Review of the 10 and 12 Shilton SR Reels

By  Nick Curcione

This is the second high-end reel review I’m writing for the Bears Den and once again we have a winner in the form of the Shilton SR10 and SR12. These reels give truth to the fact that buying a top- quality fly reel today is not so easy because there are several marques of truly great reels to choose from. Of course, this hasn’t always been the case. Over 50 years ago when I started fly fishing big game saltwater species the only two reels (at least in the US) that were up to the task were the Fin-Nors and Seamaster, and there was a long waiting list for the latter.

Like so many of my friends who are also obsessed with this phase of the sport over the years I’ve managed to acquire premium reels from some of the leading manufacturers such as Abel, Hardy, Hatch, and Tibor. And unlike other expensive purchases I’ve made I’m pleased with all of them and have never had one fail me. How many products can you say that about?

So, what motivated me to purchase the two Shiltons? To be honest it was more a matter of wants instead of needs. I have enough reels to cover any species I care to fish. But there’s always the attraction of something new, even slightly different.A few years back I saw some at one of the fly showsand after playing with it for a few minutes I knew I would be buying one.

Before proceeding, I want to give a word of advice. I wouldn’t purchase a rod I didn’t test castbeforehand, and similarly I would never purchase an unfamiliar reel without having physically handled it. Aside from objective considerations like line capacity and drag function, there is the morepersonal, subjective element of how the reel feels in your hand. The most important issue here is how comfortable you are winding the handle. Designing reel handles and knobs presents the sort of challenges involved in designing rod handles. In terms of how it feels in one’s hands, it impossible to please everyone. So, manufacturers try to incorporate what they consider to be a generic feel to their product. That said, regardless of its other features, if winding that reel is the least bit awkward for you, consider making another choice. A reel like these Shiltons are designed for gamefish that are line burners. If the kind of fishing you do simply involves hand stripping your catch, you really don’t need a reel like this. Consider most of the reels designed for trout fishing. The majority feature click and pawl type drags because most trout like most freshwater species are not getting into your backing. That also means that you don’t have to do a lot of winding with the reel handle. But in many saltwater applications it’s a different story. The fish tend to be larger and considerably stronger than their freshwater cousins. When fish burn out considerable lengths of line expect to do a lot of cranking because you must recover that line back on the spool. Also,it’s not uncommon for saltwater speedsters to suddenly change course and start swimming directly back at you. To maintain the hookset, it’s importantto try and maintain as tight a line as possible which means you’re going to have to wind like hell. To do so efficiently you have to be comfortable with the handle and knob and the only way to be sure about this is to crank on the reel yourself. I did so with the Shilton, it got the ergonomics right and the reel fitslike the proverbial glove.

Thus far I have fished both the SR 12 and itsslightly smaller counterpart the SR 10 for makos in my home waters off San Diego and performance wise they have proved flawless. Because a few readers of this website noted that I’ve referred to makos in some of my other tackle reviews, allow me to make a brief comment about this “aristocrat” of sharks. If your objective is to test tackle this is a species you want to target. It is the apex predator on the open seas. It’s been clocked at 45mph, making it one of the fastest critters with fins. It runs down healthy tuna, and its aerial acrobatics far exceed those of any tarpon or billfish. If your gear can standup to makos, you can confidently use it for anything you set your sights on.

The first thing that struck me with these Shiltonsis the build quality. There is a reason they have been the go-to reel for exotic big game locales like the Seychelles. These things are made for the salt and are about as bullet proof as anything you’re likely to use in a marine environment. I battled a 400 lb. plus mako on the SR 12 for hours and the tried-and-true cork drag remained butter smooth the entire time.Among my collection of high-end fly reels I have some with sealed drags and others with the traditional draw bar cork drag like the Shilton and I cannot honestly report that one system is superior to the other. I never experienced a mal function with any of them. But the advantage of the cork dragdesign is that you can easily disassemble the reel and clean it. I never purposely submerge any of my reels in fresh or saltwater, but if you’re wading, especially in the surf, inevitably the reel is going to get soaked. A splashing wave can also carry a little sand, and this can work its way into the reel mechanism. This isn’t a problem with a reel like a Shilton. I have zero mechanical aptitude, but none is required because it’s so simple to clean or change spools. There is only one screw that you can tighten or loosen with a dime. Once that is removed unscrew the drag knob, and the draw bar will slip from the spindle. You can swap spools or clean the reel’s innards. On a reel with a sealed drag, sand particles and such shouldn’t be a problem provided the seal is completely watertight. If not, and water does manage to seep in,the drag mechanism will be compromised and there’s really no way to service it. Even though I have reels with the latter design, personally I prefer the cork drag setup because I can easily remove the spool and rinse everything in freshwater without worrying about any water seepage.

In terms of outright performance, you won’t be disappointed with the Shiltons. They are designed and built by folks who really know their stuff. No frills, no gimmicks, they simply do what you expect them to do, and they do it exceptionally well. And after a hard day’s fishing offshore, you don’t have to baby it, just rinse it off with fresh water. To avoid any salt residue, I make it a practice to rinse off my fly line and backing that was pulled from the spool.Always back off on the drag and let everything dry before you stow it away. Aside from that and someminor periodic lubrication, there is really no maintenance involved.

The reel’s appearance is a subjectiveconsideration, and personally I like the way they look. When you wind the handle, it emits a pleasant mechanical sounding click totally benefitting the reel’s precision craftsmanship. The outgoing drag is silent and that suits me fine. But what I value most in reels is unadulterated functionality and aside from eye appeal that’s what you’re going to get with these Shiltons. Though this review is based on my experience with the SR 12 and 10, those impressions would also apply to the SR 8 and 9 which are just smaller versions. In fact, judging solely from my fishing the SR 12 and 10, I wouldn’t hesitate to acquire any of the models offered by this manufacturer for fresh or saltwater applications.

To sum it all up, I am very happy with thesereels. If you are in the market for an ultra-reliable saltwater fly reel that can handle everything you throw at it, take a look at one of these Shilton SRs.Get one in your hands, adjust the drag (it has a nice large knob you turn), play with it a bit, turn the handle as fast as you can and see how it all feels to you. I think you’ll be impressed.