Looking To Buy My First Baitcaster. Shimano Curado I Series Or...?

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I'd grab a mid range rod to match the curado and maybe even a whole 'nother set up before buying a hawg tech. I'm not bashing hawg tech or anything, but I think that it would be best to have a few set ups that cover many techniques before you trick out a single reel.

[Roadblock]

I'd grab a mid range rod to match the curado and maybe even a whole 'nother set up before buying a hawg tech. I'm not bashing hawg tech or anything, but I think that it would be best to have a few set ups that cover many techniques before you trick out a single reel.

 

Funny you mention that. I returned the Berkley Lightening Rod and bought a St. Croix Mojo Bass tonight in medium-heavy, 7'0" length. I really wanted the nice blue St. Croix Tournament Bass rod but it was hard enough coughing up the money for the cost of the Curado. I don't mean hard to come up with it, but hard spending THAT much on a reel when my 1985 Shimano TX-110Q my father left me works fine!

 

The Mojo Bass is really nice though. Really the only reason I liked the Tournament Bass was due to the color. I love blue and that thing is sexy but the color wasn't worth another $140.00 dollars! Yes yes, I know it has other enhancements and features but hey the St. Croix Mojo Bass well be plenty of rod for me!

 

As far as the Hawgtech crank, that had nothing to do with tricking out the reel. That was purely because the rubber knobs SUCK that much. I was going to just order the Hawgtech cork knobs as the 2014 Curado has an off-set crank already but they specifically state that while the factory Shimano knobs WILL work on the Hawgtech crank, the Hawgtech cork knobs will not work on the factory Shimano crank.

 

I do like the look of carbon fiber though, that is dang sexy regardless!