The Stradic CI4 + can be considered a real pleasure for the enthusiastic fisherman. With a striking design and the best winding experience, combined with its lightweight qualities, this reel is designed to win the hearts of many fishermen around the world. Built with exciting technologies such as GEAR, G Free Body, CI4 Plus X-Ship Core Protect, as well as totally new Rotor Magnum Lite – all these are made to last.
Pros & Cons Shimano Stradic Ci4 Plus Spinning Reel Convertible
Hello, all fishing enthusiasts! I decided to write an article and tell you about my favorite fishing reel of Shimano Stradic Serie: let’s talk about Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000 XG Fishing Reel Spinning FB.Shimano. When choosing this reel, I was initially bribed by its brand, then I read the description of this reel and realized that this is what I need! And I didn’t lose. If you are looking for a stunning fishing reel, then continue reading my review.
About Fishing Shimano Brand
Shimano Inc is a Japanese company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of equipment for bicycles, as well as equipment for fishing and snowboarding. The headquarters is in Osaka. Since its foundation, the company has come a long way gradually expanding its production and influence on the Japanese, American and European markets. The company has a history of more than 80 years.
Founded in 1921 in Japan by one of the brothers Shozaburo Shimano, the production of Bicycle components under the brand name “3.3.3” was able to develop to a huge scale by the end of the 20th century.
Since the end of the 60s, a special branch of the Company Shimano Adachi has been producing fishing spinners and reels. Soon they introduced a new series of rods made of polyester fiberglass and GS reels. For the first time, Shimano products were introduced to the European market in 1974.
In 1980 the company’s engineers and designers created a sample of the Aero reel, which was to set a record for casting distance. Shimano has been the world’s leading manufacturer of fishing gear and ammunition for almost half a century. It has divisions and representatives all over the world.
Today Shimano produces products in separate catalogs for the Japanese, North and South American, European and Australian markets. In honor of its 70th anniversary, the company was renamed Shimano Inc. Shimano is now the largest Corporation with more than 5,000 employees and a distribution network that covers more than 40 countries.
Classification of Shimano Fishing Reels
Shimano spools have their own classification, according to which it is recommended you make a choice.
There are three main price groups:
- SR-a system that belongs to the elite class and is very expensive;
- S-system occupies a niche in the middle price category;
- P3 series belongs to the economy class.
Each of these groups has its own classification, which depends on the technical characteristics of the devices: inertial reels, non-inertial, with the location of the frictions, and so on. In addition, there is a classification by body color. For example, the red color indicates that the spool is a novelty on the market. Don’t forget about the size and gear ratios.
Shimano Reels Sizes
A number without letters at the end, for example, “2000” means that it is an ordinary spool or “Normal spool”. It’s a deep spool. It is most possible to wind the fishing line, which increases the total weight of the spool, so this reel is considered heavy.
The spool depth is reduced in this order: ordinary (without marking) > medium (M) > medium-fine (SM) > fine (S) > superfine (SS).
The numbers themselves: 1000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000 denote the diameter of the spool. The larger the diameter, the greater the forest capacity.
Conventionally, it is believed that a Shimano spool with a diameter of 1000 can be wound with 150 m of nylon fishing line 1 Japanese size. On a spool with a diameter of 2000-150 m of nylon fishing line 2 Japanese size, on 2500-150 m of nylon fishing line, and so on.
There are 5 sizes of spools:
- Normal Spool (it comes without markings or labels)
- Medium (M)
- Small Medium (SM)
- Small (S)
- Super Small (SS)
“M” in the end. From a “Middle body spool”. The average spool. In-depth the average spool is between ordinary and medium-shallow.
“MS” in the end. From “Middle shallow spool”. Medium-small spool. Slightly lighter than average.
The “S” in the end. From “Shallow spool”. Small spool. It has less depth and forest intensity, but it is lighter.
“SS” in the end. From “Super shallow spool”. Super small spool. It has even less depth and forest capacity than a small spool, but it is even lighter.
“C” in the beginning. From the “Compact body”. The entire mechanism except for the spool is smaller, in other words, more compact. For example, the “C3000” has a body size of “2500” and a spool size of “3000”.
Top Models Shimano Stradic Ci4 With Front Drag
1# Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000 XG FB Spinning Fishing Reel
Now when you have found out about Shimano and its products, I can tell you about the reel that I use myself. I’ll be honest, I liked it at first sight when I haven’t even read its characteristics, reviews, and yet. It looks very stylish. But of course, this is the last thing to pay attention to when choosing a spool.
