Curado DC............Catastrophe?

[MUSLENUTZ]

Went out casting with 40 pound braid. Continued to get backlash and dig ins. Switch to mono and set brakes like a traditional caster. Ignored just trying to stop at the spool wobble like the instructions state. Casting about 150-170 ft. No backlashes. 

[DanTheFireman]

I played with the 151 XG for four days in my back yard lake, am retired so that's a lot of casts. It's spooled with 40# Maxcuatro and used two rods, a 6'6" M Expride and a 7' LMH Kistler He3, 1/2 ounce or so jerk baits and a frog, tried spool tension from just barely no wiggle all the way to no lure drop. My take; Setting 1 is useless, lots of backlash without some serious thumbing. Setting 2 is great, works as designed. Setting 3 is between 1 and 2... my reel is dyslexic. Setting 4 works as designed. There are plenty of vids up showing the reel doing what it's supposed to so I took mine to the local Shimano repair guy yesterday.

[punch]

One thing you're not hearing much of is how much people LOVE their Curado DC's. A diehard shimano friend of mine (who has JDM DC's) says the Curado DC is a basketcase in comparison to the scorpion DC. He's convinced they used cheaper components for their first crack at the US market. He gets the same backlash issues. He's already listed his for sale on the local fish groups. 

[Junger]

I love my DC. I love the noise it makes. I set it up so that I have to thumb it when the lure hits the water, but that's how I set up all my baitcasters. But what differentiates it is that, it self-clears overruns on the fly so there's no magnetic or centrifugal brakes to mess around with. I think there's an unrealistic expectation that the DC braking system should also be a tension knob braking mechanism as well.

[Junger]

22 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

That is not that unrealistic an expectation in my opinion but it is a bit silly.  The Daiwa SV reels require no thumb even on splash down and don't use any spool tension.  Even a Tatula SV which is on the cheap end of the spectrum can cast a Terminator frog 60+ yards thumb free into the ground without stopping the spool which was a surprise.  I still stop the spool on all my SV reels out of habit from years of using non SV reels.  Maybe if I am skipping something under a dock and loose track of it then the spool will slow to a stop on It's own once the bait hits bottom but mode 4 on the DC should behave similarly.

That's like trying to compare two tools that almost do the same thing but not quite, like a Phillips and Flathead screw driver. My Zillion SV TWS or Tat SV TWS doesn't come close to casting as far as my Curado DC when bombing an appropriate sized lure. I can set up the DC to skip lures on Mode 4 and a tightened tension knob, but it won't skip as far as the SV. I use the SV spools for lighter lures, pitching (when I don't want to thumb the spool on splash down), and skipping, while I use the DC for bombing lures. Both systems are different tools for me that I think do some things better than the other and I love using both.

[MUSLENUTZ]

4 hours ago, punch said:

One thing you're not hearing much of is how much people LOVE their Curado DC's. A diehard shimano friend of mine (who has JDM DC's) says the Curado DC is a basketcase in comparison to the scorpion DC. He's convinced they used cheaper components for their first crack at the US market. He gets the same backlash issues. He's already listed his for sale on the local fish groups. 

I tested it against a curado k. It casts maybe 10-20 feet more on average. It is not perfect with backlashing. It’s not backlash proof but it is pretty close to it. I counted 56 cranks at 31 inches per turn is about 170-180 ft using 80% strength. I love it. That was using a 1/8 sinker, a senko, 4 O hook and 15lb mono. Today i used 40lb braid and was getting a little less but not much. Other fisherman looked at me like i had three heads. DC for the win, curado k returned. DC being fished outcasting everyone I have talked to and have tried it. 

[Junger]

21 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

What are your preferred long bomb settings with the Curado DC that can still handle wind?

14lb FC Sniper, I use setting 3 and the tension knob loose so that if I drop a 5" Senko with 1/8oz on a 3/0 EWG to the ground without thumbing, it will overrun about 10 wraps. Most wind I've faced with the DC so far were up in NH where it was about 7-10mph. I haven't faced anything more than that here in DC, other than some light winds under 5mph.

