It’s no secret in the fishing industry that Shimano is known as one of the top producers of quality fishing reels. Most of their products are priced a bit higher than their competitors, but the extra cost is warranted given the overall level of quality and performance these reels are known for. If you’re interested in purchasing a Shimano reel that will deliver much of the same coveted performance that this brand is known for without having to spend a small fortune to do so, the Shimano Sedona is likely your best choice.
This reel is packed with a litany of the most desirable features that Shimano spinning reels are known for while only being priced at a fraction of what you might pay for a premium model. The reel is made to function in both saltwater and freshwater environments and gives anglers the same smooth casting and reeling experience that these reels are known for.
In this article, I will examine some of the features and capabilities offered by the Shimano Sedona and explain why I think this is arguably one of the best value spinning reels on the market today.
- High Speed Option Available
- Hagane Gearing
- Resdesigned Rotor and Drag
- 10 Year Warranty
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Table of Contents
Shimano Sedona Overview
The Shimano Sedona is made with a very lightweight carbon composite material that helps eliminate much of the weight that can cause fatigue in your arms and wrists when fishing for long hours at a time. This lightweight spinning reel is also made with a number of high-quality internal components that combine to make it one of the better options for anglers looking for a lighter reel that will still deliver the same smooth action that Shimano is known for.
I was disappointed to find out the reel only features a 3+1 ball bearing system, but don’t let that fool you when it comes to whether or not the Shimano Sedona is capable of giving that same ultra-smooth casting and retrieval that is usually expected. The G Free body also helps to give this reel just the right amount of balance to make it feel more comfortable in the hands of any angler.
The Shimano Sedona comes in eight different size options that all range from 500 up to 8000. Each of these particular sizes are made with the same ball bearing system, but the gear ratio does differ widely anywhere from 5.6:1 to 6.2:1 and even 4.9:1 for the largest model.
The Sedona’s internal mechanisms are all top-notch quality as the reel is designed with a cold-forged Hagane Gearing system that’s capable of eliminating a lot of friction in your casts and retrieves. This reel includes a number of other features that we will examine more closely to help you get a better sense of just what the Shimano Sedona is capable of delivering on the water.
Construction Material
As we mentioned above, the Shimano Sedona is made to be a high-functioning, lightweight inshore or freshwater reel that can handle most medium or even large-sized fish. The body and side plates are both made of a specialized carbon composite material that is comparable to aluminum while only being a fraction of the weight that an all-metal reel would be.
The Sedona also delivers a much better feel in the overall position that this reel is in relation to your rod since the G Free Body is specially designed to help shift the center of gravity towards the rod itself, making the reel much easier to handle while eliminating a lot of the fatigue that comes with using a spinning reel for many hours at a time.
Gear System
The Hagane Gearing system is known as one of the most high-functioning of any other in the fishing industry. This is mainly due to the process by which these gears are machined through a delicate cold-forge method that ensures the metal is of much more precise measurements and better overall quality. This difference will truly show when you’re fighting a sizable catch into the boat and can feel the gears working together to maintain the line’s position on the reel without giving an inch.
Varispeed Oscillation System
One of the most common problems I have found with lightweight spinning reels is that the line tends to be spooled more heavily toward the front of the spool instead of evenly across the back and front. The Varispeed Oscillation System is designed to prevent this from happening by varying the speed with which your line is spooled onto the reel. This will ultimately result in the line being evenly spooled across the entire spool from back to front instead of it being more toward one side or the other.
Propulsion Line Management System
Another popular feature that the Shimano Sedona offers is the Propulsion Line Management System. This is mainly designed to allow the line to spool more freely off the reel without letting it develop the same kinks and knots that typically happen over time. I think this is usually more of a problem when anglers use monofilament fishing line as the line can develop a circular coil and will often produce large knots that are frustrating to remove.
Performance
This reel is an all-around great option for anglers who are looking for a lightweight reel that is capable of handling just about any size fish. The reel does have a few small durability concerns and many anglers are not pleased with the fact that the Sedona doesn’t offer a reverse direction switch that would allow the reel to be wound backwards and feed line away from the spool.
