Shimano Citica... worthy baitcaster or no?

HammytheFisherman · March 24, 2009, 10:54:27 PM

So I have decided that I am in the market to purchase 2 new baitcasters before the bass season gets into full swing here in Maryland. I currently have 3 Quantums and a Revo and am looking for 2 others so that I can retire the 2 BP baitcasters that I got off ebay last year. A lot of my buddies swear by Shimano reels, but I don't have the money to put forth towards a new Curado and even the used Curado's seem to carry their value.

Now the other day while at BP I looked at and held the Citica and it seemed to be a decent reel, but I just wasn't too sure about it. Compared to my Revo and Quantums it just didn't seem as well built (and again this could be my lack of experience with them). Are the Citica's a decent baitcaster for the price? I would like to give them a shot, but wanted to get some opinions. If anyone might have some spare baitcasters they are looking to get rid of... let me know. Oh... I'm looking for LH models too as I have been phasing out my RH's.

Lee Smith · March 25, 2009, 06:42:54 AM

I fish Curado's, my partner uses the Citica's, He loves his! Gives me

over paying the extra!

crankenstein · March 25, 2009, 07:24:00 AM

For the money, I don't think you can find a better reel than the Citica. I was a little leary of it only having four bearings but it's as smooth if not smoother than most reels with twice the bearings. Casts great, low weight, palms well.

Jarhead7138 · March 25, 2009, 07:57:06 AM

I have a citica, won it a couple years ago as a door prize at a tournament, and by far one of the best reels I own, very smooth, once you get it dialed in very user friendly, very few backlashes even when casting into a good wind, in fact liked it so much went out and bought another one for this year for a new rod I got for xmas, very reliable and for the money I say its worth it

OutdoorFrontiers · March 25, 2009, 09:42:52 AM

I had a Citica, it was a nice enough reel. I ended up giving it to my son in law though.

A good value reel for bass fishing is the Shimano Cardiff 100. I like to palm my reels, because I don't have large hands most of my reels are low profile designs like the Curado and Chronarch. I was sent a Cardiff 100 as a gift, and even though it's a round reel, it's very comfortable to palm.

It's smooth, quiet and has a good drag. I've been beating up on this reel for five years now and it's still as smooth as the first time I used it. For $99, it's a great reel. Take a look at those too.

Steve

BIG PAPA · March 25, 2009, 10:26:55 AM

I have many citica and many curados, can't really see much difference.

Mike Cork · March 25, 2009, 10:39:37 AM

The citica is definitely worth the money. The new E models are a home run in my opinion.

TightLinez · March 25, 2009, 12:03:42 PM

The couple casts I made with mine felt great, then I set the hook on a fish and the drag got stripped out- on Sugar Lake Mexico!

I've asked around and no one else has had that problem.

AJ · March 25, 2009, 02:18:54 PM

i bought a used one then turned right round and bought a new one within week or 2

i likem better then my quantum pts

HammytheFisherman · March 25, 2009, 02:24:30 PM

Thanks for the insight guys. After reading all the positive reviews I went ahead and got me a 200E online for $101 shipped. Hopefully it arrives quickly so that I can spool it up and do some reviews of my own!

Thanks for the Cardiff idea Steve... I'll have to look into those as well.

Joshawa · March 28, 2009, 08:04:24 AM

My dad has used the same one for about 8 years. He loves it and I'm sure he would recommend them to anyone.

topcat · March 29, 2009, 09:52:11 AM

Quote from: TightLinez on March 25, 2009, 12:03:42 PM
The couple casts I made with mine felt great, then I set the hook on a fish and the drag got stripped out- on Sugar Lake Mexico!
I've asked around and no one else has had that problem.

I had the same experience with my Citica 200E they cast fine but when I set the hook the drag stripped.......two days latter the other Citica 200E stripped....I sent them back to Shimano and they sent me some new ones......Since I received the new ones I have had no problems......Shimano Service Dept is top of the line.....

Topcat

HammytheFisherman · March 30, 2009, 03:19:52 PM

Only got to use it a couple times yesterday in the 15+ mph winds, but the Citica seemed to cast like a champ. I currently have it set up as one of my cranking reels, but that might change to pitching with how smooth it felt. I see another one in my near future pending my review in good weather.

Mike Cork · March 31, 2009, 08:45:54 AM

Good deal, keep us posted of how the reel performs for you

HammytheFisherman · April 10, 2009, 04:27:30 PM

Thanks Cork... now I might be buying one or two more of these reels!

I haven't messed with the brakes or anything and I can cast a floating trap for miles with minimal effort. If the reel casts that well I CAN"T EVEN imagine how well I could pitch with it.

Looks like I'll be ordering another one this weekend for pitching and flipping. I also like the overall size and weight of the reel.

Unless I can get my Revo S to work a little better... I might be selling that one on the board or ebay so that I can get my third Citica. I thought the Revo S would be a decent reel but I haven't been all that impressed.

-Steve- · April 10, 2009, 04:33:17 PM

My stepson fishes a Citica and I was just on the phone with him a couple min. before I read this post and he was saying he's wants another one. I don't have any experience with them but I've been called bias towards Pflueger...I dunno...Steve

Chris · April 10, 2009, 04:48:29 PM

Quote from: Mike on March 25, 2009, 10:39:37 AM
The citica is definitely worth the money. The new E models are a home run in my opinion.

Mike

I agree! I bought four of them back at the first of the year and the fish as good as my Chronarch 50Mgs ...honestly they seem more solid. I really sont have a need for another reel. I am wanting to buy about 5 more.

islandbass · April 12, 2009, 01:37:44 AM

Quote from: HammytheFisherman on April 10, 2009, 04:27:30 PM
Thanks Cork... now I might be buying one or two more of these reels! I haven't messed with the brakes or anything and I can cast a floating trap for miles with minimal effort. If the reel casts that well I CAN"T EVEN imagine how well I could pitch with it.

Looks like I'll be ordering another one this weekend for pitching and flipping. I also like the overall size and weight of the reel.

Unless I can get my Revo S to work a little better... I might be selling that one on the board or ebay so that I can get my third Citica. I thought the Revo S would be a decent reel but I haven't been all that impressed.

I would recommend that you open the sideplate and see how many brakes are off and on. The next one you buy might have them all off or all on or some other combination and it won't "act" the same as your first one until you do and it might make you think that something is wrong. The first curado I bought had all of the brakes off. Let's just say it was the most glorious bird's nest I have even seen. Was a newbie to casting reels back then and so that definitely contributed to it.

upnorth · April 29, 2009, 12:11:53 PM

It's a fantastic reel.

HammytheFisherman · April 29, 2009, 11:12:38 PM

Quote from: islandbass on April 12, 2009, 01:37:44 AM
I would recommend that you open the sideplate and see how many brakes are off and on. The next one you buy might have them all off or all on or some other combination and it won't "act" the same as your first one until you do and it might make you think that something is wrong. The first curado I bought had all of the brakes off. Let's just say it was the most glorious bird's nest I have even seen. Was a newbie to casting reels back then and so that definitely contributed to it.

I opened her up today and she looks to have 3 out of 6 brakes on. I just changed lures on the reel so I will wait to do some practice casts before I start turning them off. The Citica seems to cast 1/4-1/2 oz crankbaits with finesse and distance.

Now like I said... my revo is another story... but I just turned all the brakes of on it.

April 29, 2009, 11:20:40 PM

I bought a Citica E series about a month ago and I love it, it's smooth and casts great. I always leaned towards the magnetic braking over the variable but now that I have tried it, it seems to work just as well. I also ran into some pritty good deals on the older D series Shimanos and pick up a Curado for $75 and a Citica for $50 and I like them alot too but they seem to be a little heavier. They had a ton of them if anyone is interested it is at a Gander in Ohio and the number is 440-934-8222. My dad also ordered a few and he said that the shipping is pritty cheap.

mlakrid · April 30, 2009, 02:33:51 PM

Quote from: islandbass on April 12, 2009, 01:37:44 AM
I would recommend that you open the sideplate and see how many brakes are off and on. The next one you buy might have them all off or all on or some other combination and it won't "act" the same as your first one until you do and it might make you think that something is wrong. The first curado I bought had all of the brakes off. Let's just say it was the most glorious bird's nest I have even seen. Was a newbie to casting reels back then and so that definitely contributed to it.

What he said... I didnt like my Revo-S until someone told me how to turn the brakes off...

Mike A!

Shimano Citica... worthy baitcaster or no?

TightLinez

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