bassbassontherange

It's a great reel for anything larger profile, faster geared reels are good for. The only applications I wouldn't slot it for are cranking/big swimbaits, and that's just because they don't have a slower gear ratio available. One would be fantastic for the setup you're slotting it for as long as you like to burn buzzbaits. When you look at these reels, they're really not much different than the 200 sized Curado/Scorpions. They're typically going to be used the same way, but people like them because they palm better, they're lighter, and some like them for finesse (especially the older 50's with a spool upgrade). They don't really fish differently, but they certainly feel different and can cut down on fatigue if you're on the water all day. A lot of serious Shimano fans love them, and I own a few of the 50's and a 70. However, and I may be in the minority saying this, but I don't necessarily prefer them over the larger reels with the same names. I have them for finesse applications and because.... well because they're cool and different. It's personal preference.

So many good options in Lew's, Daiwa, Shimano, and others. IMO those are the best three brands, but not necessarily in that order. I've owned lots of all three brands and some Abu and okuma as well. Consensus from me and the community as a whole is all around, Shimano will serve you best. If I were you, and I wanted two good reels, I'd probably buy two used reels if I wanted to save money. I'd go with a used Citica E and a used Curado I HG. That gets you in well under 200 if you're patient and they're both pretty easy to find used. I think the I series Shimano reels are best in their class, and it doesn't matter whether you pick up a Curado I or Citica I, they fish identically. You just need to choose the right great ratio for you. The only reason I mentioned a Citica E is if you want to save some cash, they're excellent and can be found for around 60 bucks. If you only have two reels, I'd suggest against a cranking speed. You can fish cranks with something in the 6 range just fine but it's also much more versatile. If it's just a hole in your arsenal, I'd look at an older Lew's bb1. One of the best cranking reels ever made. A second and third option would be Tatulas or Lew'sLFS. Both pretty decent but not quite on par with the I series Shimano reels.

Nah... you'd regret your wish coming true.

Power pro ss8 is the quietest I've come across. It's not terrible in that respect, and a very good line overall. When fishing braid, I'd try that out or sufix 832.

While I agree that what you fish better will work better, there are some tools that work best for certain applications. The OP's question was not what line is best for him, it was what is best. He also understands that's not a universal statement. That being said, while a line someone is uncomfortable with is not the best line for them, it still may be the best line. You can practice, improve, and be better with the best tool for the job. I think it's an excellent question, and he clearly understands that if he gets better with fluoro, it would benefit him. It's completely fine to fish what you're comfortable with. I get that. But if you want to be the best you can be, then use the best tool for the job. If that's not fun or rewarding enough for you, don't do it. But the answer is not "simply" NO, as you put it.

Yeah, I'm confused why DVT of all people would like that comment. Fluoro is a superior line for most presentations in my opinion. Not for strength, not necessarily even for visibility (in that it matters), but for how the bait is presented. I catch more fish on a fluoro rigged weightless worm than a braid rigged one, no doubt.

The only problem I have with a leader is with weightless rigs I feel like the fall of the lure is still affected by the main line braid. Otherwise, I think it works well unless you have micro guides. Straight fluoro just has a learning curve. Stick with it. You won't regret it.

I'm assuming you haven't fished the other reels mentioned.

I'd certainly consider that. What reels?

I own many Shimano, Lew's, daiwa, and Abu reels in the $300+ category. None of them have a better build quality than my Curado I's (not saying they're a better reel than a MGX or a Metanium, but they don't suffer at all from poor production). They're also built in Malaysia. It's arguable to say it's crappy to move production from one country to another, for many reasons. But in the case of Shimano, I don't think build quality has suffered at all.

The cult of the Exsence DC is among us in this thread. Simply put, you get one of the best reels ever made with the bells and whistles of DC braking and x-ship. From what the consensus has said in other topics, this is one of the best DC systems available, with more adjustability than most other DC reels. It's a steal at its current price point. What other reel would you rather have for $250? I fish because it's fun and relaxing. A DC reel just makes it more fun. Will you catch more fish? No, probably not. Will you enjoy your time on the water more? Yeah, you probably will. That's the bottom line for me.

Don't forget the Essence DC! Fantastic reel and a great time to pick it up from Digitaka.

They ARE excellent reels. I raved about them all year after finally caving and buying one last spring. Told my wife I wanted another and ended up with THREE more for Christmas from my parents, her parents, and my brother. Not a reel you need four of but I love having multiple gear ratios. That being said, message me if you're interested in a 7.1.1. A have a new one I might part with.

