Casting: When
it comes to casting
the first thing to
consider is how much
more compact than
the previous
generation and the
fact it features a
shallower MGL III
spool. When
shrinking the
dimensions of any
reel the sharper angles
between the spool
and the line guide
can adversely affect
distance, but there
are things that can
be done to mitigate
this including
improving the
geometry between a
narrower spool and
guide, or even
adjustments to the
diameter and shape
of the line guide
itself (just think
Daiwa TWS T-Wing).
Then there is also
the cast control
system, and while
the Metanium DC is
an excellent all
around caster it can
be outcast by the
Antares, which
features a more
conventional, albeit
highly refined, cast
control system.

The Metanium 150 B is
an excellent caster.
Capable of handling
lightweight baits,
and long distance
with ease. With
certain lines,
heavier baits, and
open settings it is
possible to spool
the reel on casts
During our tests we
found the new Metanium,
much like the
magnesium based
Antares, to be an
excellent caster. It
took just a few
casts to determine
that it is not only
a great long
distance caster, but
also really good for
the light stuff.
The sauce behind the
new Metanium's
casting has less to
do with the body
design of the reel
and more to do with
the MGL III Spool
and SVS infinity
braking design,
which together
provide not only
consistent long
distance casting
performance but also
exceptional
handling.

The Metanium gets the MGLIII
spool which is a
thin spool that is
designed to reduce
start up inertia
between 15-17%
versus the standard
MGL spool
Where the Metanium
DC beats this new
reel is in terms of
casting control. The
I-DC5 system
provides more
settings in which to
address
environmental
conditions, but I
still think that the
new Metanium reel is the
better overall
caster. The new reel not only
feels more refined
but it casts
smoother, and
quieter, with
well
isolated spool
bearings which
minimize vibration,
and casting energy
loss. The Bantam was
already a good
caster, but the new Metanium is
definitely better,
and does a good job
getting close to
what the Antares
offers in terms of
casting distance and
feel, and at a much
lower price!

The MGL Spool weighs
in at 14.1g. This is
a narrower spool
design
Retrieve: The
Bantam raised
the bar when it came
to a solid and rigid
feel in an
ultra-compact
baitcaster with the
CoreSolid design,
which integrated the
B-side plate, level
wind guard, and frame
all into a unified
construction, the
only real knock on
that reel was that
it was a bit on the heavy
side. Even though
the Bantam is not a
light reel anglers
could look past this
with how well the
reel palmed during
retrieves, and amazingly powerful
it felt under load.
This new Metanium
takes things to the
next level.

The solid frame
design not only
improves rigidity
and ergonomics but
also benefits
sensitivity,
especially with a
material like
magnesium
While the Metanium
may not feel as
solid, simply
because it is
lighter, I found
that the CoreSolid
frame did go a long
way towards making
this a very rigid
feeling baitcaster.
I
can confidently say
that it is the most
solid feeling
magnesium reel that
I've ever fished.
Retrieves are smooth
and the MicroModule
gear and pinion gear
are so well secured
that torque is
transferred
seamlessly.

Even though the
Metanium 150 B is
designed to be a
light reel it still
makes use of a
heavier, but more
robust, brass gear
At first when I
compared the Bantam
MGL to this new
Metanium I felt the
Bantam was more
powerful under load,
but I'm not sure
that is the case
after fishing both
reels for an
extended period. The
difference is that
the Metanium is
lighter and more
sensitive.
I relished every
tick, strike, and
battle with the
Metanium, and it
reminded me why
magnesium, even
during the age of
fancy composites, is
still such a
great choice for
freshwater reels.

The finely cut teeth
on the MicroModule
gear gives the reel
a smooth and
powerful feel
While many
manufacturers have
migrated towards
carbon composites or
fancy plastics for
their high-end
reels, there is just
an undeniable solid
and sensitive feel
that comes with the
use of magnesium,
and with a one piece
design like the one
found on this new
Metanium that unique
experience is gets
magnified.

Spend time with the
new reel and it is
clear Shimano has
achieved something
pretty special with
the new Metanium
Drag:
Similarly to the
Bantam this new Metanium employs
Shimano's Cross
Carbon drag which is
designed to deliver both
smooth and refined
drag performance
under pressure. In
our lab the drag
measured out at
12.1lbs. of drag
pressure, which is
over Shimano's own
rating of 11lbs.,
and just .1lbs. shy
of what we tested on
the Bantam, so
basically identical.

Though small the
reel features nice
large knobs which
provide plenty of
grip when power
fishing
The Metanium's cross
carbon drag delivers
very smooth and
consistent
performance under
load, and during our
tests was more than
enough for the vast
majority of bass
fishing
applications. The
only exception being
fishing large
swimbaits, or
punching, when a
little more on the
upper-end could be
useful.
Shimano has gone in
a different
direction than many
competitors when it
comes to their drag
designs, and rather
than use a massive
stack of washers to
increase surface
area, and targeting
max drag pressures
north of 20lbs., the
company instead
focuses on
delivering smoother
drags. The cross
carbon drag found in
the Metanium won't
win any awards for
max pressure but it
is indeed refined and
reliable.

The drag within the
Metanium makes use
of carbon and steel
washers. It doesn't
have a lot of
surface area making
it smooth and easy
to maintain but
doesn't offer a lot
of top-end pressure
Ergonomics:
In many ways the new
Metanium is more
alike the Bantam
than it is the other
Metaniums when it
comes to ergonomics.
The CoreSolid design
gives the reel a
very compact form
factor, one that
palms absolutely
beautifully.
Fish the new
Metanium for a while
and then go back to
the previous
Metanium MGL, or
Metanium DC, and
those baitcasters
which once looked
and felt so sleek
immediately seem
much more voluminous
in hand.

Side by side the
previous Metanium
150 suddenly looks
and feels huge
Shimano does a few
interesting things
stylistically, and
ergonomically, with
the new Metanium.
When you compare the
lower half of the
reel it is near
identical in form
factor to the
Bantam. The upper
portion above the
levelwind, and
wrapping around the
spool, comes to much
more of a point than
the Bantam, and
immediately ties
this new reel to the
other Metaniums.
This seemingly minor
change is not only
cosmetic but also changes
the side of the reel
and makes it sleeker
looking, and helps
make it feel
slightly
smaller in hand,
even if the lower
section of the reel
where you normally
wrap your fingers is
the same width.

The bottom of the
reel is all Bantam,
the top features a
more sleek pointed
look that ties the
reel to other
Metaniums
Visually I still
think that the
Bantam MGL is the
more unique looking
reel, but the
squared off front of
the reel is also
more polarizing. The
Metanium makes
minute tweaks in the
design to give the
reel a more
traditional style,
while appearing more
sleek in the
process. Even the
finish on the
Metanium is more
traditional, and
will not stand out
as much as the
shinier, more
raw-metal looking,
Bantam.

Ergonomically the
Metanium does feel a
lot lighter than the
Bantam, and the
unique feel of the
reel reminds anglers
why magnesium is
such a great
material for
freshwater oriented
baitcasters
The use of magnesium
in their reels is
something that
Shimano, and Daiwa,
still do better than
every manufacturer.
In the Metanium the
company ups the ante
once again by
delivering the
weights savings and
sensitivity of
magnesium with the
power and torque
that rivals aluminum
based reels.

Visually I still
think the Bantam is
the more
aggressively styled,
and recognizable,
reel but the
Metanium is sleek
and stealthy looking