Japan Angler now has them in stock for $286.52 if anyone is interested. Shipping is $12.64 thru EMS

 

The 50 (rh) version is also in stock, but us lefty reel users have been waiting 

 

 

Got my order in at Japan lure shop on sat for a 51hg. They were literally in stock for a few minutes, lol

Yea. I watched them in stock for like 2 days. When I went to order, they were gone!

I got a RH Aldebaran sent to me accidentally when JLS messed my order up. Got rid of it only because I'm a LH user. I must say the new Aldebaran could possibly be Shimano's best reel yet. It looks amazing with the dark charcoal color and the chrome accents. Palms amazing and super smooth but I did not get to use it with line n lure. I just don't have room for it in my lineup at the moment or else I'd order a few.

I think that's a screaming deal!!

Ebay has them if anyone is looking

Awesome deal.  They are out of the 51 but they have an Antares for $385 in a left hand model.  This web site appears to have some great prices.  Are they legit?

They're very legit. If my Shimano buddy doesn't have anything in stock, JLS is my next stop.

FYI anyone looking for a sub $200 reel, they got 2009 Aldebarans (Cores) for $189USD on JLS.

Not any more, I bought the very last one.

FYI anyone looking for a sub $200 reel, they got 2009 Aldebarans (Cores) for $189USD on JLS.

I almost grabbed a lefty mg while waiting for my new alde hg to come in today, lol

Talk about a smokin deal. Anyway, I went to the lake and by the time I got back they were sold out, haha

Someone please give a review.

Someone please give a review.

I'll get ya one in the morning.

Great deal. If I could ever stop buying JDM lures I could save some cash and get one. Right now Duo Realis holds all my money!

Someone please give a review.

I had mine out last weekend and caught 7 bass and a couple of crappie. The biggest bass were about 3. I was using MS-X 6'8 L BFS reel and threw mostly Pointer 65s. This combo threw the pointers very well and very far. The reel is so compact you can actually use one hand to fish jerk baits. With a fish on the line the retrieve is VERY smooth. The X ship gives you that loose drag feeling where you think your drag is off because its so smooth. The fish couldn't pull any drag so I cant comment there. The weekend before it was throwing a true 1/8 oz rapala UL minnow a really good distance, shocking really considering I own 2 other true BFS reels. I had the brakes set to 2 on and 1 on the dial and only turned the dial to 2 a couple of times when the wind kicked up. Its my new favorite reel its so fun to fish.

My hg came in nice and early in the morning. Had plenty of time to look it over and give it a quick clean. Threw some hedgehog airs in, and put a zpi carbon handle on. Actually got this thing down to 128grams/4.5oz, lol. Ridiculously light... 

 

Ive been using 6-8lb hybrid lately, but i ended up spooling it with 20lb power pro. Mounted it on my 6'5L expride and threw pop-xs, flickshakes, 1/4oz spinnerbaits, and a few other smaller topwaters.

 

First off, its palms awesome, just as good or better then the core 50/bfs xg. Very smooth due to the x-ship, love the knobs. Probally the most comfortable factory knob ive used so far. I honestly think it feels like a smaller metanium without the micro gears. I was getting major distance with 1/4oz hardbaits. Wasnt getting great distance with finesse baits though, but im so used to using finesse spools in core/alde mg7's.

 

I kept it at 2 brakes on, and the exterior dial off or it seems to look like its at 1 when off. Definitely starts to cut some serious distance off your cast even it setting 2 on the dial. I honestly dont like exterior brake dials. Im a minimalist, i like setting 2 brakes on the spool and using my cast control knob. Thats why ive always liked the shimano 50 series platform, set 2 brakes and forget it.

 

Positives - 

 

1. Love the silver parts, dragstar, factory handle nut can be reused with aftermarket handles.

2. Very smooth

3. Super light

4. Palms awesome

5. Love the knobs

 

Negatives -

 

1. I honestly think the silent tune thing is a gimmick, theres absolutely no need for a spring behind the bearings, especially the spool mounted bearing. I'm probally going to remove the spool spring when i get a chance.

