I've heard a lot of bad things about Shimano since I've starting looking at better reels, however there seems to be so much love for Shimano products on TFF and TW.

I need an honest opinion. What is your take on the brand? Has it gone downhill in the past few years? Do they still compete well with the Daiwas, the Abus, and the Lews?

-Tim

I prefer Shimano baitcasters. From the Chronarch E on up you can't lose.

I have 16 Curado's or Chronarch reels. They are great reels. I don't own one but have heard to stay away from the G Series. I've tried a couple other brands but keep going back to my Shimano reels.

I am obsessed with tackle. I have, or have owned, tackle from nearly every major manufacturer. In my humble opinion, shimano makes a fine reel. They are proven workhorses and will withstand the test of time. I think dollar for dollar, they will beat out Daiwa and Abu Garcia, although both make top notch reels. That being said, I have fallen in love with the offerings from Lew's. They outcast any reel I have owned. They are light and comfortable. The retrieve is buttery smooth, and they make a reel to fit anyone's budget. I have had my oldest Lew's for around 3 years now, and it still performs like the day I bought it. Take this for what it is worth; my 2 cents.

The good thing about shimanos is they are still very simple as far as how the guts of the reel are. Easy to take apart and clean and easy to find parts if need be. I have 13 of them and a couple of them are atleast 15 years old and still cast like they were new.

We've been in the reel repair biz for 20 years and after many years and many many different brands of reels, we decided to specialize in theShimano freshwater baitcasters. Being reel fixers and always interested in a reels' innerds, we like the Shimanos the best. IOHO, we feel they are a solid designed reel with great tolerances. However, other shops feel the same way about the reels they like best to work on in their shop. I guess it comes down to your like and dislikes. But for us, the shimanos top all others.

I learned to fish on the old Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reels. When I got back into it after college, I bought a couple of AG Revo reels and just didn't like them at all. Went fishing with a guide on Fork who let me try out his Shimano Curado and it was fantastic in comparison. I went out and bought four Citica 200E models and they're all very good reels. Very smooth, cast well and the braking system is easy to use and very, very effective. Recently, my wife got me a Chronarch 200E6 and it is by far the best reel I've ever owned. It'll cast anything and it can outcast even my Citicas by a good margin. They've all held up relatively well, although I do have to open them up for cleanings or lubrication now and again.

I have no opinion on the Lews reels, but everyone says they're top notch. I'd love to try out one of their reels in the Citica price range to compare. The Chronarch is too expensive for me to ever buy myself.

Shimano reels are overall a great product. The G series are not the same as the D and E, or as good as the older "greenies" style Curado. I've used D series Citica and Curado reels in the salt and freshwater and love them

Shimano hands down
Great reels & you can still get parts for older ones.

Add my name to the list of admirers. I bought 11 of them when they announced that they were changing the B series reel. I still have a 200B5 NIB, just waiting to put it on a Dobyns 8' CB RM. As mentioned, easy to work with and they have all held up well, especially the B5 cranking reels I have. I also love the old Super Free (B) and it is a super reel, even in todays standards. My next reel will be a Lews, just to try them out. I have some some OLD Lews BB-1NG reels that I need to try to find a new pawl for, but they wre what David Fritts did most of his cranking with. Hope this helps.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

Lots of luck on most parts for your older reels also it is getting hard getting parts for newer ones.