Not derailed at all, this is how we roll...
Ok ok, I will confess... I own both, a Daiwa BG MQ 8000 (The American BG-Big Game, the black & silver one, as well as a Shimano Spheros SWA 8000 and have fished both and have an informed opinion of my own.
I just wanted to know your trusted opinion because I was trying to convince a buddy of mine to get a Spheros and was thinking/hoping that your opinion would support mine. However because both reels are quite knew I don't think there is a lot of people that have fished them extensively so they can give their 2 cents.
Here is my observations. Both are excellent reels!
The MQ does require a special tool to open up the reel to service it which is actually ridiculous. I sometimes think that Daiwa wants to be a service company and not a reel manufacturer. However it has a lot of cracking power and a super smooth drag. I just wish that they made the drag clicker more noisy, you can hardly hear the bloody thing. Its a pretty but tough reel. If you fish this reel it will make the brunettes turn their heads. Expect to pay upwards of R3500
The Daiwa Spheros is basically a dark navy blackish version of the previous model Saragosa. Its super smooth and also have good cracking power. This is a robust reel that will land any edible fish with ease. The drag is not as smooth as the Saragosas but the clicker is a proper screamer, almost as load as a Night Hawk. Probably the best value for money reel in the R3500+ bracket. This beauty will make the blonds turn. Expect to pay upwards of R3500
Now, the two abovementioned reels are good, but they are not great! There is a word synonymous with greatness, a name that echo's the same fear as "Mufasa"... Say it again, say it again... "SARAGOSA"!
At R5000 it is not a cheap reel any more. But the extra R1500 is worth every sent. I don't mean to be name droppin here (but we are pen pals), Sir Alan Hawk himself gave the Gosa a 85 (Out of 100) rating. The Stella SW got 83 and indecently the Spheros SWA mentioned above got 79.
There is one thing that irritates me, and maybe its just me but the reel seems to have a slight wobble when you reel it. It is almost as if the bail arm is not balanced. I have felt it in the previous Gosa as well as the Twin Power, don't know maybe its just me. But that's the only bad thing I can say.
Its as smooth as butter and as strong as Russian Royal Vodka. The drag is as smooth as can be and as load as a pig being castrated. It is a gorgeous reel that is every bit as tough as a Stella. The reel makes the redheads weak in the knees. Be prepared for puppy eye looks... from your fishing buddys!
@Dirk jy het my... Ek het Gosas gekry
