Underrated reel!!! 2025
BigBrotherThunda reply :
Ive been a realtively high end reel guy for a while. Zillions and Curados have become my toys of choice, with a premiere, a few HSTA's and a couple chronarchs slipped in there (although i did buy a PQ last year and have found it to perform surprisinlgy well!). Ive always thought that the 6 to 1 ratios of my HSTAs were all I needed for cranking. However, after my partner took me to the woodshed cranking deep little johns last month (using hte same line and lure) with his 5.1 reel I thought I would ivest in a mid-level low ratio reel. I bought a Brwoning Citori from BPS when they were on sale last month under the idea that it would be a ProQ with a deer head on the side. I was WRONG! The Citori, though strikingly similar in appearance, cast better and is much much smoother than my ProQ and I like it much better than any of the johny morris reels i have gone through in the past. In all honesty, however it has only been a few weeks, its performance thus far exceeds that of the Citica E's, but not quite up to the Curado level. Im stoked, and will definately find a reason to buy another one soon....there a da*m good looking little reel too!
0119 reply :
Sure its good! Its a Revo with a big box name stuck on it. Careful though the shimano gods will not be happy with your insight.
BigBrotherThunda reply :
Agreed, after deconstructing it, it is an SX, with a swept handle, defferent paint job, and browning emblem.
skunked_again reply :
wait till you do a complete clean and re-lube on the reel. that is when it will shine the most.
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteSure its good! Its a Revo with a big box name stuck on it. Careful though the shimano gods will not be happy with your insight.
I think The Posse should steer clear of these threads. I'm glad you guys like your reels.
-Kent
ww2farmer reply :
QuoteQuoteSure its good! Its a Revo with a big box name stuck on it. Careful though the shimano gods will not be happy with your insight.I think The Posse should steer clear of these threads. I'm glad you guys like your reels.
-Kent
Agree......but I will say one thing, not so long ago I was amongst the uneducated...........I know better now. They will learn. :-X
mikeeasttn reply :
I have also been using the curado's, Core, And Calcutta Shimano reels. Also Daiwa Zillion and Revo Toro but have gone to Amb 4600, 5550, 5600, 6500, and 6600. Use 4600's for casting cranks, Worms, Spinniners, and all other except swimbaits. Use the 5500 & 5600 for these same baits some but mostly the 5500, 5600 and the 6600 for swimbaits. Admitley the other reels are a little smoother cranking but they will not cast futher and much lighter lures and I like the round style of these reels. Just have about relagated the more expensive reels to the rod box and in the rod stands in the garage. Just my personal preference and I may be foolish for using the AMB but I really like them for my type fishing. I feel they could be the most overlooked baitcasters on the market.
B-Dozer reply :
I like using round reels also. Abu C-5s, and Cabelas Prodigy round reels. I guess most people like the modern, streamlined, look of LP. 8-)
rubba bubba reply :
QuoteAgreed, after deconstructing it, it is an SX, with a swept handle, defferent paint job, and browning emblem.
Mag brakes?
0119 reply :
mikeeasttn. I enjoy 4600C3's myself. My preferred saltwater inshore reel. Theres not anything you cant do to these reels. Check out Jerry Forans custom made Ambassadeurs, smoother than any modern reel and cheaper than the newer lp's. He adds bearing supported shafts, b trap idle wheels w/bb's and such. Great swimbait reels.
J Francho reply :
Abu 5600WS "Wiffle Spool"
This one has:
Smooth Drags ABEC 5 Ceramic Hybrid Bearings
Smooth Drags Carbontex Washers
Vetted and polished steel washers
Revo Toro 50 oversize handle and knobs
Stainless Steel Knob Bearings
Slower C3 main gear and pinion
Casts big swimbaits like a dream. Much lighter than the oft recommended Shimano Calcutta.
B-Dozer reply :
QuoteAbu 5600WS "Wiffle Spool"
This one has:
Smooth Drags ABEC 5 Ceramic Hybrid Bearings
Smooth Drags Carbontex Washers
Vetted and polished steel washers
Revo Toro 50 oversize handle and knobs
Stainless Steel Knob Bearings
Slower C3 main gear and pinion
Casts big swimbaits like a dream. Much lighter than the oft recommended Shimano Calcutta.
That is one sweet reel! 
tholmes reply :
QuoteAbu 5600WS "Wiffle Spool"
This one has:
Smooth Drags ABEC 5 Ceramic Hybrid Bearings
Smooth Drags Carbontex Washers
Vetted and polished steel washers
Revo Toro 50 oversize handle and knobs
Stainless Steel Knob Bearings
Slower C3 main gear and pinion
Casts big swimbaits like a dream. Much lighter than the oft recommended Shimano Calcutta.
Whoa! That's a beauty, J.
I think I've got reel ***.
Tom
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
QuoteI have also been using the curado's, Core, And Calcutta Shimano reels. Also Daiwa Zillion and Revo Toro but have gone to Amb 4600, 5550, 5600, 6500, and 6600. Use 4600's for casting cranks, Worms, Spinniners, and all other except swimbaits. Use the 5500 & 5600 for these same baits some but mostly the 5500, 5600 and the 6600 for swimbaits. Admitley the other reels are a little smoother cranking but they will not cast futher and much lighter lures and I like the round style of these reels. Just have about relagated the more expensive reels to the rod box and in the rod stands in the garage. Just my personal preference and I may be foolish for using the AMB but I really like them for my type fishing. I feel they could be the most overlooked baitcasters on the market.
X2 I say this all the time. Jfrancho's picture is a great example.
Bassohol reply :
That is an awesome feeling. I love getting something that I feel is a little below what I normally use, but I'm only getting it to fill a small niche need, and then it turns out to be amazing.
