A solid all-round option for all types of predator fishing
A good option for experienced predator anglers looking for versatility
Featured in our guide on the best pike fishing reels as our best-rated all-round option.
| Feature | What This Means |
|---|---|
| Hagane Gear | A cold-forged drive gear system that offers exceptional durability and smoothness, maintaining perfect tooth surfaces even under extreme pressure. |
| X-Ship Technology | A precision gear alignment system that reduces friction and increases power transmission, resulting in smoother cranking and better performance under heavy loads. |
| Micro Module II | Enhanced gear tooth design that provides more contact points between gears, delivering exceptionally smooth rotation and reduced gear noise. |
| X-Protect | Advanced water-resistant construction that protects the internal components from water ingress, making it suitable for both fresh and saltwater use. |
| Hagane Body | A lightweight yet extremely rigid aluminium body that maintains perfect gear alignment even under heavy loads. |
| Aero Wrap II | Advanced oscillation system that provides perfect line lay on the spool, improving casting distance and reducing line tangles. |
| Waterproof Fightin’ Drag | A sealed drag system that maintains smooth performance even when wet, providing consistent pressure when fighting fish. |
| XT7 Rotor | A lightweight yet rigid rotor design that reduces weight while maintaining strength and ensuring smooth line management. |
| Size | Weight | Drag | Ball Bearing | Gear Ratio | Line Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2500FM | 225g | Front | 6+1BB | 5.1:1 | 0.18mm-290m |
| C3000FM | 225g | Front | 6+1BB | 5.1:1 | 0.25mm-210m |
| 4000FM | 285g | Front | 6+1BB | 5.3:1 | 0.25mm-210m |
The versatile Stradic offers exceptional performance and delivers an enviable combination of strength, refinement and smoothness. Backed by years of history and a faultless reputation, the next generation Stradic is a reel that consistently delivers class-leading performance.
The Stradic sits perfectly in the middle of the Coresolid range and delivers a serious amount of advanced technology. It doesn’t matter if you fish different methods for different species, or are a single-minded specialist, there’s a model in the Stradic range for you.
Strong and powerful enough to make fishing heavy lures and fighting large fish easier, yet smooth enough to offer precision when required, the Stradic is a pleasure to use and will enhance your fishing experience in all freshwater and in-shore saltwater situations.
The Stradic features some of SHIMANO’s very best technology, including HAGANE Gear, X-SHIP, Micro Module II, Silent Drive, INFINITYXROSS and INFINITYDRIVE. These advanced technologies are housed inside the lightweight aluminium HAGANE Body, producing the unwavering powerful smoothness you feel when winding under pressure.
The DURACROSS Drag produces precise and extremely accurate fish-playing control, even under extreme pressure. The addition of X-Protect means you can use this reel for anything from light rock fishing up to Sea Bass lure fishing in saltwater, as well as all freshwater environments.
The Long Stroke AR-C spool for improved distance casting and ANTI-TWIST Fin for excellent line management make this long-time Shimano favourite a true pleasure to fish in many conditions.
Here’s how the reel performed in testing and/or from experience and feedback from other anglers.Â
The Stradic FM series showcases Shimano’s engineering excellence through its impressive build quality and attention to detail making a fantastic all-rounder for different predator fishing scenarios.
The lightweight aluminium Hagane body provides exceptional rigidity while maintaining a manageable weight across all sizes. The integration of Hagane Gear and X-Ship technologies delivers remarkable smoothness in the drive train, while the XT7 rotor ensures perfect line management.
The waterproof fightin’ drag system demonstrates Shimano’s commitment to durability, while the cold-forged spool adds another layer of premium construction to this already impressive package.
In testing, the Stradic FM demonstrates why it’s earned its reputation as a go-to reel for serious anglers. The Micro Module II gearing system provides exceptionally smooth rotation across all retrieval speeds, while the X-Protect system offers genuine peace of mind when fishing in challenging conditions.
The 2500FM and C3000FM models, both featuring the versatile 5.1:1 gear ratio, handle everything from light lure work to medium-sized predators with ease, while the larger 4000FM with its 5.3:1 ratio excels when targeting larger species or fishing heavier lures. The Aero Wrap II oscillation system also ensures perfect line lay, resulting in improved casting performance and reduced likelihood of tangles.
In my opinion, the Stradic FM series of reels is perfectly suited to experienced anglers looking for a premium all-round reel that can transition between freshwater predator fishing and inshore saltwater applications if needed.
Critics will say it’s quite pricey, which it is, but not ridiculously so; with overpriced inferior reels actually costing more than this beaut.
If you are looking for a savvy investment, then you can’t go wrong with this fantastic offering from one of the worlds greatest reel makers of all time.
Here is how the Shimano Stradic FM Reel compares against other products in its category. This table shows the overall rating based on the average of the key attributes that go into making a top fishing reel.
| Name | Overall Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fox EOS 10000 | 8.1 | £62.99 |
| Daiwa Black Widow BR Reel | 8 | £57.77 |
| Shimano Baitrunner DL | 8.3 | £76.95 |
| Shimano Baitrunner XTB CI4+ LC Reel | 8.6 | £279.99 |
| Daiwa 23 Ninja LT Reel | 8.1 | £54.99 |
| Savage Fazor Spinning Reel | 8.3 | £143.99 |
| Fox Rage TR Reel | 8.3 | £124.99 |
| Shimano Stradic FM Reel | 8.4 | £179.99 |
| Daiwa 7HT Mag Multiplier Reel | 8.5 | £199.99 |
| Wychwood Agitator S1 Baitcasting Reel | 8 | £59.99 |
| Greys Fly Tital Reel | 8.5 | £206.99 |
| Greys Fly Cruise Reel | 8 | £44.99 |
There are four key attributes that form the basis of our reviews on fishing reels. These include the following:
Build Quality: – When we assess the build quality of a fishing reel, we test and review the materials used in manufacturing the reel and how it all comes together in the finished product.
Cast & Retrieve: – This part of the review is fairly self-explanatory and focuses on how well the reel casts and smooth the retrieve is. Distance isn’t a factor in this assessment whereas accuracy and efficiency is.
Drag System: – When reviewing the drag system on a fishing reel we are testing how smooth the drag is and how convenient it is to use. There is no bias as to whether a reel has a front or rear drag system, it is solely judged on how smooth it can take out line relative to the amount of pressure that it is being applied.
Value for Money: – Again, this is self-explanatory in terms of an assessment but yet an important part of the review process. Having value for money as a criterion allows us to judge how well a reel performs vs its price point and in turn allows us to recognise good-performing reels at bargain prices.
Here is how the Shimano Stradic FM Reel performed against is peers in each of these important attributes:
| Name | Build Quality | Casting & Retrieve | Drag / Clutch | Value For Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox EOS 10000 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 9 |
| Daiwa Black Widow BR Reel | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 9 |
| Shimano Baitrunner DL | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Shimano Baitrunner XTB CI4+ LC Reel | 9.0 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 8 |
| Daiwa 23 Ninja LT Reel | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 9 |
| Savage Fazor Spinning Reel | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Fox Rage TR Reel | 8.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Shimano Stradic FM Reel | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Daiwa 7HT Mag Multiplier Reel | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Wychwood Agitator S1 Baitcasting Reel | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 9 |
| Greys Fly Tital Reel | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Greys Fly Cruise Reel | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 9 |
If you would like to see more fishing tackle check out our full list of featured products below.Â
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