ottawa Posted August 2, 2009 Posted August 2, 2009 Well as a new Bass fisherman since moving to a bass river system from a walleye river. I equipped myself with 3 outfits.($$$!) Anyway took the plunge so I thought that maybe someone might find my impressions of some help. Shimano Citica Small light reel that feels good on a ligt rod like the M GLoomis I put in on. Casts weightless Senkos with ease and rarely backlashes if I do not get overzealous and try muscle my casts. Truly no need because this reel casts a long way. Surprises me sometimes so much so that I do prefer using this reel over my spinning outfits. Feels well constructed and very smooth. Great value for the price. Have casted Frogs , Jigs, Worms but have not tried crankbaits as yet. Expect that it will perform as well on all. Shimano Castaic A different beast for sure. Bigger reel that is built to Shimano standards , but in my hands seems to backlash more often. I have it setup on a Carrot Stick and mostly have been using it with heavier baits like frogs and jigs. The river has plenty of weeds so this reel has had the most use so far this summer. Still I am having trouble setting it up. I will have it casting without backlashes for a few casts but no matter how I set the tension or brakes I still get minor backlashes. For this reason I may be relegating it to mostly a flipping and pitching reel, which, truly it was designed for. Shimano Curado Well if I can say, it is a pleasure using this reel. It keeps surprising me as to the effortless and smooth functions of this reel. Have it paired with another Loomis rod. Light setup that casts well and is very smooth. A step above the Citica but I might add that I truly enjoy both reels. Is it worth the extra$$ over the Citica? Not sure. The Citica is a great reel similar in size and weight and very close in performance. You do notice a difference in smoothness but truly both fish very well. If I needed to save a few bucks I would say that the Citica would serve me well. Both reels are built to last it seems as they are more solid than the Castaic in my hands. In conclusion, as a novice bass fisherman the Citica presents great value and performs very close to the Curado. The Curado is just a bit smoother. Worth the extra$$? Mayber considering you are going to have these reels a long time. The Castaic, well, I might find myself using that reel less and less. Quote
Super User Raul Posted August 2, 2009 Super User Posted August 2, 2009 Shimano Castaic Still I am having trouble setting it up. I will have it casting without backlashes for a few casts but no matter how I set the tension or brakes I still get minor backlashes. with which line ? the line diameter and type has a lot to do with your backlashing streak with that reel, I 've fished with it and no backlash problems. Quote
FishDontLikeMe1301600221 Posted August 2, 2009 Posted August 2, 2009 i had a castaic for a short while i dunno to me i just hated that reel,it was like a redheaded basstard stepchild to me ;D ... didnt fit well for me or my style of fishing and it seems to cheap and plasticy for the price..now the curado and citica.....pure perfection!!!! Quote
pk Posted August 2, 2009 Posted August 2, 2009 I didn't like the Citica. It felt grindy when cranking when compared to my Curado Es. Quote
ottawa Posted August 2, 2009 Author Posted August 2, 2009 I put 50# Power Pro on the Castaic. Set the tension then magnets and it would cast great for 4 or 5 cats and then backlash. Maybe the tension knob does not remain in position because when I readjust the tension it casts OK for a few more casts and then starts backlashing again. I am getting tired of it. Backlashes are not too severe but still it is a pain to have to strip it out so often. > I just headed to the dock with the Citica and casted a weightless Senko without 1 backlash. The Castaic with a frog backlashed every 4 or 5 casts. I am surprised that everyone is not happy with the Citica. For the money it is a great reel. Comparing it to the Curado is probably unfair because the Curado is a more expensive and smoother reel but they do have similarities. Don't know if both reels will be equally durable . Of course I like the Curado the best. It is smoother and just feels like better quality but the Citica is a fun reel to use. It is also small and well balanced and works well for me. Quote
FishDontLikeMe1301600221 Posted August 2, 2009 Posted August 2, 2009 I put 50# Power Pro on the Castaic. Set the tension then magnets and it would cast great for 4 or 5 cats and then backlash. Maybe the tension knob does not remain in position because when I readjust the tension it casts OK for a few more casts and then starts backlashing again. I am getting tired of it. Backlashes are not too severe but still it is a pain to have to strip it out so often. >I just headed to the dock with the Citica and casted a weightless Senko without 1 backlash. The Castaic with a frog backlashed every 4 or 5 casts. I am surprised that everyone is not happy with the Citica. For the money it is a great reel. Comparing it to the Curado is probably unfair because the Curado is a more expensive and smoother reel but they do have similarities. Don't know if both reels will be equally durable . Of course I like the Curado the best. It is smoother and just feels like better quality but the Citica is a fun reel to use. It is also small and well balanced and works well for me. the citicas and curados are made hand n hand,they both roll off the same assembly line to say,only big difference is curado has bearings in the handle and 1 extra bearing other then that they are pretty much like twins(same frames,gears).non-identical Quote
Incheon Basser Posted August 2, 2009 Posted August 2, 2009 I love my Citca.. and so did the guys at tackle tour giving it the editors choice award, dieferences... handle grips. 3 more bearings. thats it... with 3 more bearings of course it,s going to be smoother,,, but i love the citca.. i would trade my Quantum TE1107PT for a CI200E in a heart beat Quote
endless Posted August 2, 2009 Posted August 2, 2009 i had a castaic for a short while i dunno to me i just hated that reel,it was like a redheaded basstard stepchild to me ;D ... didnt fit well for me or my style of fishing and it seems to cheap and plasticy for the price..now the curado and citica.....pure perfection!!!! watch it there lol i am a red head and a stepson Quote
Fat-G Posted August 2, 2009 Posted August 2, 2009 i had a castaic for a short while i dunno to me i just hated that reel,it was like a redheaded basstard stepchild to me ;D ... didnt fit well for me or my style of fishing and it seems to cheap and plasticy for the price..now the curado and citica.....pure perfection!!!! watch it there lol i am a red head and a stepson Hahahahahahahahahahah Quote
skillet Posted August 3, 2009 Posted August 3, 2009 Have never owned a Curado, so take this with a grain of salt. :-*LOVE :-*my Citicas (2 200D's)... skillet Quote
Shimmer Posted August 3, 2009 Posted August 3, 2009 I just picked up my first Shimano reel (Citica 200E) paired with the newer Berkley Shock Stick and I can really tell a difference. Hell I can almost pitch further with the Citica than casting with my BPS Pro Qualifier ;D Quote
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