Seeing the need for small, high speed, high power lever drags reels with exceptional casting ability, Shimano’s product development staff worked more than five years on the design of the Torsa lever drag reels. Now available in four sizes for specific saltwater fishing situations, the Torsa (TS) 16N narrow-spool, TS16, TS20 and TS30 feature Shimano’s exclusive Rapid Fire interchangeable and technique-specific drag cam system to allow quick and easy change of the Torsa’s drag curve.

With the various Rapid Fire drag cams offered, anglers can set up their Torsa reel for anything from long range action, light line fishing with 6- to 15-pound test, bottom fishing with 20- up to 50-pound test, kingfish trolling, dropping back baits to white marlin, and even tuna chunking in the Northeast. Each Torsa comes standard with the all-purpose (Long Range Special) drag cam, with seven other drag cams available separately to modify the Torsa to the fishing technique being used.

With the Torsa reels, Shimano’s goal was to build a better lever drag reel from the inside out.

Unlike most fishing reels, we didn’t come up with the appearance of the reel first, and then load in features. Plus we had our top engineers on baitcasting reels involved with the Torsa in order to design a lever drag reel with outstanding castability.”

Speed and power for the Torsa reels come from Shimano’s High Efficiency Gearing. We also use the largest drive gear Shimano has ever designed for a fishing reel – 22-percent larger than the Trinidad drive gear – which gives the Torsa an unconventional, asymmetrical look so the right side plate can hold the oversized drag washer. Added power to the Torsa comes from Shimano’s Super Stopper one-way roller bearing and Assist Stopper back-up ratchet anti-reverse system.

So that anglers could have a lever drag that could really cast, not just a lob cast, we reduced the weight of the cold forged aluminum spool through meticulous machining. With this lighter weight spool, the Torsa reels have lower start inertia, resulting in a more manageable cast. Plus we added Shimano’s proven Variable Brake System to further control spool speed and both the beginning and end of the cast.

Shimano’s Rapid Fire drag cams provide versatility to the Torsa reels, allowing anglers to change the reels’ function to cater to specific techniques. By quickly changing to a different drag cam, the Torsa’s drag curve can be set for various fishing situations, unlike most lever drag reels were the drag curve is fixed.

Rapid Fire drag cams offered include the Long Range Special (L.R.S), providing an all-purpose drag curve for stand-up fishing with 20- to 65-pound test. Two light line drag cams, the L.L.S. 6 and L.L.S. 12 are for world record attempts and light line tournaments. Bottom fishing anglers are offered the B.F.S. 20 for 20- to 40 pound test, and B.F.S 50 for 50- to 80-pound test.

A white marlin drag cam, the W.M.S. for 20- to 30-pound test, allows anglers to quickly drop the tension on a running fish while using light line. Providing light drag pressure so hooks don’t rip out, the kingfish special drag cam – K.F.S. – is for light line trolling with 10- to 20-pound test. And when chunking for tuna, the chunking fishing special drag cam – C.F.S. is ideal for both small baits and floats in light current, and bigger baits in heavy current. It can be used with 15- to 40-pound test line.

Along with the specific fishing techniques that the Torsa reels can be used for with a specific Rapid Fire drag cam, the high speed and power featured with the reels make them ideal for use with Shimano’s Butterfly Jigging System. Match a Torsa 16 Narrow with a new Trevala rod, bring along an assortment of Shimano Butterfly jigs, and you’ll be amazed with the fun you can have catching big fish in deeper waters.”

Each Torsa reel features Shimano’s A-RB anti-rust stainless steel ball bearings – eight total plus one roller bearing, an ergonomic power handle, cold forged machined aluminum frame and sideplates, a 5.8:1 gear ratio, and a clicker. Line capacities range from 300 yards of 14-pound test on the TN16N, 450 yards of 16 on the TN16, 420 yards of 20 on the TS20, and 350 of 30 on the TS30. They are backed by Shimano’s Platinum Service Plan.

Torsa reels and Rapid Fire quick change drag cams are available from select Shimano tackle dealers. For more information on the reels and drag cams, and the location of a dealer near you, visit the Shimano web site at www.shimano.com, or call Shimano’s product support team at 877/577-0600 (6 am to 5 pm Pacific Standard Time).

Tags: Baitcasting Reels, Bottom Fishing, Cam System, Chunking, Fishing Reel, Fishing Reels, High Efficiency, Kingfish, Lever Drag Reels, Line Fishing, More Than Five Years, Narrow Spool, Pound Test, Power Lever, Product Development Staff, Reels Shimano, Roller Bearing, Saltwater Fishing, Shimano Torsa LD, Shimano TS16, Shimano TS20, Shimano TS30, Torsa LD, Torsa Reels, White Marlin