Well a little background...I'm driving down the road, and see a rod in the trash, snapped in half and mangled with memory infested line. I pull it up, and this Shimano Castaic Bantam (ca-200) is on the end, looking very bad. Being curious, I took it home and got her working. I tried doing a little google research but found nothing really about the reel (because the super free reels are everywhere). I'm just wondering if anyone has (or has had) this reel.

Thanks

The old ones had the insta-stage clutch fully across the spool. The newer ones have it just on either side of the spool. I have two 201's and a 201 Scorpion Quickfire (JDM) I love them for pitching / flipping. $170 retail new.

I have serviced 100's of them since they made their debut in 02...

Shimano Bantam Castaic

Line Capacity: 8/200;10/170;14/125

Gear Ratio: 6.2:1

Weight: 9.0 (oz)

Bearings:      4BB, 1RB

Additional Features: Aluminum frame, Aluminum spool, super stopper, VBS, Instagage

MSRP: $139.99

Tight Lines!

Good find!

I recently pulled a rod out of the trash myself. We arrived at the beach for a week, and saw this rod in the garbage that must have been left by the people who were in the condo before us.

Pulled it out, and it sure wasn't a Castaic. Probably about a $12 spincast combo. And it was trashed...

But as for that Castaic, it is a solid reel. Used one as my primary flippin reel for quite awhile, still use it for toads and as a back up flippin set up.

i got one on my 8 footer.... perfect setup... i love that reel and probably gonna buy 2 more

My uncle gave me a Shimano Bantam reel but i dont know what kind it is, all the paint has worn off. It feels like its graphite. Can anybody tell me if that is the reel?

I have this reel and love it.  I've gone back and forth between a Revo and the Castaic for flipping and have settled on the Castaic.  I hated it at first because it was big and the front end was very high off the reel seat.  I like to palm the reel with my index finger wrapped around the front and on this reel that interferes with the pawl.  But I almost never fight a fish that way.  So I just learned to fish it the same way I fight a fish - with all my fingers under the reel seat.   The reel is a brute and flips anything - light, medium or heavy.  It's super-smooth.  And it has a retro look.  Great reel - highly recommended.

yeah i got her put back together and cast it a few times today, i have it on a 7' rod and it casts ok, i believe there might be a few kinks in it...of course i find it two days after i buy the citica 200e (which i love), but still a great find and thanks a million for the info on it!