The Rooster

I just got some Strike King Shim-E-Sticks at Walmart, size 5 1/2" long, smokey shad color and baby bass color. They look like Senkos and I've never used a Senko type lure at all so I thought I'd get some and try them out. Anyone else use these that can tell me how they will compare to a Senko?? Basically, did I make a decent choice or did I waste my money?? Also got a pack of Gamakatsu EWG in the 5/0 size to use with them. I'm thinking fish weightless on 8 - 12 pound line (got two rods, one 8#, one 12#, that I can use).

Will the 7.0 gears fit inside the gearbox of an E5?? I haven't compared them but I always figured the gearbox was sized appropriate to just what would fit inside it with not much extra space.

Looked at this reel at the tackle store the other day. Felt smooth in hand but it sure is FUGLY to look at.

You got a Citica, well, look at this one: http://www.tackletour.net/TTForums/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=46003&p=352682&hilit=Duplicolor#p352682 That looks cool on that Citica. I think it would look good if they had painted the levelwind guide to match also. Not the ceramic part, just the housing around it. Have to disassemble the reel to get to that though. I'm not to crazy about that Curado though.

I can truthfully say it will be awhile before I get into anything like this. I'm just now getting into another level of "better reels" by moving to Shimano's. I'm not about to start painting them, but I love the idea of the custom looks you can get with it. Yours look fantastic!

What would happen if you painted the spool to match?? You think it would wear off with line going on and off of it constantly??

What do you want to use the rod for?? Specific technique?? All around, general fishing combo?? What's your budget??

My Walmart here has that same reel for $20, and they also have some Shakespeares for about that same price. Between the two, the Mitchell is worlds better but I wouldn't expect more than a season or two at most from it with moderate use. If you fish a lot then maybe this year only and you'll be ready for another one again. Wish you'd seen my advertisement here a day or so ago in the flea market. Sold a Shimano Sedona in nearly mint condition on here for cheap and it would have been a better reel for you. It went for not much more than you gave for that one.

I don't use either one. I use either the Eugene knot or the Speed knot. Both work great. Eugene Knot 1. Pass line thru hook eye 2. Make loop on tag end by bending it over and pulling loop up along side of main line 3. Wrap looped end of tag line around main line 4 times 4. Put loose tag end up thru loop at top of knot and pull down tight. When tied correctly you will hear a slight popping noise. Speed Knot 1. Pass line thru hook eye 2. Make loop on tag end by bending it over and pulling loop up along side of main line 3. Wrap loose tag end around both main line and itself 4 times. This is easy to do by holding main line and tag end before coming to loop between thumb and forefinger of one hand, and tag end by itself after loop the same way with other hand, and let lure swing around the tag end as you wrap the line. 5. Put loose tag end up thru loop at top of knot and pull down tight. Both knots are similar but still different. The Speed knot is quick and easy. The Eugene needs a little more effort. I used to use it only before I was shown the Speed knot and now I mostly tie that but occasionally for whatever reason I may do the other one instead. Sometimes the Eugene just seems like it might be a little stronger by the way it's wrapped but so far I haven't had any breakoffs using either one.

If you take that reel apart and scratch it up anywhere around a screw head, or booger up a screw head to where it shows, and they see it, they'll say YOU screwed it up. Go with your gut and return it the way it is.

That sounds like an excellent idea. I won't know if I need to do this until after I get one though, and I am currently trying to sell off my Extreme reels in order to afford one. Can't just lay down the money. I may end up with Citica's anyway though and they will be 6.3 ratios. About upgrading the drag washers, isn't the Dartanium drag washers they use good enough??

Anyone using a Curado E7 reel, have you ever felt yet that it's too fast?? Like do you wish they made a 6.3 version like they do the Citica for use on certain baits?? I'm debating grabbing one for use on my MH/F rod for jigs, t-rigs, and frogs but I'd also use this rod for spinnerbaits too. I've read where people use the E7 for these but I can't get around in my head seeing a spinnerbait burning through the water or having to crank ridiculously slow in order to move it at just a moderate speed only. And an E5 is just a 5.0 speed, which again, in my head means too slow or crank your arm off to speed it up. I've also read from some that they just get a Citica for this, or they even go so far as to order gears and convert an E7 to an "E6" ;D

Sounds like you got all the brakes on high pretty much and the tension is tight. Maybe you are having to really "whip it" to make it cast and therefore this is causing the backlashing. I have the Extreme which is similar to the PQ reel but without the centrifugal brakes. I set the magnetics fairly high at times but have the tension loose so I don't have to give it much of a fling to get the lure to sail off of it. This lets me make long easy casts using 1/4 ounce weights but I do admit that I have to thumb it good or it will backlash. Having the magnetics on 9 though I virtually do not have to use a thumb. If I back them off to 6 then it's a huge backlash without the thumb.

