Curado 201IHG

[Paul G]

I just bought this reel and looking for recommendations for what rod to get in the $150 range.    I also would like to buy a reel and rod to use with crank baits with in the $300 range.   These will be my first bait casters.  Thanks for advice 

[CroakHunter]

What techniques are you wanting to use the curado for? I have a 200hg and have it on my frogging stick. And also what depth or style cranking are you wanting to do with the other setup, clue us in on the details and I'm sure we will be able to spend your money wisely! Lol

[Paul G]

Curado for top water.   I would like to have 2 set ups to do as much as possible.  Then be able to add more gear in the near future.     

[CroakHunter]

For the curado rod, I would look into dobyns fury, irod genesis, lews tp1 speed stick or falcon buccoo sr line of rods. I have a bucoo and speed stick and for 100 dollars I find them hard to beat. Irod is right at your budget limit and have heard nothing but great things about them and plan to add one to my arsenal soon. For the cranking setup I am in the same boat and plan to add an irod rip rap special and a daiwa tatula ct in 6.4 or 5.4 gear ratio soon as well. I think @fishnkamp should chime in here too because he gives great recommendations.

[fishnkamp]

Well since my name was called let me try and help.

First welcome Paul G. There are lots of members here that will gladly give you their best help.  Now I see this is your first baitcaster. You picked a nice reel to begin with.

Now if we want to make this combo very versatile, then we will need to make a sure we are talking about the same lures.  The term "Topwater Bait" is pretty broad.  There are several categories of lures included here and some take specific rods to fish them correctly. 

 

If we are talking a rod to fish the average Pop R, Chug Bug, Zara Spook, prop baits like a Smithwick Devil Horse or just about any other small to mid sized top water plug, then a rod that can handle those baits will also handle baits like jigs, texas rigs, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and even baits like a Zoom Horny Toad or Stanley Ribbit.  This rod will be around 7' to 7'6" and be rated MH to Hvy, 1/4 to 3/4 or 1/4 to 1 ounce.

It is the workhorse in most anglers arsenal of rods.

A few good options in your budget would be an Irod Genesis II IRG 744C. It is a 7'4" MH 1/4 to 3/4 rod.

A couple of Dobyns rods would fit the bill. The first would be a Fury series FR 734C. A Sierra SA 734C is a fancier version of the same basic rod. 

 

Now if you are thinking of throwing Hollow bodied frogs then you need a heavier power rod with a very light tip. These baits are usually less than 3/4 ounce in weight, but you are generally fishing those baits in nasty vegetation which requires a stiffer more powerful backbone to the rod. This rod usually can be used for frogs, flipping and pitching, but not the stuff the first rod will handle.

 

Now we come to the BIG powerful topwater baits like a Whopper Plopper.  This takes a different rod all together.  The larger size Whopper Plopper weighs over 1 ounce.  I do not think this is what you were thinking about.

[fishnkamp]

If the rods I suggested fit your needs than we can look at your other rod and reel combo.

If you read any of my other posting you will quickly see I am a Daiwa reel FAN.  I would normally suggest you consider a Daiwa Tatula CT 6.3-1 for your crankbait combo.  Since you are new to baitcasters you might be better off to stay in the Shimano family.  I do not want you to have to learn how to properly adjust two totally different designed reels. They do not play the same.  I am sure you can learn both, but it might be easier to stick with something designed similar to your current reel.  I tried a Daiwa, it fit my style of casting and have changed 7 of 12 reels over to them.

 

Now lets look at crankbaits.  There are tons of brands and sizes produced, but most fit one of two categories. Either they run from shallow to 12 feet deep or they run 15 to 20 plus feet deep.

Once again I am assuming you want a rod to cover the surface to 12 foot deep range. This group of lures includes surface runners like a Baby 1minus, a Cherry o Footer, most of the crankbaits called "wakebaits" as well as the typical squarebills, shallow divers ( usually 1 to 3 foot deep), and all the mid depth crankbaits. This also includes rattle trap style baits.

 

There are lots of good solutions for this rod selection.

Check out my two crankbait rods. First is a Falcon Bucoo 7 foot MH called a Trap Caster.

