Shimano Spheros with Carbontex Washer Kit and New Saragosa - Questions

[Rob Soulsby NZ]

Hi All

I have a Shim Spheros and have put the carbontex washer kit on board. Can any tell me what I can now expect in terms of increased/max drag kgs?

I'm also looking at the new Saragosa. Does anyone have any comments, either armchair or on the water please. Thanks

Tite lines

[Cam Foley]

more drag 4shore enough to snap the thing right off the stem ,did you get a stella handle for it?

[Rob Soulsby NZ]

Cheers Cam

No Stella handle just the washers. Have u had a bad experience w this set up??

Where do I get the Stella handle?

Thanks

[Mick Cunningham]

Cheers Cam

No Stella handle just the washers. Have u had a bad experience w this set up??

Where do I get the Stella handle?

Thanks

we have heard a bit about them ... 

there is one at blue water ... but i think your from nz aren,t you . well try your loacl shop it would cost about 100buck for the handle ..

here is a web for you .. why not check it out ..

http://www.bluewater.net.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1316&osCsid=0010f2b1f81628782ccb7f778225f1ba

hope this help,s 

regard,s mick.

[Sachin Chaudhry]

I have the whole upgrade on my Spheros FA and FB reelsalthough I did not need to upgrade the drag on the FB as the drag from the factory on the FB is strong enough.
I run 80lb Power Pro on both reels and they sit on Calstar GF700XH rods.
Couple of things to look out for. The washer on the main shaft that sits between the spool and the spacer will need to be greased before each trip other wise the pressure from the increased drag will wear it down in no time. This is the same for the FB. Remember the FA delivered a stock drag of 11kg. I do not think Shimano ever meant for this to be doubled.
After a while you may get play on the gear and this is reflected in slight play on the handle. My FA has it and the FB is starting to show signs of this too.
One or two of the casing screws may strip the thread in the casing. I replaced it with slightly larger stainless steel screws and a little loctite won't hurt either.
I think with the price of the reel and the upgrade I would now just cough up a couple of hundred extra and buy a 10000FA. The Spheros is a bit slow for popping in my opinion and these problems mean I do not have as much faith in them as I thought I would.

[warren clark]

Hi Rob,
       I,m not quite sure of the drag but I have seen 9 of the 14000 FA upgraded reels on the last 2 Swains trips and for the 6 - 12 days that they where fished they all went very hard.Most guys where using 80lb. All the reel  where upgraded with the Stella handle and washers either by shimano or  Neil @ Jones Tackle.
       The biggest shark last year was caught on a 14000 upgraded and this year there was quite a few Spanyids caught using them.They seem to be quite good value for money once they where upgraded.The one in the picture is on a Shimano GT special. Hope it goes well Warren
     

[Greg Burt]

I have had an ungraded Spheros [including Stella handle] for a couple of years and have been more than pleased with it, so the new FB model makes a lot of sense for a tough budget reel, but after purchasing the Saragosa 18000 and comparing I can see the value in the extra dollars spent. The Paladin gearing as well as the Stopperless Design (No Anti-Reverse Switch) and Machined handle [like a Stella] makes the reel fell much stronger, also the Saragosa has more drag washers then the Spheros with gives it the 20kg [44lb] drag rating.
It's no Stella for shore but a big improvement in the middle class range .

Saragosa info:
Propulsion Line Management
Paladin Gear Treatment
Direct Drive Mechanism
One-Piece Bail Wire
Super Stopper II Anti Reverse
Power Roller
Waterproof Drag
Dyna Balance
Aluminium Frame
Drilled Spool Skirt
Titanium Spool Lip
Easy Access Drag Washers
Repairable Clicker
Stopperless Design (No Anti-Reverse Switch)
Aluminium Rotor
Machined Aluminium Handle Shank

[Cam Foley]

Cheers Cam

No Stella handle just the washers. Have u had a bad experience w this set up??

Where do I get the Stella handle?

Thanks

No bad experienc's with my one ,but have herd that with the drag upgrade you can get so much drag that the stem starts to flex, but it's all good just hang on to it,any of your local tackle shops that stock shimano should be able to get you a stella handle, these make all the differnce in the feel of the reel.

[Rob Soulsby NZ]

Cheers Guys

Appreciate all the help. Those Stella handles are pricey!! Looking for a gear upgrade for another trip to Fiji at Xmas again so no hurry to buy just yet. Sounds like I will get a Saragosa and let the girl friend use the Spheros.....Will watch the forum in the meantime...

Tite Lines

[Mick Cunningham]

hey rob

Go and get yourself a stella 

so you not have to worry a thing 

[Cam Foley]

Yip a Stella would be the way to go,the old ones have come down in price quite a bit.

[Rob Soulsby NZ]

Thanks guys U are both giving me a good reason to look HARD at the Stella!

But which Model?? 10k or 20K Im a greem horn and only caugt a few GTs and only fish once per yr or so. But would love the good gear!!!!

Sounds like the 10000 is the way to go for speed but less spool capacity

I could get a spare spool for jigging Is this correct??

Ive had a godd read here but any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks heaps

Rob

STL10000FA 47 12/500, 16/330, 20/22 65.0 15 1 6.0:1 890

STL20000FA 41 20/460, 25/380, 30/320 58.0 15 1 4.4:1 924 

[Sachin Chaudhry]

The new ones are also coming down in price. I have noticed them a hundred down from when they first appeared so a Stella old or new would be better and more economical in the long run.

[Greg Burt]

The FA Stellas are near extinct in Aus, Dunphy's are out so what is in the shops is it. I was after a 'run out price' 10000 for popping but no luck.

[MikeOsborn]

be worth shopping around at the moment rob. I got my stella20000 for $770NZ which I thought was very good.
I got the last one the shop had but it wouldnt hurt to phone around and you may get lucky with a runout price