Shimano's new Citica 200E -
Completely Redefined (continued)
Drag:
Shimano specs the Citica’s
drag out at 11lbs but we were able to max out the drag at 11.38lbs of drag
counter pressure in our lab. When we tested the Curado E the drag performance
was near identical. In the field the Citica’s drag was not the strongest drag we
have tested in a reel of this size, but it was among the most smooth and
consistent. The new Citica E delivered just under 10% more drag pressure than
the previous generation 200D which is notable considering Shimano had to squeeze
more drag pressure out of less real estate for surface area inside the smaller
frame.
The handle side drops down to
accommodate the new gearing
The
Dartanium drag material that was once only found on Shimano’s most premium reels
is now is incorporated nearly throughout the entire series. Controlling the drag
is made easy with the new swept drag star which features clicking drag
adjustment. The drag star is a major upgrade over the previous version which was
much more utilitarian, this new design feels better when making quick
adjustments on the fly with your thumb.
Cal casts swimbaits with the
Citica E
Ergonomics:
We fished the Citica E on a number of rods ranging from Shimano’s own Crucial
and Cumara sticks, to G.Loomis and Lamiglas rods. On all the rods we noted how
low the reels sat on the reel thanks to a combination of a recessed reel seat
and newly designed gearbox which extended downwards versus outwards.
Cal liked the retrieve of the
Citica E but really liked the more fluid retrieve and the extra comfort of the
Curado E oversized PV power paddles
When it comes to improving
the form factor Shimano hit a home run with the redesign. They listened to both
consumers and dealers who wanted a smaller and lighter reel, but were unwilling
to make sacrifices when it came to refinement or power in both the gearing and
the drag. When you look at the reel from the non handle side the sideplate is
amazingly compact, and this helps make the Citica E among the most comfortable
reels to palm all day long.
Cal lands a fish testing while
slow rolling cranks
Shimano was able to drop the
weight of the Citica 2.1oz. with the redesign, making the reels easier to fish
for prolonged periods, and bringing it within the range of competitors that are
now also delivering lighter weight offerings. The fact that Shimano was able to
do this without sacrificing line capacity or power is quite inspiring.
By the end of the day Cal had
switched to the Curado E which he preferred over the Citica E, so much in fact
that even though he prefers all reels in left hand retrieve he had to get a
Curado E5 for the lower gear ratio
The Citica E features
traditional rubber barrel knobs which are comfortable and help make the reel
appear even smaller. The Curado E on the other hand makes use of larger Septon
PV power paddles for more comfortable hard cranking. Some anglers may be puzzled
why the lighter weight Curado makes use of the larger paddle grips, and we asked
Jeremy why these particular grips were chosen for the green machine. He simply
responded that many anglers liked the way they felt, and that this was another
differentiator between the two reels.
The Citica's new swept drag star
is thicker and easier to adjust on the fly
Next Section: The wrapup