The same thing happened to me when I got my HSTA. I bought a used one mainly because I wanted to put the handle on my Fuego ;D but also because I needed a reel to use sparingly with shallow cranks. That reel performed better than I ever dreamed it would! I knew it was supposed to be a pretty good reel, especially for the price, but I never dreamed I would like it as much (possibly more) than my higher end reels like my TD-Z.
mikeeasttn reply :
J Franco is there anywhere i can get one of those reels. also 119 does Jerry Foran have a web site or a Phone # where I can get in touch. Thanks Mike
HookSetDon reply :
wheres the best place to pick up one of these citoris? i see bps online has them for 100
B-Dozer reply :
QuoteJ Franco is there anywhere i can get one of those reels. also 119 does Jerry Foran have a web site or a Phone # where I can get in touch. Thanks Mike
Just google Jerry Foran, he's out of Florida.
J Francho reply :
QuoteJ Franco is there anywhere i can get one of those reels. also 119 does Jerry Foran have a web site or a Phone # where I can get in touch. Thanks Mike
Probably eBay. They go for around $80. I don't know anything about a Jerry Foran, never heard of him.
B-Dozer reply :
If he is referring to a similar reel as J Franco's, it will cost more than $80 on e bay.
J Francho reply :
The upgrades are around another $100 or so.
0119 reply :
hookless.com The possibilities will make you drool. Best part he sells the parts so you can make one just the way you want it.
Goose52 reply :
QuoteI bought a Brwoning Citori from BPS when they were on sale last month....
Glad you like the new reel. I've seen them in the catalog but had not seen enough reviews on them to get any kind of idea of what they're like. Some people will say that it will fall apart after "a season" (whatever that means) but it may not. Keep it serviced, spread the use between all your reels, and collectively, you may be using it for a long time and get a lot of service out of it. Only time will tell - and I'm sure you will get your investment back in service.
Have fun!
Goose52 reply :
QuoteAgree......but I will say one thing, not so long ago I was amongst the uneducated...........I know better now. They will learn. :-X
Are you implying that all buyers of box store reels "Will Learn" to ONLY buy Shimano and Diawa. Maybe - time will tell. But time may also tell that these reels will give good service at their price points. If a person is happy with their gear - then good for them!
On "learning", I'm sometimes glad I don't "learn" everything on this site. Just the other day I hopped in my 23 year-old car, drove to the lake, flipped the bail on my 25 year-old Shakespeare spinning reel, attached to my worthless broomstick BPS Extreme rod, tossed out a chatterbait on my also worthless 10lb BPS Excel mono, caught a 9.06lb LMB, released the bass, and then drove home. As I picked up some scissors that I've been using since about 1968 to cut my line to retie the chatterbait I started thinking, man, what I did was impossible - I should have had a new truck to drive to the lake, a ShimaDai reel, uber-expensive flouro on a St.CroLoomis rod, and at least used a new pair of line clippers to trim my line. How can you catch fish with this old equipment...everyone knows that this cheap stuff doesn't last or catch fish.............
just sayin' :
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
Ive been more pleased with my 8yo $70 Pinnacle BC than I have my 3yo $150 Shimano Stradic spinning reel of which Ive had 2. Returned the fist Stradic after 2 weeks cause it made a noticable whirring noise as the spool spun arond. Now this Stradic I have has a rough spot in the 4o'clock position of retrieve and starting to whir a little. It needs to be serviced but my Pinnacle is fine smooth and quiet.
Intrepid reply :
QuoteQuoteAgree......but I will say one thing, not so long ago I was amongst the uneducated...........I know better now. They will learn. :-XAre you implying that all buyers of box store reels "Will Learn" to ONLY buy Shimano and Diawa. Maybe - time will tell. But time may also tell that these reels will give good service at their price points. If a person is happy with their gear - then good for them!
On "learning", I'm sometimes glad I don't "learn" everything on this site. Just the other day I hopped in my 23 year-old car, drove to the lake, flipped the bail on my 25 year-old Shakespeare spinning reel, attached to my worthless broomstick BPS Extreme rod, tossed out a chatterbait on my also worthless 10lb BPS Excel mono, caught a 9.06lb LMB, released the bass, and then drove home. As I picked up some scissors that I've been using since about 1968 to cut my line to retie the chatterbait I started thinking, man, what I did was impossible - I should have had a new truck to drive to the lake, a ShimaDai reel, uber-expensive flouro on a St.CroLoomis rod, and at least used a new pair of line clippers to trim my line. How can you catch fish with this old equipment...everyone knows that this cheap stuff doesn't last or catch fish.............
just sayin' :
AMEN!!! i know exactly what you mean. Its nice to have quality gear and theres nothing wrong with paying good money for it if thats your thing. but at the same time, theres no need to be snobby and act like a man cant catch the same big fish on a cheap and/or moderately priced but effective combo as another man can catch on his highly touted and also effective expensive combo. specifically, a lot of people here are very high on shimanos and make comments like "wouldnt have that problem with a shimano" etc., not that shimano doesnt make a quality product(i have a lightweight shimano spinning combo that i love), theyre not the end-all be-all. plenty of people catching quality fish on a bunch of quality products that are available to us that are not shimano. i just wish some didnt act like the brand of their rod or reel makes them a better fisherman than anyone else here. just because you drive a 2011 rolls royce doesnt mean youre a better driver than the guy driving a 1958 vw beetle...
Stasher1 reply :
FWIW, the only reel I've owned that had problems straight out of the box was a Citica 200E.
The Shimano name is not necessarily a guarantee of quality.
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