Shimano Ultegra Ci4+ 14000 XTC Carp Reel Review

[@andrewsimmons6521]

Very good review, thank you! I’ve been looking at these reels recently so it’s good to get honest feedback unlike the marketing ads and articles. I’ve had the silver mags and the line behind the spool drove me nuts so I sold them! I’ve had basia’s too which are pretty good but I keep reverting to my tournies. Super robust, make all sorts of noises and the engineering is nowhere as good as shimano but I love them and never have the dreaded line behind the spool issues. Thanks again, will stick with the tournies 👍

[@CHUNKSTV]

Glad you found it useful.. And i do agree them tounament reels take some beating 🤘👌

[@nickflitter7172]

ThNks for the honest review, I’ve had mine for nearly 2 years now, I haven’t noticed the paint issue, but I will be more careful now. The line guard I have had no issues with, but have heard of this . My biggest issue is the bail arm as I have managed to bend mine when in transit as I didn’t put them up against the blank, I do religiously now. It hasn’t stopped them working perfectly just annoys me when I look at the one in question, although it’s only a 19 quid part.... I have also upgraded the drag washers to ice ones and it makes a tremendous difference so you may want to consider that . Finally i have customised the handles as the standard ones were a bit boring and this makes them soo much more individualistic. Again great review, thanks

[@CHUNKSTV]

Put the drag washers in myself they sure speed things up Nick 👍 thanks for the reply and info

[@matthewbarrett9054]

Just to let you know I have just brought a set of these based on your review. They are awesome. Thanks for sharing

[@CHUNKSTV]

Ohh wonderful glad you got something from the review and your happy with the reels.. now just need to get the clutches clicking and enjoy them.. thanks for feedback Matthew 👍👍

[@deanobjonesy]

Funny I love my baitrunner spool! main reason I haven't replaced with the newer versions!

[@CHUNKSTV]

Got a few friends who like there baitrunner ultegra's over the quick drag but unfortunately it not for me..

[@thelukos]

Great review mate. I’m from Oldbury. You sound very local! Straight to the point, no nonsense, as it should be. I think I’m going to trade in my trusty big baitrunner LC’s for these. Look proper mate

[@CHUNKSTV]

Much appreciated! I live in Wolverhampton so i'm not to far away from you !! great real that are a sound investment.. i,m just using the diawa emblem 45 scw so a review will be up next year on them..

[@thelukos]

@@CHUNKSTV I’m just worried about the line going behind the spool and the fragile bail arm. Read a few people saying that

[@johnyates]

Totally agree with the line guard its happened to me a few times other than that I love the reel

[@CHUNKSTV]

👍👍

[@jameswilkins4266]

I've got the 14000 xtds, and have the exact same problem with the line guard. Only other thing is I changed to ice washers. Other than that love the altegras

[@CHUNKSTV]

👌👆

[@MarkCarp]

i've got the 14000 power aero's jon and i have the same complaints with them, nice reels but shimano need to raise their game and sort the line guard and the clicker out, like you i'm keeping mine for now but i intend to trade them when something better comes along👍

[@CHUNKSTV]

Glad it's not just me Mark 🙏👍..However like you i was looking at the new emblems with the quick drag this morning they look very good for the money tbf..

[@MarkCarp]

@@CHUNKSTV no mate it's not just you, i had line behind the spool very quickly on mine and the clickers weren't working, i was quite disappointed with them, hopefully they'll sort these issues in their next reel, if they can they'll be awesome👍 i've not looked at the emblem, i have a set of the old 5500 ci4 ultegras and they are superb, i use them for most of my fishing and i banished the power aero to my long distance setup so you'll only see them when i'm on the lake next door👍😁

[@1988rixy]

Hi mate great review, I’ve just bought a set. Can you get matching spod reel to match? I’ve searched but can’t find anything thanks

[@CHUNKSTV]

Yeah there is a ultegra spod reel but in a 5500 size so not as big.. you could use one of these aa a spod reel as there extremely durable and capable as a spod reel itself. ✌️

[@luciussander8217]

Thanks mate - good honest review. Agree with all your findings. I had a set of these and sold them after 3 months of use. Wasn't happy with the line getting behind the spool and bent two bail arms just by carrying them on a rod sling. Very fragile reels and not really up to a lot of hard work, they have a lot of plus points too, bit at the end of the day, Daiwa's latest big pits have none of these issues...

[@CHUNKSTV]

Sweet and sour is what they are 😁 thanks for the feedback its appreciated 🙏

[@iw496]

Has anyone found a way to stop the line issue? I already have daiwa 45 scw qd and wanted a upgrade (the drag isn’t waterproof and is a massive problem if you use them often) Been told by friends who have basias that they have this issue with the line getting caught too.

[@paulhindley4838]

Had the same problems with the new spool line guard.

[@CHUNKSTV]

Yeah there a bad design paul..

