thehooligan Posted September 24, 2013 Posted September 24, 2013 For me it's as simple as the materials used in the construction of the reel. The reel feels cheap to me, there were several little details that could have been improved to make the reel much nicer IMO. A clicking spool tension knob, aluminum dragstar, and brake dial, the handle nut retainer. If your going to produce a carbon composite reel, then why not use a carbon handle. None of these details would have greatly increased the mfg cost and would have made a big difference in the finish of the reel. Overall I think it is a great platform to build from, but the current version certainly has room for improvement. . I agree completely. I pre-ordered this reel then canceled after i realized how long the wait is on the lefties. My local tackle shop got some right handers in and got to play with it a bit. As a core owner, i also agree that the build quality is better. I thought the new chronarch felt pretty cheap. But msrp is another $100 more on the core so its understandable. I ended up picking up another chronarch 51e, i just love the 50e series reels. Quote
thehooligan Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 TW got the leftys in the other day and i couldnt help myself. Picked up a 151 HG model. Pretty sweet reel. Cant wait to get a nice cf handle for it. Already put bocas in it, spooled up some 12lb mono and ill get out there after work today to test her out. Only had it out in the back yard for 10 minutes in the dark last night and its real smooth. Makes me wonder if i should of just got the metanium. I was worried about warranty/service from shimano so i went with the chronarch instead. Tackle Trap is selling metaniums now so im curious if shimano will service them ? Anyway, i was shocked with how much grease was on the spool bearings, lol. I gotta find a nice 80-85mm swept cf handle, get some zpi aluminum knobs, and spool it up with some braid and call it a day. Quote
MediumHeavy Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Shimano is making the Metaniums and Antares available in the US, so they should fully support them. I think the 21st is the official availability. I just got a CH150 HG yesterday as well, but haven't been able to cast it yet. It's light and really smooth, for sure. Don't understand why people think it feels "cheap". It feels different in hand, because it's not metal, but it certainly doesn't feel cheap. Just different. I was also surprised by how much grease is on the spool bearings! Gonna test it alongside my Curado 50e today. Quote
thehooligan Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 The more i handle the reel the more i like it. I thought it felt cheap in the store but i was wrong and judged it a bit early. After spooling it up i grabbed my core 51. Definitely love the smaller reels, but the chronarch is smoother and feels more solid. Barely any play in the handle, really liking that. Quote
mod479 Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Thanks man. I'll be pairing it with a Dobyns 704CB so it should load the small jerkbaits. It does, my 704cb throws jerks more than cranks. Loads with a pointer 78 decently, throws 100s very well, and will launch a vis 110 into orbit. Its got a 51mg7 on it too, you're gonna fall in love. No comment on the CI4 Chron, havent got to handle one yet. Quote
MediumHeavy Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Pretty effortless casting thus far, feels really smooth on the cast and retrieve, and that's without flushing the bearings or anything. I've got 2 brakes on and the dial around 4. Spooled it up with 50lb PPS8S. Gonna flush the spool bearings and play with it some more later. 2 Quote
ColdSVT Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 My only hold up between the Ci4 and the team lews pro is the handle lol...I really wish the ci4 had a cf handle and clicking spool tension Quote
thehooligan Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 My only hold up between the Ci4 and the team lews pro is the handle lol...I really wish the ci4 had a cf handle and clicking spool tension I'd like a factory cf handle but shimano just doesn't do it. When it comes to spool tension, I actually prefer non clicking knobs... Quote
MediumHeavy Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Easily the greasiest bearings I've ever flushed. Got them properly oiled and took it out to the yard. Again, effortless casting. Could sling a weightless T-rigged Z-hog my normal casting distance with hardly any effort. Messed around with the brakes by leaving only one on and it was backlash city, even with the outside dial turned up to 6. That's no fault of the reel, of course. My thumb just isn't that educated. Next time I get out, I'll turn three brakes on and see how that is. For now, it's set with two on and the dial a couple clicks under 4 and it's perfect for me. One thing I did notice, was that the spool bearings weren't identical. The brake side and spool tension side were different. One was darker and had a different kind of shield on it. This is the most expensive reel I've ever had, so I don't know if that's something that happens the higher up the scale or not. Or maybe it doesn't matter? I'm still undecided whether I like it more than my Curado 50e, in terms of value. It's definitely a tad smoother and the braking system seems great. I'm excited to get out with it and do some fishing, that's for sure. The weather here in PA is being uncooperative, but maybe I'll get out on one of these cool, damp days coming up and give it the real test. Quote
