Stuck To Shimano 2024
LgMouthGambler reply :
Well its official, all my reels have been traded in. As I had an assortment of Abu, BPS, Shimano, etc, I went back to my solid Shimano routes. Just got the Chronarch 200E7. Now its just Curado 200E7, 50E, Citica 200G6, Chronarch 200E7, and later will add the Chronarch 50 E to the list. Downsized to what always worked best for me. Simplified and functional.
BASSclary reply :
SHIMANO does make a really nice product, and people (especially at BR 
) love them, for good reason. Glad to hear you enjoy them so much you've gone all SHIMANO!
Ima Bass Ninja reply :
For some reason I feel like playing taps on the trumpet as another good man has succumbed to the deadly virus shimanoitis 
....lol just kidding...I like having all the same kind of reels too 
Bluebasser86 reply :
I have a couple Abus that I like very well and a couple Pfluegar spinning reels, all the rest are Shimano.
Diggy reply :
Glad you didnt try a lews or you might sell some to all of your shimaners 
shackman reply :
Been fishing Shimano reels since I was 8 yrs old,now 42
These reels have withstood the test of time and I also do reel maintenance and hardly ever have someone bring me a Shimano other than just needing to be cleaned and lubed...congrats on your transition to all shimanos..the best they are in my opinion.
msolorio reply :
ive seen a lot of people switch out all their shimanos to lews after tryin one lol
loodkop reply :
I have been a Shimano fan for 30 years and has been disappointed everytime I tried a different brand. I admit that the other reels have not been top of the range and that the high end reels from other manufacturers may be great reels but I will stick to what I know in the future.
LgMouthGambler reply :
Ive tried them all boys, with the exception of a Steez (would never pay that much for a reel). Shimano is proof that you dont need 20 bearings to outperform the competition. My first baitcaster was a Shimano CU200 when I was 11, and Im 30 now, and still the perfect balance of $ and quality.
stkbassn reply :
On 5/24/2012 at 12:01 PM, Diggy said:Glad you didnt try a lews or you might sell some to all of your shimaners
I had a difficult time with the Lews I bought....lots of backlashes and I just couldn't adjust to it....My Curados and Citicas have been nothing short of sweet and easy to adjust....What's the secret with the LEWS?
I did love the lightness and how small it was....loved the handle too.
Michael DiNardo reply :
LgMouthGambler you need to add a Calcutta or two.
Mike
Hi Salenity reply :
I'll keep my Core 50 but other than that I love my Lew'sOn 5/24/2012 at 12:01 PM, Diggy said:Glad you didnt try a lews or you might sell some to all of your shimaners
scbassin reply :
I have been stuck since 1975 when I purchased a Bantam Magnumlite Plus 2001 with fightin' drag. I now have between 65 & 70 Shimano reels. The one's I like the best are the Calais series they are very smooth & solid. The 2nd one would be the Curado B series they have stood the test of time. I have up graded the bearings & drag system on them though. I have tried other brands along the way but always ended up with Shimano's on my deck.
telmomarques reply :
i prefer daiwas, i sold all of my curados, 2 cores for zillions and pixy and steez
TrippyJai reply :
I too sold off all my other reels and now only own the Curado E series. They are great reels after upgrading the drag washers and bearings. They get the job done at a fair price. I'll admit there are other reels I want to buy, but I think what's keeping me away is the fact that I can break these reels down thoroughly when cleaning. A Core would be nice, but 2 Curados to me is even better.
POPRG reply :
Same here,..exactly what you said.On 5/25/2012 at 3:23 AM, stkbassn said:I had a difficult time with the Lews I bought....lots of backlashes and I just couldn't adjust to it....My Curados and Citicas have been nothing short of sweet and easy to adjust....What's the secret with the LEWS?
I did love the lightness and how small it was....loved the handle too.
