New Baitcaster

[Bird Watcher]

Before you pull the trigger, check out the features of Academy's H2O mettle Xpress. 49.99, lifetime warranty. It's a curado in disguise. It's what I'm moving my entire fleet over to. Hopefully it will be the last time I buy baitcaster reels.

[Mitch f]

Just read that Abu Garcia has a new reel called the Revo Rocket with a 9:1 gear ratio, pulls 37" per crank

[dave potts]

I bought a used Citica from someone here last year. I'll have to agree with the others who like them. It's a great casting reel and I don't recall a single backlash on it.

Dave

[LittleRedFisherman]

Since I've lost my good curados in a canoe spill last year, I looked into replacing them with new curados, I just couldn't see the same quality/value ratio. Like Riverrat, I bought the Lew's and am very satisfied. Mine was the lower end Sh1Sh model with the 7:1 ratio. Was only $75 (I think) brand new from eBay. The drag and braking system are the best

Mitch, I thought of you last week when I put in at Hardy Beach on the Spring river. Isn't that close to where you had the spill?

[Mitch f]

Think so, just look for the big rock next to the waterfall that has brown stuff all over it!

[hoglaw]

Ditto the Curado. Didn't know about the name change. I have a nice Revo that's alright. I have two Curados, one old Citica that isn't functioning, and three newer Citicas. I use left handed reels, so while my selection can be limited sometimes, I get good deals at other times. I bought all of Gander Mountain's left handed Citicas (3), so they sold them to me for $60 each I think.

With the older Citica, I experienced a really bad binding problem. I bought it used, so I can't attest to the binding issues of shimanos. I've never had an issue except for that one. I took it to the guy who does all of the reel repair work for most of the NWA shops, and he said the spool was warped. He put a new one in it and I haven't had any more issues with binding. But it needs a new hande because one of the grips is wobbly.

I love my curados. Have a 6.1 and a 7.1 I think. Wish I could find a couple of leftys in 5.1:1.

[hoglaw]

Just read that Abu Garcia has a new reel called the Revo Rocket with a 9:1 gear ratio, pulls 37" per crank

That would be an awesome frog reel. It would probably wear you out with a crankbait or spinnerbait.

[Greasy B]

Ditto the Curado. Didn't know about the name change. I have a nice Revo that's alright. I have two Curados, one old Citica that isn't functioning, and three newer Citicas. I use left handed reels, so while my selection can be limited sometimes, I get good deals at other times. I bought all of Gander Mountain's left handed Citicas (3), so they sold them to me for $60 each I think.

With the older Citica, I experienced a really bad binding problem. I bought it used, so I can't attest to the binding issues of shimanos. I've never had an issue except for that one. I took it to the guy who does all of the reel repair work for most of the NWA shops, and he said the spool was warped. He put a new one in it and I haven't had any more issues with binding. But it needs a new hande because one of the grips is wobbly.

I love my curados. Have a 6.1 and a 7.1 I think. Wish I could find a couple of leftys in 5.1:1.

I apologize if this is a dumb question: why all the different retrieve ratios? Why wouldn't a person want the highest ratio reel and crank slower to get the desired effect?

[moguy1973]

I apologize if this is a dumb question: why all the different retrieve ratios? Why wouldn't a person want the highest ratio reel and crank slower to get the desired effect?

It's more about the gearing advantage you get with lower gears. It's easier to use deep divers with lower gear ratios because the reel has more torque and is doing more work for you.

[Greasy B]

It's more about the gearing advantage you get with lower gears. It's easier to use deep divers with lower gear ratios because the reel has more torque and is doing more work for you.

Makes sense, I don't use deep divers so I never ran across the need for more torque. I guess if I started to fish more large spinner baits that would also apply.