Shimano Reel service

[Gerry Zagorski]

I bought a Stradic CI4 last year and although it's a very smooth reel, the anti reverse slips from time to time when I yo-yo jig or go to set the hook. I know others who had the same issue and looked it up online and saw it's a well documented issue so I sent the reel back to their California repair center.

I'd give Shimano a pass if this were a $70 Wallmart reel but having spent $250 on their latest and greatest reel, I expected more... Seems like their quality and or engineering is slipping.

My fear is getting the reel back only to have the same issue again because of a design flaw and now I have a $250 boat anchor on my hands...

I hope they make it right, if not, I'm not going to continue to throw good money after bad and may look into the Diawa Ballistic... I know several people fishing them and they seem to be very pleased.