Heard some great feedback about lews reels,so i just could not resist anymore and pulled the trigger on a tournament TP1SH a few weeks ago.Fished it about 5-6 times and i just cant get the reel dialed in! had more backlashes than ever before!!? I like the carbon handle,the paddle grips are nice and it is very light weight and plenty smooth,i just cant get the d**n thing under control! iv'e been thumbing reels for a while now,[fresh & salt water]but that sucker is fast!
Will NEVER part w/ my 2 curado 200 E7's,built like a tank,great caster and dependable! Although,i have been fishing my abu STX reels 90% of the time this season..to each his own,but i love the STX.
LgMouthGambler reply :
Yeah, I love my E Curados too. Its gonna go downn in Shimano history just like the B's did.On 5/25/2012 at 8:20 AM, TrippyJai said:I too sold off all my other reels and now only own the Curado E series. They are great reels after upgrading the drag washers and bearings. They get the job done at a fair price. I'll admit there are other reels I want to buy, but I think what's keeping me away is the fact that I can break these reels down thoroughly when cleaning. A Core would be nice, but 2 Curados to me is even better.
Hi Salenity reply :
Hey Lew's guy's, not to stomp on this thread any more than I already have but I have an E5 and a 50E both with drag washers and Boca bearings I'd love to trade for TP's (or sell) Pm me.
jdw174 reply :
My baitcasters were always Shimanos...still have 5 of them. Last year, I bought two Pflueger Patriarchs and can honestly say that I wish I had the $$$ to get rid of ALL my Shimanos and replace them with the Pfluegers. They're that good, IMO.
grimlin reply :
Shimano makes good reels. Although I don't care for the G series reels. The D series was my favorite although they are a little on the heavy side.Didn't bother me none.
Daiwa makes good reels also,they are a little pricier though.(my prefer reels). I love my fuego.
Haven't tried a lew's yet...but I will be one day. I hear nothing but good reviews from most people that own one. But right now,I really don't need any reels and need to use what I have.My Spinning reels get the most usage and they are all Daiwas...
roadwarrior reply :
Smooth, strong, silent and reliant...I have been a Shimano fan for more than a decade.
"Best Value"
Baitcasting: Curado CU50E
Spinning: Stradic CI4
Another reel I have been VERY impressed with: Pinnacle XLT
http://www.pinnaclefishing.com/shop/t-technicalhighlightReels.aspx
stkbassn reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 9:05 AM, POPRG said:Same here,..exactly what you said.
Heard some great feedback about lews reels,so i just could not resist anymore and pulled the trigger on a tournament TP1SH a few weeks ago.Fished it about 5-6 times and i just cant get the reel dialed in! had more backlashes than ever before!!? I like the carbon handle,the paddle grips are nice and it is very light weight and plenty smooth,i just cant get the d**n thing under control! iv'e been thumbing reels for a while now,[fresh & salt water]but that sucker is fast!
Will NEVER part w/ my 2 curado 200 E7's,built like a tank,great caster and dependable! Although,i have been fishing my abu STX reels 90% of the time this season..to each his own,but i love the STX.
Well at least I'm not the only one that had this issue! LOL. In fact, I bought two Shimanos from a guy that switched over to all LEWS. This is what got me so curious about why he would do such a thing. Well , I posted my experience so no need to go into it again. I absolutely love Shimano, right out of the box.
I have one REVO that I will soon be parting with to get another Curado. I haven't tried that STX or SX. I have the S and it's been pretty sweet. I haven't had it long but it's been a good one!
stkbassn reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 10:29 PM, roadwarrior said:Smooth, strong, silent and reliant...I have been a Shimano fan for more than a decade.
"Best Value"
Baitcasting: Curado CU50E
Spinning: Stradic CI4
Another reel I have been VERY impressed with: Pinnacle XLT
http://www.pinnaclef...lightReels.aspx
X2
Hooligan reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 8:52 PM, jdw174 said:My baitcasters were always Shimanos...still have 5 of them. Last year, I bought two Pflueger Patriarchs and can honestly say that I wish I had the $$$ to get rid of ALL my Shimanos and replace them with the Pfluegers. They're that good, IMO.
