What's the cheapest reel that's better than a Curado 70?

[Outdoors]

I'm updating my tackle a bit. Other than my 70, all my other reels are nearly older than I am... I wanna try to purchase another baitcaster, that's better than the 70, for I'll have two up-to-date reels. I'm not saying the 70 is bad, ( probably my best baitcaster ever) but I figure why not go beyond that on my next buy?

 

Obviously this is just an opinion topic, since everyone will have a different view on the cheapest reel superior to a 70, but all opinions are appreciated.

 

[corbano18]

I got the Lew's American hero and gotta say love it and doesn't break the budget but I am just starting to baitcasting 

[Outdoors]

3 hours ago, corbano18 said:

I got the Lew's American hero and gotta say love it and doesn't break the budget but I am just starting to baitcasting 

Never owned that brand, but I've always heard positive things about them.

[corbano18]

Was recommended from my local tackle shop but I also started with the wal-Mart special Penn special 

But I do notice a huge difference and cost only 60 

[CroakHunter]

Daiwa tatula ct. 98 bucks with free shipping from ebay

[wet_dream]

How about the new Curado K? It was just released at iCast so there isn't much info/feedback on them yet, but they definitely caught my eye.

[Outdoors]

3 hours ago, wet_dream said:

How about the new Curado K? It was just released at iCast so there isn't much info/feedback on them yet, but they definitely caught my eye.

Just looked it up and you're right. Can't find much on it, and how it compares to the 70.

[new2BC4bass]

Couldn't say because I have never seen a Curado 70 much less used one.  I picked up a Tatula SV TWS from Japan Tackle that ran less than the Curado even with $20 shipping.  Think it took 4 days to arrive.  It might be one possible candidate.  The Lew's Tournament MB is a lot less and is a nice reel, but better.......?  The BB1 Pro is on sale for $180.

 

Pflueger casting reels don't get mentioned much, but the Patriarch (same price) or Supreme XT (less) are nice reels.  I liked my Patriarch XT enough to buy 2 more.

 

Love my Helios Air so I bought a Helios TCS.  Problem is I took it to Florida this year and it still sits there.  Only got out 3 times while there (first time it got used), but had 5 rods with me so it didn't see a whole lot of use.  It and the Helios LP are priced same as the Curado.  Better?  Shrug.

 

From what I have read the Curado 70 is a very good reel.  Bettering it for less may be a hard thing to do.  However, you can get very satisfactory performance for less.  You could start with a Tatula CT for about half the cost of a Curado 70 from ebay.

[Outdoors]

Has anyone used the Daiwa Tatula 100 Type-R? Looks like some places has it for under 200.

[Chance_Taker4]

My vote would be for the Abu Garcia Revo SX Gen 4. Just announced at ICast but if you want information on it, it is extremely similar to the Gen 3 Revo STX

[fishnkamp]

The Tatula family goes like this. First they brought out the original sized Tatulas and Tatula Type Rs. The Type Rs have a few minor upgrades which included a spool that was a bit lighter, and one regular bearing was upgraded to a Corrosion resistant bearing, making the Type R have a total of 2 CCR bearings and the rest normal bearings. I have cast both and there is not much difference. I love all of my Daiwas so I am not insulting any of the reels, just calling it as it is.  I own 1 Exceler, 4 Type Rs and two CTs.

The Tatula CT is the newer body. It is a bit smaller and palms a bit nicer. The Tatula CT is available in the regular Type R and now the latest version is a Tatula SV TWS. This is a merge between the CT and the more expensive models with an SV spool. The advantage of the SV spool is to cast lighter baits.

 

My suggestion is to go with a Tatula CT or the Tatula SV TWS.  

[new2BC4bass]

50 minutes ago, Outdoors said:

Has anyone used the Daiwa Tatula 100 Type-R? Looks like some places has it for under 200.