However, despite all its potential shortcomings, there’s no denying that the Shimano Sedona does deliver the same silky-smooth casts and retrieves that this brand is known to have.
- High Speed Option Available
- Hagane Gearing
- Resdesigned Rotor and Drag
- 10 Year Warranty
Pros
- Shimano manage to fit a lot of technologies into a good value for money option
- The varispeed oscillation system makes the line lay more evenly along the spool
- I found the G free body design reduces the muscle fatigue compared to similarly sized reels
Cons
- The 3+1 ball bearings is on the low side, even for other entry level reels in this size range
- I don’t like that there is no reverse feature so you don’t run the spool backwards to remove line
- Some durability issues but I was expecting that at this price range
Specifications
| MODEL | MONO LINE CAPACITY (#TEST/YD) | WEIGHT (OZ) | BEARINGS | GEAR RATIO | RETRIEVE PER CRANK (IN) | BRAID CAPACITY (LB/YDS) | MAX DRAG (LB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE1000FI | 2/270, 4/140, 6/110 | 7.6 | 3+1 | 5.0:1 | 26 | 10/95, 15/85, 20/65 | 7 |
| SE2500HGFI | 6/200, 8/140, 10/120 | 8.6 | 3+1 | 6.2:1 | 36 | 15/145, 30/100 | 9 |
| SE4000XGFI | 8/240, 10/200, 12/160 | 10.4 | 3+1 | 6.2:1 | 39 | 30/170, 50/150 | 24 |
| SE500FI | 2/190, 4/100, 6/60 | 6.3 | 3+1 | 5.6:1 | 27 | 15/135, 8/105, 10/65 | 7 |
| SE6000FI | 12/265, 16/170, 20/120 | 15 | 3+1 | 4.6:1 | 33 | 30/290, 50/195, 65/140 | 22 |
| SE8000FI | 12/345, 16/250, 20/185 | 21.7 | 3+1 | 4.9:1 | 37 | 40/340, 50/265, 65/215 | 24 |
| SEC3000HGFI | 6/230, 8/170, 10/140 | 8.8 | 3+1 | 6.2:1 | 36 | 20/140, 40/105 | 20 |
| SEC5000XGFI | 10/240, 12/195, 14/165 | 10.6 | 3+1 | 6.2:1 | 41 | 30/200, 40/160 | 24 |
Alternative Comparison
I wanted to give some comparison between the Sedona and another lightweight panfish reel. The competitor I selected was the Okuma Ceymar. The Ceymar is a good panfish reel that is extremely light but still gives good performance in a small package.
This comparison is looking at the 1000 sized models.
| Features | Ceymar | Sedona |
| Max Drag | 7 lb | 7 lb |
| Ball Bearings | 6+1 | 3+1 |
| Retrieve Rate | 21 in | 26 in |
| Weight | 6.0 oz | 8.6 oz |
| Gear Ratio | 5.0:1 | 5.0:1 |
I do like that the Ceymar has a great combination of low weight but still manages to fit in 6+1 ball bearings which I feel give it smooth retrieve and performance.
Shimano Technologies Included
| Hagane Gear | Yes |
| X-Ship | No |
| Micro Module II | No |
| X-Protect | No |
| Hagane Body | No |
| G-Free Body | Yes |
| Silent Drive | No |
| Infinity Drive | No |
| Ci4+ Material | No |
| Cross Carbon Drag | No |
| Heat Sink Drag | No |
| X-Shield | No |
| Long Stroke Spool | No |
| X Tough Drag | No |
| AR-C Spool | Yes |
| EI Surface Treatment | No |
| Rigid Support Drag | No |
| S A-RB | No |
| One-Piece Bail | No |
Conclusion
The Shimano Sedona isn’t quite the cheapest spinning reel in the Shimano family, but it is one of the most affordable. I think the fact that the Sedona is usually priced below in the entry level category means it is easily one of the best value reels for the money. There are a few brands that have models which are comparable in price and performance, but few are capable of matching the smooth spooling action of Shimano spinning reels.
I did find some disadvantages in this reel but overall it does tick a lot of the boxes you would want with an entry level reel.