.

[edgreen]

..................

[rockfisho]

I had a look in their new 2008 catalogue. It says the new stellas are only in the smaller sizes. and they will continue production of the older ones in the larger sizes. But i think they will soon be changed.

Cheers

Owen

[Pistol_P]

I still cant go past the Daiwa's....

When you look at a Saltiga Dogfight compared to that new Stella it straight away just looks better... ....

Pete

[TonyM]

Thanks Ed

It will be interesting to see how it goes - maybe they've got there act together and outdone Daiwa on this one?

At least it sounds like that was there intention - gotta love competition! Either way the gear just keeps getting better from both the major brands

[Roo]

the body seems tiny. really compact. nice...but I'm a tackle whore so of course I'm gonna say that . I kinda know what they mean about going for smoothness rather than ultimate strength, it's those characteristics in the HD Daiwa range that turns some people off, you pick up a reel and give it a spin and feel gears whirring like a Massey Ferguson and pick up a Stella a feel almost nothing!!! i love my certate but if it was smoother I'd not be secretly wishing for a Stella.

Cheers Roo.

[Vindicator]

MMMMMM, I wonder how I can wangle another reel out of the missus.

Cheers
Kezza

[GPB]

More pics, they are true , but most info is only half

[edgreen]

...............................

[ian.young]

According to the Japanese link, the new hi-speed 10000 Stella now only weighs 625g...that's a massive reduction in weight. Which would you rather cast all day...625g or 890g? It even weighs less than the current 8000/6000 size Stella. Ian

[OzRods]

I wouldnt worry about what they will cost here. They wont probably even be available here. What I understand this is a replacemant for the Stella SW (Japanese domestic) and not the FA (export). The smaller (1000 to 4000) FA models just got changed this year so why would they change them again. Over time they will probably change the FA to something like these models in the future but I cant see it happening anytime soon. When and if they do change I cant see them being priced to high if they do all as they will be doing is helping Daiwa sell their Saltigas. The Australian tackle market is a lot different from the Japanese market. One thing I have noticed about the Japanese (most of them anyway) is you either use Daiwa or Shimano rarely does one person use both brands. It is like the Japanese like to keep the best stuff for themselves and we only get the updated reels when they update their stuff so the keep one step ahead of us.

[sid_fishes]

you got that bit right

[ian.young]

Gday

The new 2008 SW Stellas in Japan are the big boys, from 4000-20000 sizes. Japan last year revamped the smaller Stellas, 1000-4000 (there are a couple of overlap 4000 models), and the same reels are now available in Oz...the only differences are things like branding, spool depths and handle sizes. The reel bodies and mechanicals are the same.

http://fishing.shimano.co.jp/cat/detail.asp?k=1

The current big Stellas in Oz are the same reels as the current big Stellas in Japan, just packaged differently. A lot of the specialist Jap tackle (both Shimano and Daiwa) is unavailable outside Japan simply because the sales volume isn't sufficient to justify the branding, marketing and sales expense. If they could make a profit in Oz, they'd be on sale in Oz. I don't think any smart company turns their nose up at a buck because "they like to keep the best stuff for themselves".

Cheers
Ian

[OzRods]

Ian
The FA and the SW may share the same design but the FA doesn't come with 2 handles and a spare spool. I would love to see the Ocea Jigger sold in Australia they are a lot better then the Trindad

[ian.young]

True, I am told the Jigger is a lot nicer reel for jigging (though not my thing). I like the idea of the spool lock...would come in handy on a lot of other reels!
Ian

[GPB]

The Ocea Jigger is very popular with the NZ Kingie Jiggers, it also is ment to have a longer handle.