Shimano Curado 70/71 Talking Points

[Preytorien]

So I've decided to make the transition to the Curado 71 XHG from my 201 HG. There's the technical aspects that are different - smaller 50 size body, shallower spool, materials, etc. But I've had the chance to use it a few times now and here are my takeaways.

The size really does matter. The 50 size being smaller than the Curado 200 makes a lot of difference for me. I suspect also depending on the reel seat on your rod it'll feel different for you too. I don't have bear paws for hands, so the smaller size is a great welcome to me. I actually noticed less fatigue, which I'm sure is due in part to a smaller footprint.

Secondly, the flipping and pitching ability of this reel isn't just hype. The shallower spool and less line allows for a faster spool start up and I was able to accurately pitch even weightless soft plastics with ease where the 200 series was just a bit more of a challenge. 

Thirdly, the casting distance with this thing is ridiculous. Again the less line and shallower spool probably have something to do with it, but this will bomb even small lures. I fish a lot of finesse, and one of my summer evening baits is a small 1/4 Iovino Splash-It popper. I've never had further casts with this. Far enough I worry if I could even get a good hookset. I really had to do some adjustment on the brakes and control knob because it casts quite a bit better than anything else I've ever used, and very differently than my 200 did. It's nice, but be prepared to spend some time really dialing in your settings.

I guess it's just logic, but it seems to me that such a small reel would have trouble with larger fish, or fishing through heavy cover. I haven't had the chance to get to some of my lakes with heavy grass or mats. Any guys out there with the 70 that have fished heavy cover, what's the reel feel like under heavy load? 

[Bluebasser86]

16 minutes ago, Preytorien said:

Any guys out there with the 70 that have fished heavy cover, what's the reel feel like under heavy load? 

It wasn't in heavy cover, but it was a pretty heavy load and my 70XG handled it flawlessly in only about 10 minutes.

[Preytorien]

Oh man - wow Clayton that thing is huge, I guess that answers my question! Thanks man

[thebillsman]

I can reinforce all  your to sentiments about the reel. I was looking for a low-profile, quality reel that could handle pitching jigs and fishing frogs. I've always opted for Lew's because of their smaller design but the 70HG is nearly identical in size. I always want to like the Curado's but they were just too large for me, I never understood the appeal of having a 200 for freshwater.

That said, the 70HG has been great. I have it spooled with 50lb FX2 and its a good performer. Like you said, I had to tune it a little bit for the first 10 casts but since then its been flawless. More often than not its on frog duty or bumping shakey head + trailers (~1/2oz all together) and I have no complaints, besides the fact the spool tension knob doesn't click.. I always like that about the Lew's reels.

I will most definitely have a few more of these in the future, and would recommend it to anybody that is looking for a smaller profile reel.

[Preytorien]

1 hour ago, thebillsman said:

I can reinforce all  your to sentiments about the reel. I was looking for a low-profile, quality reel that could handle pitching jigs and fishing frogs. I've always opted for Lew's because of their smaller design but the 70HG is nearly identical in size. I always want to like the Curado's but they were just too large for me, I never understood the appeal of having a 200 for freshwater.

That said, the 70HG has been great. I have it spooled with 50lb FX2 and its a good performer. Like you said, I had to tune it a little bit for the first 10 casts but since then its been flawless. More often than not its on frog duty or bumping shakey head + trailers (~1/2oz all together) and I have no complaints, besides the fact the spool tension knob doesn't click.. I always like that about the Lew's reels.

I will most definitely have a few more of these in the future, and would recommend it to anybody that is looking for a smaller profile reel.

+1 on the tension knob. It's just different enough from the knob on the 200 that I'm having to adjust to the feel of it. It seems like it's more of a fine tune than the 200

[JustJames]

x2 here the different is it took me a lot longer than 10 cast sound like 1000 cast to dial in. I also use a lot of tension knob when switch from heavy to lite lure. Unlike my curado 100d and calcutta 50, those are set and forget it.

[fishballer06]

I also prefer my 71 over my 201's (both Curado and Scorpion). Works great with lighter and average size lures. I've been using mine for frogging and it's worked great. I don't fish any super heavy slop like some might, but it's worked great for that. I've even caught a few chatterbait fish on it. The casting distance, all around, is much better on the 71 over the 201's. Shimano really made a gem in this 70 series, for sure. 

[scbassin]

Wow nice catch B/B86. I ordered a Scorpion 71xg about 3 weeks ago & when I received it I thought I had make a big mistake. I did not think that little reel would handle a decent size fish. Your picture has put my mind at ease. I have not had a chance to get out & use my reel yet but hope to this week. I wanted to get 2 of them when I ordered but was unsure of what it could do. Now I'll spring for the 2nd one. Thanks again for the picture.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The 50/70 and 200 have pretty much the same internals in different frames. The 70 should do anything the 200 will and more (cast lighter baits better)

[scbassin]

A scorpion 71xg is on the way.

[scbassin]

It arrived from Digitaka in Japan today at lunch time. I'll be using both of them this week.Thank you all for the info.

[scbassin]

I have spooled them up with 14 lb Sunline Shooter & have placed them on a Orochi xx 6'10" M/H jig & spinnerbait rod & a Orochi xx 6'8" M/H jerk bait special. It's a nice fit.

[new2BC4bass]

Guess I eventually need to get myself a 71.  Lots of people seem to love them.  I've got a couple Curado 51Es, but whenever I wanted to cast light (for me) lures I preferred to grab a TD-Z 105H.

[Preytorien]

So far I'm blown away by this reel. I had to take some time to dial in the brakes, but man when I did, I'm able to bomb even weightless soft plastics.

 

[Preytorien]

After a couple of weeks using this, I've come to the conclusion that this reel quite literally helps me catch more fish. 

I know, that sounds like a dream line from a marketer, and I almost wince saying it, but I have actually seen MORE fish caught with it. 

It all comes down to the BFS spool and how long it allows me to cast lightweight lures. Here in Indiana, this time of year, I'm pretty much only throwing finesse lures in the smaller bodies of water I find. I like to find and fish out of the way places, backwoods, and undisturbed ponds to see what size of fish are in there. Therein lies my need for finesse. I use a lot of Ned Rigs, Senkos, and weightless Flukes. The Curado 71 allows me to cast those babies a WHOLE lot further than I could prior. I can get my lure to areas that previously I couldn't access due to inaccessible banks or whatever. Once I was able to get my lures in there, I realized there were fish in there, and some good size ones. Additionally, it allows me to cast far enough that my physical presence doesn't spook the fish and I'm able to hook up on some fish I would've scared had I been much closer. Undisturbed pond fish are overly spooked and nothing's more frustrating than spooking a shoreline fish that would've been potentially catchable if you could've casted a bit further away down the bank.

I rarely can say with confidence that one thing or another definitively puts more fish on my line. It's usually objective. But this BFS thing is the real deal for my fishing techniques and practices. 

[scbassin]

Preytorien I have not had a lot of time with my Scorpion 71XG but found that you can cast lite baits a good distance. I was casting a unweighted lizard in shallow water & caught a few fish today.This reel is going to be special. Your post above mine is spot on.