Casting rod to pair w/ Curado DC for bass and inshore

[GatorDr]

It’s been about a year since I started fishing and I’m picking up a Curado DC as my first baitcaster! I really want to get the most out of my gear though so I was thinking about getting a rod that I could use inshore throwing soft plastics and twitch baits.
 

The issue is I want a versatile bass rod, something I can throw Texas rigged plastics, lipless cranks, jigs, and maybe topwater. But when I’m inshore fishing, I’m throwing 1/8 to 1/2 oz at most. What rod do you guys recommend that covers that entire range? 
 

another question, if you guys had the chance to buy a Curado DC for $190 or a Curado K for $120, which one would you get for what I’m using it for? Planning to pair with 20# braid

[Junger]

Tatula 7' M/MH AGS rod, 1/8-1oz and are true to those ratings.

[GatorDr]

4 minutes ago, Junger said:

Tatula 7' M/MH AGS rod, 1/8-1oz and are true to those ratings.

That rating sounds like a dream, unfortunately my budget is $200. Do you have any other recommendations? Thank you!

[Junger]

Lew's has some interesting rods with those lure ranges.

 

https://www.lews.com/rods/inshore

 

I have a custom plus 6'8 speed stick with the short grip and I've been pleased with it. It kind of has a magnum taper and for a ML rating, I have had no problem hauling out 8lb snakeheads out of hydrilla on 12lb mono with it.

 

[browne762]

St Croix makes a few Medium-Light casting rods, but I don't know much about their In Shore line.

 

If I were throwing mostly light stuff, I would use the 70 over the DC. I never had much distance throwing a 1/8oz jig with a 2.8 inch Keitech with the DC reel.

[Junger]

Good point, if you're looking to throw 1/8oz lures, you're probably better off with a Curado 70.

 

Lowest I like with the Curado DC is 3/8oz to get the performance I want out of it.

[GatorDr]

4 hours ago, browne762 said:

St Croix makes a few Medium-Light casting rods, but I don't know much about their In Shore line.

 

If I were throwing mostly light stuff, I would use the 70 over the DC. I never had much distance throwing a 1/8oz jig with a 2.8 inch Keitech with the DC reel.

Thank you for the heads up!! I’m new to baitcasters so it’s a whole different world. I’ll definitely take that into consideration. I was looking through my tackle earlier and I’m mostly throwing 1/4-1/2 oz so I’ll probably look for a medium rod 

[Fishing_FF]

1 hour ago, GatorDr said:

Thank you for the heads up!! I’m new to baitcasters so it’s a whole different world. I’ll definitely take that into consideration. I was looking through my tackle earlier and I’m mostly throwing 1/4-1/2 oz so I’ll probably look for a medium rod 

 

Another heads up for both the Shimano baitcasters you are looking at. Neither is sealed, so make sure you learn how to rinse, clean, and oil the reels to limit the corrosion if you are using them for inshore fishing. 

[GatorDr]

5 hours ago, Fishing_FF said:

 

Another heads up for both the Shimano baitcasters you are looking at. Neither is sealed, so make sure you learn how to rinse, clean, and oil the reels to limit the corrosion if you are using them for inshore fishing. 

I’ve read that, are there any sealed baitcasters?

[Fishing_FF]

11 hours ago, GatorDr said:

I’ve read that, are there any sealed baitcasters?

Tranx is the only sealed on I know of that is a low profile baitcaster. The Calcutta is a round baitcaster with rubber seals on the covers designed for saltwater, but doesn’t list Shimano’s CoreProtect technology on this reel. 
 

You can still use a non-sealed reel. My lower end spinning equipment does fine in saltwater, but I know when it goes in for annual cleaning, I’ll problem have to replace a bearing or two. My sealed Stradics have been cleaning only for comparison, no bearing replacements for 3 years now. 

[GatorDr]

14 hours ago, Fishing_FF said:

Tranx is the only sealed on I know of that is a low profile baitcaster. The Calcutta is a round baitcaster with rubber seals on the covers designed for saltwater, but doesn’t list Shimano’s CoreProtect technology on this reel. 
 

You can still use a non-sealed reel. My lower end spinning equipment does fine in saltwater, but I know when it goes in for annual cleaning, I’ll problem have to replace a bearing or two. My sealed Stradics have been cleaning only for comparison, no bearing replacements for 3 years now. 

I had no idea the Tranx came in a 200 size because I’ve only heard of the 300 and 400. I think I’ll definitely do the 200 Tranx now. What’s the lowest lure weight you think I can throw on it is? 

[Junger]

There's a coastal SV TW, a size 100 reel but with a 150 SV spool, doesn't look magsealed but maybe it's just marketed as coastal because it has anti corrosion bearings, but that 150 SV spool is very intriguing.

