New Spheros, 44lb of drag

[Ian Young]

Hello all

My first post here, thanks for a very useful site. I noticed something on the US Shimano site that should be of interest to popper and jig anglers out there. New Spheros lineup has been released, with a list max drag of 44lb (!!!!) for the biggies...there's a 14000 and a new bigger size, an 18000. Also, there's a new saltwater threadline series, the Saragosa, with the same drag specs, but with more ball bearings and machined handles. Would love to see both of these reels...

http://fish.shimano.com/catalog/fish/products/group_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302059301&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181270&bmUID=1199541896345

http://fish.shimano.com/catalog/fish/products/group_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302059305&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181270&bmUID=1199541896345

Cheers, Ian

[Tim Mitsopoulos]

Good find Ian , looks like they should be available in the US this week.
Shimano has been hush on these two reels .

Luke is the new Spheros the one with the upgraded drag that was rumored to be coming , it sure looks like it with a max of 44lb . The Saragosa looks like the Spheros like Ian mentioned , but with the machined handle same as when guys have been updating the drags on the current Spheros and using a Stella handle.

[Luke Wyrsta]

Good find Ian , looks like they should be available in the US this week.
Shimano has been hush on these two reels .

Luke is the new Spheros the one with the upgraded drag that was rumored to be coming , it sure looks like it with a max of 44lb . The Saragosa looks like the Spheros like Ian mentioned , but with the machined handle same as when guys have been updating the drags on the current Spheros and using a Stella handle.

Not sure if that is entirely true Tim. I believe it will still be a little while before the reel is released - simply an early website addition.

The Spheros has undergone a complete 'makeover' with a number of enhancements - will have to confirm the drag upgrade.

The Saragossa will be above the Spheros when it is released. There will also be another addition to the saltwater reels line-up this year.

[Greg Burt]

YES! YES! YES!

[Ian Young]

Saw these specsheets on the tackletour website. Note the prices. US$180 for a big threadline that will pull 44lb of drag is a real breakthrough, if the real-world performance stacks up against the claimed specs: