Baitcaster

[Trevor K]

I'd like to get my dad a new baitcaster for his birthday, since the one he has is probably an antique and isn't very high speed. Does anybody have any recommendations? My budget is about $100 and I'd like to get one with a 6.3:1 ratio. Thanks!

[Dutch]

$119 Shimano Citica brand new. I have a couple of them and they work as good as the old green Curados did.

[eric1978]

Yep, Citica. I just bought one, too, and aside from the lower gear ratio, they are just as good as the Curados except for the missing ball bearings...which you can't even tell are missing.

[Trevor K]

Those Shimanos do look really nice. Has anybody ever fished the Quantum Catalysts? It's lighter, has the same gear ratio, and has more bearings. Reviews online seem to have nothing but positive things to say about both the Citica and the Catalyst.

[rps]

I recently junked a year old Shimano Curado after its second breakdown. My three year old Citica is still a very good reel, as are my older Curados. I bought an Okuma Serrano to replace the junked reel, and it has impressed me mightily. Like Shimano Okuma has a price point reel to compete with the Citica. It is named the Cayenne. Look at it.

Hope these comments help.

[flytyer57]

Those Shimanos do look really nice. Has anybody ever fished the Quantum Catalysts? It's lighter, has the same gear ratio, and has more bearings. Reviews online seem to have nothing but positive things to say about both the Citica and the Catalyst.

I own 1 Quantum reel. It's an "EX301P" that I bought years ago when I just started getting into baitcast reels. I think it's a piece of junk and will never buy another Quantum reel again.

I have an older Shimano "Bantam Black Magnum" that has been pretty good to me. Also have an Abu Garcia Ambassaduer 6501- C3 that would make me buy another one again if I ever gave up fly fishing. Wait... I ain't gonna give up fly fishing. Got too much cash into that and have too much fun.

[Wayne SW/MO]

You might also keep an eye out for a BPS reel on sale. They aren't bad reels and you can often upgrade with a sale price.

[Trevor K]

Well, his birthday is in a few days, so I can't really wait too long. Haha, nothing like waiting until the last minute, right? That was actually the reason I was asking about the Quantum Catalyst though. Cabelas has it on sale. Reg. $149.99. On sale for $89.99.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I've never used a Quantum reel, but a lot of people do. Maybe a post asking for specifics on that reel would help?

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, I don't buy Quantum reels...I've owned three, and two were pieces of junk. The third one was a pretty good reel. But...you gotta realize that the last one I bought was the best one, and that was probably at least 10 years ago. So I wouldn't take my experience as having much relevance today!