[GatorDr]

18 minutes ago, Junger said:

There's a coastal SV TW, a size 100 reel but with a 150 SV spool, doesn't look magsealed but maybe it's just marketed as coastal because it has anti corrosion bearings, but that 150 SV spool is very intriguing.

I pretty much narrowed it down to this and the Tranx 200. Do you know if there’s a big difference in sizes between the 2? I know for spinning Daiwa is usually bigger than Shimano. It’s petty but I’m just not a big fan of the color on the coastal tbh lol I think I may go for the Tranx. 30lb braid (is this too heavy, too light?) and I’m looking at the Megabass Levante Diablo Spec R rod. What do you think Junger?

thanks!

[Junger]

6 minutes ago, GatorDr said:

I pretty much narrowed it down to this and the Tranx 200. Do you know if there’s a big difference in sizes between the 2? I know for spinning Daiwa is usually bigger than Shimano. It’s petty but I’m just not a big fan of the color on the coastal tbh lol I think I may go for the Tranx. 30lb braid (is this too heavy, too light?) and I’m looking at the Megabass Levante Diablo Spec R rod. What do you think Junger?

thanks!

I have zero experience with these reels, but I think you're best bet would be to call Gary at TackleTrap and discuss, super knowledgeable about the latest Daiwa gear. Also they have a Facebook 10% off code. 

[Fishing_FF]

10 hours ago, GatorDr said:

I had no idea the Tranx came in a 200 size because I’ve only heard of the 300 and 400. I think I’ll definitely do the 200 Tranx now. What’s the lowest lure weight you think I can throw on it is? 

I don’t have a Tranx. Actually, I don’t take any of my baitcasters saltwater fishing. I know there are some in the Orlando and Central Florida kayak clubs I’m a part of that fishing baitcasters both freshwater and saltwater. I put up posts for both groups to get you some info from those that have and use the reel from kayaks. The most common reel was the Shimano Tranx, but the Daiwa Coastal SV TW and Lexa were popular. No one with a Tranx was throwing weightless lures. The lightest response was a Owner 1/16oz weighted hook with a small DOA style fluke (said to weight in the 1/4oz range). I was a bit surprised no one was using the Tranx for weightless Senkos, but most were on MH rods which probably wouldn’t be soft enough for such lightweight presentation. I have a St Croix Mojo Inshore rod rated MH, and it says the recommended lure rating is 1/2oz-1 1/4oz for comparison. Two people with the Lexas said the reel absolutely excelled with weightless lures like flukes and Senkos. They haven’t said what power rod they were using, but matching the reel to a rod designed for lighter weight lures will probably be more of a key than whether the reel can throw the lure. 30lbs braid was the most common line from responses. 

[GatorDr]

29 minutes ago, Fishing_FF said:

I don’t have a Tranx. Actually, I don’t take any of my baitcasters saltwater fishing. I know there are some in the Orlando and Central Florida kayak clubs I’m a part of that fishing baitcasters both freshwater and saltwater. I put up posts for both groups to get you some info from those that have and use the reel from kayaks. The most common reel was the Shimano Tranx, but the Daiwa Coastal SV TW and Lexa were popular. No one with a Tranx was throwing weightless lures. The lightest response was a Owner 1/16oz weighted hook with a small DOA style fluke (said to weight in the 1/4oz range). I was a bit surprised no one was using the Tranx for weightless Senkos, but most were on MH rods which probably wouldn’t be soft enough for such lightweight presentation. I have a St Croix Mojo Inshore rod rated MH, and it says the recommended lure rating is 1/2oz-1 1/4oz for comparison. Two people with the Lexas said the reel absolutely excelled with weightless lures like flukes and Senkos. They haven’t said what power rod they were using, but matching the reel to a rod designed for lighter weight lures will probably be more of a key than whether the reel can throw the lure. 30lbs braid was the most common line from responses. 

Wow, thank you so much for this. This was exactly what I was looking for!!! Do you know which Lexa they’re using? I’ve looked at them but it seems like they’re pretty big size wise (300 and 400)

[Fishing_FF]

7 minutes ago, GatorDr said:

Wow, thank you so much for this. This was exactly what I was looking for!!! Do you know which Lexa they’re using? I’ve looked at them but it seems like they’re pretty big size wise (300 and 400)

300 size, and yes, the major complaint the Lexa guys had in the discussion that started about Tranx vs Lexa, the Lexa guys said it was an overly large reel compared to the Tranx. The Tranx guys couldn't answer the Lexa guys claims about excelling at with weightless lures though. There are pros and cons to both reels.