Shimano Curado DC

[fishwizzard]

14 minutes ago, rippin-lips said:

Haha I think you literally picked the smallest reel to use as your set standard.  Anything will fit big in comparison. I love my Alphas SV and Zonda 68. Probably the most comfortable platform ever made. 

I know, I wear M gloves in most brands and the Alphas platform is comfortable on every rod I have put on one.  All other reels are situationally comfortable at best.  I just got my first TD-Z and it is pretty great as well.  I feel like I am going to need to start hoarding older reels soon. 

 

In any case, my interest in the Curado DC, other then wanting to try the tech, is to use fishing a 68 Special this winter.  I want a reel that I can set for max control when the wind kicks up so I can cast with a glove on my casting hand.  I think the reel will hold enough 25lb Defier Armilo or other thinner mono to be useful in the smaller ponds around my house.  

[Woody_California]

I have the 8.5:1 model. I love the thing! Casting with no thumb is possible as advertised but, where's the fun in that? Plus, as stated above, the amount of tension required on the spool knob to do this decreases potential distance. Back it off a bit and use some thumb!

Setup this way, it keeps up with the K and Tatulas.

[mrcimon]

3 hours ago, Woody_California said:

I have the 8.5:1 model. I love the thing! Casting with no thumb is possible as advertised but, where's the fun in that? Plus, as stated above, the amount of tension required on the spool knob to do this decreases potential distance. Back it off a bit and use some thumb!

Setup this way, it keeps up with the K and Tatulas.

I've got mine setup the same way. I have the tension set light to where there is a little wobble in the spool.  Working great but have to thumb the spool before she splashes down.  

[puddlepuncher]

I've had mine for a few weeks, long enough to add a bit of feedback.

 

The distance is impressive.  I don't put much into how far I cast for the most part but this thing had me and a buddy laughing at how far it sends 1/2 oz crainkbaits.  It is noticeable right away even if you are a seasoned caster.  Originally I had mono on it but switched to braid as it was impossible to set the hook at 60 yards with the mono stretch.  It feels otherwise just like a K, which is a very solid feeling reel.  

 

Even more important is it's effortless casting.  After a few hours on the water it is rewarding to put in a fraction of the energy to put it exactly where you want.  Backhanding it around corners is slightly easier than the MGL spools.  Most importantly less effort equals deadly accuracy, at least in my case.  I experimented with this on a 7'6 originally for cranking, but switched to a 6'6 and couldn't believe how I could thread the needle at this length without losing any distance.  

 

Only cons so far is the thumbar has a different feeling of the higher end Shimano's but that's not a deal breaker.  It doesn't palm as nicely for me as a Met, or Chronarch but neither did the previous Curado's.  It is not necessary now will it make you a better fisherman but it sure is fun.  I haven't lost any love for my MGL spools but if you have the cash and want to try something different I highly suggest you at least play around with a DC reel.

 

 

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[DanTheFireman]

It sounds like you guys got good ones, there are definitely some lemons in the first batch. My 151 XG DC is in for repair now. Setting 1 is absolutely useless, big blowups even with tight tension knob and zero 1/2 oz. lure drop. Setting 2 is fine, as designed. Setting 3 casts further than 2 with thumbing, it's between 1 and 2 which is not as it's supposed to be. Setting 4 is fine, no thumb required but greatly reduced distance as designed. I know the HG Shimanos fairly well, have Antares, Metaniums, Curado I and Ks etc.