curtis9 Posted October 18, 2013 Posted October 18, 2013 I'd like a factory cf handle but shimano just doesn't do it. When it comes to spool tension, I actually prefer non clicking knobs... I installed a hawg handle on my ci4 this evening. Very nice upgrade for the reel. With the red accents looks like it came from the factory that way. 1 Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted October 18, 2013 Super User Posted October 18, 2013 Pretty effortless casting thus far, feels really smooth on the cast and retrieve, and that's without flushing the bearings or anything. I've got 2 brakes on and the dial around 4. Spooled it up with 50lb PPS8S. Gonna flush the spool bearings and play with it some more later. Yeah same experience, but it gets better when you get it cleaned up. You'll be amazed, it is freakin' nuts how far I can cast it with minimal effort. Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted October 18, 2013 Super User Posted October 18, 2013 Easily the greasiest bearings I've ever flushed. Got them properly oiled and took it out to the yard. Again, effortless casting. Could sling a weightless T-rigged Z-hog my normal casting distance with hardly any effort. Messed around with the brakes by leaving only one on and it was backlash city, even with the outside dial turned up to 6. That's no fault of the reel, of course. My thumb just isn't that educated. Next time I get out, I'll turn three brakes on and see how that is. For now, it's set with two on and the dial a couple clicks under 4 and it's perfect for me. One thing I did notice, was that the spool bearings weren't identical. The brake side and spool tension side were different. One was darker and had a different kind of shield on it. This is the most expensive reel I've ever had, so I don't know if that's something that happens the higher up the scale or not. Or maybe it doesn't matter? I'm still undecided whether I like it more than my Curado 50e, in terms of value. It's definitely a tad smoother and the braking system seems great. I'm excited to get out with it and do some fishing, that's for sure. The weather here in PA is being uncooperative, but maybe I'll get out on one of these cool, damp days coming up and give it the real test. When I first started using mine, I had to dial up the brakes too, lots of backlash. I was like wow I really suck, it was a learning curve alright. I just found not to use much effort in your cast like I have to do with my other reels, where I have to put a little oompf. (I'm not talking swing for the fences or anything, just use a little more effort in the other reels) Once I learned that I didn't need to use so much muscle and just do an easy smooth casting form, I started to get less backlash. Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted October 18, 2013 Super User Posted October 18, 2013 Apparently you can get the Metanium and Antares now in the US starting the 21st. EDIT - Ha I see MediumHeavy beat me to the punch. Quote
bmlum415 Posted October 19, 2013 Posted October 19, 2013 Apparently you can get the Metanium and Antares now in the US starting the 21st. EDIT - Ha I see MediumHeavy beat me to the punch. yeah I heard about that on facebook and now I'm just waiting for the shops to get them in stock so I can get my hands on a metanium Quote
MediumHeavy Posted October 19, 2013 Posted October 19, 2013 The weather here is being really uncooperative, but I keep going out to the yard to cast and try out different brake settings. Thus far, the Chronarch CI4+ is a pleasure to cast. Really anxious to get it near some water for a real test. Quote
curtis9 Posted October 23, 2013 Posted October 23, 2013 I finaaly got some time on the water with this reel. I threw most trigs and pitched jigs, but the reel was great. Super smooth casting and no problems landing the dinks I caught all day Quote
Super User rockchalk06 Posted October 23, 2013 Author Super User Posted October 23, 2013 I installed a hawg handle on my ci4 this evening. Very nice upgrade for the reel. With the red accents looks like it came from the factory that way. Anyway I could get a picture of that? Quote
curtis9 Posted October 24, 2013 Posted October 24, 2013 I'll snap a photo tonight and upload. The larger handle was very comfortable to fish. I'd like to get a few more to put on my other reels. Quote
Super User rockchalk06 Posted October 24, 2013 Author Super User Posted October 24, 2013 I'll snap a photo tonight and upload. The larger handle was very comfortable to fish. I'd like to get a few more to put on my other reels. Thanks. I have been thinking of one for awhile Quote
MediumHeavy Posted October 24, 2013 Posted October 24, 2013 I've got out a couple times with my reel and it's awesome thus far. Fish haven't been biting, or at least not what I'm throwing at them, but in terms of casting it is just a pleasure. It's all-around a very smooth reel and comfortable to palm. Seems sturdy and quite rigid. It won't get a proper workout until next season, since the weather here is starting to tank and I don't do well in the cold. Hoping I can get out one more time and catch one with it, though. Quote
curtis9 Posted October 24, 2013 Posted October 24, 2013 Here is the reel with the hawgtech handle with shimano knobs 2 Quote
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