My guess is your tune will change next year. The long term durability of the patriarch has not been very good.
Nearly all of my personal reels are Shimano, there are a few odds and ends here and there, but not many. 40 Some odd Curados, Cores, Chronarchs, and Calcuttas, can't be wrong.
LgMouthGambler reply :
X a million, LOLOn 5/26/2012 at 4:35 AM, Hooligan said:My guess is your tune will change next year. The long term durability of the patriarch has not been very good.
Nearly all of my personal reels are Shimano, there are a few odds and ends here and there, but not many. 40 Some odd Curados, Cores, Chronarchs, and Calcuttas, can't be wrong.
Capt.Bob reply :
On 5/24/2012 at 12:11 PM, msolorio said:ive seen a lot of people switch out all their shimanos to lews after tryin one lol
I'm 58, been using Shimano since 1978 when I bought my first Bantam, now have a few more, and have had a 100 or more others over the years, tried other brands but didn't have em long, till 2012---- currently I have 5 Stradic MgFB 1000 and 2500 2 MgF 1000 and 2500 1 Saros, 3 Calcuttas a 100 and 2-400B, 3 Sustains a 1000 and 4000 FD's and a 3000 FE, 4 Stradics 1 2500FH 1-4000 MgFA and 2-4000 FI (a few Symetre's, customer reels when I was Chartering on Erie) so to say I am a Shimonohaulic is maybe an understatement, BUT!!! I would be able to add a Casiac and 4 Curado Cu200B CU200BSF CU200B 3.8:1 and a G7, but after the G7 for a new Avid 6'9"MLXF I thought I got a zebco in sheeps clothing?????? I listened to the tech that sold me the outfit and replacedc the G7 with a Lew's Tournament MSB 6.4:1, I sold every low profile Shimano I owned and now have a Tournament Pro 7.2:1 and a 6.4:1 Team, you cant argue with the rest of the Shimano lineup but Those that doubt the Lew's BEWARE!!! if you try one 95% of you will be doing what I did, I wonder if anyone will ever be able to top a Calcutta with a better round reel???? Na , , Imposible! They didn't build Rome over night, but by fall I expext to have 2 more Lew's Tuornament Pro's a 6:4:1 and a 5.4:1, buy the way all the low profile Shimanos are gone, if you waqnt to keep yours, stay away from the Lew's, they are addicting.Smoother Quieter, cast farther, and have stronger and smother drags!!! mine are all 14+ LBS. locked down
urp reply :
I have a soft spot for the old Bantam Shamano 150 and 250 reels. I own more than a bakers dozen of them. For one thing I like to back-reel when fighting a big fish and the Bantam lets me do that. I own several newer reels and while the Bantam isn't quite as smooth and doesn't cast quite s far as the newer ones, I've fished them since they 1st came out and never had one go bad.
LgMouthGambler reply :
Dependable, and last a long time. I know a lot of people have this "Lews" bug, but lets see where they are 10 years from now.
jdw174 reply :
On 5/26/2012 at 5:03 AM, LgMouthGambler said:X a million, LOL
Sorry, but I just don't drink the Kool-Aid. Glad you like your Shimanos.
msolorio reply :
i think in 10 years lews reels will still be kickin butt. theyre built every bit as good as shimanos if not better now and they are the og of low pro baitcasters.
msolorio reply :
oh yea for you guys having trouble dialing in your lews, you dont need to hard whippin cast like you would with other reels, those things are so smooth it doesnt take much effort to make a long cast. i usually adjust the spool tension knob, then have the mag brakes set at like 4 or 5 and can cast a weightless fluke a mile. theyre not that hard to dial in.
Goose52 reply :
On 5/26/2012 at 8:12 PM, LgMouthGambler said:Dependable, and last a long time. I know a lot of people have this "Lews" bug, but lets see where they are 10 years from now.
Wow - a 10-year challenge! 
