TackleTour

I am building a new rod for shakey head and other light spinning applications. I am putting top of the line components on this thing and wanting to make it the best possible. That in mind, I am automatically thinking Stella for the reel. My question is, for freshwater bass(spots, largemouth, and smallmouth) is it worth it? I know they are amazing, but are they worth the difference over a sustain or similar high end models?

Yes.

Dexter wrote:Yes.

Exactly

New? I would personally say "no" - at least not for your suggested use.

But a used one? Certainly.

I would just suggest if you go for a Stella beware... many of them are geary feeling I just looked at another one the other day that the was rough right out of the box. That's not acceptable for a $700.00 reel. Buy from a retailer that will exchange it for you if you get a bad one...

Kurt

Your rod will be the best possible, so why not the reel?

Haha! Exactly what I was expecting... any very specific reasons why?

well, specifically, the stella is a rock solid, non flexing, powerful reel.

I use it for slop senko fishing on my inshore 804xmr nrx rod.

for all my light application fishing, weightless open water senko's, shaky heads, etc, I prefer Ci4+ and Sustain's.

Stella is my go to when I want power, no flex, and pure rock solid reliability.

Shaky head fishing a Sustain would do just fine.

I've had two...I might be the only guy who doesn't like the feel. I liked the Stradic and Sustain, but not the Stella. If you want a high end reel that can go in salt as well, you might like it.

On the other hand, you'll have to pry my Steez 2500's from my cold dead fingers.

I'd look at the 16 Vanquish. Especially for light spinning as you mentioned. The two reels are nearly identical in features but the Vanquish is quite a bit lighter.

Kurt L wrote:I would just suggest if you go for a Stella beware... many of them are geary feeling I just looked at another one the other day that the was rough right out of the box. That's not acceptable for a $700.00 reel. Buy from a retailer that will exchange it for you if you get a bad one...

Kurt

I bought two from a big retailer...both had sideplates misalligned. Sharp too. And rotor wrash guards misalligned. WIth edges exposed.

returned both.

Bought a 3k and 4k. Flawless. From giant brown trout to bluefish...couldn't be happier.