Shimano Spheros sw Review
The Shimano Spheros SW line up of reels are known to have the ablility to reel in some monsters in the saltiest and harshest environments, all while doing it at an extremely affordable price.
In this review of the Shimano Spheros SW, we will take a look at all the components of the reel itself, and make a few comparisons to other great reels of the Shimano brand.
Throughout this review we will also take a look at some of the not so good things about this reel (although they are few), you need to be aware of both the good and the bad about reels before you buy.
The Spheros SW has a model range of 5000-20000, and the main differences are that the larger numbered model has bigger and more powerful everything, high drag, higher line capacity, weighs more, etc.
When it comes to a great reel under $200, it is hard to beat the Shimano Spheros SW, and as you read through all the details below I am sure you will agree with me on that.
Below is a summary of all the specs of this reel, then further down are all the details.
Lets get to it.
Pro’s/Cons
Pros
Cons
| Item | Specs |
|---|---|
| Retrieve | Left/Right |
| Gear Ratio | 6.0:1-6.2:1 |
| Ball Bearings | 3+1 |
| Max Drag | 20-24lbs |
| Reel Weight | 8.6 Oz |
| Line Capacity | 8/170 |
| Braid Capacity | 20/140 |
| Recovery | 35″-39″ Per Turn |
Material/Construction
The Shimano brand has a concept to their fishing reel bodies and other parts, it is called Hagane metal.
This means that the fishing reel body is a metal body with extreme rigidity. The method to making the Hagane metal body and other parts dates back to the 5th century.
Essentially there is a proprietary process that Shimano uses that makes their metal extremely rigid and resistant to torsion and flexing.
This is key because when you buy a Shimano Spheros SW, you know that the body and frame will be solid enough for battling some monsters.
Then you just need a great rod to pair with it.
X-Shield/Core Protect, is an important thing to know when buying the Shimano Spheros SW. This is the process that Shimano uses to ensure that all of the internal parts are completely sealed.
The Shimano Spheros SW line up has a completely sealed internal system. The reel has had extra o rings and seals placed in all the areas that are at risk of leaking water internally.
Personally, this is one of my favorite concepts when it comes to the Shimano Brand, just because those internal components are precious and any water, especially salt water getting on them can wreak havoc.
Gears and internal components getting exposed to water causes rust and shortens the lifespan of the reel by years!
Rest assured that the Shimano Spheros SW lineup has completely sealed internal components.
Gears/Bearings
The gears in the Shimano Spheros SW are cold forged hagane gears. This is great because you can rest assured that the internal components will last a long time with this construction.
The gearing is one area that takes quite a beating, since this is where a lot of the pressure and stress is focused, so having a solid construction out of cold forged hagane is super nice to have, especially in a reel that’s <$200.
When it comes to gear ratio, you can expect most of the models of the Spheros to have right around 6.0:1.
This means that for every one turn of the handle, you get 6 revolutions of the spool. This is a good middle of the ground gear ratio and is what you can expect on most reels of similar size and applications.
Another awesome thing about this reel is that it has X-Ship Techonology in it. What this means is that there are 2 bearings, (one on each side) that support the pinion gear.
This is great because it keeps the pinion gear in perfect alignment with the drive gear, and also reduces friction.
Sometimes the pinion gear can move around, especially under a heavy load from a big old fish on the line. The X-Ship technology keeps it all in line and this helps extend the durability of your reel.
Shimano Spheros SW bearings are built with an anti rust coating on them. The big concern with bearings rusting is exposure to water, now this reel has a completely sealed system as mentioned above, but some humidity and salt in the air could lead to the possibility of rust.
That is where the shielded A-RB ball bearings come into play. These puppies are protected from rust with a layer of protection applied when they are manufactured.
This is yet another aspect of this reel that will keep it durable and functioning for years and years to come.
Drag System
Drag on a fishing reel is the amount of resistance that a fish feels when it pulls on the line if you aren’t reeling.
This is important because it allows you take a break and properly time your retrieve, but the fish is getting worn out while you are doing that.
If the fish is constantly pulling on 20lb of pressure, then it will start to get exhausted. When the fish gets more and more exhausted your fight because easier, and you can reel it in a lot easier.
The Shimano Spheros SW has a cross carbon drag set up. This means that there are plates of carbon inside the reel and when the friction heats up this carbon will squaeeze down on the drive shaft, resulting in more friction and this creates drag.