One of you Lew's guys will have to take this one since I don't have any Lew's and I'm already in the middle of the BPS PQ 5-year challenge... :lol:
I like long-lasting stuff (my two cars are 24 and 40 years old)...but I think sometimes the longevity thing, especially for lower-cost items like fishing reels, can be given more weight than it deserves. If the only important criterion for a BC reel was longevity, then we would all be using Ambassadeur 5000 round reels for the rest of our lives. As long as a reel gives you adequate value for money spent, I don't see why a reel can't have a "lifespan" - after which you consider it used up and move on to later and greater reels. And even before the reel is used up, technology advances might make you want to move on to something else. I used my 1980s vintage Shakespeare spinning reels until just recently and retired them not because they were used-up, but because newer reels have features (like silent, instant anti-reverse) that I considered more important than continuing to try to extract more economic value out of the reels.
I think most of the folks on this board will most likely be fishing some newer reels ten years from now......
Capt.Bob reply :
On 5/27/2012 at 1:49 AM, Goose52 said:Wow - a 10-year challenge!
One of you Lew's guys will have to take this one since I don't have any Lew's and I'm already in the middle of the BPS PQ 5-year challenge...
I like long-lasting stuff (my two cars are 24 and 40 years old)...but I think sometimes the longevity thing, especially for lower-cost items like fishing reels, can be given more weight than it deserves. If the only important criterion for a BC reel was longevity, then we would all be using Ambassadeur 5000 round reels for the rest of our life. As long as a reel gives you adequate value for money spent, I don't see why a reel can't have a "lifespan" - after which you consider it used up and move on to later and greater reels. And even before the reel is used up, technology advances might make you want to move on to something else. I used my 1980s vintage Shakepeare spinning reels until just recently and retired them not because they were used-up, but because newer reels have features (like silent, instant anti-reverse) that I considered more important that continuing to try to extract more economic value out of the reels.
I think most of the folks on this board will most likely be fishing some newer reels 10-years from now......
Very good point Goose52, Like I said earier, I own mostly Shimano's now and used to own nothing but. Like you said I have never wore one out, (by the way, I still own 2 Ambassaduers 5500C's over 30 years old, that I use with the grand kids for Catfish, loked down drags and 30LBS fireline, and can still tame the biggest cat's. never had a thing done and loud as when they were new!) Point is They were replaced with 400B Calcuttas for smooth silky quiet reliable operation but the 5500's will still land any pike or muskie I ask them to, and cast nearly as far. If I thought I could replace the 400B with a better reel I would replace them right now and they would be catching cat's, but from what I see on the horizon, that aint gonna happen for a while. My Stradics get rotated about every other model, not because there wore out but because I like new stuff, and now that my kids are raised I can aford it.
I just came from the man cave and have decided to sell 2 Sustains and 2 Stradics and 3 Symetre's, every one in mint condition, and work like new. I just decided I want 2 new Sustains and a new Stradic, I am buying those models for the same reson I changed my low profile BC's to the Lew's, I like fishing with the finest reels available in every particular style, regaurdless who made it!!
Ima Bass Ninja reply :
On 5/26/2012 at 9:27 PM, jdw174 said:Sorry, but I just don't drink the Kool-Aid. Glad you like your Shimanos.
I'm a pflueger fan also along with pqs and I don't see having a problem with longevity of the reels. The company has been in business way longer than 10 years. Also I see this turning into a x reel is better than z reel thread. It's all about personal preference and confidence. If you like shimano great, they make some great products, lews, also quality products, along with pflueger Daiwa , Abu Garcia , pinnacle, and any other products I failed to mention. Debating over which reel is best is like debating over which is worse for you , McDonald's, burger king, or Hardee's
Quillback reply :
This Shimano vs everything else debate bubbles up about once a month. Goes on for several pages and then dies out...
But I always get a kick out of reading it. I have some Shimanos and some other brand reels. They all get used.
jdw174 reply :
Likewise, Quillback. I own (and use) 1 Daiwa, 5 Shimanos, and 2 Pfluegers. Spinning reels include one Abu, and two Shimanos. There are lots of decent reels out there in all price ranges.
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