offshore Pelagic species. In that case, you want to look at the Okuma Makaira, which will run you about two-thirds the cost of the Stella SW and is very similar in quality.
In Conclusion
With a $1,000+ price tag – purchasing a Shimano Stella SW, the “King of Saltwater Spinning Reels,” is not something that most people jump into lightly.
The latest launch of the Shimano® Stella® SW Spinning Reel features a major redesign. Despite its well-earned reputation as the toughest, smoothest, most durable spinning reel in saltwater, the Stella SW now moves even further ahead of the pack.
Yes, it is an excellent reel, smooth and durable; it is vital. Yes, it is as close to waterproof as you can get, but is it worth the price difference compared to other high-end Shimano reels or other manufacturers?
I am not going to keep the Stella SW, as I can not see that it offers any considerable advantages over the considerably lower-priced Shimano Spheros SW or the Shimano Saragosa SW.
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Marty
Friday 17th of July 2020
David, great review section especially for novices. Choosing a proper fishing reel and matching it to a decent rod may be somewhat difficult. I would like to suggest to also include the fishing rods review section. Otherwise a very comprehensive and useful website.