My father has always told me that in life, there are instances when you just have to grind your teeth and dig deep. I think it’s something worth remembering when you check out the 2020 Shimano Stella SW series. After all, for anglers like us it’s always worth paying all that extra money for a better chance at a fish fight. 

I’ve personally seen one in action: A very good fisho with a very high drag on a Stella SW 20000 gets spooled by a doggy in under 25 seconds. When the spool finally cooled down, he took it off and the carbon fiber drag washers were still good as new.

The Stella difference: What sets the 2020 Shimano Stella SW series apart? 

That considered, while it may really hurt to loosen your purse strings to buy a Stella, I think it’s going to hurt a hell of a lot more when you’re on to that fish of a lifetime and the bearings or drag washers give out on your BCF combo special.

But, as the 2020 Stella SW series promises a huge range of Shimano-style technology and  fish-fighting performance upgrades, I thought it’s well worth checking just how well it works against any large or powerful fish.

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What’s good about the 2020 Shimano Stella SW?

Sure, the whole range looks sleek. I think each reel in this series is a real beast, filled with all kinds of drool-worthy engineering that we have come to expect from Shimano as a market leader.

But, for our purposes, I looked into the full range and listed some of the main ones which I think were the best among the many Shimano tech innovations embedded in the 2020 Stella SW series.

Here are some of them:

Infinity drive 

Within the 2020 SW range, all Stellas have the infinity drive, which, I think, is a pretty cool concept. That means, instead of having the normal “mechanical” way where the pinions turn the cogs inside the reel to turn the main shaft, Shimano made it work differently. 

In the SW range, Shimano removed the contact between the inner pinion gear and the main shaft. Instead, they put in a high-sliding bushing to support the main shaft and added a special skid coating to reduce the resistance. This reduces the up and down motion of the main shaft, which improves the winding.

In layman’s terms, Shimano improved the machinery such that it’s 30 percent easier to turn the reel handle, thus making it more powerful and easier to use even under extreme load.

Heat sink drag 

Shimano also added a ‘Heat Sink Panel’ and  an ‘Insulation Sheet’. 

With the ‘Heat Sink Panel’, the heat generated by drag is released. That means, the thermal sagging in the reels is reduced, decreasing the possibility of lowered drag performance by 50 percent. 

With the addition of the ‘Insulation Sheet’, even the heat transfer to the spool is blocked, which reduces the rise in spool temperature by 30 per cent. 

This new drag system in the 10000 and the 14000 models made the line so much more stable. Consequently, this means that when you hook that big fish, there’s a 50% less chance that your drag washes will melt or stick and lock up your drag, especially when you bust that fish of a lifetime off or break your rod.

X-Tough Drag | Rigid Support Drag

Both the X-tough drag and the Rigid Support drag were also added as an innovative support for the spool. With the X-tough drag, the drag washer is reinforced with either metal or carbon which makes it durable. Rigid support, on the other hand, eliminates the wobbling by adding a two-point support to the main shaft and bearing—a real improvement that helps stabilise the drag function.

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Our Pick — Which Stella Reels are Perfect for Bluewater and Reef?

Since we all have our preference in terms of jigging, the 2020 Stella SW Series also offers a full range of reels that is perfect for different types of fishing. Simply put, there is a Stella that would work for you, whether you are up for a whiting or a marlin. In this article, however, I’d like to focus mainly on Bluewater and reef.

SW 14000XG (Works well for stick baits)

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): STLSW14000XGC
Description: STELLA SWC 14000 XG
Bearings: 13+1 | Gear Ratio: 6.2.1 | LPT: 134 (CM) | Capacity: Braid: 60/315 (PowerPro) | Weight: 675 (G) | Max Drag: 25 (KGS.)

One of the most popular reels in the Stella range is the SW 14000XG. It weighs around 675 grams and promises a stopping power of 25kg of drag “yer good luck with that.” It’s also equipped with a 13+1 bearing system with a retrieve rate of 134cm per crank. Match the 14000 with a PE 6-8 with a slightly softer tip and you will have yourself one of the best stick bait combos money can buy.

SW 18000HG – (Perfect for poppers, PE8-10)

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): STLSW18000HGC
Description: STELLA SWC 18000HG
Bearings: 13+1 | Gear Ratio: 5.7:1 | LPT: 129 (CM) | Capacity: Braid: 80/400 (PowerPro) | Weight: 875 (G) | Max Drag: 28 (KGS.)

