Shimano Citica-Why No Left Handed 101D, Smaller Version???

[ghost]

Got rid of the Citica 201D. Don't get me wrong this is a very nice reel & perfect price point.

What I don't like is how big & heavy the Citica 201D is. It does not feel as "low profile" as the Abu Garcia Revo & some of the newer Daiwa's. Also the the Curado 101D being a smaller version of the Curado 201D feels much better. My hands get tired using the Citica 201D after an hour of fishing w/ it.

So I've went & returned the Citica 201D & picked up the a new Abu Garcia Revo SX-L. I know I could've gotten the Curado 101D & be happy. But I don't feel like sending & waiting for the rebate check. It should be an automatic $50 off the retail price. Shimano just lost a Shimano baticast reel customer because they haven't come out w/ a left handed Citica 101D or have the price of the Curado 101D to be purchased that same day as getting a Revo SX-L.

I really want to get the Curado 101D, but I'm done w/ mail in rebates, those things BLOW! I hate waiting to get money back!

[ww2farmer]

I have been wanting to get back into a Shimano for a while now, and was really bummed when they didn't offer the Citica in a 101 size, so i bought a Revo S-L insted. Well with the rebate offer I did buy a Curado 101D and have yet to fish with it, but I am excited to do so. If Shimano makes a Citca 101D I  would probably get it. Like you I am NOT impressed with the size and weights of the 201 size Citica's and Curado's. For that size reel I will stay with Diawa or Abu Garcia, both of them affer LH reels with the same capacity or greater than Shimano, and at the same price points that weigh much less.

[Gone_Phishin]

The lack of Shimano 101's has been an issue for me as well. When I'm shopping for a crank/spinnerbait reel, Shimano is usually the first place I look. As far as 101's are concerned, the Chronarch and Curado are about it.

There is no 101 in the Citica, Core, Calais, Cardiff, or Calcutta DC.

I so badly want to own a DC or Calais for shallow/mid crankin', but there is no 101. The JDM Conquest DC has a 101, but the warranty issue, coupled with the circut board, is enough to make me steer clear. If I'm going DC, I'd feel much more comfortable covered by a domestic warranty.

Daiwa usually releases a southpaw model in their reels, and I LOVE them for bottom contact baits, but for most other presentations I'd prefer a Shimano. I love that buttery smoothness, it's such a pleasure. The only exception is my Zillion for topwater work.

I couldn't agree more with the previous comments on the size and weight of the 200/01 Shimanos. That's why I got a Zillion over the Curado.

[islandbass]

Oooh, I gotta stop. I get irked every time I remind myself (as a Mostly shimano guy) how they don't have 101s where we think they need them. Picture Yosemite Sam turning steamin' red after old bugsy.  Varmint, shimano! ;D I'd be all over a 101 citica like a fly on... nevermind.  :-*

[flechero]

This s purely a guess on my part...  the new reels were offered in the base models and then others were added as they were able to produce more.  Remember how the DSV's came out later, etc.  I think they just need some time to ramp up and also wanted to be sure there was demand (enough to satisfy production) before offering everything.

I bet you'll see a Ci101D this year.

In the meantime, enjoy the Revos & other brands and be glad this isn't 1980 or 1990 when there were (almost) no left hand retrieve BC reels!

[twors]

I got tired of waiting for a 101 Citica so I bought two 101 Curados instead...my rebate check came in three weeks BTW. I find is amazing that the Shimano bean counters decided to make a 301 Curado instead of a 101 Citica....didn't know the 300 series reels were that big of sellers...?

[Cory20]

I'm on board with this one, 100%.

[Raul]

For what I know Shimano has no intention in offering a Citica 101.

[ghost]

Yup, that's what I'm getting also Raul.  Seems that Shimano would rather have left hand baitcasters users to jump on the Curado & Core.  I understand that Shimano will be releasing a left hand Core....."yippy".  That's nice, however I don't want to spend $350 for a reel.  More power to those who can afford those.

Twors I'm glad you got your rebate check fairly quickly.  As I've dealt w/ rebate checks in the past, it takes FOREVER to get money owed to you back.  It left a bad feeling for me w/ rebate checks.

