From point A to B for under 40 dollars, the ARB loaded
Shimano Sonora

Date: |
5/22/05 |
Tackle type: |
Reels |
Manufacturer: |
Shimano |
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.5
Introduction:
The Sonora doesn't garner the same amount of attention as its more refined
siblings, anglers are always quick to bestow praise to the Stradic and Sustain,
often forgetting that there are actually 15 other Shimano reels existing beneath
the Stradic. The Sonora is one of the recently redesigned "value" spinning
reels, and is the most affordable Shimano spinning reel to come loaded with
advanced A-RB bearings.
Shimano
Sonora 2500 Specifications |
Line
Capacity (lb/yds) |
6/200, 8/140, 10/120 |
Gear
Ratio |
5.2:1 |
Weight |
9.8 |
Line
Retrieve per crank |
26 inches |
Bearings |
2 BB, 1 RB |
Additional Features |
A-RB ball bearings, Fluidrive II, Super Stopper II,
Dyna-Balance, Power Roller II, spare cold forged aluminum spool |
MSRP |
$39.99 |
Impressions: What is the definition of a "value"
reel? In the past we have categorized a value reel as any reel below the sub 40
dollar price point. Anglers used to have to sacrifice features like anti-reverse
and settled for a spare graphite spool when purchasing value reels but those
times are gone, and now the only thing anglers are sacrificing is refinement, as
most reels in this price range come with the complete range of basic features.
In terms of lineup the Sonora is positioned in between the Sienna (29.99) and
the Sedona (49.99). The Sonora makes use of A-RB bearings while the Sienna does
not, and the Sedona is the lowest reel in the Shimano lineup to be designed with
the S-Concept philosophy.

Hard to believe the Shimano Sonora
is only 39.99
The Sonora looks and feels like an aluminum reel,
but the reality is that the skeleton of this reel is formed completely out of
graphite. The frame, rotor, and sideplate may all be graphite but its really
quite hard to tell. The graphite is finished so nicely that it not only looks
like painted aluminum, but feels like a metal alloy as well. Graphite reels
typically weigh more, as they need to be well reinforced, but the Sonora narrows
this gap to the highest degree. The graphite framed Sonora 2500 Weighs 9.8oz
while the aluminum framed Shimano Sahara 2500 weighs 9.7oz. Overall the
Sonora is quite an attractive reel, with very little plastic showing, save the
bail arm.
 |
Power Roller
II is oversized to help reduce twist and is tapered on the support to help
wind line quicker |
Field Tests: Most anglers that are interested in a value reel are
looking for a multi-talented reel that can excel in a variety of applications.
This lead us to pick the 2500 size Sonora, as the 1500 is better suited towards
finesse applications, and the 4000 size is geared for larger game than bass. We
paired the Sonora with a Shimano Convergence rod and spooled the Sonora up with
easy casting Trilene XL. Our tests were conducted on a number of local lakes
prior to the seasonal spawn.
Complete Rig
for Shimano Sonora Tests |
Rod |
Shimano Convergence CVS-66ML |
Reel |
Shimano Sonora 2500 |
Line |
8lb Trilene XL |

The only plastic showing is in the
bail arm beneath the Power Roller II
Casting: One of the hardest categories to distinguish reel
performance is in the casting department. I remember the first time I bought a
car that my father considered to be overly pricey, he questioned why I bought
the vehicle, and cited that all cars...regardless of price will get you from
point A to B just as well. The same statement can be applied to premium versus
value reels. Do value reels cast lures from point A to B as well as reels
costing twice as much....generally the answer is yes. While casting certainly is
affected by spool diameter, spool lip coating, and line lay, the majority of
your casting issues will come from rod design and the particular lure type you
are using. We found that our Stradic did cast a bit smoother, but in terms of
total distance we were talking a difference of inches not feet. With a flip of
the bail the Sonora proved to be a very respectable caster, able to project both
our test plugs and a wide range of lures effectively.

Where have we seen this style knob before? Oh that's right, the previous
generation Sustain. Shimano's moving their proven designs down through the
entire lineup
Retrieving: The Sonora is half the price of the Symetre, but in terms
of smoothness and quality of retrieve it definitely offers much more than half
the performance. In fact when compared to a Sedona the Sonora felt almost
identical. The Sonora makes use of only two ball bearings, and one line roller
bearing. For a three bearing reel the Sonora feels surprisingly smooth, there is
some resistance in the raw gearing, but that is to be expected as this is the
type of refinement that sets the Sonora apart from its more costly siblings.
Shimano's "dyna-balance" design uses counterbalancing techniques within the
graphite rotor to eliminate wobble. Shimano's Power Roller II helps reduce twist
during retrieves and is actually slightly tapered on the support to help wind
line onto the roller quicker and more evenly. When setting the hook we would
pull back on the handle aggressively and were very pleased with the complete
lack of backplay. Shimano has included their Super Stopper II one way roller
bearing in the Sonora, the same very system used in the flagship Stella. The
Sonora isn't the fastest reel out there, but with a brisk retrieve it can be
used for burning cranks and spinners. The reel is however quite powerful, and
with a 5.2:1 gear ratio we were able to haul full-sized bucketmouths without
breaking a sweat.

