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A Quality Spinning Reel at a Reasonable Price
For the past several months, I have joking called the Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel “Old Faithful” for the simple reason that if I go fishing, it’s going with me.
In reality, it has become a genuine staple of my fishing collection. In fact, I can’t think of a time I have hit the water in the last eight months without it. Regardless of the weather and the species, it’s rigged and ready to go!
Oddly enough, my interest in the Sedona came when my brother purchased one several months prior. I was looking for a solid, reliable, light-weight, mid-range spinning reel that could be used on a variety of species and always liked the feel of the Sedona whenever I had the opportunity to use it.
What immediately stood out to my was the fact that the reel was very light but also felt surprisingly durable. Nothing about it felt “cheap,” and in many ways, it had the look and functionality of some more expensive spinning reels.
Species and Size
I must have made my feelings known as I wound up with my own as an early birthday present. Since then, I have used the Shimano Sedona for everything from panfish and crappie to bass, freshwater drum, saugeye and even channel castfish.
Using the 3000 size, I’ve had some nice fights with the saugeye and channel cats.
When pairing the Sedona with my St. Croix Panfish Ultralight Spinning Rod, however, it has made me consider picking up the 1000 size as well just to have a more compatible pairing.
Casting
Casting has always been pretty consistent when using the Shimano Sedona. When using monofilament, I am able to get decent distance and accuracy on my casts.
More recently, I have been running both 4lb braid (when fishing for crappie and panfish) and 15lb braid (for larger species) with a flourcarbon leader and have experienced considerable improvements in casting distance and accuracy.
Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel: The Pros
- High gear ratio
- Ultra lightweight, but surprisingly sturdy
- Versatility
- Casting distance an accuracy
- Wide variety of sizes
- Improved drag power
Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel: The Cons
- Mid-range product, so its lower cost also means it lacks many of the upgrades found on similar products such as the higher-end Shimano Stradic FK Spinning Reel or top-of-the-line Shimano Stella FJ Spinning Reel
- While surprisingly smooth for having only a 3+1 ball bearing system, you will definitely be able to tell that this reel is far from the elite if you have considerable experience with both
The Verdict
Like I said, this has been a reliable reel that has pulled in plenty of small to mid-sized fish of various species with no signs of slowing down. I have debated the idea of getting an additional, smaller Sedona to better compliment my crappie fishing endeavors while keeping my 3000 permanently rigged for bass, saugeye, and even catfish.
While I’m not sure I will ever invest exclusively in a fleet of Sedona reels, I would also be likely to purchase a replacement if mine ever goes south.
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