"a Silent Panther" 2025
Anantha Patel reply :
Nowadays, all reels are designed to look shiny and high tech. Look at all those Okumas. But then you have the Shimao IX. Dull black, without any color accents. Heavyish and ugly.Looks like one of those primative spinning reels. Must suck, right? But for $12 and all those good reviews, I bought it.
My friends weren't impressed. It has nothing shiny on it, after all. But this reel...... casted far, nice drag, and was smooth as I could ask, and handled catfish well. At the end of the day, I had outfished a $50 Diawa, another $40 Shimano, a pricey $40 Quantum, and more. Nothing wrong with it. I rather buy a good reel than a shiny one. I am impressed, and will buy a Shimano Stimuli rod to go with it. It outperformed my more expensive Abu I use as my main reel by miles, and I am putting it in the basement. I has some of the qualities of an $100 reel. It's doesn't rust, and is smooth. It can handled salt water, too. This reel, although very utility, is a good bang for your buck. Any other "silent panthers" out there?
flyfisher reply :
how do you define out fish another reel?
BobP reply :
Reels don't outfish reels, fishermen outfish fishermen. I have a couple of these bought 20 years ago that I use for pier fishing on the coast. Not much metal in them to corrode in sea water. I see that they haven't changed much in 2 decades, including the price! Good value for little $$. But will they "outfish" a more expensive Shimano or Daiwa spinning reel in fresh water? Definitely not if we're talking quality of components, design, smoothness, ergonomics, durability, etc. But I've caught a lot of bluefish, sea trout, spots, etc, etc with them and have zero complaints.
Glad you like the reel Anantha. But let's not get carried away 
Anantha Patel reply :
On 8/30/2015 at 9:29 AM, flyfisher said:how do you define out fish another reel?
Ha ha! Well, I outfithed them. Sorry about the wording and all and thanks for the correction. I usually have some mishaps with the ABU, so I spend them cutting line and stuff, or not casting far. My friends spend some tie each day cutting line or not casting as far.
Hogsticker reply :
Give that reel a solid 6 months of usage. You'll be pulling the other one back out of the basement.
Anantha Patel reply :
On 8/30/2015 at 10:48 AM, Hogsticker said:Give that reel a solid 6 months of usage. You'll be pulling the other one back out of the basement.
Seemed solid to me, but I had not had it for long. What problems are there?
FinCulture reply :
On 8/30/2015 at 10:48 AM, Hogsticker said:Give that reel a solid 6 months of usage. You'll be pulling the other one back out of the basement.
yes. plastic isn't exactly built to last. pounding nails with a plastic hammer may make you hand less sore, but we'll see how quickly you can build that treehouse.
FinCulture reply :
On 8/30/2015 at 11:07 AM, Anantha Patel said:Seemed solid to me, but I had not had it for long. What problems are there?
PLASTIC!
Anantha Patel reply :
On 8/30/2015 at 11:09 AM, FinCulture said:PLASTIC!
Is the problem really that bad? I had a Zebco last me years. I'm not trying to pound it. Is the problem really that bad? I have seen reviews of long time users that have been good.
=
Also, it's made out of graphite, or "carbon reinforced plastic." It's not the cheap plastic on spincast combos. I am very careful with my rods and reels, and I don't think they will break as you say.
d-camarena reply :
That was the first reel i ever caught a bass on. Over 3 years ago. Have not used it since. Ill pull it out tomorrow for some fishing
k3bass reply :
On 8/30/2015 at 11:09 AM, FinCulture said:PLASTIC!
Are there any shimanos under 180 bucks that aren't?
Bluebasser86 reply :
I started out my fishing career with a couple Shimano TX1000s (very similar product). I caught a lot of fish with them, including lots of channel cats out of my grandparents ponds from 4-10 pounds. My dad still has one in the 2000 size that's older than I am and has caught thousands of fish up to a 17lb flathead. They aren't going to be the most durable, prettiest, or popular, but in the hands of the right person they will catch you fish.
Hogsticker reply :
I wasn't referring to the plastic. Though I can tell you there is a significant difference between the plastic on a 15 dollar reel and the carbon composite used on an expensive reel. Zaion, Ci4, etc. Not to mention the R&D that goes into it. I was talking about the quality of those 2 cheap bearings inside, the drag material, gears, etc. I've never ever used a reel in that price range that didn't have or eventually suffer from a choppy, inconsistent, herky jerky drag. I'm not saying don't use the reel, but put it through the paces before you glorify it. There is a reason it costs 15 dollars.
FinCulture reply :
On 8/30/2015 at 11:45 AM, k3bass said:Are there any shimanos under 180 bucks that aren't?
no but those more expensive ones have metal internals
FinCulture reply :
but the IX is good for the money, I agree with that.
Bruce424 reply :
Sounds good man. If the reel works great and has qualities you prefer it's always a great deal. Only two things I'll tell ya is to learn to back reel instead of relying on its drag. And close the bail by hand don't turn the handle to close the bail.
