Shimano "Stradic CI4" Hot

I have had all the reels from all the other competitors and when I say all the list is to long to mention. I live breath eat sleep fishing! and I believe after 45 years of fishing several times a week that is enough qualification for me to speak about this reel. I bought the Stradic ci4 when it first came out and loved it the only thing that I could find any minor thing to speak of is the drag was not baby smooth as some other reels I have used. When the Stradic ci4+ came out I went the same day and looked at it after checking it out I purchased it. The next day I fished with it and managed to land a 8.5LB bass and the drag spoke for itself I was amazed at how smooth the Ci4+ is compared to the old model and left me thinking Shimano must have seen the same thing I saw and yes even though minor fixed it! This leads me to my next conclusion I will be a shimano fan for life. I fish with 8lb mono and my friends all joke with me about wait till you loose a really big one with 8lb test line that is until I caught a 12.7lb bass now no more jokes and they are buying stradics. Fish on!

I bought 2 of these a few years back and love them. Drag is very smooth awesome for Great Lakes Smallies and Steelhead. Only thing I didn't care for was the foam reel handle but it's grown on me and I don't mind it at all now.

The Shimano Stradic CI4 was the 2009 ICAST New Product Showcase Winner. Shimano has out done themselves with the addition of the new Stradic CI4. Seeing it for the first time at ICAST this year and was blown away by the look and feel of it.

The CI4 is only available in the 1000 or 2500 sizes. However it is made of carbon fiber so it's super strong and super light weight, with the 2500 only weighing 7oz. The CI4 offers a waterproof drag that is a necessity for any YakAngler. Along with its 15lbs of drag and 6.0:1 gear ratio the handle, while a little small, is made of EVA foam for a soft feel. The Stradic has 6 S A-RB shielded ball bearings for the ultimate in corrosion resistance and contaminant protection.

Along with great line capacity of 170yards of 10lb power pro plus this reel has a ton of other great features. The CI4 is a true workhorse you don't have to sacrifice power when fishing with a lightweight finesse style reel anymore.

I picked one up around the first week of October and put it to the test; meaning I tired to break it. No lubing, no rinsing, not even a quick once over with a towel. I wanted to see how long a reel will last if the angler is bad about caring for their reels. In some cases the reels hold up just fine to the constant battering of saltwater that is normal for a day of fishing. Other times, it’s not pretty what happens. With the Stradic CI4 you get what you pay for. The CI4 retails for$199.99, a small price to pay for a reel that will last you many years.

On the first day of fishing with the CI4 I hit the Indian River Lagoon in Titusville, Florida with redfish and trout on my mind. I spooled the reel with 170yards of 10lb red Power Pro and tied on a 12lb leader. This is a standard set up for fishing the area. The rod I was using was a rod I built just for the CI4. I used a G-Loomis 7' med action 6-12 lb GL2 blank that again is a standard line rating when fishing for redfish and trout. I dropped my Native Ultimate 14.5 in the water and started push polling my way to one of my favorite flats. Just about the time I get to the spot I saw a tailing redfish about thirty yards away. I made my first cast and it paid off with a nice 24" redfish.

The first thing I noticed about the CI4 was how far I could cast and how smooth the line left the spool. Once the fish took my jig and the line came tight the drag was as smooth as butter. Since that day I have caught a few hundred redfish and countless numbers of trout, black drum, flounder, jacks, and ladyfish on my CI4 and it is every bit as smooth as the day I took it out of the box. So as for not cleaning it, I gave it a good cleaning about a month after using it for the first time. There were no signs of rust or corrosion on the reel, inside the reel looked brand new and again no signs of rust or water intrusion. The CI4 is hands down the best reel in its class and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes the "light tackle "style of fishing.

Purchased the original CI4 2500 and the newer CI4+ 1000 for a recent trip where I was going to be using mainly finesse tactics. The 2500 was spooled with 6lb PP and the 1000 had Sunline 4lb Floro straight thru.

I also brought Daiwa Tierra 2000 and Okuma Helios 30 Spinning Reels, both used on matching Tierra and Helios rods. The Shimano Stradic Reels were paired with Fenwick Elite River Runner (1000) and the Fenwick Elite Tech Walleye Jigging Rod (2500)

Both Stradic reels overshadowed the Daiwa and Helios combos especially the smooth drag. The Helios reel was okay but not near as smooth as the Stradic reels. The Daiwa was a slightly cheaper reel and all I can say is that you get what you pay for.

I was fishing mostly in Saltwater and did not clean the reels until a week after I got home from an overseas trip. They both cleaned up and worked like they were new.

I now have two of these amazing reels. I will never touch another spinning reel, unless its the new Stradic. I haven't been kind to these reels. They've ended up floating in the Mississippi, hanging from trees, slammed against a couple rocks, and fully submerged more times than I'd like to remember. I'm nearing the end of their first season and I haven't lubricated or disassembled them yet. They're just now starting to reel just a bit rough, something that proper care and a drop of lube will take care of. I can guarantee that you will be pleased with these reels. They are now discontinued, but replaced with a new Stradic. I will be purchasing more of these reels.