lefthanded bait caster? and gear ratio help

[Muad Dib]

hey fellas im lookin for a left handed bait caster cause ive been using a lefty spinning reel all my life and there hard to find any recommendations? only one i can find is the bps extreme 7 bearings any experiences with that?

and question about gear ratios. what application would u use a 7.3.1 with a 6.4.1 with and a 5.4.1 with. im lookin for an overall reel for cranking and spinning and jiggin so im thinking the 6.4.1. and a medium heavy rod with a fast action.? what yall think

t-

[cart7t]

If you're looking to purchase 1 baitcaster in the price range the Extremes are in (on sale), I'd say you've found the best reel for that kind of money.  The 6.4 would be an OK compromise on speed.  Just slow down when using crankbaits.  

[LAO162]

If you've been using spinning gear, LH retrieve is definitely the way to go - otherwise you spend your time thinking about how ridiculous it is to keep changing hands.  

When looking for LH Models, they usually end in "1" or have an L incorporated into the model number.

When considering the gearing ratio, go through the BPS website and compare the inches per turn (IPT) for you current spinning reels to the baitcasters you are considering.  I've been cranking with a Shimano Stradic spinning reel that retrieves at 31" per turn.  That is faster than many 7.x BC burners.  Thus, I'm already used to cranking slowly and believe that 5.X ratios would be too slow for me.\

Be sure to read the Reel Mechanic's Baitcaster Setup 101 that is a sticky at the top of the forum.

Cheers!  

[stormrider]

I had the same issue and went with the BPS. So far I love the reel. I However it is my first BC

[jman]

I  was lucky to get a team daiwa tierra this year for christmas the reel is 100% smoother than my old abu and cast alot further too.

[ChiCityBasser]

The Daiwa Megaforce has a left hand model and so the the Cabelas Prodigy both of which I own. The Quantum Accurist PT also has a left hand model and should be on clearance at most online stores including Tackle Warehouse and the Quantum Accurist !! is on clearance as well. The BPS extreme is a good choice as well. The left handed models do have the "1" or "LH" designation in the model name or number as someelse stated as well

[roadwarrior]

Strong, smooth silent and reliant.

Citica 201 E...

Nothin' to talk about unless you want to spend more:

http://www.***.com/descpageRLCSHIMANO-SCRE.html

8-)

[Muad Dib]

ok so now here we go. i got the money to spend and im thinking of the citica E 201 l but got a couple of questions about it.

1.  I dont see a drag system switch on the side for easy changing of settings so whats up with that? i notice all the shimanos are like that

2. it has a 3+1 bearing system set up so how is that differenct from a 7+1 or more ball bearings. i see cheaper reels with more ball bearings?

3. on the specs it has under line cap 10lbs at 155 yards so does taht mean i can not use 12 lb test?

4. and last after practice will i be able to grow into this reel and not feel the need to upgrade as well. and are there features that help with backlash as i am sure i will have some issues with that

Thanks a lot road warrior and the rest of u monkey biting bandits

ps what reel should i get to match this for a 7 ft. MH ? ;D

[roadwarrior]

1. You set your drag every outing  before you fish, I never make adjustments.

2.  Bearings: Quality not quantity

3. Specs are just guidelines, you can spool anything you like.

4. You will probably "upgrade", but at the pricing point you will never have to.

8-)

[Dan:]

  Quote

ok so now here we go. i got the money to spend and im thinking of the citica E 201 l but got a couple of questions about it.

1. I dont see a drag system switch on the side for easy changing of settings so whats up with that? i notice all the shimanos are like that

I'm guessing you are talking about the brakes? The brakes are under a panel opposite the handled side. They are centrifugal brakes and are very easy to adjust, you just turn a little switch and the side panel pops off and then you click little weights up or down to turn them on.

2. it has a 3+1 bearing system set up so how is that differenct from a 7+1 or more ball bearings. i see cheaper reels with more ball bearings?

More bearings does not mean a better or smoother reel. Go pick up a Shimano in a store and you will see what I mean. Shimano's typically have less bearings than competitors but they are consistently smoother than reels with higher bearing counts. Don't worry about that.

3. on the specs it has under line cap 10lbs at 155 yards so does taht mean i can not use 12 lb test?

Sure you can use 12lb test, the 10lb test amount is just a standard guideline.

4. and last after practice will i be able to grow into this reel and not feel the need to upgrade as well. and are there features that help with backlash as i am sure i will have some issues with that

I have the Citica D and I am going to buy a Citica E for my new combo. The new E's have had stellar performance reviews. I don't think you will feel the need to upgrade but that might have more to do with the bait monkey's desires than yours. You will never get to a point where you never backlash again. The best you can do is to just practice enough to make it happen a lot less often.  