 

It can be had for $140 from ebay.  Got mine for about $131 not too long after they came out.  Personally I like the finish of the Type R better than the standard.  I also like the looks of the original Type R better than either of the CTs.  The CTs are a bit smaller if that matters to you.  The extra money was worth it to me for the finish and the 8.1:1 ratio which could only be had in the Type R model.  As just about everyone will agree, there isn't enough difference in casting between the Type R and standard for most of us to notice.  TT agreed.  I had both original models, but sold the standard (for about half its value) to a college kid wanting to get into baitcast reels.  I couldn't tell a difference in casting between the two, but then I am not the world's best caster either.

[Outdoors]

3 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

The Tatula family goes like this. First they brought out the original sized Tatulas and Tatula Type Rs. The Type Rs have a few minor upgrades which included a spool that was a bit lighter, and one regular bearing was upgraded to a Corrosion resistant bearing, making the Type R have a total of 2 CCR bearings and the rest normal bearings. I have cast both and there is not much difference. I love all of my Daiwas so I am not insulting any of the reels, just calling it as it is.  I own 1 Exceler, 4 Type Rs and two CTs.

The Tatula CT is the newer body. It is a bit smaller and palms a bit nicer. The Tatula CT is available in the regular Type R and now the latest version is a Tatula SV TWS. This is a merge between the CT and the more expensive models with an SV spool. The advantage of the SV spool is to cast lighter baits.

 

My suggestion is to go with a Tatula CT or the Tatula SV TWS.  

Unfortunately I've never used one. Do you know how well it casts compared to the Curado 70?

[NHBull]

Look at the ci4, great deals can be had and a step up from the 70

[lmbfisherman]

The Curado 70 is well received and some think it performs as good as some higher end reels.  I honestly can't see how you are going to find any better than the reel "cheaper".  You might find a reel that is close in performance.  I guess that is where the subjective part is for everyone.  If I had to guess a reel that would be in the ballpark, it would be a Daiwa Tatula CT.  I've never used one but if I went outside Shimano, it would be Daiwa.  Shimano for me is what I prefer.

[Tsmiddy21790]

I have 6 Tatulas, 3 cts, a ct type R, and 2 tatula 100s.... i have been more than pleased with them

[Catt]

If I were to stray from Shimano it would be a Lew’s Mach Crush Speed Spool SLP Casting Reel ($160).

 

Some do not like the color, I kinda like it, & absolutely love Winn grips!

[earthworm77]

3 hours ago, Outdoors said:

I'm updating my tackle a bit. Other than my 70, all my other reels are nearly older than I am... I wanna try to purchase another baitcaster, that's better than the 70, for I'll have two up-to-date reels. I'm not saying the 70 is bad, ( probably my best baitcaster ever) but I figure why not go beyond that on my next buy?

 

Obviously this is just an opinion topic, since everyone will have a different view on the cheapest reel superior to a 70, but all opinions are appreciated.

 

If you are using the 70 as your bar, you likely won't find much that is cheaper and better. The E and I series Curados are excellent. The I's can be had for about 110.00 if you look around. Better is in the eye of the beholder, in my opinion nothing beat the E's unless it is one of my Aldabarans and they cost 2.5X as much.

[Outdoors]

After checking on Ebay, it seems some sellers has the Shimano Chronarch MGL 20 or 30 dollars from the retail price of a Curado 70. Worth it though?

[wet_dream]

17 minutes ago, Outdoors said:

After checking on Ebay, it seems some sellers has the Shimano Chronarch MGL 20 or 30 dollars from the retail price of a Curado 70. Worth it though?

 

I scored mine on EBay for $170 during the Memorial Day sale. Awesome reel at that price, couldn't pass it up. It's so smooth and it has become my favorite reel in the short time I've had it. Don't have any experience with the 70 though, so I can't compare two.

