Just bought a reel for my Girlfriend from Deep Blue Tackle Shop in Bandar Seri Begawan, after various attempts of an outrageous lower price, I manage to squeeze in (as I would normaly do :)
an agreed price of $BND 220 equipped with a 150 yards 20lbs Fins Yellow Braid line.

So here are the specs for the reel:

SHIMANO STRADIC 4000 FH
Model: ST4000FH
Line Retrieve Per Crank (in.): 35
Line Capacity (# test/yards): 8/240, 10/200, 12/160
Max Drag: 18.0 lb ( 8.18 KG )
A-RB Ball Bearings: 4
A Roller Bearings: 1
Gear Ratio: 5.7:1
Wieght: 13.4 lb

• Floating Shaft
• Super Slow Oscillation
• FulldriveF
• Super Stopper II
• Made in Japan

Well it’s a good reel to start off, since it has shared the looks of its other cousin which is the Biomaster 4000, to say the least, the 1 thing that really caught my attention for this reel is that its pearl blue coating. I am not saying that its meant for ladies, but the colour could tell you a mini statement saying ‘’ pick me up! Pick me up! ‘’ I have also bought a Rock Shot Casting rod for $BND 130 at Fred Fishing Athirah, its an extra fast rod, just good enough to promise my girlfriend a thrill while landing those tarpons at bay :)

I have already inspected the inside of the reel (while at home, after buying it duh :)

Everything is smooth as silk, it’s a really good reel meant for casting light / medium size lures. The drag tension knobs are quite up to standard that you can expect from SHIMANO. The only drawback is it has a small minute crackling sound. Must be the gears movement, I have sprayed it with the oil spray and grease spray from SHIMANO and hopefully the sound will disappear within time.

Here are some of the pictures that I took:

Notice the Folding handle (comes in handy for girls :) haha since they would shove the reel wherever they please)

Notice the square sided shaft as to all SHIMANO reels have in common, not as common as the DAIWA SALTIGA Z high end models. ( Rounded Shaft )

A free spool is even included :)

So to end my review, I have concluded that this is a good reel for hours and hours of casting pleasure to our female companion. Its light weighted, it looks damn good, its quite affordable and best of all, it’s the a good chance to make women understand and experience it themselves why we’re so crazy into fishing :)

Wait for my next review on my next wish list of reels :)

· STELLA 8000 SW

· STELLA 10000 FA / SW

· STELLA 20000 SW

· SALTIGA EXPEDTION 6500

· SALTIGA DOGFIGHT

· SALTIGA GT 6000

- Pak Wundi -