That's a sick lineup. Shimano has upped their game. It's going to be interesting to see what the other players do to keep pace.

Used Citica E, Used Curado I, Used Daiwa Tatula... the list goes on. There are SOOOO many excellent reels that are normally in the 130-200 range that can be found for great deals used. Shimano reels are almost always as good 5 years later as they were out of the box from a mechanical perspective. You'll have people who say the same thing of their Daiwa, Lew's, Abu, and some of the other brands as well. Go with your brand preference, buy used, and get the most bang for your buck that way. Put a "Want to buy a good used reel (name your specifications) for under $100 request in the BR flea market. You'll find something that will serve you better from a value standpoint than buying new, guaranteed.

You can get a pretty good rod on clearance right now if you look around. Dicks, Academy, ect will have some good deals, especially on house brands like the H20 rods at Academy. You should be able to pick up a decent rod for around $50. As far as reels go, options abound. I wouldn't go below the $100 price point if you want something that will last you years and give you good performance. My pick would be either a Citica I or Curado I. I own both and there's little to no difference between them, and you can get a Citica online for right around $100. Others will say Lew's or Daiwa, but if you don't want a Shimano, I'd go with a Daiwa Tatula. They can be had for $100 as well.

I'd agree the Ci4 is a little "wilder", primarily right out of the box. That could mean a couple things, I suppose, but it has a bit more of a "getting a feel for it" curve. I found that with a good bearing flush that learning curve was completely eliminated though. With the Met I'm pretty sure your grandma could cast it without a backlash. And yes on the 13' Met. Many prefer it to the newer model.

If you're talking strictly performance, in my hands they're nearly identical. They're both smooth, powerful, and excellent casters. Aesthetically, ergonomically, that's where some would say they prefer a Met. It feels like a metal reel because it is, and some feel it's worth the extra $ because of that. The chronarch, as you know, feels as solid as you'll find in a composite reel. I'm not trying to speak for everyone, but I've seen those thoughts echoed quite a bit. Bottom line, if you're like me, you'll get a Met, either now or later, because they're freaking cool and fun and because you don't have one. Do I think they're worth the extra they cost? To me, no. I bought a chronarch, then a Met, then another chronarch, if that tells you anything. Heck, I'd go so far as to say buy a Curado or Citica if you want excellent performance. They're not far off at all, really. BUT.... if you buy fishing gear for logical reasons exclusively (I'm sure you're not solely basing this on performance), you're doing it wrong my friend. Buy a Met, fish the met, and if you enjoy it more than your current reels, tell us why! It feels great, it casts great, and it puts a huge grin on my face. Hard to put a price on enjoyment if your kids aren't eating ketchup packets from McDonald's because you spent all the grocery money on a reel.

You're the first I've seen that's owned one. What do you like better about them?

Let's not turn this into a brand discussion. Those all turn out the same.

I feel the same way for the most part. I thought with the E's especially the Citica was a very nice reel, but it didn't handle light baits quite as well as the Curado's. Then, the G's seemed almost identical in my hands. If there's no drop off in performance with the I's, I can't see why you'd buy a Curado I unless you were fishing saltwater or you just wanted the name/aesthetics. Admittedly, I'd probably fall into that name/aesthetics category if I didn't already have two. I think that's a major reason the Curado continues to sell better than the Citica.

Excellent reel. Might also consider the Chronarch Ci4+HG. I have both and I think it might hold a wee bit more line. Both reels are about equal from a performance standpoint, in my opinion. You should be in pretty good shape from a line capacity standpoint, like others have said. That is... unless you're fishing off of these. Could present a problem.

I'm considering purchasing a Citica I for a few reasons: 1-I need another "6" speed. 2-Love the Curado I's as a workhorse, and from what I can tell they're very similar to the Citica. 3-I don't have one yet and they look cool. I'm shallow like that when it comes to reels. I know the Curado I's well and I think they're an excellent workhorse. Very little difference in performance to those and my Chronarchs or Met. I know the specs that are different... Citica has normal Shimano bearings instead of the two anti rust bearings in the Curado, the spool isn't painted, and to me the drag star looks less beefy. Can anyone who has fished both the Curado and Citica I's extensively compare from a performance standpoint? Thanks in advance.

Oh and btw, if you're considering picking up one of these from a Japanese dealer, do it NOW. The price has fluctuated $10 in the last six days for the worse, and if you follow the global markets at all, what's happening today could make a pretty big impact on the exchange rate. I don't know if it'll get better or worse for us in the US, but I can promise it'll change. Be on the safe side and pick one up. They're running about $250 right now.