But it’s still nice that Shimano not only produces powerful reels but also takes care of the design. I can say that this reel is suitable for both beginners and anglers who have been doing this for a long time. In it, everyone will find what they need. And so now it’s time to talk about the characteristics of the Shimano Stradic Ci4 + 4000 XG FB Spinning Fishing Reel.
The reel body is made of metal. This indicates the durability of the spool. It will serve you for many years. And I’m not exaggerating. You will see for yourself. Water will not get inside the device in any way due to the location of the side blades and gearbox. This reel has excellent performance.
Drag and drop are smooth. The reel pulls with a force that can vary from 7 to 24 pounds. This depends on the deviations. And in the fishing reel, you will find 4 forces. The device is easy to use. My favorite feature of this reel is cranking the line. The effect is 35 inches. I can throw lines for a distance of 270 yards that start at 110. Bearings are another plus for this reel. 6 ball bearings and 1 roller bearing.
It has a new Magnumlite Rotor, which will be appreciated by anglers who are demanding the sensitivity and feel of the reel. Add to this a lightweight G Free case with improved balance, a powerful x-Ship Hagane gear mechanism, and Coreprotect water protection, and you get a reel that stands out from its class.
It also has a new, easy-to-use front clutch handle that makes it easier to adjust when playing with fish than ever before. Gear ratio: 4.8:1. Fishing line length per turn, cm: 99. Maximum braking force, kg: 11.
2# Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500 RA Spinning reel
This reel is light and durable. The smooth rotation occurs thanks to the Magnumlite CI4 + Rotor. It has 5 ball bearings and 1 roller bearing. Powerful turning is performed, as well as smooth running thanks to the Stradic CI4+ RA. So you don’t need to worry about how it will cope in difficult situations. It will work perfectly. It weighs only 9 ounces and has a gear ratio of 6.0:1. I would also look at this model when choosing a reel.
3# SHIMANO STRADIC HG
This device is worthy of your attention too! It isn’t as light as the previous two models, but it is light enough to fish for a long time. The reel body is made of stainless steel and silver with black highlights. Stainless steel handle. I can’t say that the spool is waterproof, it is rather water-resistant. If it gets splashed with water, nothing will happen to it. 6 ball bearings and 1 roller bearing. Gear ratio: 6.0:1. Maximum braking force, kg: 9. Weight 235 grams.
4# Shimano 16 Stradic CI4+ C3000HG Saltwater Spinning Reel
Shimano ’16 Stradic CI4+ is a basic series of inertia-free reels with a carbon fiber body, sample 2016. It received a new “beveled” free body housing with an infinite screw that is raised closer to the coil’s foot, which provides better sensitivity and handling of the entire tackle as a whole due to the fact that the center of gravity of the reel is close to the place of its grip (to the foot).
This design came from the Shimano flagman-Stella 14′ and has long been justified. It has cold-forged gears that provide phenomenal performance and reliability. These gears have been rolled and have already passed a very successful test on such reels as New Twin Power 15′, Stradic 15′, Stella. The main pair here is installed according to the already classic x-SHIP concept.
The Coreprotect moisture and dust protection system again came from the flagship Stella 14. The Shimano Stradic Ci4+ New spool has the latest “New Magnum Lite” rotor, which has a very lightweight and minimal vibration, which provides extremely easy running and high sensitivity. This rotor was developed for one of the top reels in the Shimano line – Vanquish 16′. Summing up can say that this model is an ideal universal for ultra-Lite, Lite, light and medium jig, twitching, spinners, and turntables.
5# Shimano Stradic CI4+ 4000 RA
The Shimano Stradic CI4+ 4000 RA reel is an excellent universal rear-friction reel that is simply irreplaceable for a real fisherman! It is ultra-light and ultra-reliable! The Shimano Stradic CI4+ 4000 RA spool uses 5 shielded bearings and 1 roller bearing. Aero Wrap II provides uniform stacking of the line. Hypergear transmits the amplified power from the handle directly to the rotor.
The Shimano Stradic CI4+ 4000 RA reel body is made of high strength CI4+, the newest type of carbon fiber (the material is much lighter and 2.5 times stronger than its predecessor, CI4). The total weight is 255 g. The handle itself is made of aluminum and is traditionally covered with a thick layer of rubber, so it doesn’t slip even from wet hands. The reliable Shimano Stradic CI4+ 4000 RA spool is made in a stylish black-and-red aluminum color.
FAQ
What do the letters on the sticker on the leg of the reel mean?
There are 3 letters listed.
