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2025 brings a new Saltiga and Stella

Few events in the world of fishing tackle rival the launch of flagship reels from industry giants like Shimano and Daiwa. For 2025, Shimano unveils its eagerly anticipated new Stella, while Daiwa introduces the all-new Saltiga. At Hooked Up, we’ve eagerly gathered all available details to bring you a preview of these groundbreaking releases. Stay tuned and watch out for our hands-on, real-world testing coming soon!

The 2025 Daiwa Saltiga

At Hooked Up, we’ve seen our fair share of impressive reels, but the all-new 25 Saltiga has us genuinely excited. Daiwa’s relentless drive for performance has pushed the boundaries once again, delivering upgrades that bring more torque, durability, and precision to the table—ideal for hardcore anglers chasing trophy fish.

The 25 Saltiga’s main gear is now 10 per cent larger, offering more torque and increased durability, which means greater confidence when turning the handle against serious fish. Its new Powerdrive Rotor has been completely redesigned, delivering a 7 per cent boost in rigidity, so you can fish harder under heavy loads without compromising performance.

One of the most exciting improvements is the twin bearing pillar support, which smooths out oscillation and reduces friction. This ensures a seamless experience when working lures and fighting fish—something every serious angler will appreciate. Daiwa has also upgraded the line roller system, making it larger, smoother, and far more durable, particularly when braid is running over it under heavy drag pressures.

The bail arm has also been given a clever redesign. The new Crank Power Bail, complete with an improved spring mechanism, makes opening and closing easier and directs the line perfectly over the upgraded roller system for maximum efficiency.

Perhaps the most eye-popping feature is the new DRD/ATD Tough Drag system, introduced in models 18000 and above. This system uses eight metal rollers in each drag plate to reduce heat and friction under load—an absolutely insane design that promises smoother, more controlled fights against big fish.

If we were going to suggest areas for improvement on an already legendary reel, Daiwa seems to have nailed every single one of them. From the upgraded durability and rigidity to the innovative drag and roller systems, the new 25 Saltiga looks like an absolute beast on paper.

We can’t wait to get this reel on the water and test it out for ourselves. If the upgrades perform as promised, the 25 Saltiga could set a new benchmark for what a saltwater reel can do. Stay tuned for our full on-the-water review—this is one reel we’re itching to put to the test.

The 2025 Shimano Stella

It’s always a very exciting time here at Hooked Up when flagship reels are released, and a new Stella is certainly about as flagship as it gets. The Stella SW name has been an icon for over 30 years, and this is the 6th version of the Stella SW since its inception. We only have limited information so far, but what we do have is very exciting. First off, only three models will be released initially, and they are what we consider would be three of the most popular models- —the 10000PG (4.8:1) 10000HG (5.6:1), and 14000XG (6.2:1).

While aesthetically the changes are only subtle, at Hooked Up we all think it looks amazing with some refined changes.  Of most importance there are some major changes to the technology and engineering. The first being a new drag system called XX-TOUGH that applies pressure evenly from both the top and bottom of the spool, ensuring maximum heat dissipation while maintaining flawless stopping power. 

Shimano’s InfinityXross gearing improves strength and longevity, while the InfinityLoop system enhances line lay for longer, more controlled casts. 

The addition of the Anti-Twist Fin further optimises line management, ensuring seamless performance even when battling fish at full drag. The Infinity technologies were first released with the Stella FK and we have seen the benefit of these in gearing and line management and these will be a welcome addition to the Stella SW. We have also extensively tested the Ant-Twist Fin and can confirm this isn’t a gimmick but greatly improves line management by reducing wind knots. 

A feature that we can see being of huge benefit just from the images is an up-sized drag knob which will allow for more precise and easier adjustment in the heat of a fight. Shimano have also said they have improved X-Protect and X-Shield sealing systems to further improve defence against saltwater intrusion, ensuring the reel stays smooth and reliable season after season.

On the left is the new 2025 drag knob which is much larger and easier to adjust than the previous 2019 model.

We cannot wait to get our hands on both these reel and put them through their paces so keep your eyes out for a full review in future editions. 

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