Bought a citica 200e at BPS today since they were sold out of the other reels I wanted but I had a few questions. What applications will the reel excel at? And does anyone have any recommendations on how to set the break system? Should I have all of the breaks clicked in, or is it different for everyone? Also, how do I tell if I purchased one of the newer citicas?

I noticed on the bottom of my box that it says Made in japan/imprimie en japon/ (2008.07.02)

Im assumeing that this is not one of the newer ones I purchased, and that is the assembly date? And on my box it is listed as 6:3:1 while on tackle warehouse it is listed as 6:2:1.. Is this correct? Should I take mine back to BPS and try to get a newer one offline? thanks for the help

start out with the factory settings (3 brakes on/3 off) and you should be fine.

as for the latest citica, the current citica is the E, the previous was the D. it should be pretty obvious which one you have (unlike the revos...it's hard to tell which one you have with those...they went from stainless steel bearings to HPCR bearings and then from aluminum frame to x-craftic frame, all without changing the nomenclature on the box  :).

the *** site is wrong...the gear ratio is 6.3:1.

There is a Shimano area in this forum.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Shimano

There is a Shimano area in this forum.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Shimano

The 200E is the latest model. Its 6.3:1, or 27 IPT. For beginners, set the brakes to four on, in an "X" pattern. Adjust the spool tension so that the bait drops slowly to the ground with no overrun.  You should be able to use this for just about any application.  If you're starting out, I recommend sticking to baits at least 3/8 oz.

There is a Shimano area in this forum.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Shimano

Really.. 

There is a Shimano area in this forum.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Shimano

Sorry, I just dont like the responses I see around here that make it like anything regarding shimano products cant be posted in the general forums, but the main thing is most people, myself anyway, do not frequent that section of the forums so I figured it would be best to ask my question here to get the most responses. Sorry if I came off the wrong way  :-/

And everyone thank you for the help I apprecaite it, but can anyone else tell me what applications this reel will perform best for? Isn't the 6:2:1 an all around ratio good for basically anything but not ideal for some things? Can anyone tell me a little about that?

It isn't that you can't post Shimano questions in the general forums. It's not up to me. I'm no moderator.

But with everyone else using the general forum, and Shimano having one all to themselves it only seems to make sense, and to be fair by putting those questions in the Shimano forum.

This is of course my opinion. And you know what they say about those.

It isn't that you can't post Shimano questions in the general forums. It's not up to me. I'm no moderator.

But with everyone else using the general forum, and Shimano having one all to themselves it only seems to make sense, and to be fair by putting those questions in the Shimano forum.

This is of course my opinion. And you know what they say about those.

I don't see the big deal and even so now he knows for next time. Either way I use my citica 200e for texas rigs and it works great.

There is a Shimano area in this forum.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Shimano

Sorry, I just dont like the responses I see around here that make it like anything regarding shimano products cant be posted in the general forums, but the main thing is most people, myself anyway, do not frequent that section of the forums so I figured it would be best to ask my question here to get the most responses. Sorry if I came off the wrong way :-/

And everyone thank you for the help I apprecaite it, but can anyone else tell me what applications this reel will perform best for? Isn't the 6:2:1 an all around ratio good for basically anything but not ideal for some things? Can anyone tell me a little about that?

Your missing a lot by having tunnel-vision

Sorry, I just dont like the responses I see around here that make it like anything regarding shimano products cant be posted in the general forums, but the main thing is most people, myself anyway, do not frequent that section of the forums so I figured it would be best to ask my question here to get the most responses. Sorry if I came off the wrong way :-/

And everyone thank you for the help I apprecaite it, but can anyone else tell me what applications this reel will perform best for? Isn't the 6:2:1 an all around ratio good for basically anything but not ideal for some things? Can anyone tell me a little about that?

bdubb, don't be turned off...i think there's just a little bit of shimano fatigue on this board. because of shimano's popularity, it is rather polarizing...people seem to either really love them or really love to hate them.

as for the 6:1 gear ratio, it is as you said a good all-around ratio...you can do anything you want by varying your retrieve. that being said, i personally use 5:1s for cranking and swimbaits, 6:1s for spinnerbaits, and 7:1s for plastics, topwater, jerkbaits, jigs. the different ratios just make my fishing a lot easier. for perspective, 20 years ago, 6:1 would have been considered absolutely blistering.

There is a Shimano area in this forum.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Shimano

Sorry, I just dont like the responses I see around here that make it like anything regarding shimano products cant be posted in the general forums, but the main thing is most people, myself anyway, do not frequent that section of the forums so I figured it would be best to ask my question here to get the most responses. Sorry if I came off the wrong way :-/

And everyone thank you for the help I apprecaite it, but can anyone else tell me what applications this reel will perform best for? Isn't the 6:2:1 an all around ratio good for basically anything but not ideal for some things? Can anyone tell me a little about that?

I don't see the issue.  The question looked like it posed to anglers, not a sales rep.  No knock against Bantam, he's great, but maybe the general membership wouldn't post a useful, meaningful, real world experience reply from a guy that just fishes.

Here's the deal with 6:1 reels.  I learned on knuckle busters that were probably 2-something to one, LOL.  Back in the late 80s, my Daiwas were "high speed" 5:1 reels.  When I got my first 6.3:1 reel, it felt wayyyyyy too fast.  Then I got used to it.  My Zillion 7.1:1 still feels fast as heck to me, but I've adjusted. 

I have four reels that are 6.3:1, one is 7.1:1, and four more that are 5.8:1.  I don't like a reel too fast for cranks, topwater, and jerkbaits.  I don't like a slow reel for jigs, t-rigs, and finesse plastics.  6.3:1 seems great for spinnerbaits, traps, buzzbaits, swimbaits, swim jigs, and other similar baits.

Just use your reel, and get used to it while paying attention to what your bait is doing.  And for the final word on what works best with certain baits...the rod has a lot more to do with it.