The first letter is the year of manufacture:
A – 2002 B – 2003 C – 2004 D – 2005, E – 2006, F – 2007 G – 2008 H – 2009 I – 2010 J – 2011 K – 2012, L – 2013, M 2014, N 2015, O – 2016, P – 2017, Q – 2018, R – 2019, S – 2020, T – 2021 U 2022 V 2023-W – 2024 X 2025 Y 2026, Z – 2027, A – 2028, B – 2029 C – 2030 …
The second letter is the month of manufacture:
A-January, B-February, C-March, D-April, E-may, F-June, G-July, H-August, I – September, J – October, K – November, L – December.
The third letter is the country of manufacture:
H – Korea, P-Malaysia, S-Japan (factory in Sakai), Y-Japan (factory in Yamaguchi).
For example, “KC-S” means that the reel was manufactured in 2012, in March at a factory in Japan (in Sakai).
How Should I Clean My Spinning Reel?
I want to note that it is very important to wash the reel. If you don’t do this, don’t expect that your spool will be durable and productive. It is necessary to wash the reel in freshwater after seawater. If you want to thoroughly wash the reel, you can do it with a cotton swab and alcohol. This will remove all the garbage.
Conclusion
I love the Shimano brand. It is a manufacturer of quality products for fishing. And their reels are no exception. I advise you to pay attention to the Stradic series of spools when choosing them. Especially for the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000 XG FB model. I’ve been using it myself for many years and I can honestly say that this is one of the best reels in my opinion. In this article, I have told you about its pros and cons, as well as other reels of this brand and series. Read and choose your perfect reel!
Tags: #shimano stradic / #shimano stradic fl / #shimano stradic ci4 / #shimano stradic ci4+ / #shimano stradic 4000
I live in Tenerife (Canary Islands) for the last 10+ years and share my daily fishing experiences on my website. Many years of personal experience as a fisherman and the vast experience of my friends allow me to write professionally on any fishing topics (from choosing a flashlight and equipment to deep-sea fishing).
All of my advice is based on practical real-world experience and will be useful to both novice anglers and professionals. Read more about the author.
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I also used Shimano products. This is really quality. Now I’m looking for an electric reel and after reading the article I have made sure that I will take it from Shimano. Now I’m thinking which one.
Thanks for the article. It was interesting to read and learn about the experience of using an electric reel from this brand. When I update my electric reel, I will choose Shimano Stradic CI4+ 4000 xG FB.
The article is a detailed review of the Shimano Stradic CI4+ spinning reel. It covers various aspects of the reel, including its features, design, performance, and benefits. The author provides valuable insights into the product, such as the reel’s smooth and powerful drag system, its lightweight and durable construction, and its ease of use.
The article also includes some helpful tips on how to maintain and care for the reel, which is useful for those who are looking to buy one. The writer’s personal experience with the Shimano Stradic CI4+ is also shared, which adds credibility to the review.
I recently picked up the Shimano Stradic CI4+ spinning reel and I must say, it’s a game-changer. The first thing I noticed about this reel is how lightweight it is despite its solid construction. I opted for the 2500 size and it is 25 percent lighter than some of Shimano’s other spinning reels in that size class, making it easier to balance my rod and not wear me out after a long day of fishing.
What really sets this reel apart for me is the drag system. Unlike other spinning reels I’ve used in the past, the drag on the Shimano Stradic CI4+ is extremely smooth and has dozens of micro-adjustments, which allow me to set the exact amount of resistance I need for the line, hook, and bait I’m using. I love how I can adjust the drag on the fly, especially when drop-shotting around the brush. It’s helped me to bring in some impressive fish without snapping my line or bending the hook.
The Hagane gear is what the rest of the reel is built around, and I have to say it’s impressive. Instead of cutting the teeth on the gear, Shimano created a 3D design and cold-forged it to create a smoother and stronger gear that won’t chip a tooth over time. It’s as smooth the thousandth time I’ve used it as it was the first.
Casting with this reel is also a dream come true. The One-Piece Bail, Propulsion Line Management System, and X-Ship technology all contribute to smooth and accurate casts. But the real standout feature for me is the Aero Wrap II tech. The patented worm gear design creates a criss-cross pattern that reduces friction and allows for smoother and longer casting. It’s perfect for when I’m bombing spy bait or pitching a drop shot.
I absolutely love my Shimano Stradic Ci4+ reel! While it may be a bit pricey at $229, I believe it’s a worthwhile investment for all the amazing features it offers. Personally, I always have one rigged with a drop shot and the other with a finesse presentation like a Ned rig or a spy bait. The 2500 size is perfect for bass fishing and I find it very comfortable to use for extended periods.
