Chronarch/Curado/Citica long run prediction...

[taylor5877]

They actually may make many loyal customers happy with the increase in options, as it's easy to get the reel you need for what you want now. For that I applaud (this could have been accomplished with the addition of new gear ratio options instead of rebranding current product though).

Folks looking for something new and innovative will not bother switching from their current brands however...and that's why I don't see these new reels being a smashing success.

Treading water IMO.

I think Quantum and Abu have done the most in an effort to grab new customers in recent years (still behind overall, but employing stratagies that get new customers).

[muskyhunter]

i am a shimano fan but the new baitcasting reels do nth for me. i am not going to change parts or mod based on a low end frame. If i wanted to mod and tune i would get a daiwa.

the new spinning reels on the other hand look awesome and are a step forward! I am wanting the new sustain!

[Mike Andrews]

IMHO Shimano would have been better off building on the E series by adding to the available gearing options. Even a modest price increase would be better received than what they did I think.

[Buck2thPerch]

IMHO Shimano would have been better off building on the E series by adding to the available gearing options. Even a modest price increase would be better received than what they did I think.

Agreed. Shimano should have kept with the formula that worked. That formula was the marketing and quality of product yet resonable prices aimed at the mainstream - Curado A and B series. Timeless peices of almost perfection fishing reels for the masses. Unlike this re-hashing of reels. This is why Daiwa still cannot garner any foot hold in the $120-$220 range. Its only as I got older and got a real job was I able to purchase and enjoy some of Daiwa's great reels from the Zillions on up. 16yrs old - 25yrs old.....fishermen do not always have the expenditures and budget to obtain $300+ reel and rods.

How long will these reels last? Depends on the mainstream fisherman if they accept the price and quality of these new reels. Slap the "Ford Mustang" name on a Ford Focus car and then call it the "Mustang X" and people will still buy it.

[5bites]

If they keep messing things up so bad they'll have to drop the curado and Chronarch names all together and start over. That would be a shame.

[taylor5877]

The sad thing about it (and Shimano probably secretly wants to club unhappy customers over the head for this) is that ever since they came out with the Curado D, anything with the Curado name is a far superior reel to the Curado B that so many diehards cling to.

After using one for the first time in years the other day (after having used all my new stuff from dang near every brand) I can't even believe I ever liked that reel...but it was THE reel for so long...

[Moss Boss]

The sad thing about it (and Shimano probably secretly wants to club unhappy customers over the head for this) is that ever since they came out with the Curado D, anything with the Curado name is a far superior reel to the Curado B that so many diehards cling to.

After using one for the first time in years the other day (after having used all my new stuff from dang near every brand) I can't even believe I ever liked that reel...but it was THE reel for so long...

In a way, I agree with you. I have new Curados and Revos that, performance wise, beat the B series hands down. But the B series have one thing to me that makes them great, they seem to work forever with VERY little, if any maintenance. I have sent in 3 Diawas to get fixed, and one of my Revos is starting to make a wierd noise. Had a D series Curado that acting really wierd every time it got wet. My old B series just keep trucking along.

[5bites]

When the d series came I went to daiwa. I don't doubt some others will do a similar move this time. The problem is Daiwa doesn't offer much to the curado user looking for a replacement. I do believe you get more for your money with Daiwa vs. Shimano. I believe Lews does too. I'd buy one before I'd buy a Shimano. They actually make the impression of trying to bring something to benefit the angler. According to Shimano I'm a short bus rider.

[taylor5877]

I do feel a little that shimano pizzed on our heads and told us it was raining with these...

In a way it looks like they're "catching up" to Quantum's and Abu's lineup that offer a variety of options and ratios already.

