Shimano Sellus Casting Rod Review

Shimano is known for being a high-end maker of quality fishing rods– whether casting or spinning, but things can get a bit dicier when you start looking at budget-friendly options.

In order to achieve a good balance of build quality to price ratio, most budget-friendly rods need to make some hard choices.

This is the situation for the Shimano Sellus which boasts an extremely low price but also boasts some impressive specs for that price tag– however, what do those specs really mean? What kind of sacrifices did Shimano have to make to sell a rod at this price with these specs?

These are the questions asked of the Shimano Sellus casting rod which is one of the company’s least expensive models and a solid budget-friendly option.

That said, a rod being a solid value doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a good choice for you which is why this review examines whether that value is worth it and who it’s worth it for.

Contents

Review

Construction (craftsmanship, make quality)

The overall build quality of the Shimano Sellus is pretty decent and more than good enough to justify the low price– though it comes with some caveats.

That said, the 24T graphite blank is solid at this price point, so you can at least rest assured that the foundation of the pole is good.

Still, this baitcasting pole only comes in a single piece which is fine for the shorter rods but can be a bit trickier once the rods are longer than 7’0”.

It also doesn’t help that the scrim doesn’t really provide additional strength which will offset some of the durability you’d otherwise expect from a 24T graphite blank.

Length

More often than not, the lengths of a rod just need to hit two or three different marks, and you can move along with the assurance that the company did its job.

However, the Shimano Sellus casting pole goes above and beyond, offering a granularity of choice that’s not commonly found elsewhere– let alone on a budget-friendly pole.

For starters, the length options range almost an entire foot from 6’8” to 7’6” which affords plenty of options in terms of which waters the pole works best for.

However, this baitcasting rod goes a couple of steps further by producing models at 6’10”, 7’0”, and 7’2” as well for fine-tuned strength and casting.

Material

As mentioned prior, the Shimano Sellus baitcasting rod uses a blank made out of 24T graphite which is one of the better-graded graphites used for fishing poles.

Thankfully, Shimano also goes the extra mile by ensuring that the graphite is properly tempered to get the most strength while retaining the high sensitivity graphite naturally affords.

Outside of the blank, the handle uses EVA foam which is pretty common and the second-most common material used for fishing poles after cork.

The use of aluminum oxide for the guides and inserts, on the other hand, drastically impacts the type of fishing you can do with this pole– though it all lines up in the end anyway.

Action

There’s not much surprise here: the Shimano Sellus baitcasting fishing rod opted to go with the ever-popular fast action for all of the different models.

While this is pretty standard, it’s almost a bit surprising given how many choices and different options the rod affords for other specs and features.

That said, the fast action is a good choice for this rod as it provides plenty of additional casting accuracy that is especially useful for the longer models.

On top of that, the fast action further reinforces the boost to sensitivity that this rod gets from the completely graphite blank– both for striking and setting.

Power

With your standard budget-friendly rod, you expect the manufacturer to shoot for the middle since most budget-friendly rods are designed for a mass-market appeal.

However, the Shimano Sellus casting fishing rod bends this mold a bit by offering more power specs with more models than most.

For starters, this fishing rod comes in three different powers of medium, medium-heavy, and heavy, providing a wide range of different species to target.

On top of that, this rod also offers these different power settings for multiple lengths, allowing you further definition of choice depending on the waters as well.

Weight

Though the Shimano Sellus baitcasting fishing pole doesn’t provide any specific weights for the actual rod (though all test line and lure weights are accounted for), you can still be reasonably sure that it’s lightweight.

This is because the fishing rod only uses the lightest materials at virtually all points.

The 24T graphite blank might provide some of the best sensitivity a blank’s material can, but it’s also the lightest material commonly used for fishing poles.

On top of that, EVA foam is also a little bit lighter than cork while aluminum oxide guides and inserts are likewise lighter than stainless steel.

Sensitivity

This is easily one of the areas that the Shimano Sellus baitcasting rod hits the hardest and achieves some of its best results in doing. It’s hard to stress how well this fishing pole transfers vibration throughout the blank whether that’s feeling the nibble or bite all the way to feeling the hook sink in.

The use of a fast action that moves and bends properly along the cast also has the additional benefit of goosing the sensitivity a bit more as well.

And while the absence of a complex scrim might reduce the overall durability of this rod, it still allows the vibrations to travel that much easier.

Rod Guides

The Shimano Sellus fishing pole should hit the mark with the rod guides given that Shimano is more of a componentry company than anything else.

In this regard, the rod does what it’s supposed to but doesn’t necessarily exceed expectations like you might expect a rod made by this company.

However, neither are the rod guides substandard by any measure with an aluminum oxide body and insert providing the smoothest casting action without as much risk of a tangled line.

That said, you should not use braided lines with this rod as it will eventually cut through the aluminum oxide guides.

Handle (material, shape, etc)

As stated earlier, the Shimano Sellus rod’s handle is made out of EVA foam which provides it solid water resistance and a lighter profile, but it’s not quite as comfortable or durable as cork.

One interesting aspect about this rod’s handle is the split design with only the butt at the base of the handle.

This should allow you to brace the rod against your body, sinking it in deep to provide better leverage when reeling one in.

Uses (Who is this good for)

It’s hard not to say “everyone” when you consider that the Shimano Sellus baitcasting pole is one of the better all-around values in the budget-friendly market.

However, the all-graphite blank means that you need to be careful with this rod and respect its limitations– limitations that the company is aware of.

Granted, that’s part of the reason for so many different options– so you can choose the exact, right model for your specific fishing needs.

As such, this means that beginners may not know how to handle this fishing rod with the kind of finesse that it likely requires outside of ideal fishing conditions.

For experts and even intermediate fishermen, this casting pole is a no-brainer as it can be used and abused without too much hindsight.

It’s also a great loaner fishing pole or just a backup in case your main rod loses a guide or otherwise becomes unusable.

Warranty

Shimano rods come with a limited 1-year manufacturer’s warranty which is at the low end of the spectrum and a bit of a disappointment for older customers who remember when they offered a limited lifetime warranty.

However, the need to specify “manufacturer’s” is part of the reason for the move as the warranty doesn’t cover normal use or wear.

Customer Service

Shimano’s customer service is solid and doesn’t really garner much commentary either– which is ultimately a good thing.

It’s better that the customer service is good enough to avoid complaints than that it elicits the occasional praise.

That said, keep all of your documentation if trying to activate the warranty.

Conclusion

In the end, it seems pretty clear that the Shimano Sellus casting rod more than meets the mark for a high-quality, budget-friendly option.

In fact, it meets so many necessary benchmarks that it’s arguably one of the better all-around values that you’re liable to find regardless of what price or tier of rod you shop.

That said, the Shimano Sellus is still a low-tier rod that comes with some durability limitations that keep it squarely within its own lane.

Of course, if you’re willing to keep the fishing rod in its wheelhouse and purchase the model you’re likely to use the most over any others, you’ll get a great value.

With solid componentry, something you would expect from Shimano in general, the Shimano Sellus baitcasting fishing pole is an obvious choice for beginners and experts alike.

So long as you do a little research on the fish and waters you’ll use the pole for, this is a good choice for just about anyone.