Lews bb1 pro vs shimano Curado

[Cam DeMarco]

There is so much controversy between these two reels. I am really interested in the bb1 pro and love Lews. But I don't want to make the wrong choice. What do you think 

[Raul]

I used to love Abu back in the late 80´s, but in the early 90´s I purchased my first Curado and other than Daiwa I won´t purchase any other brand, it´s Shimano or Daiwa.

[Poolshark]

I use them both. The curado 200i weighs a tad bit more and has a slightly larger profile. It casts well and is more solid feeling to me overall than the bb1. You will need to oil the break drum every few outings or so, or it will produce a noise on the cast. This is basic maintenece for me. I own almost all series of curado and they are all in tip top condition. Some are 14 years old and work like new. It's hard to beat shimano in this area. 

The bb1 is slightly lighter and fits my hand better. I think that it does a better job of casting lighter lures. I use one to throw super flukes jr and 4 inch senkos easily. I prefer the bb1 better overall performance wise. 

I love both reels and wouldn't hesitate buying either one. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

On paper the Curado design is a little better with bearing supported pinion. I also prefer the direct interface of the thumb bar and clutch in the Curado. These are small things, splitting hairs probably. Both are well built quality reels at the price point. 

[Nick S]

The bb1 pro is better for heavier baits, but is an awesome reel. I'd say the tournament pro would be a better comparison to the curado I. I like my tournament pro's better than my curado I but they are both great reels. If you choose the curado I look at the citica as well. The curado retail price difference over the citica is not worth it, the are basically the same reel. 

[offsidewing]

I've owned both and neither reel is a slouch.  I prefer the Shimano's, but I also recommend the Lew's BB1.  

I like the SVS braking system a little better and there are lots of 'cool' aftermarket parts for the Curado if you're into that.

[robster80]

shimano all day.  havent fished the bb1 tho but ive owned two other Lews and wasnt impressed at all. 

[DesertBass]

Shimano all the way!

[FrankN209]

Don't own the BB1 Pro, but I do own the Lew's Team Pro Mag and love it. Can't go wrong with Lew's. 

[GMICK]

I have a bb1 I will give you it sucks

[IowaHusker28]

I also own both. The bb1 pro is a tank, I only use it for big swimbaits and the A rig. I own 2 curados and both are on crankbait rods. In other words, they are both workhorses and you can't go wrong with either. I fish with a lot more lews reels than shimanos but I love em both. Like someone said before, the BB1 pro is a deep spool meant to cast big baits and wind all day. The tournament pro would be a closer comparison. 

[FrankN209]

3 minutes ago, GMICK said:

I have a bb1 I will give you it sucks

I'll take it off your hands.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Bought a tatula bb1 pro and chronarch ci4 at the same time. The BB1 pro was a disappointment for me with quality/durability issues that caused me to return it. One standout was the sideplates paint just felt like cheap plastic if that makes sense. For the time I had it that it was working it didnt impress me all that much. It wasnt the best caster distance wise for any range of weight but lacked the most tossing under 3/8ounce stuff. The ci4 shined over it with lower weights and out distanced it higher weights up to 3/4oz. The one good point of the Pro was its smoothness.

["hamma"]

I started buying shimano's 35 years ago and havent stopped since, I did try a diawa, and a couple abu gacia rounds, which werent "bad" ,...but no comparison. the oldest shimano i have is a spinning reel and i think i had it serviced once, and it still works fine, As for my curados? i have several and they all but one still perform like new, even after heavy tournament use for 4 -5 years. One big plus for me is that shimano offers most of their baitcasters in left hand retrieve. Something i jumped on from the beginning of my bass fishing,... I dont own any right hand retrieve baitcasters