Thanks a lot road warrior and the rest of u monkey biting bandits

ps what reel should i get to match this for a 7 ft. MH ? ;D

[Dan:]

dangit, RW, beat me to it...

[islandbass]

  Quote

ok so now here we go. i got the money to spend and im thinking of the citica E 201 l but got a couple of questions about it.

1. I dont see a drag system switch on the side for easy changing of settings so whats up with that? i notice all the shimanos are like that

the drag "switch" is the thing that looks like a star next to the handle

2. it has a 3+1 bearing system set up so how is that differenct from a 7+1 or more ball bearings. i see cheaper reels with more ball bearings?

I prefer less bearing but better quality than many bearings that are junk. Besides those 3 +1 are where they count.

3. on the specs it has under line cap 10lbs at 155 yards so does taht mean i can not use 12 lb test?

It means that it will hold less 12lb test, perhaps 130 yds.

4. and last after practice will i be able to grow into this reel and not feel the need to upgrade as well. and are there features that help with backlash as i am sure i will have some issues with that

You need to find reel mechanic's baitcast 101. You will find it helpful. A properly set reel is extremely helpful

Thanks a lot road warrior and the rest of u monkey biting bandits

ps what reel should i get to match this for a 7 ft. MH ? ;D

[Muad Dib]

u guys work for shimano? hahahahahah u have me sold. but if i do switch lures is it pretty easy to reset the reel? guess ill just have to wait and see. haha how do u guys not get tired of answering questions from guys like me! ;D

t-

[Dan:]

You may have to adjust the reel when you switch from lighter lures to heavier ones or vice versa but it won't be as much of a problem when you get better at thumbing the spool as you cast.

[islandbass]

  Quote

u guys work for shimano? hahahahahah u have me sold. but if i do switch lures is it pretty easy to reset the reel? guess ill just have to wait and see. haha how do u guys not get tired of answering questions from guys like me! ;D

t-

If I were forced to be allowed to say only one postive thing about Shimano reels, and that would be a crime,  ;D it would be that they have an extremely wide margin of error to accomodate the clumsiest of anglers.

What I am trying to say is that unless the difference in weight between the two lures is quite large, say going from a 1/4 crankbait to a 1 oz jig, then you will probably need to make an adjustment to the reel's settings.

If you are switching from say a 5/8 oz crankbait to a 3/8 oz jig, I am confident that you will probably not have to make any adjustment.

As a strating point, set the brakes to 3 off and 3 on.  Then use the cast control knob to set the fall rate of the lure. I like mine to be loose but set it somewhere that is comfortable for you.

From this point, you will most likely not have to change your brake settings for most scenarios you face. Most adjustments to configure the reel to the lure's weight will now be done with the cast control knob.

Before long, you will gain confidence and change to 2 brakes on and 4 off for the rest of the reel's life unless you deal with seriously windy conditions. ;D

[Dan:]

Yeah, I use my Citica D for everything from 3/8oz jigs to 3/4oz jigs and even 1-1.5oz lures. I almost NEVER make adjustments to the settings.

[Muad Dib]

awesome thanks alot fellas. really appreciate the opinions.

t

[Bantam1]

For the left hand Shimano users ;D

I made this into a T-shirt for my left handed buddy in Oregon.

[adclem]

  Quote

For the left hand Shimano users ;D

I made this into a T-shirt for my left handed buddy in Oregon.

I don't care who you are that is funny!

Later,

[islandbass]

  Quote

For the left hand Shimano users ;D

I made this into a T-shirt for my left handed buddy in Oregon.

Where can I get a shirt like that? Here in Oregon and Washington, we're as far "left" as you can get.  ;D

[Muad Dib]

hahaha that is funny.

[twelvebass]

I have a shimano scorpion 1001, that has the brake on the outside. To my knowledge, is the only one they make like this, I'll take 110 dollars shipped. I'm gonna try to list it here with some pics, as soon as I figure out how. Also have two Tica Sculptors that are lefty's, for sale.

[Cravin]

100% with you RW and DD! I learned on a something other than a shimano but didn't love the BC until the "C" series came out and yes it was a Citica that I still have today.

I was at the counter at BPS with a rod in hand waiting to pay, A lady was inquiring about a BC reel for her husband for x-mas. ( never let your wife do this!). Your could see the BP guy knew he had a tough one. He finally asked her how much she wanted to spend, she said about $100 so now he's randomly throwing everything at her in that price range. I finally could deal and opened my mouth and said to both and nothing more "Citca E". I guess they got the clue that it was something I would take without thought for the money cause thats what she got. I hope I didn't let the guy down for Christmas but I don't see how I could have.

After she had the box in her hand I heard her ask the man "what other colors does this one come in?"