Did you look to see if anyone was around anywhere nearby that might come looking for that?? If I found that I would definitely make an attempt to return it to its original owner, using discretion of course. I wouldn't enjoy owning and using it if I thought some kid was heartsick about losing it. All that stuff was in a bag cause someone was too poor to afford a tacklebox. I remember getting started in fishing and spent money on a rod combo and a few lures but didn't have enough for a tacklebox so I used a plastic bag and one day I went home and left it at the lake by accident. Came back and found it but immediately decided I would not go again without a box so it was easier to remember next time.

I thought so. Where do people get their ideas?? I also read someone said the drag star was plastic and I know that tackletour.com stated it was "standard metal alloy". Well, thanks a lot for all the feedback. I'm sold. Gotta get a Citica now, but I already know I'm gonna want Curados before long. Man I just wish they were cheaper. I think I'll look on the net before I buy to see how low priced I can get one. $160 so far for a Curado...I see it flashing at the top of my screen here. Americanbassoutlet.com it looks like. **EDIT** Ebay has: Citica $98 brand new and shipped Curado $144 brand new and shipped

;D

I just read on basspro.com that someone reviewed the Citica and says it has a plastic cast control knob. I thought it was metal. Which is it??

I think the D series Citica already has a bearing there. When they redesigned it and released the E series it came out with one less bearing than the D had. That is the one I believe. Same one that fits the Curado E is what fits the Citica E. You guys sold me on the Citica. Now I wish I had gotten that one that was on clearance at my local Walmart last fall. Could have had a brand new in box, NOT display model, for $92. At that time I thought it was overpriced since the Pro Qualifier could be had for $80 and offered 4 gear ratios compared to the Citica only one ratio. But the more I examine the reels I have I realize that the 6.4 (Citica 6.2) does anything I want and the rest are just indulging me somewhat by being a little faster or a little slower. Guess that one ratio is all I really need cause I can slow down or speed up on my own.

Yeah I do not want to drop from 4 reels down to just 1 either. I would really feel that difference. I've been thinking about it some and the Citica is the way for me to go at this time. I'm pretty sure I could get by with only 3 reels anyway, most times I go out I don't end up using but 3 of them. I can get 2 Citica's immediately if I sell all the Extremes I have now, and adding one more would be a possibility since they are affordable. This post makes a lot of sense. To me the Curado is the house on the hill that I can't afford. The Citica is the brick ranch down in the valley that's in my price range. However I would still add the drive shaft bearing since it's not that expensive to do and would make some difference in terms of smoothness and would also protect more against wear so that it lasts longer (which is my main reason for wanting the bearings).

Well I know this thread is about Citica upgrades but I'd like to also know if you could convert the Curado handle from having 1 bearing under each paddle to having 2, making it a 9 bearing reel?? I only ask because I'd like to have a reel that has nearly zero potential for wear development for an extended period of time.

Seems I now have another rod that I need to go check out hands on. I have a Dick's within about 45 minutes driving time but it's been a huge disappointment in terms of what they have. I never went to see if they even had the rod since they're out of everything else that's decent anytime I visit the store.

What about that bushing on the crank shaft?? Is it already metal such as brass or is it some material that will wear out fairly quickly??

I saw these advertised on the back of my Bassmaster magazine, the one with KVD on the cover (I think it was the Pro Guide issue for Feb.). Wondered about the cost of it. So is $60 the retail when the rod is NOT on sale??

Got a few questions about the current Shimano Citica E reel. First, I already found out from Bantam1 that the crankshaft has a bushing that can be replaced with the same bearing that fits a Curado for smoothing out the reel. This is something I would definitely do if I got a Citica. Has anyone here did this to their Citica reel and saw any improvement in smoothness?? Second, the handle paddles do not have bearings so I'm assuming they just have nylon bushings only. I would think they would be prone to wearing out. Can the bushings be replaced and if so can they be substituted for bearings at a later time?? I'd love to get a Curado. I'm on the fence about selling all my BPS Extremes and getting different casters. But for what I believe I could sell these reels for I think that would leave me selling 4 good reels and getting only 1 Curado in return. If I get Citicas instead, I'd at least have 2 reels and could upgrade them just a little with the crankshaft bearings at a later time. I'm just not sure about the Citica though cause it seems like I'd be really missing out and always wishing I'd gotten Curados instead. So that's why I'm asking what can be done to upgrade the Citica somewhat.

I used to carry about 5 rods with me bank fishing. I never used any type of carrier, I simply just grabbed all the rods around the blanks above the foregrips and hauled them to the next spot. Of course I did take just a minute to arrange them so that the reels didn't hang up all over each other, all the rods were at the center of the mass and the reels were sticking out around the outside edges of it. Made them easy to carry and I never had a problem. I still do this when I go fishing on the bank. Also where I grab them at is where most rods have the hook keepers located. I get around this by not using the hookkeeper. I hook to the last lineguide frame (not the insert). Contrary to popular belief, this does NOT hurt the rod in the least (think about it, the hookkeeper and lineguides are attached to the blank using the same methods :). Only way I could see the hook loosening the lineguide any would be if the drag was locked down tight and you had the rod drawn into a bend while hooked this way. None of this ever happens with my rods.