Stradic Ci4 2500 - this ship has sailed?

[Darth-Baiter]

I need/want one more spinning setup.  Thinking of the Dobyns Fury 702 for the rod.  Second bass finesse rod mostly.  Maybe a “hiking next to the Russian River casting to Pike Minnow” setup as well. 
 

ive always wanted to try that reel.  I suppose I could find a gently used one right?

 

thoughts?  

[mrpao]

You can still find them used.

Or just get the Vanford. Same as stradic CI4+, only slightly better.

Or daiwa Tatula or Ballistic LT. Both great reels also.

[bulldog1935]

As @mrpao stated, the Stradic CI4+ from the last Shimano series is now the '20 Vanford.

Longer spool stroke, stiffer spindle to go with it, larger fine-toothed gears, and especially the Stella over-designed roller-bearing clutch.  

 

 

If you google, you may still find OS out there.  

[Darth-Baiter]

Thanks you two.  (I think :))

 

I had a mental line of $200, but whatever.  Looks like a great option.  The Vanford. 
 

 

[RDB]

It’s an excellent reel.  I have 2 Vanford’s along with multiple that are quite a bit more expensive and from a performance standpoint, I am just as satisfied with the Vanford.  In case it matters, 95% of my fishing is largemouth.

[Goby]

Ahh Pike Minnows! Used to catch the heck out of those on the Eel River while steelhead fishing. 

 

I sure do miss the Redwoods, happy to be back here in Michigan, but the couple years I spent living in Humboldt were an amazing time in my life.

 

I have a Vanford reel which replaced the CI4, best spinning reel I have ever owned. You could probably find someone selling a CI4 used in good shape if you looked in the classifieds or ebay.

[TBAG]

Yeah, to echo what others have said. I have a few Stradic Ci4+ and they're great reels. But I'd go ahead and get a new Vanford if you can swing it.

[haggard]

I didn't realize the CI4+ 2500 was discontinued. I love mine so much I was thinking of getting another but apparently not so much anymore! It's my go-to for light bass techniques on a 6'6 ML/XF rod. Highly recommended, if you can find one.

 

[bulldog1935]

On 4/23/2021 at 6:42 AM, bulldog1935 said:

the parts interchange

 

The JDM Vanquish is the one I can tell the difference, because it's so low inertia.  

But unless you have the Vanquish and Stradic side-by-side, you won't notice that difference.  The Stella, Vanquish and Twin Power are all bench-finished in Japan, with parts matching for extra smoothness - the other reels in the series come from the Malaysia line.  

 

all reels in the series are based on the Stella over-designed roller-bearing clutch, large, fine-toothed gearing, and long-stroke worm drive.  

• The Stella is magnesium body and rotor, with stainless steel drive and many titanium parts.  
• The Vanquish is magnesium body, CI4+ rotor, alloy drive, many titanium parts.  
• The Twin Power is aluminum body and rotor with alloy drive.  
• The Vanford is CI4+ body and rotor. 
• The Stradic is aluminum body and CI4+ rotor.  

When it was introduced, Tackle Advisors dubbed the Stradic FL, "The Best $400 Reel You Can Buy" - and it's a $200 reel.  

 

Between Stradic and Vanford, it's a choice between aluminum body and lighter composite plastic body, silver finish and black finish.  

 

Shimano spinning reels not in this series have fans - I'm not among them.  

For less money and tough durability, I would go for Tica or Daiwa, though Shimano out-smooths all others into the price basement.  

The Stradic CI4+ was a '16 introduction, based on the '15 Stradic.  

If you go back in Shimano catalogs, they don't support parts much longer than this.  

This catalog is already 2 years old

They're now working off the '18 Stella - the CI4+ wasn't discontinued as much as it was renamed, Vanford.  

CI4+ is their tradename for the composite plastic formulation they've used since 2012.