[Spot King]

I personally never understood what all the fuss was about with the Curado Bs. I owned the 200s and 100s. They were good reels no doubt, but IMO; there are so many better reels out there now with the newer technology. When guys were going nuts buying up old Curado Bs and spending top dollar; I sold mine and never thought twice about it. Shimano came out with the Ds; and I too went to Daiwa. Aside from the Curado 300; I didn't care for the 200s at all. I'm not one of those guys that gets too caught up on reel weight; but those things were just OUT THERE! Then Shimano came out with the Es; and I was happy again. I fish whatever I think is "best" and that I can afford. I'm not really brand loyal. I have fished just about all the brands. With that said, I do look mostly at Shimano and Daiwa for my reels. I own Calcutta TEs, Cardiffs; and Curado 300s for swimbait fishing. Curado 200E7s for standard baits; I just picked up two more after seeing the "new" reels. I own 7 Daiwas, and a few other reels. I'm not impressed with the new Shimanos. We get a black and white Curado that says "Chronarch" on it, with a updated drag; and no titanium levelwind for $200 ? I think I'll be more than happy with my bargain bin Curado E7s from Tackle Warehouse for $139! Basically the same reel; only green ! AND I don't have to wait until August or September to fish them.

[Darkninja11]

Pretty soon the next coming model is gonna be called: chronuradotica..seems like thats what they did infused all three reels together to become one..

[taylor5877]

No secret: I don't like HOW shimano introduced these reels...everything is going to be fine once the dust settles, but I still don't like it.

Key to this change is an effort to give these reels a stronger linked identity and making them more affordable to tournament anglers and weekend warriors.

Uh yeah, so you do that by making the Curado 200E $20 more, raising the price of the Citica by $10 and adding a reel with features in between that is appropriately priced? you can technically buy a reel stamped with "Chronarch" and "Curado" for less money now...

The new reel is immediately recognizable as a souped up previous gen Curado

so what, did they redo the machining at the factory that made these same parts for the Curado E and they suddenly become more refined? In fact, if I hear "this reel is more refined than the Curado E" out of anyone, I might have to throat punch a brother...

In an effort to make the reel once again more accessible to mainstream anglers the Curado G will retail for a more aggressive price of $159.99.

so shimano watered down the reel, prices it appropriately for this watering down, and the crowd goes wild!

“We offer our High Efficiency Gearing (HEG) to provide more leverage and to produce more fish moving power,” said Kenichi Iida, reel product specialist for Shimano American Corp., “plus we reduce weight with our Lo-Mass drilled spool system so anglers can experience longer casts through a wide range of lure weight, and we provide easy spool control adjustments with our Variable Brake System. Anglers can now look to the Citica reels for the right one for their type of fishing.”

Really? and the old Citica didn't do this? for $10 less?

I really need to quit posting as I 've voiced my displeasure...but it really is that bad to me...

[facelessnewsouth]

You caught all that too taylor? It seems the TT guys were trying their damnest to find something positive to say about this and thats all they found. The shimano guy was just spouting rhetoric from the long list of "features" that almost every reel has nowadays, but shimano wants you to think are special and unique. Definitely didn't justify the $10 price hike. I would much rather have a chronarch E with less bearings and few less features and the name Citica on it for 99 now over that new silver caenan for $129.

[MaxZmus]

Truth is we live in a world full of cheap bastards! Everyone loves seeing high end products but when you're trying to run a business you need products that will move and not just gather attention from the looky lews. I notice the same thing selling computers. Everyone wants to check out that new $1500 high end gaming pc but always walk out with something in the $300-$500 range because it serves their purpose and saves them quite a few bucks.

I'm not impressed with the new casting reels Shimano put out either, but that's a good thing cuz now I won't be tempted to spend any money. Well, except for the new stradic. In the long run, I think it will work out fine for Shimano. Let's see how many $500+ reels Daiwa can sell.

I think Quantum should've won best of show with the new EXOs period!! and I'm not even a Quantum fan.

[taylor5877]

I don't care how you feel about Quantum's reels, I applaud the company for continuing to come out with actual innovations.

If shimano made the parts for quantum's designs it would be scary how good those reels could be...