This is my personal pick out of all the reels in the Stella series as I’m a popping addict. I think being HG (High Gear) gives you that extra but not too much, when you are working your poppers.

With a retrieval rate of 129cm per crank on PE-8, this allows you to work you popper and take up the slack while letting the popper rest back and ready into a position for your next prop. I think this is why most cups on poppers are red, as it marks the time for the next pop. 

This Stella also boasts a massive 28kg of drag. It’s actually ridiculous, as it will give you the chance to give that GT a proper head-thrashing while you get pulled around the boat. 

With a spool capacity of 400m of PE-8, it allows you to target most bluewater species, including, but not limited to marlins or tuna or those species from the reefs like GT or doggies.

SW 5000HG – (Best for micro jigging, PE2-4)

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): STLSW5000HGC
Description: STELLA SWC 5000 HG
Bearings: 13+1 | Gear Ratio: 5.7:1 | LPT: 97 (CM) | Capacity: Braid: 20/245 (PowerPro) | Weight: 420 (G) | Max Drag: 13 (KGS.)

Bigger setups are obviously for bigger fish, but apparently, some people do not understand this. I’ve been into fishing for years but one of the things that really shocks me to this day is when people tend to only bring bigger rods in hopes of catching bigger fish. What these people fail to understand is that big fish bite time is generally around the tides, so while there will be some action, it won’t be happening all day. This is where having an SW 5000HG comes in handy—when the big fish aren’t biting, it’s time to trade the popping rod in for the micro jigging gear for some nonstop fun.

With the 5000HG, you’re going to want to go lighter with either a PE2 or PE3. That will help the reel and drag handle a lot heavier line with 13kg of drag. I personally prefer the HG model over the XHG as the retrieve rate per crank will allow you to micro jig and also cast in the shallows.

SW 10000PG- (Best for medium jigging, PE6)

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): STLSW10000PGC
Description: STELLA SWC 10000 PG
Bearings: 13+1 | Gear Ratio: 4.9.1 | LPT: 102 (CM) | Capacity: Braid: 50/360 (PowerPro) | Weight: 670 (G) | Max Drag: 25 (KGS.)

The 10000PG seems to be a staple in a lot of fishos’ arsenal. Well, it isn’t exactly surprising since it’s there for a damn good reason. 

Weighing 670 grams, the 10000PG is the perfect reel for medium jigging. With a line capacity of 290m on PE-6, it makes a great little set-up for those moderately-sized fish. Even if you hook a monster every now and then, you’re still going to have a good chance of turning and stopping the big girl. With the help of the Heat Sink drag, your drags will not fail through extreme heat. Plus, the infinity drive will make it a lot easier to do your dip and wind.

SW 20000PG- (Best for heavy jigging, PE8)

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): STLSW20000PGC
Description: STELLA SWC 20000 PG
Bearings: 13+1 | Gear Ratio: 4.4:1 | LPT: 104 (CM) | Capacity: Braid: 65/490, 80/400 (PowerPro) | Weight: 885 (G) | Max Drag: 28 (KGS.)

The Shimano Stella SW 20000, with its line capacity of 440m of PE-8 can get you hitting deep drop offs for the doggies and leave you with enough on the reel to still feel confident. 

However, I think one of the main reasons why a lot of fishos go for the 20000 for the bigger side of jigging is the retrieve rate. Put it this way, when you lift and drop your rod (whole principal for jigging), the crank on the way down will take up that slack. That means, if you do get hit at any stage of your action, you are going to be tight, which will give you a better hookup rate. With the Stella 20000’s drag, you are assured that you can put the hurt on that fish. 

So, if you want to catch a big doggie, then I think the Stella SW 20000 is the reel for you. Personally, I believe the Stella SW 30000 is quite overrated. It’s also very uncomfortable to jig as opposed to the 20000. In any case, depending on your preference, the other Stellas are also just as well worth taking out in the water.

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Check out more Shimano favourites

In addition to these reels mentioned above, there are still other types of reels, in and out of the SW series, that you might find useful or interesting. 

Here’s a list of all the Stellas with their corresponding details, in case you feel the need to check them out.

Or check them out on the official Shimano page

Naturally, packing a reel for your fishing trip is all about personal preferences and target species. But, after many years of being on the water, I’d say it’s still best to bring everything when you’re heading out for a fish. After all, there’s no such thing as ‘too many rods’ when it comes to fishing..

Now, if you have a personal favorite among the Shimano models whether or not it is within the 2020 Stella SW Series, or you wish to share an experience while using one of the 2020 Stellas, then feel free to comment below.