With the kind of
styling and
refinement that
rivals a luxury
timepiece or exotic
car the Antares A 70
invokes desire,
envy, and credit
card debt
Impressions:
Once called the
Shimano Calais
Series here in the
domestic market,
Shimano’s effort to
unify their global
offerings sees the
new Antares now
sitting on the top
of the company’s
extensive baitcaster
lineup. Shimano has
a lot of very
affordable
baitcasters in the
rest of the
portfolio, and while
workhorses like the
Curado K and
aggressively priced
SLX reels make up
the bulk of the
sales volume, it is
reels like the
Metanium, Conquest,
and Antares that set
the benchmark for
Shimano performance
and technology.
"My Precious" comes
with a protective
bag. Please don't
keep the reel in
there...it wants to
be fished
These are the
premium reels where
the company
typically debuts
their new
technologies and
features, and the
ones that are still
built in the
company’s factories
in Japan with the
most stringent of
quality standards
and controls. They
are also the most
expensive offerings
available, and are
designed to target
only the most
serious enthusiast
anglers, and tackle
junkies. Which
sounds a whole lot
like many of our
readers.
Though the reel
looks like it is
made out of aluminum
the frame is
magnesium
No exposed bolt on
this handle....
sleek and sexy all
around
As with all previous
generation Antares
reels, the new A70
is immediately
recognizable with a
polished finish and
slick liquid-metal
look and feel. What
is different with
the A70 is the
smaller profile, and
this is the most
compact Antares to
date, and possibly
the most
aggressively styled
as well. It is only
after palming the
A70 did I realize
just how much
smaller and more
compact the new reel
is, and I also felt
like it was quite
hefty for a
magnesium reel.
Like the previous
generation this reel
is actually more of
a hybrid, and makes
use of a magnesium
frame and aluminum
sideplates, to
deliver what the
company believes is
the best balance of
strength,
refinement, and
weight.
A wrench is required
to remove the
recessed handle bolt
which is hidden
underneath a cap
that is locked in
with a screw
The 84mm handle is swept
for greater
stability
As you might expect,
this latest Antares
packs in the
features. All the
goodies are here,
including micro
module gearing,
X-Ship, SVS Infinity
cast control, Silent
Tune, S3D spool
design, and a brand
new MGL III spool.
The reel weighs in
at 7.8oz. and has a
fast gear ratio of
7.4:1, but
unfortunately for
fans of left handed
baitcasters only the
HG right handed
version is available
domestically (sorry
Cal), but left
handed JDM versions
in 6.2:1 and 7.4:1
gear ratios do
exist, but are
pretty difficult to
obtain here in U.S.
Check back with our
friends at
JapanTackle
for availability of
these JDM versions.
Mounted on a
G.Loomis Conquest
rod and ready to do
battle
Next Section: Let the real world tests begin...
