bass1980

The Core will handle wiggle warts and square bill just fine as long as you're ok when the fast ratio. Btw I got my Steez used too and it was the previous models. There is no way the Steez EX is worth the current pricing.

I have a Steez and a Core and the Steez is hands down more refine. It's crazy smooth on nice mono/flouro lines. However I wasn't too impressed with the casting on the Steez. Not horrible but not to the standards of a reel that expensive. The core cast a lot better and less finicky. The Core seems to have more torque too as the Steez feels over worked with medium diving cranks. Spinnerbaits might have too much resistance for both reels though. IMO I think the Core is more versatile than the Steez but man the Steez is one heck of a reel. I've tried my T3 1016 RCS spool on the Steez and wow, so much better.

5 year warranty on the *** and 1 year warranty on the Ghost. IMO it's no contest with the ***'s blank being so great for it's price range. Everything else about the *** is personal preference and if you do a search on here you'll see the same people loving them or having issues with them. Just about everyone agrees the blank is nice and sensitive.

I'll vouch for the 50 series. Example I don't crank a lot so I needed an all around crank rod to throw light cranks to deep divers within a certain limit. So I ended up with a GLoomis GL2 7' MH. It was hard to cast 1.5 kvd's with my Daiwa T3 and Chronarch ci4+ and those two are excellent reels. Just loaded up weird and I would be either not casting far enough or on the verge of back lash. Then one day I switched my crank setup to my 51e. Wow is all I can say. I can cast 1.5 3/8oz cranks easily and even shad rap #5! I am so impressed with this reel! Does not lack power too like my Steez and T3 so even cranking DT10's I'm fine with it. DT16's I can feel that I need a true low ratio crank reel but it's doable as I don't crank deep much. Then I have another setup as my 3/8-1/2oz jig. I paired my *** *** 7'3 Heavy with my 51e. Originally I thought the 51e was going to not be strong enough for jig fishing in weeds but it is. The guts of this reel is not a true finesse reel so it has the power but also has the nice size spool so it can cast 1/4oz lures easily. I'm thinking of selling a new in box curado and getting another chronarch 51e for 1oz punching. IMO the Shimano Curado/Chronarch 50 series is the most versatile reel out there except for line capacity. I know in the south people use 15-20lb mono/flouro so this doesn't help the sale of the 50 series but up north in weeds we use a lot of braided lines so we can get more line capacity with smaller diameter braided line. If they ever come out with a Curado I 50 series I am switching almost all of my reels to this but according to sources they are not...bummer.

IMO for spinning setup I would put more money on the rod. A sensitive $200+ rod with a $100 reel would perform well. For Baitcast I would get a $180+ reel and pair it with a $100 rod and be just fine. In fact I have a few setups like that and it's not too far off from my high end setups.

Let me start the thread over..... G Loomis GL2 vs Dobyns Champion vs St. Croix Avid A. G Loomis GL2 B. Dobyns Champion C. St. Croix Avid D. Sorry you can only pick one of the above

Yeah I read the first post again and you are right. Something simple but built tough. Then IMO there's no question that a beat up used Shimano Citica E is the one!

I only read the first few post so if this reel has been mentioned already then I guess add it to the list again. I think you should look for a beat up Daiwa T3 Ballistic. Right now it's going for $110 so a used beat up one should be significantly less. Why? Well we all know the T3 platform is a casting machine. The 3D braking system is outstanding. Palms well, and has tons of aftermarket parts even though you are fabbing stuff up too. Many people agree that an aluminum T3 would be great and without the hood. If you are fabbing up shells then a non Zion T3 would be nice and without the hood. You can interchange internal parts with the T3 1016 if you choose also. Well that's my suggestion.

I know the Tatula frame size has been beaten to death but I really hope the Zillion palms better for people with small hands like me.

I really hope they add the 3D brakes to the new Zillion. Many people agree if they made an aluminum T3 1016 without the hood it would be the reel to please many. Maybe the new Zillion is just that! I hope they can make the new Zillion 7.0-7.5 oz....even lighter.

