Chronarch 50E... Holy Guacamole!

[Darren.]

Well, I recently acquired a brand spanking new Shimano Chronarch 50e. Circumstances surrounding said purchase will be withheld. Lets just say, don't play roulette with ebay bids. Explaining to the wife is ... tough.

 

Anyhoo -- so, as a new fan of Daiwa's Lexa lineup, I have been utterly blown away by the Chronarch. And I should be, considering it is far and away a superior reel to the Lexa.

 

I've paired the 50e up with a couple-year-old 6 foot Medium Field and Stream rod after comparing the balance and feel with it on the 6'6" Premier. Not only that, but the F&S rod is quite sensitive to boot.

 

Played a lot with casting, the centrifugal brakes are new to me, so I replaced 3 reds with 3 greens, and I've got all 6 pulled out for now.

 

Even with all the brakes on, I've been able to do almost everything I do with my spinning gear. I can even cast a weightless 4.75" Zoom Finesse worm 40 feet. Maybe not impressive to you guys, but I'm not a long caster to begin with (by choice) as I like to be closer in with my kayak. So that I'm able to cast one of my bread-and-butter setups is freakin' amazing to me.

 

I've had a few nests, but nothing that had to be cut out. Definitely have to thumb the spool more, something I was able to dial in on the Lexa w/o doing. But I wasn't able to throw weightless 4.75" Zoom Finesse worms, either.

 

I've spooled it up with 20lb PowerPro and currently been using 8lb XPS Fluoro leader. Sensitivity is amazing on this setup. Have caught maybe 15 bass on it so far ranging up to 4 pounds and it handles everything with butter-like smoothness and power I've not experienced yet in a baitcaster.

 

Needless to say, my Lexa has not been out with me lately.   Don't get me wrong, I still like it -- a LOT. But not as much as my shiny new white 50e which can do everything I want to do.

 

One last thing. I've struggled over the past year with tennis/fishing elbow in both elbows. Paddling has made it tougher, but most of the action with spinning gear has been brutal on me. During some of the winter down-time I recovered nicely, haven't experience issues until recently.

 

The Lexa, though only what, 2 or 3 ounces more than the Chronarch, is heavy enough, paired with the 6'6" Premier (even with a rod-balancer) that I started feeling the aches again. (Used a lot of spinning gear, too) So on this splurge/impulse buy, I have found a setup that feels vastly lighter and far easier on my elbows. Add another thing to be happy about.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I agree with you about the Chronarch 50E I just got one a couple weeks ago sweet reel.

Ill toss this out as a constructive suggestion so please take it as being helpful. You should work on training your thumb, now not even for max distance, for the ease of getting the distance you do currently. I went out and put on six pins and tried tossing a senko then switched to two pins and the effort to get same distance is quite less with just two pins engaged. Training your thumb could lead to easing your elbow discomfort in some little way. Spend a day or two in the yard tossing lure with less brakes your thumb is pretty smart and will pick up the feel quickly.

[NorcalBassin]

Yeah, absolutely love my 50e!

[Darren.]

Thanks for the tip. I actually know how to use the thumb quite well from using Accurists which would backlash if you looked at them wrong. It is more a retraining thing at this point, which is why I mention that I have 6 out -- for now I'm working towards it every outing.

I will try having just 4 out tomorrow in the yard and see how it feels, and whether I'm ready to change it up.

Edited June 11, 2013 by DarrenM

[dam0007]

Congrats!! Welcome to the shimano family.

[Darren.]

Congrats!! Welcome to the shimano family.

 

Actually, that'd just be the Shimano baitcaster family , and thanks!

 

All of my spinning reels, save one (Lexa) are Shimano!!

[dam0007]

Hahaha

[rockchalk06]

I had a 200 first and was talked into getting a 50E. It was too fast for cranking, but it ended up being put on my top water rig. This at 7.1 ounces pared with my 6'8" Clarus at around 5-6 ounces makes for one sweet ole set up. Looks cool too!

