curado dc Shimano Curado DC - Birdsnest Mid-Cast

[Mckean73]

Hi,

This might have been posted before, but I was not able to find anything on it..so please forgive me if it has.

 

Anyway...I have had my Curado DC for about 6 months...really like it other than the fact that when I cast (on occasion), my 15 pound braid somehow gets a Birdsnest in it mid cast and will only cast out for a few feet before it stops because of the birdsnests.  It's frustrating. 

Happens in all conditions (no wind, wind, etc.).

 

I use for the most part weightless flukes and use the 2nd setting on it.

 

I have re-spooled it a couple of times to see if that works...even took off about 20 yards of line to see if that would help too.

 

I have noticed when I reel in, my braid is never spooled tight...is this normal?  Don't know if this causing the problem.

   

I have read about some Curados being defective...just don't know if this something I'm doing or if it could be defective.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you

 

[jimmyjoe]

   Pardon me, but isn't 15 lb. test braid awfully thin for a baitcaster? I'd think you would get the line digging in a lot. And that might cause what you're describing.      jj

[islandbass]

I’m with jimmy joe. Do you know what line dig is? Under some exertion braid on a spool will “dig into itself” anytime sufficient pressure is applied to the line. This line dig really shows itself in braid 20# and less. It significantly decreases by 30#. And is no longer a show stopping problem by 40# braid. 

 

Its not even a true birds nest in the traditional sense. The line is stuck on itself  and as it tries to go out on the cast it slows the spool and hence your nesting. 

 

If you step up to at least 30# braid, this issue should disappear. 

[Mckean73]

Thank you both!

I will go buy some 30 pound braid tomorrow!

Then owners manual says 15 pound braid can be used...but apparently it can cause problems.

Again thank you!

[FishTank]

Like above I would say the line is too thin.  15lb braid is around 4lb to 6lb mono.  I have the Curado DC and have not used braid on it but when the Calcutta DC came out years ago, I saw a reel blow up/birdsnest a couple of times because of the braid being used.  I am not sure which brand but it looked like 50lb PowerPro or Suffix.  The wetter the line got the less effective the breaking.  It was like the reel was being fooled.  This same guy switched to Suffix Siege Mono and had no issues. This was about 12years ago though. 

[Junger]

1 hour ago, Mckean73 said:

I have noticed when I reel in, my braid is never spooled tight...is this normal?  Don't know if this causing the problem.

That is a problem, when you're reeling in your line, 20, 30, 40lb braid or whatever, why isn't it spooled tight?

 

Seems like a user issue, if it's not somewhat tight, even when jigging.

[Scott F]

I use only 20lb braid on my baitcasters and have never had the line dig in. Of course, I don't pull against the spool when freeing a snag, so the line never has a chance to dig in. As far as your having problems with the line not spooling tight, heavier lures that have some resistance when retrieving will wind tighter than weightless flukes. 

[puddlepuncher]

I love my DC but it also doesn't throw the lighter stuff as well as the 1/4oz and above.  A weightless fluke is on the low end for this reel IMO.  I agree the line you are using is probably the culprit, but I can't imagine no matter the line you getting the maximum out of that reel with such a light bait.

[CrankFate]

The problem, I would guess, is a rod that is too stiff to load up with the weight being thrown. I say that because I fish braid down to 6lb suffix and have never had a birdsnest. Once the line gets wet, it sticks to the spool, making it seem like it dug in, but it’s just the water skin holding it to itself. Because the water sticks, you can’t throw a weightless fluke with braid on a baitcaster, unless you have a very whippy rod. To make matters worse, a stiff rod will put less pressure on the line, as you reel in, causing it to be wound too loose. The best application specific rod for this technique is a much softer rod.

[WRB]

I applaud Shimano trying to market a backlash proof baitcasting reel because it's a good challenge. What could go wrong? Put a baitcasting reel in the hands of a skilled caster and backlashes are rare, in the hands of a unkilled novice caster it's common.

The OP states the cause," my line comes back onto the reel loose".  If the lure resistance retrieved doesn't apply enough resistance to keep the line tight the angler must manage the line tension, the reel can't. 

If Shimano states 15 lb braid is OK it should be OK to use. The reason braid digs down into itself is either the level wind isn't designed for braid or the line is loose, in this situation it's loose line.

Tom

 

[Mckean73]

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

I took jimmyjoe's & islandbass' advice and re-spooled with 40 lb PowerPro and fished for 2 plus hours today.....and no line dig (knock on wood)!  That was the first time since January I did not have one.  Also the line was spooled tight when I reeled it in each time.

 

Thanks again for all of the help...I really hope this solves the problem long term!

[GreenPig]

Take the reel off the rod and expose the reel seat to bright sunlight for four hours. You need to recharge the reel.?