Thanks everyone. I thinking of getting like 3-4 rods and looking into used rod to save some money. It would be a huge risk if they won't even offer "no questions ask" warranty that you pay some money for even if you are not the original owner. I have read through megabass and dobyns warranty and they don't not have anything for second hand owners. All it states is if you have receipt. Maybe I should just pass on used rods?

Most companies only do warranty if you are the original buyer and have sale receipt for full replacement. After certain time period, break it more than once, your own fault, and/or don't have the sales receipt some offer replacement at a respectable price. So if I bought a used rod and it breaks am I just out of luck or would they allow you pay a fee like example if it's your own fault. The three rod company I am looking at is Dobyns, Megabass, and Gloomis. If anyone knows anything please let me know. I look into the companies website but says nothing on second hand purchase. Thanks.

IMO....just between the ones mentioned. 1. Chronarch E 50 2. Curado I 200 3. Chronarch E 200 I flushed all three of my reels and added a drop of light oil. Oh man the 50 is a beast! IMO it is the most versatile reel of them if you don't need to cast super far with thick lines.

I'll take 3 please......

That's what I'm saying.

7lbs.....that would be a catch of a lifetime here in my waters. Thanks OP and everyone for their recommendation. I think I'll still get the 2500 so I can double duty for smallies in the fall but if I find a 1000 for a good price then I won't hesitate. I just want a super light Stradic Ci4+ for drop shotting.

Having both the T3 and the Ci4+, Zion feels very different. Ci4+ material feels sort of close to magnesium but that Zion on the T3 platform just feels very hollow. I'm not married to aluminum as traditionalist users but I can see why a lot of people just couldn't stand the Zion feel. IMO the T3 1016 should have been priced at 250-275 and the T3B should have been priced at $150 max. This would have given them a shot at success but the price was just ridiculous. The T3 1016 is no where near the refinement of the previous Steez at $450.

What I meant is they painted the Curado E white and names it the Chronarch and cheapened the Curado into the G. We all know th G series is watered down and the Chronarch E is basically a $200 Curado E. That's what I meant. I love the E series though. I won't sell my 50 series.

Wow I am surprise people see Shimanos braking system as finicky. They E series is so easy to cast. Just set it and forget it. Then just play with the tension knob. The T3's 3D braking system is very nice though.

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I don't want to make another 1000 size Shimano reel thread either. Seeing that the answer has been answered by many and the thread has seemed to change course. So if the OP doesn't mind I'm going to ask a question. Would a 1000 size stradic be ok for drop shotting for 3-4 pound bass? I think I'm going to use 20lb braid with a 15lb flouro leader. Would the power/torque be sufficient vs a 2500 fishing for these bass? I will delete per OP's request. Thanks.

Having both...this is a tough one. I like that the Ci4+ has X ship and their new SVS infinity braking system with the external adjustment. However the core is more refined to me. It just does what a great reel should do without getting into all these new technology. My next reel will be a Metanium. From what my friends tell me it's smoother than a Core and has all the new goodies. It's a good time to be buying Shimano reels. They have brought out great products after the E and G series debacle.

I had a T3B, and now three T3 1016 and IMO just spend the extra money to get the 1016. The spool, handle, weight, and refinement makes the T3 1016 a better buy. However IMO your first baitcaster should be a Shimano. Their braking system is less finicky, even less than the 3d braking on the T3 and I love the 3D braking. The Curado I is a very easy reel to cast and it performs really well. I only wish it was under 7 oz. Another reason is if you decided to sell the reel in the future Shimano will have a higher resale value than other reels and it'll be easier to sell.

Too much blame is on China. You should start questioning the company that contracts with China manufacturers. If these manufacturers are using cheap parts the Brand should know what goes inside their product but they still elect to use it for cost savings and for profit.

My Ci4+ was way over grease. Was still smooth but extremely stiff. I cleaned it and flushed spools and side plate bearing. Relubed it with Alchemy oil and it's smooth and free. I understand they over lube it but man that only makes their reel seem not as refine as other brands from people that doesn't know about factory over lubing. My side plate bearing had a big chunk of lube on it.