Curado DC - extra brief review

[rock rock rock]

Hi everyone, 

I wanted to share my impressions on the Curado DC (and the IDC4 system), never tried a DC reel before

 

First, the good: the reel is very comfortable and very smooth (not as smooth as my Tatula SV, but it's a lower gear ratio, that helps)

 

The bad: I don't like the feeling when casting, the spool is super heavy and you can feel how slow it is to speed up, I like the glitchy digital sound though

 

The very bad: the adjustability is poor, setting n.2 was overbraked and casting short, setting n.1 was too free and super easy to backlash even with heavy lures and a very tight spool tension, the reel needs a 1.5 setting

 

I have now ordered a Curado K, I loved the ergonomics of the DC, and the K is even more compact, 

I want to try a Scorpion with the IDC5, the reviews say it's a lot better braking system, 

 

Have a great day

 

 

 

 

 

 

sorry, delete, wrong section

[rock rock rock]

Hi everyone, 

I wanted to share my impressions on the Curado DC (and the IDC4 system), never tried a DC reel before

 

First, the good: the reel is very comfortable and very smooth (not as smooth as my Tatula SV, but it's a lower gear ratio, that helps)

 

The bad: I don't like the feeling when casting, the spool is super heavy and you can feel how slow it is to speed up, I like the glitchy digital sound though

 

The very bad: the adjustability is poor, setting n.2 was overbraked and casting short, setting n.1 was too free and super easy to backlash even with heavy lures and a very tight spool tension, the reel needs a 1.5 setting

 

I have now ordered a Curado K, I loved the ergonomics of the DC, and the K is even more compact, 

I want to try a Scorpion with the IDC5, the reviews say it's a lot better braking system, 

 

Have a great day

[browne762]

I have actually gotten the longest casts I have ever experienced with a baitcasting reel when on setting #2. Are you casting very light weights?

[rock rock rock]

7 minutes ago, browne762 said:

I have never experienced short casts on setting #2. I have actually gotten the longest casts I have ever experienced with a baitcasting reel when on setting #2. Are you casting very light weights?

About 7-15 grams (1/4oz to 1/2), but the bad thing for me was not the actual distance, it was average to very good on heavier lures,

it was the feeling of the spool being heavy, slow and overbraked...

that's my opinion though, i like feeling the spool spin fast and free, this was not the case, even on setting n.1 it was a strange feeling...I guess DC reels are not for me...

[Junger]

I bomb 3/8+oz lures on it compared to my other reels, on both fluoro and braid. I'll buy your DC for $150.

[DanielG]

Put it on 2 and loosen the tension knob and use your thumb. It will spin free if that's what you want. With mine I find that I put it on 2 (with braid) and loosen the knob until the lure just begins to fall when I shake it slightly. Then it casts nicely. Light stuff too it just needs the  re-adjustment for weight. The directions that come with it about tightening the knob till the spool has no play in it is just  dumb on Shimano's part. I've written them. They're passing it onto the engineers they said.

As far as the hefty feeling of it. Well, yes I guess it does but that doesn't bother me much, but I can understand if it does some people. Hey, use what pleases you. If you really don't like it, maybe you can offload it to someone. It's fairly new right? So the return might be decent.

[Big Rick]

That's odd. I've never thrown one, but there are a ton of people on this site that have and generally love the DC. Are you sure the settings were all at the optimal position?  Not questioning your abilities but by your own admission you've never owned a DC before and from my understanding there is a bit of a learning curve to maximize the DC benefits...

[rock rock rock]

21 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

That's odd. I've never thrown one, but there are a ton of people on this site that have and generally love the DC. Are you sure the settings were all at the optimal position?  Not questioning your abilities but by your own admission you've never owned a DC before and from my understanding there is a bit of a learning curve to maximize the DC benefits...

Yup, I fished it for a couple of weeks...tried everything, from very loose spool tension to tight, and I have some experience with baitcasters... 20+ years... 

 

As I said there were no issues in distance (although it was no much better than some other reels I had)...

The best I can describe the feeling I had while casting is "disconnected";

 

I really enjoy a very fast free spinning spool on the verge of exploding in the worst backlash ever

 

I didn't mean to post a bashing review on a popular reel, just the impression I got, maybe I'm just too old school and I love "analog" brakes

[FishTank]

I have the DC as well.  I have had zero issues with it and it casts a 3/8oz crankbait a country mile.  I have been using 12lb FC and have yet to get a backlash on setting #2.  I will use #3 in the wind and if I am using a heavier lure, 1/2oz and up, I can generally get away with setting #1. 

 

I wonder if the original poster is using braid.  Just curious. 

[rock rock rock]

Yup, using braid, I fished it for a couple of weeks...tried everything, from very loose spool tension to tight, and I have some experience with baitcasters... 20+ years... 

 

As I said there were no issues in distance with heavy lures (although it was no much better than some other reels I had)...

