Shimano Chronarch D7
Low profile baitcasting
Price: $300 USD
This is a smooth reel body, but comes in a two tone paint scheme and makes for a very easy wipe down cleaning. It presents some challenges to opening the reel up for servicing, but it will become very familiar after the first time. There’s just something about palming a completely smooth reel body that just cradles for the direct feel of the reel next to the palm. The escape hatch of the spool side plate is nothing but a cover. The spool is held down with a threaded screwed in hub that keeps the spool aligned directly onto the reel frame. I like the mechanical aspect that makes sense to reduce spool flex torsion from reaching the side plate.
This is a bait casting reel made with aluminum for the reel frame and both of the side plates. It comes with maximum of 11 lbs of drag. It's light and weighs in at 7.6 oz. This reel comes with 6 bearings with two of them in the handle knobs, plus the anti-reverse roller bearings. The gear ratio for this is 7.0 and delivers good power to for all around use due to the larger rears known as HEG. The handle comes in at 84 mm measured from each knob posts. The drag star clicks, but there is no clicking mechanism for the cast control knob. The level wind guide comes with a tapered feature to be larger on the side of the spool so this helps reduce backlash as well as increase casting smoothness being coated with titanium. The spool is a standard 100 size and is machined aircraft aluminum with eight crossed drilled holes. I found the reel out of the box to be quite sluggish. I was impressed at how strongly the thumb bar clicked on the return position. I also notice the smoother free spin of the spool due to the ARB bearings. Opening up the reel, the main drive gear is made of brass with the drag keywasher made of aluminum. The reel also comes with a ratchet and pawl system to operate as an assist stopper. I’ve promptly removed the pawl and thus disable the assist stopper feature. It made the reel operate a lot smoother with immediate reduction in noise. I was a bit surprised at the cut drive shaft to reduce some weight. It may make for a weaker drive shaft in the long run, however reels aren’t meant to winch weight.
I haven’t decided on what to line to load up on it yet, since I’m kind of expecting to try out that new Sufix 832 braid line.
Side view of handle side.
Rear view showing two tone paint, grayish silver frame, whitish silver side plates.
Side view of escape hatch opened, showing VBS brakes inside spool bearing hub.
Removed handle parts and star drag.
Side view of gears, removal of main gear, removal of assist stopper consisting of ratchet (drag washer) and pawl.