03-19-2010, 05:42 PM
I absolutely feel your pain! I've used them and have always preferred them for trout and kokanee trolling. So, I picked up a Shimano Citica with a left side wind since I grew up with left side open faced spinning reels. (I'm right-handed) Getting better but still not good at it. I made the mistake of taking the side plate off to adjust those little plastic weights... while wading for steelhead. Immediately dropped one in the water! After freaking totally out, I somehow found it. Went to the shore and contemplated just how stupid that was... better to make your internal adjustments on dry land... Ha.
I agree that the key is practice and more practice. I see guys who've mastered them and they are the ideal reel for many types of angling. I used the old baitcasters as a kid and remember how frustrating it was to cast those beasts. The new reels are much better balanced and fit the hand better.
Thanks for the info above; I'll keep adopting all the suggestions; especially interesting is adjusting the lure/bait/rig so that it drops slowly to the ground. Makes sense.
One additional comment. I recently bought a Pflueger Medalist open face. Why? If the rat's nests on my Citica reach critical mass (unrecoverable) then I'll resort back to what I know and can control.
The Medalist is a superb reel. I was watching the salt water guy Sosin on TV one day fishing for bone fish and I've always listened to this Pro. Figured it would work for steelhead and light Salmon. Put it on an 8' Lamiglass spinning rod and it's perfect. (if and when the Citica gets the better of me) The attachment is three October steelies we took from the canyon. That was first trip with the Citica and within an hour I had a massive and fatal rat's nest. I had to hike back up to the truck for my open face. If you've been to Hell's Canyon you know what a hike that is...
[signature]
I agree that the key is practice and more practice. I see guys who've mastered them and they are the ideal reel for many types of angling. I used the old baitcasters as a kid and remember how frustrating it was to cast those beasts. The new reels are much better balanced and fit the hand better.
Thanks for the info above; I'll keep adopting all the suggestions; especially interesting is adjusting the lure/bait/rig so that it drops slowly to the ground. Makes sense.
One additional comment. I recently bought a Pflueger Medalist open face. Why? If the rat's nests on my Citica reach critical mass (unrecoverable) then I'll resort back to what I know and can control.
The Medalist is a superb reel. I was watching the salt water guy Sosin on TV one day fishing for bone fish and I've always listened to this Pro. Figured it would work for steelhead and light Salmon. Put it on an 8' Lamiglass spinning rod and it's perfect. (if and when the Citica gets the better of me) The attachment is three October steelies we took from the canyon. That was first trip with the Citica and within an hour I had a massive and fatal rat's nest. I had to hike back up to the truck for my open face. If you've been to Hell's Canyon you know what a hike that is...
[signature]