[Hulkster]

i have to wonder how many of the 'issues' we see are people that don't know how to use a baitcaster properly, buy a curado DC and think that it will do everything for them, then complain about the reel when it doesn't?

 

 

[MUSLENUTZ]

Having not used a bait caster in 20 years, I was using this like a huck it and chuck it not expecting it to back lash. I dont think you should set it as they suggest. Focusing on the spool not wobbling to know when its set right. Bottom line, set it up like a regular bait caster and it sails. I love it!

[five-bites]

Like has been said, ignore the suggested spool tension setting and this thing works. It skips better than it should imo too. 

[Hulkster]

im confused as to the spool wobble. does the spool on the DC wobble much more than normal baitcasters? eg. say as compared to a Curado I or K? which has almost no wobble?

[Gundog]

I don't own a DC but having looked at the reviews and youtube videos about setting it up and casting I'm thinking that people not knowing the difference between a DC and a conventional reel might be what is causing the problems in some cases. Not all cases, just some. In one video I watched, the presenter was concerned that the casting distance was longer on setting 3 than on setting 2 and couldn't understand why. Having only used conventional baitcasters I can understand his confusion. It seems like if you didn't own a DC version of a reel before you may be in for a steep learning curve on the Curado DC. Just my opinion.

[MUSLENUTZ]

1 minute ago, Hulkster said:

im confused as to the spool wobble. does the spool on the DC wobble much more than normal baitcasters? eg. say as compared to a Curado I or K? which has almost no wobble?

You basically adjust the brake tension until the spool stops wobbling. That is their suggestion on when it is set correctly. I ignore that, I simply place on a lure and adjust until it hits the ground and doesnt backlash.

[Woody_California]

Love mine!

 

[puddlepuncher]

On 9/11/2018 at 11:56 AM, DanTheFireman said:

 My take; Setting 1 is useless, lots of backlash without some serious thumbing. Setting 2 is great, works as designed. Setting 3 is between 1 and 2... my reel is dyslexic. Setting 4 works as designed. There are plenty of vids up showing the reel doing what it's supposed to so I took mine to the local Shimano repair guy yesterday.

 

I agree with setting 1.  The only way I've managed to get it working on this setting is to tighten the tension far beyond what I set any reel.  It will cast about the same distance as setting 2 with the spool tension much lower so it is a useless setting IMO.  I haven't tried 3 much TBH but I will tomorrow.  4 is pretty much for beginners or casting into the wind and is nearly useless.

 

I did notice it is much more forgiving with braid than mono.  I had more over runs with mono mid cast than I've had in years but with braid those seemed to work themselves out by the time the lure hit the water.

 

All that said I still love this reel.  Strangely enough it's taken me much longer to get it set up to my comfort level by a long shot.  I played with it for a few hours before I felt it was in the optimal zone for how I wanted to use it.  It will not replace my MGL spooled reels though.  Not by a long shot.

 

@Gundog I agree it was over hyped and definitely takes more time to dial in than any other reel I've owned.  It's still a great fun reel.

 

Half of me hopes the masses don't embrace it and I can scoop up a few more on the cheap on Ebay in the coming months.

[burrows]

7 hours ago, puddlepuncher said:

 

 

@Gundog

Half of me hopes the masses don't embrace it and I can scoop up a few more on the cheap on Ebay in the coming months.

If the masses don’t embrace  it the price won’t go down this only happens if demand continues to be high for that specific reel for example the k prices are low because they are being produced like hot cakes and circulation is high. On the other hand the chronarch mgl prices remain high even though the reel isn’t super popular that’s because demand is low even though that is a bad ass mofo of a reel.

 Mark my words a year from today the curado dc will not go down in value like the k it won’t go lower than 220 a year from now not even on eBay not new. This reel will hold its value no doubt. 

 Not getting @DINK WHISPERER The more over stock the more product, the more the value goes down. 

Something like that @BaitFinesse schooled me on that recently.