The Spheros models have a varying range of max drag, it can eb from 22-41lb of drag.
This is a decent amount of drag, and is more than sufficient to wear your fish out.
Spool
The spool is the portion of the reel that you put line on. It has to be strong, diurable, and made of a rust resistant material because it comes in direct contact with water as the line is reeled in.
The Shimano Spheros SW has a spool that is made of aluminum that is cold forged, to improve the strength and durability.
This reel is also braid line ready, which is nice because then you don’t have to attach a backer to it. Monofilament lines are nice, but they retain more water than the braided lines, so I typically prefer braided line when I can.
Line Capacity
The line capacity of this reel, and honestly most other reels is depended on the size of the spool, which is usually dependent on the overall size of the reel.
Larger reels usually have more space on the spool and can handle more line and a larger lb test line.
The higher the test lb rating of a line, the thicker the line is usually.
Having a thicker line means you need more space on the spool to put it.
The Shimano Spheros SW can handle from 200 yards of 10 lb test line up to 120 yards of 50lb test line dependent on what sub model of reel you buy (500-20000).
All of those values are in braided line.
Retieve Rate: Inches Per Turn
The Inches per turn means how many inches of line are brought in per turn of the handle. This is nice to know, because the higher the retrieve rate, ultimately the less work you have to do to bring those big fish in (or small fish, whatever you are into).
The Shimano Spheros SW has between 36-39 inches per turn, depending on which model you have.
The larger reels (20000 model) have the higher end while the smaller reels (500 model) have the lower amount.
Honestly, anywhere in the 30-40 inches per turn (IPT) is where you want to be, as it is a good middle ground rate.
Weight
The weight of a reel is one of the few things that people remember to think about, until their arms are sore from casting a heavy reel and rod around all day.
For as strong and durable as the Shimano Spheros SW reel is, the weight of it comes in right around 9 oz. The smaller models are slightly less and the larger models are slightly bigger.
This is a good amount, it won’t leave your arm and shoulder being exhausted after an entire day of casting (I know, 9 oz isn’t much… but casting over and over again can take its toll).
Key Features
- X-Shield
- Core-Protect
- Hagane Body
- Hagane Gears
- Cold Forged Construction
- Anti-Rust Bearings
Concluding this Shimano Spheros SW Review
When it comes to choosing a great fishing reel that is less than $200 in price, it is difficult to find a great one.
The Shimano Spheros SW is one of the best ones out there in terms of quality and price point.
If you have made the decision to get this nice reel, go ahead and click the button below to pick one up, you won’t be disappointed.
Is Shimano Spheros Sealed?
This is one of the most common questions about this reel, and for good reason. A reel like this has good versatility, and one of the primary uses is for saltwater fishing since it is a strong reel with good drag.
The Shimano Spheros is a sealed reel. In the construction of this reel, extra attention was paid to the areas that could leak.
The areas that were identified as at risk of leaking have been sealed with extra o rings, gaskets, and whatever was needed to make sure they wouldn’t leak.
What is the best gear ratio for fishing?
It depends, if you are working a small strike zone or are using bait that is typically quicker, then you want a higher gear ratio.
Lower gear ratios are ideal for larger baits. This allows you to choose a gear ratio based on what you will be using or what you are fishing for.
How do you choose the right gear ratio?
Ultimately, as briefly mentioned above you will choose the gear ratio based on the bait you will be using and the species you are fishing.
Higher gear ratios are faster at retrieving the bait. These are ideal for smaller bait and for areas where your strike zone is a lot smaller, meaning you need to retrieve the bait quicker for a recast.
Lower gear ratios have more torque, but move the bait slower. These are great for when you are fishing larger bait or species.
Is the Shimano Saragosa Sealed?
This reel is what some consider to be the upgrade to the Spheros.
The Saragosa is also a completely sealed reel.
If you are looking for a slight upgrade than the Spheros, then you will be getting a very similar quality reel, then the Saragosa is a good option for you.
Is the Spheros SW good for inshore fishing?
The Spheros SW is good for all kinds of fishing honestly. It is great for surf, inshore, saltwater, freshwater, you name it and this reel is good for it (well, except fly fishing**).
If inshore fishing is your thing, then this reel will definitely be able to accomplish that for you.
