The Shimano Stradic fishing reel has recently gone through some very big changes. No longer does it bear the tell-tale white paint job that has made these reels so popular throughout the years. Say, “So Long!” to the wooden dowel reel handle knob that has made the series so recognizable. But, change is always imminent and we just hope that the new design lives up to its predecessors.

Shimano Stradic FI Series
Photo by: Author

In this case we are using the Stradic 4000FI for our testing and reviewing purposes. As mentioned earlier, the first thing you notice is the lack of a white paint job. Shimano has traded in the traditional white body coloration for a sleek matte silver finish. The Stradic sports an aluminum spool with gold trim that combined with the silver body and frame, present an attractive little package. One attribute that remains from the Stradics of the past is the oil injection port on the side of the reel body.

Shimano has incorporated into this model many of the newest in Shimano technology including the Palladin Gear system. This gear system technology uses proprietary metals and cold forging to produce extremely durable gears that will allow the drive train to perform flawlessly for years to come.

These reels also make use of Shimano’s Propulsion Line Management System which is made up of a number of components including a newly designed spool lip, a one piece bail wire, an oversized line roller, a redesigned bail trip mechanism and the S-Arm Cam which keep line in contact with the line roller even when the line is slack.

Shimano Oil Injection
Photo by: Author

Our experience with the Shimano Stradic 4000FI returned us once again to Islamorada in the Florida Keys. This time our quarry was redfish. We coupled the reels with 7’ Temple Fork Outfitter rods in a medium action to allow us to throw small, live shrimp with a simple split shot or two just above the hook. The reels were loaded with 20 lb. braided line attached to a 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader. We were sight fishing for reds up in the shallow water of the flats with the bails cocked and ready to fire at any fish that might show themselves in the shallows. A few practice casts were in order to get a feel for the new reel and for casting these light baits. The Stradic was able to cast these tiny baits beautifully with a flick of the wrist. A quick retrieve proved the reel was finely balanced and very smooth while reeling even at a quick pace.

Up ahead, we could see large shadows meandering slowly across the flat, leaving mud clouds behind them where they had been rooting through the turtle grass. A deep breath and then an accurate cast landed the shrimp about three feet from one of the larger shadows. After a subtle twitch from the rod tip, the line went tight and I reeled down to set the hook home. The large shadow suddenly turned into a big redfish and the flat, calm water erupted in a white froth. The Stradic held its own as the fish raced off to one side of the flat, pulling drag the whole way. The drag system never skipped a beat or hesitated at all. The fish then headed in the opposite direction towards the mangroves up against the shoreline. As she continued to try to dig her nose into those roots and branches I palmed the spool to apply some additional drag pressure to try to turn her head away. She finally relented and we had her back out in open water, making her way boat side. The twelve pound red was quickly netted for a picture and then released.

After a couple of more smaller redfish, the tide started to slow down and the shadows disappeared so we decided to hit a new spot with moving water to try throwing some soft plastics on lead head jigs to get some better testing of the Stradics casting abilities. After tying on a ½ oz. jig head paired with a fluke style soft plastic lure I began rocketing some casts out there and was very impressed with the distance that I was able to throw this relatively small bait. Again, the retrieves were very smooth and effortless and we even landed a few nice sized sea trout and ladyfish while casting these lures around in the deeper water of the channels.

Shimano Stradic FI Series
Photo by: Author

In Conclusion

The Shimano Stradic FI is a pleasure to fish with. The reel is very light weight and has a medium retrieve speed which works perfectly for retrieving most styles of lures. Casting is quite effortless and no bail trip errors were encountered throughout the day. Long casts using small baits are easily possible with the newly designed spool and the drag system is very smooth. This model is new to the market so we won’t know for a few years how well these reels will actually hold up to the saltwater environment and angler abuse but, I think it can be said that if this reel is anything like past Shimano Stradic models, it will surely be winner. Perform simple, routine wash downs after each use and have the reel properly cleaned and lubed once a year by a local professional or send it to Shimano for maintenance. The price tag on the Stradic has jumped a bit with the new design, boosting the bill another twenty dollars or so per reel, but, it does seem worth the price for all the bells and whistles that you get with the new Shimano Stradic FI series.