Anantha Patel reply :
It just seemed good to me.. That's all. I close the bail by hand, too. Might want to buy one as a hiking reel for trout.
Jaderose reply :
On 8/30/2015 at 8:24 PM, Anantha Patel said:It just seemed good to me.. That's all. I close the bail by hand, too. Might want to buy one as a hiking reel for trout.
...and there you go. You like it..it's a pleasure to fish with it for you. That is all that matters. Will it last? Who knows and who cares? That is the thing about something as personal as a fishing reel. What feels great to me may feel completely foreign to you. What may be a good deal to me, may be worthless to you. In the end it does not matter so long as you're enjoying your equipment and catching the fish you wish to catch. Tight lines and rock on!
Anantha Patel reply :
That's true. Guess I found another low priced reel that's quality. The other one I have is an Okuma Avenger. Still haven't decided which one is better.
WRB reply :
Got wonder when folks make comments about plastic thinking it's weak or not very durable based on misconception. Reinforced plastic can have very high impact strength, withstand abuse better than die cast aluminum alloy without any corrosion issues. Simple glass reinforced Nylon or polycarbonate (Lexan) are used today for your cars bumpers for example.
What separates plastics form each other is retaining high modulus strength at high temperatures, not a factor for a fishing reel. Dimension stability under pressure is important and that is where glass fiber reinforcement helps, carbon fiber increases the modulus strength, but at a much higher cost.
The Shimano reel looks well engineered and very functional and that serves the entry level price point, plus they put their name on it!
Tom
BobP reply :
I have the same reel as Anantha, used for saltwater over 20 years of hard use. It held up just fine with its resin body and one or two bearings. Refined reel? NO. But it has never given me one problem in all that time. I like my much more expensive reels better but there is something to be said for simplicity.
bigbill reply :
There are some good quality affordable quality reels out there.
While the Japanese brands have taken over our market wait till China really starts up. I purchased a few of there spinning reels lately and they don't look too bad. The fit and finish looks great and it functions on the bench. I hope to test them on the water soon.
The Chinese are good at cloning things. I've seen them even make better quality stuff too.
Remember how we felt about the products from Japan at one-time?
My Chinese baitcaster is up to $28/$35 now. I'd put it up to any $100 reel.
I just purchased a Chinese brand spinning rod. It actually feels good action wise. The feel of the taper/action feels good from the handle up to the tip. It feels more even with the flow.
Could there actually be fishing rod chee?
We could see a lot of changes in the manufacturing soon. Most of our better quality stuff is labeled from China anyway.
Why be bias?
I still use my OKUMA exiptor and fin nor ahab lite spinning reels but I like to try other brands too. I have
a new line up of LEWS SPEED sticks with US REEL SUPER CASTERS. Spinning and baitcasters to try too.
Always keep an open mind. I prefer good long lasting quality products without breaking my piggy bank.
Tell me really who uses these $400++ rods and $750++ reels? I gots to know.
Give Patel some credit he may have an affordable good reel.
My Wal-Mart quantum spinning reels weren't bad in the beginning I still have them. They all get a turn in the pool still.
roadwarrior reply :
"Most of our better quality stuff is labeled from China anyway"
What are a few examples?
Jake the Cake reply :
On 8/31/2015 at 6:31 AM, Anantha Patel said:That's true. Guess I found another low priced reel that's quality. The other one I have is an Okuma Avenger. Still haven't decided which one is better.
I can attest for this reel! I have the IX 4000R and it works like a charm. I prefer the matte black finish over anything shiny. I've never once had a problem with it (granted it's only been about a year and a half) and it's smooth as could be. The only other Spinning reel I have is an Abu Cardinal S (I forget the model) and I have no complaints about that either, but if I was to buy another, I'd save the $20 or $30 and go right back to the IX 4000R.
Great reel for a great price. Glad someone else is speaking up about this gem!
bigbill reply :
How many brands come from China. Everything I look at says made in China. Made in Taiwan, Philippines, Korea but mostly China.
I'm sorry your quality and my quality may differ price wise too.
We manufacture over there because there's no laws on environmental waste yet.
Anantha Patel reply :
It just is a really good bang for your buck reel. Caught some bullheads today. I still haven't got over how they don't even use a single ball bearing, but are so smooth. Guess that proves that I used to be wrong when judging a rebel by it's bearings. Walmart has them in my area for 7 or 8 bucks. A ZEBCO 202 costs that much.
powerduster reply :
I went to a bass fishing flea market this past spring and saw a combo with a shimano 4000ix and almost bought it. I kind of wish I did. I have too many rods and reels already!
Jeff H reply :
On 9/1/2015 at 5:49 AM, roadwarrior said:"Most of our better quality stuff is labeled from China anyway"
What are a few examples?
Pinnacle?
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