2. Id prefer a regular sideplate like the core 50 with no exterior brake dial. I dont need the extra braking.

3. I noticed when taking off the cast control knob that theres no aluminum threaded insert like the core 50/alde mg/mg7/bfs xg. Its actually the frame material (ci4+?) Just doesnt seem as smooth when adjusting the cast control, but i suppose thats weight savings...

 

Either way, i think the reel is great. Ill be using it for 1/8oz and heavier plastics and 3/8-1/2oz moving baits. Really hoping yumeya makes a finesse spool for it. 

 

My hg came in nice and early in the morning. Had plenty of time to look it over and give it a quick clean. Threw some hedgehog airs in, and put a zpi carbon handle on. Actually got this thing down to 128grams/4.5oz, lol. Ridiculously light... 

 

Ive been using 6-8lb hybrid lately, but i ended up spooling it with 20lb power pro. Mounted it on my 6'5L expride and threw pop-xs, flickshakes, 1/4oz spinnerbaits, and a few other smaller topwaters.

 

First off, its palms awesome, just as good or better then the core 50/bfs xg. Very smooth due to the x-ship, love the knobs. Probally the most comfortable factory knob ive used so far. I honestly think it feels like a smaller metanium without the micro gears. I was getting major distance with 1/4oz hardbaits. Wasnt getting great distance with finesse baits though, but im so used to using finesse spools in core/alde mg7's.

 

I kept it at 2 brakes on, and the exterior dial off or it seems to look like its at 1 when off. Definitely starts to cut some serious distance off your cast even it setting 2 on the dial. I honestly dont like exterior brake dials. Im a minimalist, i like setting 2 brakes on the spool and using my cast control knob. Thats why ive always liked the shimano 50 series platform, set 2 brakes and forget it.

 

Positives - 

 

1. Love the silver parts, dragstar, factory handle nut can be reused with aftermarket handles.

2. Very smooth

3. Super light

4. Palms awesome

5. Love the knobs

 

Negatives -

 

1. I honestly think the silent tune thing is a gimmick, theres absolutely no need for a spring behind the bearings, especially the spool mounted bearing. I'm probally going to remove the spool spring when i get a chance.

2. Id prefer a regular sideplate like the core 50 with no exterior brake dial. I dont need the extra braking.

3. I noticed when taking off the cast control knob that theres no aluminum threaded insert like the core 50/alde mg/mg7/bfs xg. Its actually the frame material (ci4+?) Just doesnt seem as smooth when adjusting the cast control, but i suppose thats weight savings...

 

Either way, i think the reel is great. Ill be using it for 1/8oz and heavier plastics and 3/8-1/2oz moving baits. Really hoping yumeya makes a finesse spool for it. 

 

 

Nice review Matt. It's still ugly. 

OP why must you toy with my emotions so??!?

OP why must you toy with my emotions so??!?

You arrived fashionably late to the aldebaran buffet, but now theres no more food

You arrived fashionably late to the aldebaran buffet, but now theres no more food

Thankfully! I have been drooling on the windows for a while but now that there's no cake left I can come sit down and hang out without feeling like I have to have a piece lol

If anyone catches a deal on these again please shoot me the link! Looking for a high speed lefty.

Hooligan: very nice!

If anyone catches a deal on these again please shoot me the link! Looking for a high speed lefty.

Hooligan: very nice!

Check fleebay, just grabbed one for $319 w/ free shipping from Japan.

Thehooligan what size are the bearings that you put in? Hedgehog says they're both 3x10x4 but I took out the bearing under the cast control knob and it looks thinner than the other bearing.

Thehooligan what size are the bearings that you put in? Hedgehog says they're both 3x10x4 but I took out the bearing under the cast control knob and it looks thinner than the other bearing.

 

I replaced the spool bearing and sideplate bearing with 3X10X4 hedgehog airs, didnt touch the bearing behind the cast control knob.