Does anyone here own a Shimano Antares? I have one in my sights and would like some real world insight as to the weight and feel of it.

I have several. They are the same reel as the Shimano Calais. It depends on which model you are looking at to give you a weight. They are all under 9.5 oz. These are top of the line reels, I am very pleased with mine, they are very smooth. Between the Antares & Calais I have over 20 reels. I feel that you can not go wrong by owning one.

I have several. They are the same reel as the Shimano Calais. It depends on which model you are looking at to give you a weight. They are all under 9.5 oz. These are top of the line reels, I am very pleased with mine, they are very smooth. Between the Antares & Calais I have over 20 reels. I feel that you can not go wrong by owning one.

 

Thanks for the reply. I am looking at the rh220, I think it weighs 8.5 oz, which is heavy for the reels I'm used to using. I don't own a Calais, but several scorpions, 1000,1001,1501,xt, so thats my comparison point.

I have several. They are the same reel as the Shimano Calais. It depends on which model you are looking at to give you a weight. They are all under 9.5 oz. These are top of the line reels, I am very pleased with mine, they are very smooth. Between the Antares & Calais I have over 20 reels. I feel that you can not go wrong by owning one.

 

is the spool deep enough to fit a good amount of line? I would use 8# diameter, 150 yards, appx.

i too have an antares in my sights. the current models are lighter than the previous model, which i have fished with. hands down, the absolute smoothest reel i have ever used.

I have the Antares AR, as Shimano does not offer a lefty in the Calais 100 platform.  

 

The reel is ridiculously smooth, and it feels bullet proof.  I use mine as a cranking reel, and it is outstanding for this presentation. 

 

I believe the AR holds 110 yards of 10lb.

If you do not mind send me a PM of the reel you are looking at......If you are looking at what I think you are that is a 200 size reel with a shallow mag. spool. Thinking you may want a waffle and deep spool. The AR is a 100 size reel with a 5.8:1 ratio while the 200 is a 6.2:1.