Next check out my Irod Genesis II IRG 703CC. It is a graphite, glass composite rod. I love the lightweight and balance of the rod.  The fact that the rod is lightweight has nothing to do with its power or durability. The first fish I landed on that rod turned out to be an 18 pound blue catfish that was eating in amongst some big strippers. I was after the strippers for dinner.

Dobyns offers the Fury FR705C that fits your budget.

I fish some higher end Dobyns rods. My wife fishes a Sierra 7 ft heavy spinning rod for frogs. I fish he more expensive Champion series rods. I have a good friend that tried one Dobyns Fury rod, loved it so much that he has purchased 3 more Dobyns Fury series rods just since May 2017.  He loves the way they fish. All of these rods will fit nicely for what you want to do.  What I would say is if you get these two combos working for you, then just add a good 6'6" to 7'3" medium power- fast action spinning rod and you will have a group of rods that can fish 75 to 85 % of all the typical bass lures. 

[CroakHunter]

^^^ see what I mean by he gives good suggestions

[Paul G]

I see what you mean     

I decided on the Fury series FR 734C.  Everywhere I look its goes for $110.   

Now for my second bait caster.   I see that you said 6.3-1 ratio the Shimano 201I  fits that ratio and I found it for $219.  Should I stay with same rod manufacture and get the Fury FR705C?   

[fishnkamp]

I must have been too tired to catch my mistake last night. I meant to suggest the Irod IRG703CC, the Falcon Bucoo Trap Caster and a Dobyns Fury FR 705CB.

 

There is no 705C in the Fury line, but it is a bottom contact/ frog rod in the other series it does exist in.

 

So if I was going to buy one, I would probably choose between the Fury 705CB( crank bait) and the Irod 703CC. I like these two rods the best.

 

Both rods are 7 foot long,  have equally good blanks with very good action for fishing all of my first category of cranks.  They big difference between them is the components installed. The guides are good on both rods. All of the Genesis II Irods have the exact look to them. The EVA is a top quality version that is super comfortable.  The Dobyns is actually about $40 less, but uses a part cork handle/part EVA split handle. Both parts of the split handle are high quality. It is personal preference. There is no mistake or wrong answer here.  

 

By the way I did not realize how expensive that Shimano reel was normally.  Check this out on Tackle Warehouse.  http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Curado_200_I_Casting_Reel/descpage-SCI.html

That is a good deal if it close to being the reel you want. I am not sure what the difference between a 200 and a 201 series is. 

[CroakHunter]

The difference is that the 201 is left handed the 200 is right handed. 

[Paul G]

Sorry my age showed lol I bought it from Ebay new for $129.00 plus $10 shipping.   I will order the Irod 703CC to use with the 201I.   Now that I have The combos set up what line do you suggest?  I also see Tackle Warehouse has spinning reels on clearance would any of those work as my 3rd setup?  

[CroakHunter]

I like p-line cxx. It is a copolymer. It is a Jack of all trades. I would suggest 10 or 12lb because it's breaking strength is nearly double what the lb test rating is. It is buoyant so you can use it for topwater, has little stretch so it is good for bottom contact baits, but does have some stretch which is good for moving baits like cranks and spinnerbaits. Also it is super cheap per yard. I do not suggest it for spinning reels unless you use the 6lb or use it as a leader. I would also suggest you use some type of line conditioner for the 10-12lb. Kvd line and lure or another name brand line conditioner will work wonders

[fishnkamp]

I like CXX but I mostly use it for leaders. The CXX line has some" memory issues" so it requires occasional "line management".  In English that means laying the rod in the Y of a tree and backing off the star drag so I can walk the line out without hitting the spool release button and making a whopper of a backlash.

Once I walk out much more than I can cast I take a rag ( usually a micro fiber towel) and holding the line with good pressure I walk down the line straightening out the curls.  I may do this twice or three times. I like to then reset the star drag and begin reeling in the line. This is a good time to apply some line conditioner.  This works well and should help if you go this way.

i am told Berkley Big Game in 10 or 12 works too.  My top water rod is a dedicated topwater combo so I have 17 pound Stren clear blue original mono on it. 

 

For my crank rod I like P Line Floroclear in 12 pound test. It is a copolymer line with a fluoro coating. 

[Paul G]

Thank you both. 2 rods and a reel are ordered hopefully by next weekend I get to try them out.