 

I'm shopping for a dedicated soft fluke rod and will no doubt be getting another 50E or a Curado 50E for it.

[lmbfisherman]

Yeah the Chronarch 50E and even the Curado 50E are unreal I love them both.  I bought two Chronarch 50MG which I haven't taken out yet, but I really love the size 50 reels.  I definitely agree, very easy on the arms.

[kickerfish1]

Nice acquisition. Not discounting a Lexa or any other reel, but whenever something gets upgraded it is hard for me to go back to what I was using before whether it be line, reels, lures, rods, etc.

We have about a 2-3 month window where my thumb becomes less educated when the area lakes are locked up for the winter. Spring is a slight adjusting period to thumbing and technique. Summer it tends to get better and by fall I can get it down to just using one break with a fairly loose tension knob.

[tomustang]

Great little reels, would be nice if I ran into more 51's though

[jherm87]

Wouldn't mind having another 50e myself. I've got one and a 200. Both are so smooth

[loodkop]

I love the 50 size reels and use them for everything except deep cranking and frogging.

[nocluefisher]

I just got a 50e as well. Put it on my Cumara and I was surprised how far I could toss a senko. I have not even played with the brakes yet.

[new2BC4bass]

I got the Curado 51E on closeout.  Love my Daiwas, but the 51E is the bomb for light stuff.  However, I am determined to become proficient with my Daiwas for light stuff as well.  My thumb isn't as educated as yours....yet. 

 

The only place the 51E beats the Daiwas is from 1/4 oz. down, and I know that is operator error.  Seller said my TD-Z 105HL will handle down to 1/16 oz. if I do my part.

 

My 51E is paired with a 6'10" MF Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rod.  Like it so well I may never try it on another rod.  Nice light outfit.

[Brackish Angler 228]

Another happy Chronarch 50e owner here.  I just bought one on sale here on BR and man is it amazing.  I have a Calcutta 200GTB (that I love) and thought I needed magnetic brakes so I bought a R3vo SX last fall.  Boy, was I wrong.  I've only had the Chronarch for 1 day and I'm already thinking about selling my SX to buy another Chronarch.

Darren, I would recommend practicing casting your new Chronarch from the bank or in a standing position.  I also kayak fish and the angle you have to cast from while sitting down can really wreak havoc on your elbow if you have to fight your equipment.  You really just need a good feel for the centrifugal brakes that make Shimanos so simple.  (You probably know, but, you should always set your brake pins symmetrically.)  In my experience, the best way to adjust a Shimano is turning on 3 brakes and adjusting the spool tension until its perfect.  Once you get it perfect, try again with 2.  If you cant get it, stick with 3 and adjust the spool tension according to bait.

Right now my Calcutta has 3 brakes on with moderate spool tension while my Chronarch has 2 (red) brakes on with literally no spool tension and I CANNOT get the Chronarch to backlash with any baits from a 3/8 oz jig and trailer down to a weightless 5" senko on a 3/0 (and that was in light wind yesterday). 

Glad you guys are enjoying your new Chronarchs as much as I am!

-Warren

[Darren.]

Darren, I would recommend practicing casting your new Chronarch from the bank or in a standing position.  I also kayak fish and the angle you have to cast from while sitting down can really wreak havoc on your elbow if you have to fight your equipment.  You really just need a good feel for the centrifugal brakes that make Shimanos so simple.  (You probably know, but, you should always set your brake pins symmetrically.)  In my experience, the best way to adjust a Shimano is turning on 3 brakes and adjusting the spool tension until its perfect.  Once you get it perfect, try again with 2.  If you cant get it, stick with 3 and adjust the spool tension according to bait.

 

I took the earlier suggestion and tried two brakes off, the rest on. Casted just fine, in fact, went from 40 feet to 51 feet with a wacky rigged/weightless 4.75" Zoom Finesse worm.