[@georgehawk7135]

Thanks Jon I had a set of 3 1400 ci4 bait runners cast very well and i have used Shimano for years but had the same issue with the line going behind the spool so sold them after a few mouths now have Diawa 19 Emblems swr qd with no problems at all and over £100 cheaper per reel shame as i loved the Shimano looked cool on the pod but i can not trust them i was hoping it was sorted out with the newer shimano reels but as you have said it is not so Thanks for that info Mate , wish we had more honest reviews to watch so keep up the good work

[@CHUNKSTV]

Funny you should say that ! as i have just replaced them with the emblem scw qd myself !! great minds and all that !! 😆

[@markozivkovic8404]

There is no perfect mašine! These are to good for that money... Serious reels... 😘🎖️

[@CHUNKSTV]

I totally agree!

[@tommyreynolds5558]

Looking to get these very soon will be upgrading my rods aswell, what rods do you pair these with?

[@CHUNKSTV]

That's a hard question as it all depends on budget but any rod from the freespirit range will be great.. I would be looking for a 3lb to 3.5tc to balance the rod to reel.. good luck finding the rods 👍

[@Deadlycalling]

Ive had a few shimano reels before and both had the line behind the spool issues,i had all my stuff pinched,so im having to start over,unfortunately its likely ill be laid off in the next week or two so everthing is now on a budget a mate give me a set of wychwood riots the new one's,any clue if there any good?

[@CHUNKSTV]

Lee have a look at the penns there unbeatable for the price range and its a very well-known reel manufacturer

[@Deadlycalling]

@@CHUNKSTV thanks jon

[@iw496]

On a budget (under £100) then I would highly recommend daiwa crosscast 45 qd, best reel I’ve used that is under the ton mark by a long shot. All reels are good it just depends on how often you use them as they will wear down faster. Lots of them look identical to their bigger brothers but it’s the materials inside that make the difference,

[@craigwebb4012]

Do you use ice washers on them

[@CHUNKSTV]

I didn't know Craig there responsive enough out of the box. .obviously I'm not saying ice washers are not go as they are.. but there good as is ..tight lines

[@the123roman]

I’ve the Power Aeros 14000, now I’ve upgraded the clickers and replaced the washers with carbon there not a bad reel. Also the line behaves well when not overloaded. All the negatives about these reels, is all located on the spool and line guard. Not a bad reel, just not so great straight out of the box. Unfortunately.

[@CHUNKSTV]

Nice info there 👍

[@mick2647]

@the123roman hi, which washers did you replace on the Power Aeros? I have a set and need to slow the clutch down a bit!

[@carlfrederikbalslev5083]

Do you prefer the older ci4 XTB’s?

[@CHUNKSTV]

I don't like the bait runner spool do that's a no unfortunately

[@michaelianson592]

I sold mine because of the line guard and line constantly getting under! I was told it wasn't the reels fault it how it was spooled up! Which I can neither confirm or deny but either was, I have spooled up the same for 20 years and never had this issue with other Shimano reels. I have since moved over to Daiwa Emblem 45 reels and never once had this issue.

[@CHUNKSTV]

Well i have been looking into the emblems tbh I may get 3 to review 👌

[@darrenstevens3798]

Great review, completely agree, line guards are shit

[@CHUNKSTV]

Thanks Darren Glad you agree..

[@matthewbarrett9054]

Good review thanks. I have been looking for the Ultegra Ci14+ 14000XTB but they have stopped making these, so am considering the XTC's. Just out of interest what were your reels before this?

[@CHUNKSTV]

I had the 14000 xtb before these.. lovely reel.. thanks for the comments appreciated 👍

[@jedediyahaaronyisrael7118]

Why does nobody talk about the spool snapping out of the seat ?

[@CHUNKSTV]

Sorry can on talk about my issues I have had.. if I did have a issue I would have said..

[@michaelianson592]

I had a set of 3 and didn't like them. They look good but even if you over fill by a few yards you'll line behind the spool.

[@CHUNKSTV]

yeah there lookers but i hope they go back to the old line guards

[@carpfanatic2854]

Alright mate I've owned these awesome reels for 2 seasons without any issues at all BUT!!!!! my only problem has been the actual bail arm on one of the reels it has suffered a distorted bail arm it bent completely out of shape in the rod bag, I'm very anal about keeping my carpin gear in tip top condition so I was wondering how the heck it managed to be bent out of shape, after alot of manipulation and being ultra careful it's 99.9% back looking as it should with no issues so far, also after a long 7 day campaign in poring rain the same reel has started to make a very strange internal rubbing sound it's been disassembled and cleaned re greased with the correct water proof to shimano speck grease and reassembled but the noise is still there 🙄 not quite as bad but livable with very strange may b purchasing a new one is on the cards the other 2 no problems with either Finnish or line guard I've found keeping some light tension may have prevented the line disappearing behind the spool any way after 35+ yrs of carp angling and many different specs of big pit reels shimano are in a different league apart from the top notch basia range tight lines for 2021

[@CHUNKSTV]

Carp Fanatic though i have not experienced your issue's it's good you have listed them as it will help to make somebody's decision to buy a little more easier

[@luciussander8217]

I've bent bail arms on shimano XTC's just carrying them set up on a rod sling. Sold them and bought new Daiwa Basia SCW - zero issues there, the bail arms on those are 100 times better, the QD is better in the Daiwa too. Also, yep, had the same issue with the line getting behind the spool - for me, that's unacceptable. Sold them for close to what I paid, so no harm done. Shimano losing the plot or Daiwa upping their game - bit of both IMHO.