Super User ChrisD46 Posted July 20, 2014 Super User Posted July 20, 2014 Many have stated that current Shimano baitcast reel quality in the under $299 category are NOT what they used to be - thus Shimano has lost a good ammount of market share to : Lew's Daiwa , Abu Garcia , etc. Being somewhat new to baitcast reels , I wanted to hear your opinion as to what you feel are the "best buy" Shimano baitcast reels still available new or used ? Quote
IAY Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 Uh...Have you seen the Curado I lately? I don't own one my self, but extremely positive feedback from many websites and communities. Chronach Ci4+ is also regarded as top quality for under 300 dollar range. If you want something under 300 dollars from Shimano, I would check those out. 1 Quote
thehooligan Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 Quality Shimanos that you can usually scoop up on the forums for cheap money is the chronarch 50mg, any e series curado, and curado d series. All solid workhorse reels that will last a lifetime... 1 Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted July 20, 2014 Super User Posted July 20, 2014 Yep...^^^^^ this! Plus Calcuttas, TE's , plus, the I is really a great reel at almost any price.... Can't speak with a a lot on spinning reels or rods... But these reels will please you I believe! 1 Quote
Cgrinder Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 Chronarch 100D. They'd probably still run you $299. Quote
JGBassinAL Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 I have a couple E series Curados that are three years old and with a good cleaning each year they perform as good as new. I expect them to perform this way for another 5 or 6 years. Annnndd the new Curado I is awesome. Quote
Super User QUAKEnSHAKE Posted July 20, 2014 Super User Posted July 20, 2014 Well Gander once again just had their Core 50mg7 for $280 sold out now that would have been a great buy. Chro CI4 has been an excellent reel for me so far. The 50E reels are very good. Ive bought 5 brands of reels the last 3 years Shimano BPS Okuma Daiwa Lews only kept Shimano reels and one Daiwa reel others had quality durability issues that caused me to return them. Quote
Logan S Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 I think what you're hearing relates to the older B series Curado an Chronarch. They were workhorse reels and many are still in use. The newer reels are an improvement I'm sure, but those reels had such a huge following I think anyone that used them will always have a soft spot for them. I still have some and I still use a Curado 100B regularly. If you are looking for something similar today, in my opinion the Revo SX/STX/Premier reels are a great value and built to last. Most of my casting reels are STX's and I'd recommend them to anyone. I know you wanted Shimano, but I don't have much experience with their newer offerings...I moved away from them during the Shim-bind-o spinning reel era , lots of positive reviews though. Quote
OK Bass Hunter Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 Calcutta TE series is worth a mention. Quote
thehooligan Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 Yep...^^^^^ this! Plus Calcuttas, TE's , plus, the I is really a great reel at almost any price.... Can't speak with a a lot on spinning reels or rods... But these reels will please you I believe! How did I forget the Calcutta.... lol 1 Quote
Super User Tywithay Posted July 20, 2014 Super User Posted July 20, 2014 The Chronarch CI4+ and Curado I are the two best sub-$300 Shimano's I've used to this point. 1 Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted July 20, 2014 Super User Posted July 20, 2014 How did I forget the Calcutta.... lol Just so many great shimano reels! Hard to remember all,..... All the time! Quote
Smallmouth Hunter Posted July 20, 2014 Posted July 20, 2014 E series reels are great. I series is also great. I wouldn't go any older than E series though as I find the D series curados to have a very disconnected feeling which I can't stand. Also, most d series curados have lots of handle backplay. They are bulletproof though, and will not break on you. The e series won't either Quote
Super User ChrisD46 Posted July 20, 2014 Author Super User Posted July 20, 2014 Yes , I believe the D series may get the tag of not being as good as other Shimano baitcast offerings in fit / quality / feel ... While I would certainly consider other reels (Lew's , Abu Garcia , Daiwa) - I wanted to try and learn about the favorites / best buys of the Shimano baitcast reels first . Quote
SJex Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 The D series (both Curado and Chronarch) are some of the best Shimano has ever offered. Excellent build quality. 1 Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted July 21, 2014 Super User Posted July 21, 2014 The D series (both Curado and Chronarch) are some of the best Shimano has ever offered. Excellent build quality. I have to agree with you. The D's were great reels and built like tanks The Curado's retailed at $199, the highest of any Curado. Some people thought the 200's were too heavy but they were great reels. The G series is the only one I know of to really take a beating from the public and that wasn't really because of how the reel performed. 1 Quote
OK Bass Hunter Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 All you need to know https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/10418967@N05/13245022255/ Quote
greentrout Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 I remember the old days when you could buy a Curado for 120.00 dollars that would last you a lifetime. Shimano seems to have said goodbye to the average joe who could swing 120.00 but not today's price...Old school basser... 1 Quote
masterbass Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 What do you guys think about the curado 101d as a finesse reel? How does it compare to the 51e? Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted July 21, 2014 Super User Posted July 21, 2014 Aluminum main gerar, taller profile, main gear replacements may be hard to find... But a great real, truly....51 is newer, better in all ways in my opinion, lighter spool I believe, I like mine quite well super easy to palm! Cast great, pitches great as well, brass main gear, easy bearing change out(spool) I think it's better, but the 101 d is sweet... Just a bit older... Chronarch 50 / 51 is just a tad improved, larger handle grips, a bit tighter anti reverse bearing, diffrent color, pretty much the same! Quote
Crappiebasser Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 I remember the old days when you could buy a Curado for 120.00 dollars that would last you a lifetime. Shimano seems to have said goodbye to the average joe who could swing 120.00 but not today's price...Old school basser... When you figure inflation Curados cost less today than they did in the 90s. Quote
bootytrain Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 I remember the old days when you could buy a Curado for 120.00 dollars that would last you a lifetime. Shimano seems to have said goodbye to the average joe who could swing 120.00 but not today's price...Old school basser... What are you talking about? They still have an affordable aluminum framed reel in the citica that will do anything you ask of it. Only 129$. 1 Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted July 21, 2014 Super User Posted July 21, 2014 I've heard good things about the D series....especially the 100D. Built like tanks but a little heavy. Never have used a D series. Haven't used any of the reels newer than the E series. Love my Curado 51E. My other Shimano reels are a Chronarch 101A and 100B. Both nice reels. Have had the 100B for 2-3 years. Finally spooled it and mounted it on a rod about 2 weeks ago. Very impressive. Wouldn't hesitate to buy another. Lots of Shimano fans here with tons more experience with them than I have. They can give you a much more thorough understanding of the various models than I can. Especially with the new ones. My only new reels have been the T3 1016 reels. Quote
Super User fishballer06 Posted July 21, 2014 Super User Posted July 21, 2014 I was unaware that Shimano made anything low quality... Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted July 21, 2014 Super User Posted July 21, 2014 I was unaware that Shimano made anything low quality... You've been on this forum too long, and are now completely brainwashed. Kidding aside, I think it would be hard to find a bad model of Shimano baitcast reels. Quote
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