Shimano Symetre 2500 – Rear drag or Front drag?

I have decided on a Shimano Symetre 2500, but not sure which is better – rear drag or front drag. Are they the same perfomance wise? Obvious advantage to RD is easy access while fighting fish.
What say you all?

Thanks,
Gut

Personally I like the drag on the front because I crank them down tight anyway. I haven’t used a drag on a spinning reel in probably 20+ years. I crank them tight and when I get a fish I flip the switch so I can back reel the runs instead of relying on a drag. I lost a pig on winni when I was a kid cuz the drag stuck…..haven’t trusted them since. I am sure they work great the vast majority of the time but I like having all the control and not relying on the reel.

On a side note…I have several symetre reels and love them!

I prefer front drags to rear drags.

I got hooked on rear drags years ago and became accustomed to adjusting during fights with larger fish. Most of my Shimanos have the “fighting drag”. I dont insist on it anymore. Seems like it adds weight as well. It certainly adds bulk. However its hard to argue having macro and micro drag adjustibility is not a cool feature.

I have always had the impression a front drag had a larger surface area. That makes it work better. Can’t say if thats true or not.

You’ll definitely want to go with a front drag. It does take some getting used to for some anglers to control a front drag as opposed to the easier rear drag, but the washer system on the Symetres is a good one.

Years ago when I worked for an outdoor company, the Shimano rep came in and talked with us and went thru the reels with us, showing how the drag system worked. The Shimanos were impressive. And if I’m not mistaken, I do believe what was previously mentioned here is true in that the front drag will give you more area, which will provide a better, more solid drag.

Plus, keep in mind, with the front drag, the drag system is right near where it’s needed: the spool. With the rear drag, it goes all the way thru the reel. Since I went to front drags 17-18 years ago, I’ve never looked back.

I own one the same reels with the rear drag, the rest of mine are either 1000 or 1500’s all but one has the rear drag. I happen to prefer rear over the front. I have never had an issue with rear drag but did once with the front drag reel. I’ve got around 10 or so of the Symetres. Some might be 10 to 15 years old. Other that a wash and wax once every millennium I’ve only had to replace 2 of the anti reverse switches.

Shimano’s are the only spinning reals I buy now.They simply outlast/perform all others that I have bought in the past. I prefer rear drag,its just easier to adjust when you need to.

I have been using Shimano reels for quite some time now. Tried other brands with big claim to quality but keep going back to the Shimano great reel for the $ and like the front drag best. to me it just seems to be smoother than the rear drag.

I own mostly front drag reels. But the few rear drag reels i do own i like for one reason. It,s easier to adjust the drag when fighting a fish.

Ajs