fisherrw Posted May 3, 2016 Posted May 3, 2016 does anyone agree with me that shimano baitcasting reels have gone down in quality? I wont be buying anything but the E series from now on. I just really dislike the new I series and the g series. does anyone agree with me or do you think otherwise? thanks for the feedback I'm eager to see what yall think.
Preytorien Posted May 3, 2016 Posted May 3, 2016 I think the I series is the best one I've used for a while. The E is undoubtedly good, the G had its issues (I personally never had any), but I've used an I since the year it came out, multiple times a week, for various techniques and it's still the one I reach for before any others. 6
Rbm18 Posted May 3, 2016 Posted May 3, 2016 The G series I don't really care for a whole lot even though I've never had any trouble with them. I guess just the look of it I don't really like. As far as the I series I think it is the best curado yet. 3
Super User Raul Posted May 3, 2016 Super User Posted May 3, 2016 50 minutes ago, fisherrw said: does anyone agree with me that shimano baitcasting reels have gone down in quality? No, I don´t agree with you, actually they have improved light years away, for example, the G series that apparently nobody likes is a much better reel than a B series will ever be. I do have my favorite series, the D series is to me the best ever Shimano BCs. 5
fisherrw Posted May 3, 2016 Author Posted May 3, 2016 10 minutes ago, Raul said: No, I don´t agree with you, actually they have improved light years away, for example, the G series that apparently nobody likes is a much better reel than a B series will ever be. I do have my favorite series, the D series is to me the best ever Shimano BCs. I think you are right in saying the G is better than the B but I don't think the I series is as good as the E. the D is a good series as well though...
Super User *Hootie Posted May 3, 2016 Super User Posted May 3, 2016 I have 3 G series Citicas that I have been using almost exclusively this season. I think, so far they are great little reels. They are performing flawlessly. I still have my Cores, my E series Chronarchs and Curado 50e's, my Curado i's, my Calcutta 100b's. Stradic 2500fj, and Sahara 3000,...blah....blah....blah. Shimano....Shimano. Hootie 8
Super User Raul Posted May 3, 2016 Super User Posted May 3, 2016 5 minutes ago, *Hootie said: I have 3 G series Citicas that I have been using almost exclusively this season. I think, so far they are great little reels. They are performing flawlessly. I still have my Cores, my E series Chronarchs and Curado 50e's, my Curado i's, my Calcutta 100b's. Stradic 2500fj, and Sahara 3000,...blah....blah....blah. Shimano....Shimano. Hootie DAIWA RULEZ !!!!! 3
Super User *Hootie Posted May 3, 2016 Super User Posted May 3, 2016 Just now, Raul said: DAIWA RULEZ !!!!! Thou sayest!!....lol. Hootie
RJD1 Posted May 3, 2016 Posted May 3, 2016 I have several E7'S and I's I like them both. The I's are actually smoother imo. Time will tell regarding longevity but so far the I's have been solid reels.It seems like every time Shimano changes models everyone is critical of the new model. I fish muskies in addition to bass. The Calcutta 400TE was considered the Cadillac of musky reels. When it was discontinued and replaced by the Calcutta D, Shimano fans were generally quite upset. The TE's started selling for more than they cost new. I love the TE's but actually prefer the D's. I see the same thing with the E7's. Two years from now when the Curado J or K comes out everyone will be talking about how great the I was. Hard to go wrong with Shimano. 2
0119 Posted May 3, 2016 Posted May 3, 2016 1 hour ago, fisherrw said: does anyone agree with me that shimano baitcasting reels have gone down in quality? Yes. Across the board in all their products. 2
Super User *Hootie Posted May 3, 2016 Super User Posted May 3, 2016 I did forget to mention, I bought all 19 of the good Shimano reels...lol. Hootie 8
TxHawgs Posted May 4, 2016 Posted May 4, 2016 I just recently purchased 5 new Shimanos and couldn't be happier. The Mentanium Aldebaran and Conquest HG are IMO the best of the best. There the only reels I will be putting on my rods. 4
Super User J Francho Posted May 4, 2016 Super User Posted May 4, 2016 I think in the realm of $200-ish reels, most companies have caught up with Shimano and Daiwa. 4
