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Relevant once again, the new Shimano Stradic CI4
(continued)
  Real
World Test: To
test the Shimano Stradic CI4 with we head to the California Delta and Clear Lake
in pursuit of both Crappie and Largemouth Bass. We fished over a six month
period with both 6 and 8 pound mono and fluorocarbon lines and paired the
Stradic CI4 with a Shimano CUS-68M Cumara medium power/fast action spinning rod
during the entire course of our field tests.
The Stradic features a thin
asymmetrical frame to make room for the gearing
Casting:
Before I started the casting tests I took a few moments to admire just how well
the Stradic CI4 paired with the Cumara both in look and feel. The colors matched
up perfectly and the balance of this outfit was outstanding. The Stradic CI4 is
a respectable casting reel and while it does not have a titanium lipped spool it
does make use of the company’s propulsion line management system which is
designed to improve casting distances over standard
spools while preventing backlashes and wind knots from forming.
The Stradic is a quality caster
and line lay is very even
During tests
even stiffer fluorocarbon lines flowed off of the spool in consistent loops
which equated to reduced contact and friction on the stripper guide and overall
improved line handling and distance. I found that casting accuracy and distance
with the Stradic CI4 to be both quite good overall as the reel also exhibited
superb line lay. The line lay was always uniform and when it came time to make
casts the line flowed off the spool more easily.
The reel features Shimano's
Propulsion spool and a sculpted one piece bail wire
Retrieve:
The Stradic CI4 feels fairly smooth and while not as smooth as the Sustain it
sure comes close. The rotor weight on this reel is well distributed and we were
not able to detect any vibration in the rotor mechanism during retrieves, even
when we tied on reaction baits. Also improved on this reel is the stopper which
eliminates backplay for quick hooksets.
A nice enthusiast element is the
round EVA handle grip
Though the Stradic CI4 is
smooth it isn’t as silent as the more expensive Shimano spinning reels. With
each turn of the handle you can hear the internal workings of the reel and while
the reel is close to silent some audible whirring can be detected. During our
tests at Clear Lake we got into a few schools of Crappie and were able to really
test the reel with light 6lb line. The Stradic felt strong and confident on
retrieves and the drag does a good job picking up right where the gearing stops
to preserve the integrity of the lighter line under load.
The reel's red highlights give the
Stradic a supertuned look
The Stradic CI4 is
enjoyable to fish, it not only looks like an enthusiast reel with the
contrasting dark frame and prominent red highlights but it performs like a reel
that could easily cost 35-50% more. I was skeptical that the CI4 material would
feel more like cheap graphite than aluminum alloy but after catching plenty of
Crappie and Largemouth with this reel there was many times I felt like I was
fishing a magnesium reel rather than a carbon fiber one. The material is rigid
enough to keep the gearing within tolerance while reducing weight.
line flows easily off the spool
thanks to the even line lay
Next Section: An excellent waterproof drag |
