Shimano Sahara 2500 rear drag any good?

[Albert H]

I'm after a cheapo reel around the £50 mark for canal work with light floats, and this Sahara 2500 rear drag has caught my eye.

Is this reel upto much or is there anything better around for £50 > 60.

Also, is a 1000 reel worth considering for this type of venue & light lines?

 

[ukzero1]

@Albert H

I have 2 Sahara's and wouldn't part with them. I find the fighting drag a boon when a 'bonus' fish hits. Brilliant reels.
You can get them cheaper if you shop around, like here...

Shimano Sahara-R RD Fishing Reel | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Shimano Sahara-R RD Fishing Reel at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

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[Somersetlad]

Aren't Saharas the ones with the anti-reverse permanantly engaged? For most of my canal fishing I use a Diawa Ninja 2508, it is front drag, which I don't find a problem, and comes with 2 spools for about £50. The Diawa Crossfires also looks ok, for about £30.

 

[ukzero1]

Aren't Saharas the ones with the anti-reverse permanantly engaged? For most of my canal fishing I use a Diawa Ninja 2508, it is front drag, which I don't find a problem, and comes with 2 spools for about £50. The Diawa Crossfires also looks ok, for about £30.

No they're not those reels. The anti-reverse switch is underneath the reel towards the spool. The Sahara also comes with 2 spools and you have a choice of single or twin handle.

 

[Albert H]

No they're not those reels. The anti-reverse switch is underneath the reel towards the spool. The Sahara also comes with 2 spools and you have a choice of single or twin handle.

Does the 2500 RD come with a shallow spool, or are they both deep spools?

 

[ukzero1]

Does the 2500 RD come with a shallow spool, or are they both deep spools?

Not sure about the spools, I know one is shallow but I'm not sure if the 2nd spool is deep or shallow. On the 3000, I got one of each.

 

[DAMFLASK CHRIS]

have got a sahara 3000s for feeder fishing has done well this past year use a drennan series 7 9.30 float for waggler fishing comes with 3 spools for about 40 pounds

 

[Silverfisher]

Damflask Chris - is there much difference in size between the 3000 Sahara and the series 7 float (I have one of those)? Going to get my grandad a Sahara for his birthday and leaning towards the 3000 to be more versatile but will also look at the 2500. They’re in my local tackle shop now but haven’t had the chance for a proper look yet.

 

[Silverfisher]

Well I had a good look at them at the big one show but that was obviously a while ago now!

 

[DAMFLASK CHRIS]

hi looks like spools on both about same size
sahara o.25 x 100m
spools for drennan 0.18 or .20 x 100m
0.14 or .016 x 100m
0.20 or 0.22 x 100m

 

[DAMFLASK CHRIS]

played pike up to 7lb on sahara reel with clutch got it in not tried it for float fishing though

 

[Silverfisher]

Great thanks sounds like 3000 is probably the size then. Like me he also has a series 7 float for his acolyte ultra so the plan is to get him the Sahara for his hardy marksman so small enough for float fishing but also have it big enough for some feeder work if need be as well.

 

[floatfisher]

I use the Shimano Hyperloop 2500s for all my river float fishing, stick and waggler. Used them for years and they do the business for sixteen quid a pop. As well as loads of silverfish I've landed barbel up to 8lb with no line bedding. Only one spool supplied but spares were about six quid.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Aren't Saharas the ones with the anti-reverse permanantly engaged?.

Despite plenty of misinformation, there isn't (yet) a single rear drag Shimano reel that has done away with the anti-reverse switch.

 

[ukzero1]

Despite plenty of misinformation, there isn't (yet) a single rear drag Shimano reel that has done away with the anti-reverse switch.

I think the problem lies with the switch itself. They are getting noticeably smaller and made to blend in with the reel body (as on the Sahara) and that's why nobody is noticing them.

 

[Albert H]

I got my Sahara 2500 rd a few days ago & it's really nice.

The 2 spools provided are neither deep nor shallow, both mid depth.

I'll be giving it a try tomorrow.

With regards the Drennan series 7 floatfish, I have one of those. I dropped it in the margin of a small lake about a year ago, & despite it getting full of silt & water - it's still working fine with no grinding, noise, etc.

Here is an image of both together.

 

[Albert H]

Damflask Chris - is there much difference in size between the 3000 Sahara and the series 7 float (I have one of those)? Going to get my grandad a Sahara for his birthday and leaning towards the 3000 to be more versatile but will also look at the 2500. They’re in my local tackle shop now but haven’t had the chance for a proper look yet.

The Sahara 2500 RD is roughly equal in size to the Drennan series 7 floatfish, so the 3000 will be slightly bigger.

I've got both here.

 

[Simon R]

With regards the Drennan series 7 floatfish, I have one of those. I dropped it in the margin of a small lake about a year ago, & despite it getting full of silt & water - it's still working fine with no grinding, noise, etc.

That's quite a stern test for any reel - being underwater for a year - why leave it so long though.

Simon

 

[Sam Vimes]

The Sahara 2500 RD is roughly equal in size to the Drennan series 7 floatfish, so the 3000 will be slightly bigger.

You may well find that the only difference between the Sahara 2500 and 3000 is that the spool and rotor are slightly bigger. In many cases, the body size is the same.

 

[Silverfisher]

I got the 2500 Sahara for my grandad this morning as they didn't have any 3000 in stock. Went for 2500 anyway as in my hand it felt a very similar size to the series 7 float but with deeper spools therefore offering enough versatility without needing to wait for a 3000. Was going to get the series 7 out to compare it this afternoon but with those pictures above that's saved me a job so thanks for that. Hopefully he'll be of the same opinion but I've got the receipt just in case.

Talking of submerging reels I managed to flip a kayak in Florida this year thus drowning my old tf gear match reel. It instantly went crunchy as hell, was interesting playing a redfish on it an hour later, but after soaking it in water and washing up liquid for a few days with the odd rinse under tap it recovered to almost as good as new. In light of that I'm not surprised that the series 7 having a dunk did it no harm if it had a good wash out afterwards.