Edited September 13, 2018 by Burrows
Correction

[DINK WHISPERER]

1 hour ago, Burrows said:

If the masses don’t expect it the price won’t go down this only happens if demand continues to be high for that specific reel for example the k prices are low because they are being produced like hot cakes and circulation is high. On the other hand the chronarch mgl prices remain high even though the reel isn’t super popular that’s because demand is low even though that is a bad ass mofo of a reel.

 Mark my words a year from today the curado dc will not go down in value like the k it won’t go lower than 220 a year from now not even on eBay not new. This reel will hold its value no doubt. 

 Not getting @DINK WHISPERER The more over stock the more product, the more the value goes down. 

Something like that @BaitFinesse schooled me on that recently.

You said if the masses don't expect it the price won't go down. Not getting you? 

To me supply and demand means the more people want an item and demand it the more the price will stay consistent or even go up. The less people want it then lower the demand for it the less the price.

[Junger]

 

Mind your P's and Q's!

[burrows]

10 minutes ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

You said if the masses don't expect it the price won't go down. Not getting you? 

To me supply and demand means the more people want an item and demand it the more the price will stay consistent or even go up. The less people want it then lower the demand for it the less the price.

Misspelled  except it, is what I meant anyways I was wrong already just seen on the sales thread the dc are going for 200 on Alf eBay with 20 percent coupon codes 

[puddlepuncher]

@Burrows There is no logic to Ebay other than is someone needs cash badly enough they will sell something for rock bottom prices.  I don't buy the theory of lower demand higher prices but that's for another thread I guess...the can you pick up the sarcasm thread.

 

I'm actually a fan of lightly used in some cases.  If this reel bombs there will be plenty of lightly used ones on the market cutting into the sales of new ones.  Either way I'll score another 2 by winter for well under MSRP.

[Woody_California]

I don't understand how this is so difficult to set up initially? There's only 1 variable.. the spool tension knob.

[MUSLENUTZ]

5 minutes ago, Woody_California said:

I don't understand how this is so difficult to set up initially? There's only 1 variable.. the spool tension knob.

Just set it like your normally do a bait caster. The manual suggests you just tighten it until the spool no longers shifts from side to side. I find it better to just drop the lure until it hits the ground with no backlash at a slow drop pace.

[Junger]

9 minutes ago, Woody_California said:

I don't understand how this is so difficult to set up initially? There's only 1 variable.. the spool tension knob.

 

3 minutes ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

Just set it like your normally do a bait caster. The manual suggests you just tighten it until the spool no longers shifts from side to side. I find it better to just drop the lure until it hits the ground with no backlash at a slow drop pace.

Maybe there truly was a defective initial batch...as the OP stated. But yeah, there's 1 variable to play with and it's not difficult to set it up so you don't backlash or overrun.

[puddlepuncher]

29 minutes ago, Woody_California said:

I don't understand how this is so difficult to set up initially? There's only 1 variable.. the spool tension knob.

 

I set up all my reels with minimal braking and minimal tension.  I could tell setting 4 was not for me.  What took me a bit was 1 and 2.  As stated before 1 is almost useless, and 2 is where I've done most of my fishing.  I still find I had to set the tension a bit tighter than I prefer on non DC reels.  The tension knob is more sensitive than high end Shimanos.

 

In the end it took a few casts to figure out setting 2, and an hour or so to realize the other 3 settings were not for me.

[Woody_California]

1 hour ago, puddlepuncher said:

 

I set up all my reels with minimal braking and minimal tension.  I could tell setting 4 was not for me.  What took me a bit was 1 and 2.  As stated before 1 is almost useless, and 2 is where I've done most of my fishing.  I still find I had to set the tension a bit tighter than I prefer on non DC reels.  The tension knob is more sensitive than high end Shimanos.

 

In the end it took a few casts to figure out setting 2, and an hour or so to realize the other 3 settings were not for me.

These things must be inconsistent albeit I find setting 3 a bit useless myself. If I tune the reel to cast well in mode 1, all other modes work. I wouldn't think you should have to readjust the spool tension for each brake setting.