[Bass fishing is best]

Chronarch MGL gets my vote also.  Since you are planning on having 2 bait casters I'd definitely suggest getting one with a bit more line capacity than the Curado 70.  It's my main complaint about that reel from a versatility point of view it's almost entirely geared towards light lures and finesse. I've never spooled my 70 but have hit mono backing casting with heavier lures and I don't like that.  The breaking system and weight in the MGL are the same as the 70, and the feeling in the hand is pretty similar as well.  If pitches, and flips like no other and throws weightless senkos just as well if not better than the 70.  The best comparison I can make after using both is it's a smoother much more refined 70 that I can also confidently throw a 1/2oz crank bait or plopper 90 as far I can.  I don't even bring the 70 fishing since I picked up 2 MGL's it is soon to be sold to a friend.

 

If you like the Curado 70 I think you will love the MGL.  I don't really see the new 200k to be enough of an upgrade from the 70 (if at all) to justify grabbing one until extensive primarily peer sourced reviews are out there.

 

I do want to grab a Daiwa at some point but I don't love how they feel in my hand nor the action.feeling of the thumb bar on the Tatulas.  If not I'd own one of them too.  You have a very good dilemma on your hands.

[Outdoors]

3 hours ago, fatmaple said:

Chronarch MGL gets my vote also.  Since you are planning on having 2 bait casters I'd definitely suggest getting one with a bit more line capacity than the Curado 70.  It's my main complaint about that reel from a versatility point of view it's almost entirely geared towards light lures and finesse. I've never spooled my 70 but have hit mono backing casting with heavier lures and I don't like that.  The breaking system and weight in the MGL are the same as the 70, and the feeling in the hand is pretty similar as well.  If pitches, and flips like no other and throws weightless senkos just as well if not better than the 70.  The best comparison I can make after using both is it's a smoother much more refined 70 that I can also confidently throw a 1/2oz crank bait or plopper 90 as far I can.  I don't even bring the 70 fishing since I picked up 2 MGL's it is soon to be sold to a friend.

 

If you like the Curado 70 I think you will love the MGL.  I don't really see the new 200k to be enough of an upgrade from the 70 (if at all) to justify grabbing one until extensive primarily peer sourced reviews are out there.

 

I do want to grab a Daiwa at some point but I don't love how they feel in my hand nor the action.feeling of the thumb bar on the Tatulas.  If not I'd own one of them too.  You have a very good dilemma on your hands.

How much distance does the Shimano Chronarch give you on casting heavier lures (say 3/8 oz) compared to the 70?

[Bass fishing is best]

1 hour ago, Outdoors said:

How much distance does the Shimano Chronarch give you on casting heavier lures (say 3/8 oz) compared to the 70?

 

Possibly a few yards further, but the Chronarch holds about 20-30 yards more line.  I use 40- 50lb braid on my bait casters and a 1/2 oz lip less in deeper water I can just about spool the 70 to the mono and that makes me nervous enough to not throw craink baits on it.

 

The Curado 200 holds too much line IMO unless you plan on using it in saltwater.

 

[Outdoors]

3 hours ago, fatmaple said:

 

Possibly a few yards further, but the Chronarch holds about 20-30 yards more line.  I use 40- 50lb braid on my bait casters and a 1/2 oz lip less in deeper water I can just about spool the 70 to the mono and that makes me nervous enough to not throw craink baits on it.

 

The Curado 200 holds too much line IMO unless you plan on using it in saltwater.

 

I'll probably go with the Chronarch MGL then. I did look at the Metanium MGL, which is currently out of my price range as we speak, ha ha ha. But does the Metanium MGL even give you much distance over the Chronarch MGL?

[lmbfisherman]

9 hours ago, Outdoors said:

After checking on Ebay, it seems some sellers has the Shimano Chronarch MGL 20 or 30 dollars from the retail price of a Curado 70. Worth it though?

I have a XG in both flavors.  The Chronarch MGL wins in overall performance, if you thought the 70 is smooth.  That being said both reels I could use all day long.  The reason for edge is that the comfort, casting ability (effortless), retrieve,etc...just performs that extra mile.