Shimano Sahara 1000Fl review

[gillchaser]

Got my new Sahara 1000 today . The specs on this one convinced me it was going to be a great value .
When I opened the box I thought they had sent me the wrong reel , it looked so big for a 1000 size reel . But the spool said 1000 on it . Looks like a 1500 size reel with a 1000 spool .
I mounted it on a St Croix Triumph UL Rod and spooled it up with 4# PLine . As I was filling the spool I noticed Shimano put the same shaped stem angle on this reel that they had on the old Symetre , cramping my knuckles , squeezing them into the stem .
I took it up to the town pond late this evening to attempt to get it slimed . And I did , with two small bass and five gills on Trout Magnets .
The reel with the moderate 5' Rod cast the Trout Magnet pretty good with 4# line . Better than I expected . The reel is Rey smooth . I would say as smooth as my Stradics . It feels like a reel that cost a lot more than $80 . If they had just made the stem a liitle different so my fingers wouldn't be so cramped .
I could live with the extra weight and size , but I'm not sure I'll be able to get use to shifting my finger position after each cast . I hope I can figure something out and it doesn't wind up in the reel box with my Symetre 3000.
Gillchaser

Specs
Retrieve: Reversible | Gear Ratio: 5.0:1 | Weight (oz): 7.6 oz. | Bearings: 4+1 | LPT: 26" | Capacity (lb/yd): Mono 2/270, 4/140, 6/110; Braid 10/95, 15/85, 20/65 | Max Drag (lb
Features
Hagane Gearing delivers unmatched smoothness and reliability
X-Ship supports pinion gear for precise alignment with gear drive
G-Free body is perfectly

[gillchaser]

Size compared to an older Sahara 1000 .

[earthworm77]

The larger size does not appeal to me, I have a few of tho older Sahara's with the Stella type handle......those are great little reels.

[gillchaser]

The larger size does not appeal to me, I have a few of tho older Sahara's with the Stella type handle......those are great little reels.

Me neither . If I'd known they had grown , I wouldn't have ordered it . I'm guessing all the other new Shimanos are going to be around the same size . Glad I've got several 500's to last me awhile . Gillchaser

[Smead]

I guess that the greater length is due to that X-ship and a bigger oscillation gear???

Would be interesting to get a measurement from the rod to the line roller for both reels...seems odd they would perpetuate a known problem.

Maybe the ergonomics are fine for Asians and only effect Western "round eyed devils".

The new style handle looks somewhat "cheapo" too.

[gillchaser]

Maybe the ergonomics are fine for Asians and only effect Western "round eyed devils".
.

That thought did cross my mind . I don't think I have what I would call huge hands . About average , although my knuckles are a little swollen from Arthritus.
I'll see if I can get that measurement for you . Gillchaser

[gillchaser]

Some measurements
Distance between roller and Rod (used same Rod of course)
Sahara 1000 Fl - 1.394"
Sahara 1000 FD - 1.253"
Width of rear of reel
Sahara 1000 Fl - .972"
Sahara 1000 FD - .822"
Overall length with spool at top of cycle
Sahara 1000 Fl - 4.726"
Sahara 1000 FD - 4.190"
I included the width and length to show the overall larger size of the reel .
One thing I left out of my review was the drag , which feels awesome , very smooth and fully adjustable with a wide range of adjustment. Gillchaser

[gillchaser]

I'm going out shopping today . The new Sedona has been out for awhile . I have seen them but didn't handle one . It's has a different body style and no X-Ship or Hagane gears . One less bearing . $10 less in cost .
That's why I went for the Sahara , more features , more bearings for only $10 more investment.
It'd be interesting to see if it's a knuckle buster . Gillchaser

[Smead]

I don't know for sure...but in the pictures at the looks it looks about the same.

Sahara side profile:

https://www.fishusa.com/product/Shimano ... Reels-2016

Sedona side profile:

https://www.fishusa.com/product/Shimano ... ning-Reels

You can't tell very well from their pictures, but the Nasci and Sienna seem the same too.

A different geometry is shown in these reels; couldn't figure out why Shimano had them at similar price points...maybe it's for "round eyed devils"?

Nexave:

https://www.fishusa.com/product/Shimano ... ning-Reels

Catana

https://www.fishusa.com/product/Shimano ... ning-Reels

Maybe you can take your rod with you and try the reek on it before buying?

[gillchaser]

Well , I got handle a new Sedona 1000 . Same deal . The reel body is too close to the foot . I think they call this body a M compact . I got to checking on other models and it seems all of the upper priced models have the G Free body , even the new Stradics and Ci4's .
I found an old new stock Spirex 1000 . If it'd had a single paddle handle to go with it. I'd bought the thing . Still may go back and pick one up . I've got an old model Sienna that I think the handle will fit it . It's been awhile since I used a reel with the Quick-Fire feature . Five bearings .
Oh BTW , the new Sienna is a two bearing reel , one ball bearing , one roller bearing . The older ones are 4 bearing . Cheap, Cheap , Cheap ! Gillchaser

[jigmaster5]

thx for the review! that thing looks huge. too bad Shimano decided to ruin a perfectly good line-up...

will be fishing more Daiwa + Pflueger....i might even try an Okuma [gasp!]

[IlliniDawg01]

When I was at Scheels the other day, all the Shimano spinners feel wayyyy smoother than the Pflueger and Quantum and Lews that I handled. They didn't carry Daiwas.

I am a fan of the snapshot style spinners, but they never put that feature on nice reels.

DaveJ