How Will Citica Perform In Heavy Applications?

[The Rooster]

Wanting a couple of new reels. One for 1/4 to 1/2 oz. crankbaits on my cranking rod, and one for throwing topwater frogs or fat jigs into thick slop, and occasionally a heavy spinnerbait, on another rod. I'm not worried about the Citica for crankbaits, but will it do well with 17 pound mono on it and the hard pulling it might see to pull fish out of the grass on my heavy rod? The current models seem delicate in hand, but the local tackle shop here is running a sale now for $99.99 for brand new Citica G reels. That's hard to pass on.

It's either two of these, or two of the BPS PQ's that I had intentions to buy at the spring classic sale, before I got starry eyed at all the new baits and spent the money there instead. Now they're full price, but that just basically makes these reels the same money now. If you guys say the Citica will do it then I'll just go that route and save on ordering. If not, then maybe I'll wait on another PQ sale and get them (this time). Either way, I can't use them until October when I'll get them for my anniversary. The wife already said to just get them but she's gonna confiscate them as soon as they get here. Haha. So I may as well wait for a sale again on PQ's.

[Arv]

The Citica should be fine. I had 2 G series, one that I used for jigs. Never any issues.

[The Rooster]

The Citica should be fine. I had 2 G series, one that I used for jigs. Never any issues.

I might be thinking the way I am due to the Citica's weight, or lack of it. The PQ in hand is definitely heavier. I know that doesn't equate to being more robust, but it makes me think it might be. The Citica feels fragile, though I know it isn't. But this being the first rod I've ever set up to cast directly into heavy stuff, I don't want to find out after I bought it that it isn't up to the task. I don't mean just basic jigging, I mean punching through heavy lily pads with a 3/4 oz. jig and plastic trailer, then setting a hook and dragging a fish out of the pads with grass and everything hanging onto its face. I recently started fishing a lake that is absolutely infested with grass and pads of all kinds. It's thick and nasty. I honestly don't even know how to fish stuff like this but it looks interesting. There may not even be any fish in that stuff but I'd like to be able to get to them if there are, and then get them out again. I guess either one of these reels will probably do it. I just wanted to hear somebody else say they would before I commit to them.

[lmbfisherman]

I might be thinking the way I am due to the Citica's weight, or lack of it. The PQ in hand is definitely heavier. I know that doesn't equate to being more robust, but it makes me think it might be. The Citica feels fragile, though I know it isn't. But this being the first rod I've ever set up to cast directly into heavy stuff, I don't want to find out after I bought it that it isn't up to the task. I don't mean just basic jigging, I mean punching through heavy lily pads with a 3/4 oz. jig and plastic trailer, then setting a hook and dragging a fish out of the pads with grass and everything hanging onto its face. I recently started fishing a lake that is absolutely infested with grass and pads of all kinds. It's thick and nasty. I honestly don't even know how to fish stuff like this but it looks interesting. There may not even be any fish in that stuff but I'd like to be able to get to them if there are, and then get them out again. I guess either one of these reels will probably do it. I just wanted to hear somebody else say they would before I commit to them.

Either one will work, I use a PQ for flipping and pitching.  I also have a Citica on my frogging rod, never had an issue pulling out bass in heavy stuff.

[hooah212002]

I might be thinking the way I am due to the Citica's weight, or lack of it. The PQ in hand is definitely heavier. I know that doesn't equate to being more robust, but it makes me think it might be. The Citica feels fragile, though I know it isn't. But this being the first rod I've ever set up to cast directly into heavy stuff, I don't want to find out after I bought it that it isn't up to the task. I don't mean just basic jigging, I mean punching through heavy lily pads with a 3/4 oz. jig and plastic trailer, then setting a hook and dragging a fish out of the pads with grass and everything hanging onto its face. I recently started fishing a lake that is absolutely infested with grass and pads of all kinds. It's thick and nasty. I honestly don't even know how to fish stuff like this but it looks interesting. There may not even be any fish in that stuff but I'd like to be able to get to them if there are, and then get them out again. I guess either one of these reels will probably do it. I just wanted to hear somebody else say they would before I commit to them.

 

I feel entirely the same way. However, if I had more money, I would get rid of my PQ in exchange for another Citica. I would much rather toss heavy baits with a light reel.

[The Rooster]

I have a Citica E and I've fished it for years. Never anything heavy though. Tossed a crankbait on my friend's PQ the other day and was impressed with it. Sold actually. Then I tried the same bait on my Citica and added 25 feet to the cast distance and that made me rethink it. 25 feet is a huge difference! My brakes just had two set to on. His had three, plus the magnetic brake was on 8. I know this affected it, but how much? I guess it's an apples to oranges thing. Can't really compare them. I just need to decide which one I like best in hand and go that route. Thought about doing one of each but I'm not that way. I'd end up loving one and wishing the other was one of them also.

Called the tackle store today and they're going to be running the Citica sale for at least two more weeks so I have some time to decide.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Either reel is sturdy enough to hold up to the task. The rod should be doing most of the work moving fish though.

[The Rooster]

Yeah, I figured that, pull with the rod, then take line as you lower the rod again, but the reel has to hold its end up when pulling by not flexing and stressing the internals, so when I do get to take line it's not grinding or tight to turn or any of that. And afterwards, it's good for the next cast again with no damage. I might be over thinking this, never having fished the slop before.

[tomustang]

Haven't had any problems with our citica e and it's a work horse reel doing the heavy cover jobs

[jtharris3]

The Citica is fine for any Bass technique. I use mine on my worm rods, jig rods, cranking rod, spinner bait rod, etc.

[flyfisher]

I own 3 Citicas, 1g and 2e and i have no qualms about either of them holding up to the task.  I use them for jigs, frogs and texas rigs in the thick stuff and have never had any problems.  I also have a PQ that i use for crankbaits and have had no issues there either. 

 

If i was looking at both reels, with the same price and the same gear ratio that i wanted i would get the citica as itdoes feel better in my hand the PQ but not by a huge margin.

[deep]

Think I did a little punching one day with a Curado G, and it worked out fine. I don't have a Citica G, but I'd take a chance with it without fear of breaking something. (The regular punching reel is a Citica D btw.)

[DTack]

I don't own any G series shimano reels, but I do have multiple E series curado and citicas. My citicas are rigged with braid which gives them the heavy duty treatment... Frogs, buzzbaits, punching, lots of casts with squarebill crank baits on braid and same with spooks.