The Sonora's multi-disk drag
delivers 11.3lbs of fishing fighting pressure
The Drag: Spinning reels have the advantage over small
baitcasters when it comes to drags. Sheer surface area allows manufacturers to
cram plenty of disks into the spool or get creative with innovative materials.
In our lab the Sonora fully dialed in was able to deliver 11.3lbs of counter
pressure. Compare that to the Stradic 2500 which is capable of 15.2lbs of
pressure on the same test machine. Once again, half the price...but plenty more
than half the performance. The Sonora's drag dealt with all of the fish we
caught during our test. While the drag delivers plenty of fish fighting pressure
we did note that drag performance was not as smooth as some of the more
expensive reels. Shimano should be commended for including a cold forged
aluminum spool, complete with an identical drag system.

No more plastic knobs, the new
barrel is much more ergonomic
Durability & Ergonomics:
Also gone from all but the very low end Shimano value reels are the hard plastic
barrel knobs. The new handle is ergonomic, comfortable to the touch, and easier
to grasp even when wet. Both the 1500 and 2500 sizes come with the ergonomic
knob while the Sonora 4000 comes with a larger paddle for more power.
Ergonomically the reel is well laid out, with the anti-reverse switch
conveniently located on the underside of the reel, making it easy to flip the
switch for back reeling in one motion as you reach for the bail. The reel's main
arm is wider than most Shimano reels, this is because the graphite needs to be
reinforced. Other all aluminum reels can make use of a skinny sculpted arm to
reduce weight. The reel is well reinforced, and while it doesn't feel as solid
as an aluminum reel, it didn't show any signs of flex while fighting fish
either. Durability-wise the Sonora is well built and thanks to the
implementation of A-RB bearings it should have no problem supplying years of
service when used under normal conditions.
 |
The Sonora
has a wider arm than most spinning reels because of the graphite body |
Price: At 39.99 the Sonora is right on the upper echelon of the value
category. But 39.99 isn't a whole lot of money to be paying for a brand name
spinning reel of this caliber, were basically talking two premium lures here.
The reel fishes like a 60 dollar reel, and to our delight the reel now looks
like a much more expensive reel as well. The reel's clean profile can easily be
mistaken for the more expensive Sedona. The performance gap is narrowing...and
the price remains unchanged. Shimano has done an excellent job not only bringing
quality components like A-RB down the lineup, but also redesigning the value
reels like the Sonora to be more polished.
Ratings:
Shimano
Sonora 2500 Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
Taking into consideration the price Sonora has great construction for a
graphite reel. So good in fact that many anglers won't even realize that the
reel is made out of graphite |
9 |
Performance |
Once again, taking price into consideration the Sonora delivers the goods in
terms of performance. This is one reel that will do exactly what you demand
of it. Use of ARB bearings help increase the refinement of the reel while
drastically increasing durability at the same time |
8.5 |
Price |
Competition in the value space is fierce, but to be able to get a Shimano
branded reel of this quality for less than the cost of three premium lures |
9.5 |
Features |
Shimano has done a good job implementing some of their once premium features
on a lure of this price point. Super Stopper II, AR-B bearings, and a spare
cold forges aluminum spool all make this reel an even better value |
8 |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
Not
as light as some reels but still a respectable weight. The new knob on the
Sonora is a very nice touch, much better than the hard plastic barrel |
8 |
Application |
The
Sonora 2500 is a great all round performer for any mid sized freshwater game
fish. The power of this reel makes it possible for anglers to even use the
Sonora for some light striper fishing if they are so inclined |
8 |
Total Score |
8.5 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Graphite frame doesn't look or feel like
graphite |
L
Graphite frame not as rigid as aluminum |
J
A-RB bearings add durability |
|
J
Spare aluminum spool |
|
J
No back play |
|
J
Ergonomic handle grip |
|
J
Great price for a branded reel |
|
Conclusion: Reels like the Sonora are
really making us rethink the way we categorize a value reel, perhaps we need to
think about lowering the value price point down to 29.99 to keep up with the
quality of the current generation of reels. While the Sonora may not have the
refinement of the Symetre or the Stradic, this surprisingly cultured piece of
equipment really is a very good reel, and a downright great value for less than
40 dollars. Shimano has a robust spinning reel offering, designing and building
reels at every price point (many of which are priced up in just ten dollar
increments in fact). There are many anglers that, like my father, don't need all
the bells and whistles offered in premium and enthusiast tackle, and for those
anglers that are looking for a great reel to simply get their lure from point A
to B and back, hopefully with a fish in tow, the Sonora is the perfect choice.
