Shimano Sedona Review 2022: What’s New in FI Reel Series?

Last Updated on May 8, 2022

The new Sedona FI provides everything you require for an outstanding fishing experience at a price point that has your budget in mind.

Sedona FI features cold forged Hagane gears that are usually available in higher end reels.

The new FI series has replaced the discontinued series of Sedona FE and FD.

The new Sedona FI has upgraded drag power and increased gear ratios that mean the series has reel sizes for any situation from light freshwater fishing to heavier offshore species. Moreover, weight has been significantly cut off across all sizes, providing you ease during long days of casting or jigging with minimized fatigue.

If you have a few rods that need new reels, then why not buy a selection of sizes and cover yourself for a large range of applications without breaking the bank?

What’s new in Sedona FI?

So what’s new in New Sedona FI vs Old FE?

  • Gearing significantly upgrade to cold forged Hagane Gear.
  • Rotor design upgraded as Sustain original Magnumlite rotor design.
  • Body weight has also been reduced with hollowed reel foot.
  • The gear ratio is higher on all models except the 1000 size.
  • Drag Power has been increased on all sizes except the 1000 size.

Here is a table comparison for a quick overview of side by side difference.

Old Sedona FENew Sedona FI
Weight225-315g215-300g
OscillationVarispeed IIVarispeed II
DynabalanceYesYes
BodyCompactG-Free
RotorStdMagnumlite rotor 1
Bearings3+13+1
GearDicastHGN Gear
Price Check Price Check Price

Features

Shimano Sedona Review

  • Ball Bearings: 3
  • Roller Bearings: 1
  • Maximum Drag: 7-24 lb
  • Retrieve Per Crank Range: 26-41 in
  • Suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fishing
 

Hagane Gear provides excellent smoothness that make you use it over and over again. The cold forging technology forms the entire surface of the drive gear teeth precisely through unique 3D design instead of cutting work .

G Free Body relocate the Sedona reel’s center of gravity towards the rod and anglers hand position that helps to enhance casting comfort and reduce fatigue.

The Propulsion Line Management System combines a new design of spool lip and line roller with no contact bail arm to enhance the casting distances. The line reels off the spool in smaller loops preventing any backlash or wind knot from forming during casting.

Oval oscillation gear enhances the manageability and castability by adjusting the speed of the oscillation cam to provide stable spool speed and an even line lay. On other hands, The constant rotation of the oscillation gear of normal oscillation systems causes the line lay to stack at either end of the spool and provides an inconsistent spool speed.

One of the cons is that there is no reverse-direction switch. Some may not count it as a drawback depending on the type of fishing they do. Another drawback is the usual kind of you’d hear from any mass produced technical product. There have been some cases of handle snapping in half or crank having sticking issues after a short amount of use. The expensive spinning reels don’t have these issue.

Read full guide to catching bluefish here

In the whole, Any reel that offers the qualities seen here at under $100.00 is worth taking a 2nd, or even 3rd look at.

What size suits you?

With these reels, you can go for finesse fishing the likes of Trout, Bream, Bass, Whiting, and Flathead. Tackle a larger class of the same fish by sizing up your reel.

The numbers (1000, 3000, 4000, 5000) in the model code represents the spool diameter. You can spool more line with a fishing reel with a larger spool diameter.

  • The 1000-3000 small size Sedona reels are suitable for Lake/River
  • The 4000-5000 are ideal for River, light offshore and beach.
  • With a 6000 or 8000 sized Sedona reels, you can hunt for big Snapper from reef and Yellowtail Kingfish from the wash near shore or the blue water offshore. Target Salmon, mackerel, tailor, bonito, and kingfish with these reels.
The 5000, 6000 and 8000 will also enable affordable access to Aussie Salmon and Big Tailor from the surf and rocks. The 8000 sized reel has enough line capacity and drag to mix it up with big surf-side Mulloway.

