Retrieve:
Shimano’s flagship
reels are typically
among some of the
smoothest available,
and the Antares 70
does not disappoint.
Just as enthusiast
anglers will notice
how smooth the new
reel casts, they
will also notice how
stable and fluid the
reel feels during
retrieves. While I
love the way that
magnesium helps
lighten up reels,
sometimes they don’t
feel very solid
under load, an issue
the new Antares
never exhibits.
Let's take a closer
look under the
hood...
The sideplates are
made of aluminum
which add strength,
and weight, to the
overall reel
The Micro Module
brass gearing in the
Antares is machined
exquisitely, with
small teeth that
mesh to very tight
tolerances, and with
more contact points
between the main
drive and pinion
gears the reel
delivers power with
a fluid and less
gear detecting feel.
As with other high
end Shimano reels
the Antares makes
use of bearings on
both ends of the
pinion gear, which
improves alignment
under load, and
improves gear
durability, and
smooth retrieves,
over the long term.
What makes the reel
so refined is the
use of brass for all
key drive gears and
components. These
gears are machined
with tiny teeth that
mesh with very tight
tolerances
A closer look at inside of
the reinforced
handle side sideplate
There are 10+1 high
quality bearings
used within the
Antares, but it
isn’t just the use
of these bearings
and gears that makes
the Antares such a
smooth and refined
reel, but also the
extremely tight
tolerances in which
the reel is
manufactured.
The Antares A70 may
not have the
beefiest drag but it
does have a really
smooth one and the
audible system is
fun and exciting
We noticed that
every part within
this reel, including
the audible drag
spring and pin, were
isolated within very
tight tolerances,
and reached out to
Shimano to see if
they could provide
any more insight
into what makes the
Antares so refined,
to which a
representative
replied, “the thing
we never discuss is
the tolerances in
the Antares models.
Tolerances for all
critical dimensions
are measured in ten
thousands of an
inch. That is four
decimal places
.0000”. A sheet of
paper and human hair
is .003” typically.
This should reflect
the level of
precision required
for some major
aspects of the
Antares reel.
Combine this with a
high level of
quality control, you
get the Antares.”
Notice the spring
loaded pin within
the main brass
gearing...
All of this
translates into a
reel that feels
every bit the
flagship baitcaster
that it is designed
to be. The A70 casts
and retrieves with
the kind of smooth
refinement that
makes you take for
granted just how
well this reel is
engineered, and
enables anglers to
just focus on making
those pinpoint
casts, and focus on
fishing. It is only
after you put the
Antares A70 down,
and pick up another
baitcaster, that you
realize just how
elegant it really
is.
Drag: The
Antares A70 makes
use of a primary
carbon washer
sandwiched within
the main brass
micro-module gear
and aluminum
washers. The stack
is relatively small
in number, but the
washers and
surrounding
materials have
relatively large
diameters, which add
up to enough surface
area to generate
11.9lbs. of pressure
in our lab drag
tests. The good news
is this is nearly
more than a pound of
pressure greater
than the rated
specification, the
bad news is that in
terms of modern day
baitcasters this
maximum pressure is
on the low side.
...the pin makes
contact with a
ridged ring on the
outside of the drag
to generate the
audible clicks as the
reel releases line
Many competitors are
offering baitcasters
with significantly
more maximum
pressure, but where
the new Antares
gains ground is in
terms of drag
refinement. This is
not only one of the
smoothest drags we
have tested under
pressure, but also
features an audible
drag, much like you
would normally find
on a spinning reel
or larger round
reel. For some the
audible drag will
seem a little
foreign at first,
but you get over it
quickly, and soon
begin to relish the
reassuring clicking
sound of the audible
drag as you battle
fish back to the
boat.
A closer look at the
drag system which
makes use of varying
brass and aluminum
surfaces,
sandwiching a
primary carbon drag
washer, to generate
11.9lbs. of pressure
(measured)
Next Section: Magnesium Frame, Solid but still
heavy...
