OnthePotomac

This is a very poor video with bad information: 1. There is no mention of the bearing under the cast control cap, which also has to be changed if there is an upgrade. 2. The orange seals do not have to be left on the ceramic bearing, and in fact most us of who super tune our own reels remove them. 3. There is no mention of ceramic bearing proper lubrication and required cleaning and the frequency thereof. 4. There is no mention of ABEC 7 stainless steel bearing also being available. This video is like giving everyone half of what they need to know.

I have not used Vanish floro in two years, but back then I thought it was way to stiff. They may have changed the formulation since then and only trying it will tell. I have become a fan of BPS floro, but there are other great floro lines.

Fry, if you are going to use floro on a spinning reel, stay with nothing larger than 8lb and use a line conditioner on it like Kevin Van Dam's Line Conditioner to keep it soft/flexible. I even go down to 6lb and it works fine. That said, unless you are fishing real clear water, don't bother. A good 8lb mono works fine.

BassmasterJG, with regard to your question on a rod to go with your Citica 200E, you will get a zillion answers. I have three Citicas 200E's and all are on BPS Carbonlite rods -- I love them. One s a 7' MH, and two are 6'6"MH. There is a big sale on them right now with $20 off. In my opinion they are great rods for the money.

Your 50# braid is only 12lb diameter. If you go down to 30lb you are really into a small diameter on a baitcaster. I have three Citica 100DSV's and I use 14 and 10lb floro on all three. Love it.

I fish plastics with a Citica 200E on a BPS Carbonlite 7'MH, with BPS 14lb floro. It is a great set up. I would not go with anything other than a MH rod for plastics.

I just bought this and it is really nice. My grandson has a small lake in his housing area and I bought it for him so he will not have to lay his rods on the ground. He likes to carry two baitcasters and two spinning rods with him. We checked out the BPS version and it is greatly inferior to this one.

I use the black small reel covers from BPS and rod covers from Cabelas. Both work well for me as the rods go in the back of the truck on the way to the stored boat. The Cabelas' rod covers are adjustable for any length and mine are now 8 years old with no problems.

I am using BPS floro two years old with no problems.

I solved the problem on cleaning the spool bearing behind the pin by taking the cap of a Sharpie (next up in size from the regular pen), gluing a heavy rubber washer to the base so it will stand up, filling it with naptha, then putting the spool shaft inside the cover with the bearing submerged in naptha. It fits perfectly and it can soak as long as you like. I blow dry it with a computer keyboard blower.

Goose, thanks so much. The schematic for the reel is misleading in that it shows the spring and E clip off the end of the rod and in my mind I thought how the heck do you get the reel handle side cover off with that arrangement. I got the reel new for $65, so I can't complain. By the way, I am a Shimano guy, but this is one smooth little reel and I am enjoying it. Is this anti-reverse bearing pressed in to the cover as I have heard the Revo anti-reverse is? I guess it doesn't make any difference if it is in that a soaking in a Simple Green solution when cleaning time comes around will work. Again, thanks for your help.

Thanks much. I thought it may be on the left side.

Question for my fellow reel cleaners and tuners. I just picked up a BPS Pro Qualifier and in looking at the spring rod which opens the left side, am I correct that to get to the E clip holding the spring in place on the left side of the frame you have to remove the front cover? Without diving into it I thought I would ask first?

N8, here is a Shimano picture site for you and if you go to Shimano.com they have full videos of the cleaning process. http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/customer_service0/reel_maintenance_instructions.download.-mainParsys-0001-downloadFile.html/Maintenance%20Tips-%20Baitcasting%20Reels%20(2%20pages).pdf

For me it is Dawn dish shop, a soft brush and a good rinse. Dried with paper towel and set up to dry. I fill new small holes with Elmer's Golden Oak wood putty in a tube and the cork looks like new.

You are going to get a ton of brand responses. I went to BPS floro a few years ago and stayed there. The 10 and 14lb on my Citicas and Curados casts well with no problems. It is soft and limp and at least to me, handles like mono.

I removed the orange seals from my ceramics early last year when I installed them. I kept an eye on them and ended up only having to add a tiny drop of the Oust Met Oil I use occasionally. They stayed surprisingly clean. I carry a needle oiler in my gear if needed and you can get them here very inexpensively. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1200/Product/NEEDLE_OILER_BOTTLES

After looking at the reel data on last year's JM signature and the Carbon Black, I am inclined to believe it is the same reel with a face lift. The Carbonlite may be a better choice, or the ProQualifier.

The other thing that is tough on rods is ceiling fans. They will shorten a rod in a heartbeat.

Ten years ago as I was getting into retirement bass fishing my daughter gifted me with a Johnny Morris reel and then I went all Shimanos. Contrary to the negative comments on his reels, this has been a great reel for me for the last 10 years, but I maintain it in top shape. BPS is having their trade in program right now and with that reel turned in I can get the Johnny Morris Carbon Black for $90. Anyone on here own a Carbon Black and can comment on it? Not interested in any brands except Shimano and they are not participating.

The Citica for me also. Look around and you can find them on line for $99.

Well, here is another vote for the Curado. In addition to my 200E7 I have three Curado 100B's several years old and they perform just a smoothly today as when I bought them. They are simply engineered, many internal components are interchangeable with other models, use strong materials, simple bearing placement and just last and last. I also have three Citica 100DSV's (which are really just another version of the Curado 100B) and three Citica 200E's, which are the identical reel body of the Curado 200. Can anyone tell I am a Shimano fan?

I am using Stren 10lb clear as backing from a spool which is 18 years old.

I have two Cabela's Tourney Trail 6'6" MH baitcasters 8 years old and they are incredible rods. They only weigh 4oz. Very light.

I watched the Shimano videos and am disappointed that he did not cover cleaning and lubing the spool bearings. the pinion bearing and the drive shaft bearing/bushing. They are pretty critical components. The other thing i noticed is that when he discussed replacing the washer on the curved drag washers with the white side, he advised to put it on with the white down. I have an email from Shimano three years ago which says it goes up toward the handle. Finally, if you buy a new Citica/Curado, you will find the washer is placed at the factory with the white side up toward the handle. Otherwise, good videos.