I bought an Abu Garcia black max 2 years ago. It's screams and whines when I cast. Bought some reel oil to clean it. But I can not seem to figure out how to get it apart without a ton of parts flying off!

So in the market for new baitcaster that is easy when it comes to cleaning.

Looking at the Shimano Caenan 100 Series.

Get a curado 200e7 while they are on sale. You won't be dissappointed or a citica, either one are mechanically pretty simple and are bullet-proof. I don't own or have not used the caenan so I can't really speak to them.

I have both the caenan and the curado 200 e5 and e7. The Curados are on sale, so its a nobrainer as to getting on over the Caenan.

NOW - lets get to the real point of this post. You can't clean a reel by adding oil. Go to a local tackle shop on get it cleaned! Your current reel might not be worth getting cleaned but if you replace the reel with a new one get them cleaned and lubed atleast once a year. Some guys will clean them for about $35. Support your local tackle shop and make some brownie points with them in doing so. This is good JUJU my man!

Go on YouTube. Search how to clean a bait cast reel. They show you how to clean, where to properly lube and how much lube to use. To much lube isn't a good thing. You'll be surprised how little lube is actually needed to "properly" lube a reel.

+2 on youtube

Just throw that reel away and get an h20 expres.s I'm suprised the level wind even works on than reel if its two years old any ways the h20 express are only 50 buks at academy

3+ if yer mechanically incline. Then with the money you save, you can replace the original casting bearings with ceramic ones. Thease are SWEEEET! You'll cast 30% farther if not further! Again, get with your local tackle shop to get them.

I have done upgraded to all Falcon rods and Shimano reels but before that I had all Black Max combos and had them for 4 years and they worked fine when I passed them on to my buddy and he has had them for a year so 5 years old and still going strong they are good little reels IMO.

I clean my curados when im bored. I got to where I like tinkering with them. What I have been doing is soaking the bearings in lighter fluid then blow it off with compressed air. One little drop of oil is all you need. I use that oil you can get from academy called hot sauce. Just remember when you take it apart make sure u have a big area and line everything out the way it came off and dont get in no hurry. I learned the hard way.

Most all of the Shimanos are very good. Then Caenan is a great reel for the money. I have one. With all the new reels right around the corner keep your eye out for some killer deals on the current models. Try to buy a Citica or Curado if you can.

Well the two I owned were peices. I fish almost everyday and they couldn't take any punishment I don't have to do anything but fish with my h20 express reels and they are the same price range as the black max I prefer the h20 over my citca and my diawa tierra anyday my only complaint is they don't come in different gear ratios

Good advice, Ken....I'm gonna give the lighter fluid a go on the next cleaning...thanks, buddy...

Don't forget about upgrading to ceramic bearings. If you got it all apart to clean, you might as well. Ceramics are Sweeet!

Southwestern Parts in Dallas is clearing out Citicas for $85. Great reel for the price.


Ken, you have a Caenan? I would have never guessed that..LOL