 

After I got the reel, I did have to find videos and reviews to confirm setting the brakes symmetrically. Your comments on adjusting the tension knob is confirming my experimentation per bait. Did not realize the difference between Shimano's centrifugal system vs. Daiwa's MagForce system (which I do like).

 

As far as practicing, it is from a standing position. And I often fish standing in my Native Ultimate. I also sit quite high in the yak, used to sit low which didn't help. Totally agree about sitting and fighting fish, my experience is similar. I have read extensively on fisherman's elbow, talked with ortho docs, as well. Have adjusted my paddling methodology (helped immensely).

 

I find issues arise more quickly with spinning gear on that front as opposed to casting gear. Just my experience.

[Darren.]

I agree with you about the Chronarch 50E I just got one a couple weeks ago sweet reel.

Ill toss this out as a constructive suggestion so please take it as being helpful. You should work on training your thumb, now not even for max distance, for the ease of getting the distance you do currently. I went out and put on six pins and tried tossing a senko then switched to two pins and the effort to get same distance is quite less with just two pins engaged. Training your thumb could lead to easing your elbow discomfort in some little way. Spend a day or two in the yard tossing lure with less brakes your thumb is pretty smart and will pick up the feel quickly.

 

Tried your suggestion this morning and pushed two pins in. Got an additional 11 feet on the cast! New to the centrifugal system, I will play cautiously and enjoy what works for my style. Appreciate the suggestion.

[stkbassn]

Awesome reels! Congrats! I just got a 50E and a 200E recently. Very pleased !

[skeletor6]

Glad you like the reel Darren. Have a few myself. There is no perfect setting as far as the breaks. It can vary by how well its greased/lubed, the weight of the bait, the rod being used, etc. Just continue adjusting until you maximize your potential and how you wish to cast. 

 

Before modifying my 50e, 1 break engaged would cast 5'' wacky senkos on a 7'5'' rod a considerably long ways. With Abec 9's and Supertuning there is no way I would even consider having 1 break on, even with oil on the bearings.

 

As far as noticing a difference between Daiwa's magforce breaking system and the centrifugal system on the Chronarch, it makes sense that the difference is not highly noticeable. Daiwa has the only magnetic system that is actually good enough to stand alone and get the job done well. Having your breaking system influence the initial speed of the spool is its most important function. As one can, manually, and more consistently manage the speed of the spinning spool towards the end of the cast as opposed to when the bait first takes off.

[MarkH024]

I have my 50E that I use on a rod for jerkbaits and topwater. Love it and definitely will buy another down the road. I typically use 2 or 3 brakes on mine depending on the weight. I haven't even done a clean and flush on this reel yet as it was brand new the beginning of this season. I'm sure once I do that, it'll be even that much more awesome. Enjoy your new reel Darren. Glad you've found a new love!

[lmbfisherman]

Just reading this thread makes me itch for another one!  Trying to resist the bait monkey until I get to see what Shimano will be offering. 

[baluga]

Good to hear that you found a good Shimano baitcaster for you but I have to warn you though.  Those thing are like Gremlins once you get used to it and got them wet.  They starts multiplying.

[thehooligan]

Glad you got a chronarch darren, there great reels. I'll never let my core 51 or curado 51 go. Look around for a used core handle, its a nice upgrade so you run 4 bearings instead of 2.

[Brackish Angler 228]

So yesterday I went to the lake for further testing with the 50e.  WOW!  I was casting a weightless Zoom Trickworm on a 3/0 hook into the wind just as far as I could cast my 3/8oz Booyah A-Jig with a NetBait Paca craw!!!  That's still with only 2 red brakes on and so little spool tension that I could drop the weightless worm from the rod tip!

This reel is a finesse beast.  I haven't done anything to it either; not even oiled or greased.  I'm insanely curious what this reel would do supertuned with Bocas...