I think that Shimano went & got the Curado 301's out cuz of all the swim bait guys.  You don't see too many "low profile" style baitcast reels for swim baits.  Unless you want to fork over for the Daiwa model for swim baits & thats an import.

I just don't understand for a good portion of the fishing public who would like to have quality that it has to start at $200...the Curado, before any rebates came along.  I like the Citica 201, I don't like the tallness & weight it has.  I prefer to have a smaller 100 series that weigh 2 oz lighter & not put a big cramp in my wallet.  

I know on this board & others that for someone who wants to get into a baitcast reel they want to spend under $150.  The Citica 200/201 is a great deal on quality.  But I'll tell you after casting the Citica 201 after an hour, I'm done w/ it...even when it's on a light baitcast rod.  I'm not using the Citica for swim baits, I have outfits for those.  I understand why I need heavier equipment for that type of fishing.  But for normal bass fishing????  I would rather use a size 100 reel & cast comfortable all day instead of an hour.  

[Gone_Phishin]

You prove a very valid point ghost: southpaws who want a small frame, Shimano low-pro have to start off at the $199 MSRP Curado.  There is not a more economical reel to fit the bill.  This is not fair to those on a budget, or to those who just want a more inexpensive reel for whatever the reason.  

I still don't understand the logic behind it.  I've heard the producton cost vs demand explanation, and I'd fully support that logic if Shimano already had one 101 in say the Citica or Cruix, but that's not the case.  

As one of the big guns, it should be a no brainer for Shimano to give its left-handed customers just one cost-conscious 101.

[flechero]

Two things come to mind after reading this one.  

The budget restriction is one I respect since I had it most of my life, but I also never fished Shimano in ANY of those years.  With the exception of a few reels in the 1980's I don't think Shimano has ever offered much in the quality and  "budget friendly" area.

The other thing is that maybe it's just an expensive pain in the butt to make the left hand retrieve reels so they don't want to get into it with lower priced reels.

I think there are several GOOD LH reels offered in the lower price points, so you guys have some decent options.  Since I'm a left handed guy who has fought these challenges his whole life (in reverse) I can't be overly sympathetic... since (almost) all my power tools and guns came with right handed safeties and set up for righties!  And the few left handed guns I have cost way more than the right handed counterparts.  

[Raul]

It 's wouldn 't be a pain in the neck to manufacture a left Citica 100

Frame is the same of the one found in the Curado 101

Gearing is the same than the one found in the 101

The hand can rotate one way or the other same applies to the knobs

The drag star is the same the nut is reverse to go on a reverse thread which the Curado 101 already has

The sideplates are the same the Curado 101 has.

The only thing they can 't make is the spool assembly for a lefty if they threw away all the machinery with which they manufactured the spool of the old Curado 101B.

They don 't want to make it lefty to force you into purchasing a Curado 101.

[ww2farmer]

They don 't want to make it lefty to force you into purchasing a Curado 101.

EXACTLY. If it were not for the rebate I would have never bought the Curado 101, but I don't think it's a mistake Shimano has no Citica 101. Maybe they will in the future, I can' thelp but thinkthat with all the people buying the Revo S in LH, Shimano wouldn't want a peice of that market.

[flechero]

They don 't want to make it lefty to force you into purchasing a Curado 101.

But if we follow that logic why do they even bother with any of the citicas?

[Raul]

Because it costs 80 dollars less, important for those who want a good reel at an affordable price, but the Shimano brass doesn 't see it that way.

[scbassin]

This is from a Shimano Rep. I am sure some of you have read this elsewhere. It just makes good business sense. I understand your frustration as I am left handed also but there is not many of us compared to right handed people.

" The answer is the same and will be the same. Sales vs. cost of development. I have covered this several times and no one seems to understand. We look at the demand and the possibility of sales. How many units of this model will we sell? Will we sell enough units to cover the development and production costs? Can we use the money in better ways such as developing new products/future models? All of these questions have to be answered. At times the best decision is to not release a Citica 101D and instead develop the Core 101MG. See where I'm going with this?

We do offer the Curado 101D. The lefty Core is coming later this year."