The world of fishing is full of brands from all horizons. When it comes to rods, reels, lures and fishing line, there are countless brands on the market in France: Shimano pêche is one of the best known and most popular with anglers.
The brand originated in Japan and first made a name for itself as a manufacturer of bicycle parts and components. Founded in 1921 by Shozaburo Shimano, Shimano is now the world leader in reels and fishing rods.
However, the brand has not stopped there, as it has recently started selling top-quality hard bait for predator fishing in France and Europe. From lures, rods and reels to braid, nylon, fluorocarbon and tackle, France's favourite Japanese brand has more than one trick up its sleeve.
Shimanoa world leader in the manufacture of reels
The world of fishing knows Shimano for its reliable, attractive and hard-wearing reels. What's more, the brand doesn't just make 1 or 2 models here and there... No, the Japanese brand has created a strong image for itself in all types of fishing.
Whether you're fishing for pike, trout, carp or bluefin tuna, the Japanese brand has created a strong image for itself, Shimano designs top-quality reels that meet anglers' needs.
Although these days, a generalist brand could have a bad image with consumers and anglers, Shimano has managed to stand out from the crowd and break this stereotype thanks to reels designed by talented engineers who listen to anglers.
Some of the best-known reels include the , and , which have stood the test of time. Proof of their reliability and robustness, these old reels are still used by today's anglers.
But that hasn't stopped the multinational from upgrading its models with new technologies. In fact, one of the brand's most notable developments was the phenomenally successful Stradic Ci4+. Since then, many Shimano reels have been equipped with this technology.
This technology particularly affects the body of the reel. CI4+ models are made from a composite material of the same name. More resistant than the original Ci4 or XT-7 graphite, it is also lighter. What's more, these reels are salt-resistant thanks to the absence of steel in the material.
Fishing rods Shimano
High-performance reels are all well and good rods are even better! Given the success of its reels, Shimano began designing rods with the same name: Stradic, Curado, Technium..
Japanese rods have a very good reputation and there's no need to explain the origins of Shimano... However, they haven't always been popular with French anglers. The models were more mid-range, with unconvincing aesthetics and just normal technical qualities.
Over the years, the brand has become aware of the potential of the French and European market. In fact, much more upmarket rods already existed but were only available in Japan. That was the arrival of the Crucial and Poison Adrena. Although the Crucial didn't have THE look, they had THE technical qualities that anglers needed. Shimano that's why we want Crucials back in France (with a split pommel and a bit of cork for me, please)!
At that time, there were more and more bass anglers in France and the Poison Adrena was a real winner! Today, the range has grown to include countless rods for all types of freshwater and sea fishing.
In 2020, the arrival of the first lures Shimano in Europe
Shimano is hungry for something new! In 2020, the first lures will make their appearance on the French market. These are top-of-the-range lures of outstanding quality, featuring innovative technologies that have never been seen before. Far from the familiar ranges used for rods, Shimano lures innovate across the board.
It was the hard bait with Flash Boost technology that made the biggest impression on anglers that year. For the first time, we had a lure that came to life without having to be animated. What do the people want? Swimbaits equipped with this technology have a metal plate inside their body, connected to 2 springs. When the lure moves, this plate comes to life, shakes and reflects light frantically long after the animations have stopped.
The technology explained in video:
Today's swimbaits include crankbaits, jerkbaits and swimbaits. These lures can be used in both freshwater and sea fishing for all species of small to medium-sized predators. Trout, pike, perch, black bass and even sea bass have all fallen under the spell of Shimano. However, we're still not satisfied... Shimano, when will soft lures be available?