ModelLine RetrieveGear RatioMono Line Cap. (lb/yds)PowerPro Line Cap. (lb/yds)Max Drag (lb)Weight (oz)Prices
SE500FI27"5.6 :12/190
4/100
6/60
5/135
8/105
10/65
76.3 Check Price
SE500FIC27"5.6:12/190
4/100
6/60
5/135
8/105
10/65
76.3 Check Price
SE1000FI26"5.0:12/270
4/140
6/110
15/85
20/65
77.6 Check Price
SE1000FIC26"5.0:12/270
4/140
6/110
15/85
20/65
77.6 Check Price
SE2500HGFI36"6.2:16/200
8/140
10/120
15/145
30/100
98.6 Check Price
SE2500HGFIC36"6.2:16/200
8/140
10/120
15/145
30/100
98.6 Check Price
SEC3000HGFI36"6.2:16/230
8/170
10/140
20/140
40/105
208.8 Check Price
SEC3000HGFIC36"6.2:16/230
8/170
10/140
20/140
40/105
208.8 Check Price
SE4000XGFI39"6.2:18/240
10/200
12/160
30/170
50/150
2410.4 Check Price
SE4000XGFIC39"6.2:18/240
10/200
12/160
30/170
50/150
2410.4 Check Price
SEC5000XGFI41"6.2:110/240
12/195
14/165
30/200
40/160
2410.6 Check Price
SEC5000XGFIC41"6.2:110/240
12/195
14/165
30/200
40/160
2410.6 Check Price
SE6000FI33"4.6:112/265
16/170
20/120
30/290
50/195
65/140
2215 Check Price
SE6000FIC33"4.6:112/265
16/170
20/120
30/290
50/195
65/140
2215 Check Price
SE8000FI37"4.6:112/345
16/250
20/185
40/340
50/265
65/215
2421.7 Check Price
SE8000FIC37"4.6:112/345
16/250
20/185
40/340
50/265
65/215
2421.7 Check Price

C” in the end stands for a compact that indicates everything of the reel is more compact or one size smaller except for the spool. e.g. “C3000” reel model has “2500” body but a spool of “3000”.

The “S” in the end of the model number indicates “shallow spool” that is smaller, lighter in weight and lower line capacity.

In the model numbers, HG is High Gear that reels more line per turn of a fishing reel. Whereas, XG stands Extra high Gear and is usually for 4000 sized reels or above. The XG gets you even more fishing line than HG.

Above all the gear ratio, the purpose of your spinning reel is important to know. For example, if you are doing lure casting like poppers you need high speed (HG), otherwise your popper won’t ‘pop’. Low-gear is good for bottom fishing because low-gear have more power when fighting fish if speed is not important to you.

But if you want an all-rounder, I recommend HG models. Apart from all the above is also important to note the length the line retrieve per 1 rotation crank (handle), why? because for example Sedonna2500 5:2:1 can be different retrieval length from Stradic 2500 5:2:1.

Alternatives

Shimano Sedona vs Pflueger president

Pflueger President continues its reign of dominance with affordable performance in a class all its own. It also has an instant anti-reverse feature that is missing in Sedona. President also has a higher bearing count of 7. Sedona reels beat the president in the max drag competition. Moreover, Sedona retrieves more line per crank. You would definitely want to go with Sedona if you are doing lure casting. Shimano Sedona has also resolved the binding issues. However, Pfleuger President is cheaper than Shimano Sedona.

Shimano Sedona vs Sahara

The Shimano Sahara will outperform the Sedona with an addition of many features. Sahara has the corrosion resistant bearings which add to the longevity. It also has one more bearing than Sedona. However, Sedona is in the 79.99$ range vs the Sedona at 59.99$ if the price is a concern.

Shimano Sedona vs Sienna

Sienna has only one ball bearing as compared to 3 in Sedona. Sienna also doesn’t have features like Hagane gear and G free body of Sedona. Moreover, Sienna is only available in 1000, 2500 and 4000 sized models. Comparatively, Sedona models are lighter in weight. With all lack of these features, Sienna is dirt cheap as compared to Shimano Sedona.

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There are 1 comments

  1. I just got a 2500 Sedona HGFI for Christmas, it’s not my first reel or anything like that. Anyways, I’m a surf fisher (2500 size is ok here, we only have tiny fish in the Los Angeles/Ventura county areas) and this reel doesn’t have much saltwater protection, I was fishing one day and it became a little hard to reel in, it was my line roller, it wasn’t spinning. I have a question, this reel has a line roller sleeve instead of a bearing, the 2500 Sedona rb (baitrunner style) has a roller bearing, do you think I would be able to upgrade my Sedona by swapping a Sedona rb roller bearing or possibly the whole Sedona rb bail assembly onto my HG? I love this reel, I treat gifts given to me with extra care and I want this reel to see as much time on the water as possible. I would definitely recommend this reel, but you would have to take care of it and treat it with care as it does not have a sealed body/drag/or bearings.

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