Capt.Bob Posted May 4, 2016 Posted May 4, 2016 5 hours ago, Raul said: No, I don´t agree with you, actually they have improved light years away, for example, the G series that apparently nobody likes is a much better reel than a B series will ever be. I do have my favorite series, the D series is to me the best ever Shimano BCs. Better than ever,,,,, light years away,,,,,,, but you think the D is the best ever,,,,,,,, Sorry but ya lost me there!! I for one do think they are worse, but cost more, and service is nowhere near what it was, that's why when the G was introduced, I bought a new at the time Lew's,,, started low TP,,, it was soi much better than the G I sent back I bought a Team,,,, that was so fricken good I started selling all my Shimano baitcasters Castaic, Curados, and replaced them with two Team Golds, then bought a Super Duty,,, by by Calcutta 200B, I was so impressed every time I bought another one of their reels I sold my core and replaced it with a Team Pro, That was going on 4 years ago now, I was warned time would take its toll,,, every single one as smooth adn reliable as the day I bought em. The original Team, with the red accents, has 3 years of the maumee river run on it 2 months every year wading a muddy raging river and 2 times I remember dripping it in sand, and finishing the day with it, last time was this year, i had trouble disengaging the spool top cast it, but after over 7 hoiurs putting up with the grit, took it home cleaned and lubed each time. It is still smooth as silk and I even turned the 30# test 832 suffix around on the spool this time after 250 to300 hours of cast and retrieve use. It is my record reel, the only one I keep track of hours fished, the others are less used and don't see this kind of abuse but I don't feel I missed a thing, quite the opposite! 1
Dpatt402 Posted May 4, 2016 Posted May 4, 2016 My Shimano Citica has had back play in the reel handles since I took it out of the box. Not too impressed with the quality. 1
Poolshark Posted May 4, 2016 Posted May 4, 2016 I love the I series, I liked the b series, the d series the E series...my favorite is the g series. I say this because people sell them for so cheap. There is a bias here when comparing then to the e series because of cosmetics and useless bearings. It has saved me a lot of money. I haven't seen anything when breaking them down to assume that the quality has gone down. If I laid my g series curado next to my b series, I'd think the opposite of the OP. They are much more pleasurable to fish with and will probably last me a lifetime with care and maintanence. 9 minutes ago, Dpatt402 said: My Shimano Citica has had back play in the reel handles since I took it out of the box. Not too impressed with the quality. If you fish the curado b series, in my opinion, the reel that made shimano a great entity.... You'll notice they are not smooth.. They were reliable. and performed decently. They never were smooth and still aren't smooth years and years later. . 2
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted May 4, 2016 Posted May 4, 2016 30 minutes ago, Dpatt402 said: My Shimano Citica has had back play in the reel handles since I took it out of the box. Not too impressed with the quality. That's likely to improve with the first deep cleaning. 2
Super User buzzed bait Posted May 4, 2016 Super User Posted May 4, 2016 i don't think it's quite fair to make blanket statements about the whole line when most (including myself) have likely not tried everything they have in their lineup, even though i have tried a few.... don't get me wrong, i like my e series curados a lot, but i haven't tried an I curado, or a metanium or an antares or a new citica, etc. etc. etc. so what i'm saying is i can't make any definitive statement about ALL their baitcasting reels... 2
Super User fishballer06 Posted May 4, 2016 Super User Posted May 4, 2016 You've clearly not used a Metanium or Aldebaran... 2
fisherrw Posted May 4, 2016 Author Posted May 4, 2016 14 minutes ago, fishballer06 said: You've clearly not used a Metanium or Aldebaran... Have used metanium but of course it's better it cost twice as much! I'd rather stick with the curados , chronarchs and citicas.
Super User buzzed bait Posted May 4, 2016 Super User Posted May 4, 2016 12 minutes ago, fisherrw said: Have used metanium but of course it's better it cost twice as much! I'd rather stick with the curados , chronarchs and citicas. right, but to be fair, your statement just said that shimano baitcasting reels had gone down in quality... basically the point of my post above. 2
Super User QUAKEnSHAKE Posted May 4, 2016 Super User Posted May 4, 2016 10 minutes ago, fisherrw said: Have used metanium but of course it's better it cost twice as much! I'd rather stick with the curados , chronarchs and citicas. But you see those arent the Made In Japan reels. The real quality begins with the Japan reels. The E was Japan as well probably why that one you like. 1
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted May 4, 2016 Global Moderator Posted May 4, 2016 I like my I's better than my E's. I have 4 E's I'll trade for I's if you like them better. 3 200E7's and 1 E5. The new 70 is the nicest reel I've owned and I'm planning on owning a few more. 6
Super User *Hootie Posted May 4, 2016 Super User Posted May 4, 2016 2 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said: I like my I's better than my E's. Of course you do. You can't see with your E's. Sorry, Bluebasser, I just couldn't restrain myself...lol. By the way, those E's you're talking about. Chronarchs, or Curado's? And what kind of shape are they in? Hootie
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