The Shimano Caius is a reliable, affordable baitcaster that performs incredibly well for its price. Especially good at throwing lighter presentations, the Caius opens up a level of experience very few budget baitcasters can provide.
- Available in 7.2:1 gear ratio
- 4 ball bearings
- Centrifugal braking system
- 11lb max drag
Reasons to buy
- Very rigid feel and good build quality for a lower price reel
- Many bass anglers say this has a similar feel to the original SLX from Shimano
- Everyone loves the castability of this reel - It is particularly good at throwing light presentations, typically something only more expensive baitcasters can do
- An easily adjustable, 6 pin centrifugal braking system allows for fine tuning when throwing various presentations. It is unusual to get this level of control over a braking system at this price point
- Many anglers have called this a workhorse of a reel, offering fantastic durability at a very fair price
- Perfect reel for throwing reaction baits of all kinds where smoothness isn't too important - such as a jerkbait
- Very easy to cast. This reel seems to be popular among young or beginner anglers who are just getting started fishing a baitcaster
- Many believe this reel performs well above its price point
Reasons not to buy
- Won't be as smooth as more expensive Shimano reels
- Plastic side plates don't quite provide the feeling of "Shimano" quality
- May not be the best option for high impact fishing - such as a flipping baits with heavier fluorocarbon around heavy cover. Drag isn't really optimized for this kind of fishing
Reviews from our Readers
Bottom Line
The Shimano Caius may come in at a low price point, but it doesn't perform like a cheap reel. It feels solid and rigid in the hand, is very versatile and actually casts like a dream thanks to the Super Free Spool technology included by Shimano. A standout feature of the Caius is its ability to launch light lures. It was designed with lighter presentations in mind and handles these lighter line techniques very well indeed. Usually you would need to go with something premium to throw lighter lures on a baitcaster. the Caius opens this opportunity up for less than $100.
The one thing the Caius is not really optimized for is fishing heavy cover. While you could do some lighter flipping/pitching with the Caius, its not really a reel designed for heavy line situations.
The Caius might not have the premium look and feel of Shimano's mid-high tier reels, but it performs well above its price point. The plastic side plates may feel a little cheap, and the drag is not up there with the strongest, but if you are looking for a solid, versatile reel, optimized for light-mid weight presentations and don't want to break the bank, you really can't go wrong with the Caius.
FAQ's
What is the gear ratio on the Shimano Caius?
The gear ratio on the Shimano Caius is 7.2:1
Is the Shimano Caius saltwater approved?
The Caius is deemed "saltwater ready" by Shimano. However, saltwater fishing will cause this reel to take a beating and not last as long as it could. If you want to get the most out of this reel, stick to freshwater fishing.
About the brand
Shimano is arguably the biggest and most respected name in fishing. They are responsible for producing some of the most ground-breaking tackle ever seen, and they continue to lead the market in all forms of fishing.
Shimano has taken a key interest in bass fishing, and have developed the finest baitcasting reels on today's shelves. Many other brands constantly look to Shimano for ideas, as they seldom put a foot wrong.
You simply cannot go wrong with a piece of Shimano gear.
Professionals who work with Shimano:
- Keith Combs
- Brett Preuett
- Bernie Shultz