Although there’s a lot of advanced technology built into the Ci4+, what really convinced me to buy it was the recommendations from fellow anglers. After trying it out for myself, I can see why they all raved about it. I especially appreciate the smooth drag system that allows for micro adjustments and the Aero Wrap II technology that enables long, accurate casts.
After doing more research, I realized just how much tech is packed into this reel, like the cold-forged 3D-designed Hagane gear that ensures long-lasting smoothness. But at the end of the day, I recommend the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ simply because it’s an incredible spinning reel that delivers on its promises.
I couldn’t agree more with this review of the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ spinning reel! As an avid angler myself, I can attest to the fantastic features and overall quality of this reel. The Magnumlite Rotor is a game-changer, making it incredibly easy to start and stop your retrieve, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable experience.
The G-Free Body design is also a highlight of this reel, as it provides a better weight and balance in your hand, making it easier to feel the strike and fight the fish. I also appreciate that this design helps prevent forearm fatigue, allowing me to fish for longer periods without any discomfort.
The Advanced CoreProtect water resistance is a significant advantage, providing complete all-weather water resistance to ensure that this reel will last a lifetime if taken care of properly. Plus, it doesn’t have that gummy feeling that some waterproof reels have, making it a joy to use.
The CI4+ carbon body is super light yet strong, providing a reel that feels almost weightless in your hand. I also appreciate the cold-forged aluminum spool and ultra-hard Hagane® cold-forged drive gears that create a seamless retrieve experience, even when under pressure from a big fish.
The X-Ship pinion gear support system is another impressive feature, as it provides more power transfer from the handle to the rotor, making it easier to reel in those stubborn fish. Additionally, the 6 S A-RB shielded stainless steel ball bearings are incredibly smooth, ensuring a comfortable and effortless retrieve.
Finally, the Advanced AR-C spool design and Power Roller provide excellent line management, reducing line twists by up to 50% and minimizing wind knots. Overall, the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ is an exceptional spinning reel that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a top-quality reel that is both durable and easy to use.
I recently had the opportunity to test out the new Shimano Stradic CI4+ with its waterproof drag system, and I have to say, I was impressed. I submerged the reel for up to 30 seconds to see how it would affect the drag pressure, and while some water did enter the system, it still exceeded the published 15lb drag specification. In our lab tests, we measured the drag out at 16.2 lbs of pressure when dry and 15.2 lbs when wet.
What’s interesting is that Shimano chose to implement the waterproof drag on the Stradic CI4+ rather than the more expensive Sustain FE and Stella. I found that the micro-click knob allowed for a wide range of drag settings, with the ability to adjust in increments of .2lb easily.
In the field, I found the drag system to be very dependable and able to deliver the same max drag as similar-sized reels from Daiwa. When I hooked into some quality largemouth on a drop shot rig, the fish tried to overpower the drag, but the Stradic CI4+ held up with plenty of smooth pressure. I caught largemouth up to six pounds during this particular field test, and none of them ever stressed the capabilities of the CI4’s waterproof drag. Overall, I was very pleased with the performance of the Stradic CI4+ and highly recommend it to any angler looking for a reliable and efficient spinning reel.
I recently got my hands on the Shimano Stradic CI4 2500F and I was impressed with how light it is. Weighing only 7.0oz, it’s even lighter than the expensive Sustain 2500FE and Stella 2500FD. I compared it to other reels on the market and found that it’s a full ounce lighter than the Daiwa Fuego 2500A and the same weight as the flagship Steez 2500. This makes it incredibly easy to handle and feels great in your hand.
One thing that caught my eye was the EVA barrel grip on the CI4. It’s finished with a red bolt that matches the spool’s highlights, giving the reel a unique character. Not only does it look great, but it’s also a lighter alternative to plastic and feels tactile even when wet. The old Stradic ST2000 had a wooden barrel grip that wasn’t the most ergonomic, but it did add character to the reel. The new EVA grip on the CI4 looks to do the same thing while also being more practical.
Overall, I’m impressed with the Shimano Stradic CI4’s lightweight design and ergonomic features. It’s a great reel that’s sure to make any angler’s day on the water more enjoyable.
In my experience, the Stradic CI4 reel provides exceptional ergonomics. The reel is comfortable to hold and use for extended periods of time, with the exception of the anti-reverse lever. The lever is located on the underside of the reel, right up against the rotor, and is quite small. While it’s easy to reach with your fingers, it takes some getting used to, and using the switch with gloves on can be a bit challenging. Despite this small gripe, the Stradic CI4 is a fantastic reel with great ergonomics overall.