The best I can describe the feeling I had while casting is "disconnected";

 

I really enjoy a very fast free spinning spool on the verge of exploding in the worst backlash ever

 

I didn't mean to post a bashing review on a popular reel, just the impression I got, maybe I'm just too old school and I love "analog" brakes

[Big Rick]

Maybe you got a reel with some issues. That's definitely possible. And I'm no fanboy. I own and have owned nearly all brands. 

 

I didn't see your post as bashing. It was to the point and factual. I'm just surprised at your experience with so many others having great success..

[Junger]

11 minutes ago, rock rock rock said:

I really enjoy a very fast free spinning spool on the verge of exploding in the worst backlash ever

Uh, that's basically the opposite of what the DC is trying to accomplish. Let me know when you're ready to sell it.

[rock rock rock]

4 minutes ago, Junger said:

Uh, that's basically the opposite of what the DC is trying to accomplish. Let me know when you're ready to sell it.

I sold it yesterday! Oh, I live in Italy by the way... Ciao

[Efishin]

8 hours ago, rock rock rock said:

Hi everyone, 

I wanted to share my impressions on the Curado DC (and the IDC4 system), never tried a DC reel before

 

First, the good: the reel is very comfortable and very smooth (not as smooth as my Tatula SV, but it's a lower gear ratio, that helps)

 

The bad: I don't like the feeling when casting, the spool is super heavy and you can feel how slow it is to speed up, I like the glitchy digital sound though

 

The very bad: the adjustability is poor, setting n.2 was overbraked and casting short, setting n.1 was too free and super easy to backlash even with heavy lures and a very tight spool tension, the reel needs a 1.5 setting

 

I have now ordered a Curado K, I loved the ergonomics of the DC, and the K is even more compact, 

I want to try a Scorpion with the IDC5, the reviews say it's a lot better braking system, 

 

Have a great day

Use the micro adjuster on the reel to fine tune it. Read the manual. The Curado DC is more than capable. You didn't set the reel properly... Have three of them. Like all reels without proper settings and know how the reels can be difficult.

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, rock rock rock said:

Yup, using braid, I fished it for a couple of weeks...tried everything, from very loose spool tension to tight, and I have some experience with baitcasters... 20+ years... 

 

As I said there were no issues in distance with heavy lures (although it was no much better than some other reels I had)...

The best I can describe the feeling I had while casting is "disconnected";

 

I really enjoy a very fast free spinning spool on the verge of exploding in the worst backlash ever

 

I didn't mean to post a bashing review on a popular reel, just the impression I got, maybe I'm just too old school and I love "analog" brakes

 

The reason I bring up braid.....  I have a buddy that bought one, he loves braid and he found that with (whatever brand it is) braid that it will absorb a ton of water causing the spool itself to be heavier.   This appears to make the spool slower on his DC reel.  He changed to a different, lighter braid (maybe 65lb to 40lb) and the heavy spool issue with this reel went away.

 

If it were me, I would have pulled the braid off and put on some mono or FC. 

[5/0]

I was in a Bass Pro today and was looking at the DC reels. I got to asking and the guy mentioned the three setting chip that was used for different types of casts. I asked him; is the chip a third option after brakes and cast control? He said yes. I'm thinking; I set the brakes, the cast control, and now I have to worry about a chip! My head started to hurt!  Pretty soon we'll be verbally instructing the reels: "I'm going to throw a 3/8 oz. jerk bait on a medium, moderate action rod 15 yards. The winds are out of the west at 7 MPH. Make it so."

I make this post with tongue firmly in cheek, but is this type of technology really necessary/

 

Joe

 

[CrankFate]

12 hours ago, rock rock rock said:

Hi everyone, 

I wanted to share my impressions on the Curado DC (and the IDC4 system), never tried a DC reel before

 

First, the good: the reel is very comfortable and very smooth (not as smooth as my Tatula SV, but it's a lower gear ratio, that helps)

 

The bad: I don't like the feeling when casting, the spool is super heavy and you can feel how slow it is to speed up, I like the glitchy digital sound though

 

The very bad: the adjustability is poor, setting n.2 was overbraked and casting short, setting n.1 was too free and super easy to backlash even with heavy lures and a very tight spool tension, the reel needs a 1.5 setting

 

I have now ordered a Curado K, I loved the ergonomics of the DC, and the K is even more compact, 

I want to try a Scorpion with the IDC5, the reviews say it's a lot better braking system, 

 

Have a great day

 

 

 

 

 

 

sorry, delete, wrong section

Glad I didn’t get one then.

[frogflogger]

I learned on a Bronson Green hornet and a Langley Lurecast - all of todays reels cast beautifully to me.

[Efishin]

10 hours ago, CrankFate said:

Glad I didn’t get one then.

Don't let one persons experience persuade you. He just doesn't know how to adjust his reel properly 

[rock rock rock]

3 minutes ago, Efishin said:

Don't let one persons experience persuade you. He just doesn't know how to adjust his reel properly 

Sorry, I knew how to adjust the reel, and tried every possible combination of brakes and spool tension, I didn't like it for the reasons I explained, mostly i didn't like the feel of the reel during the cast...

 

of course this is only my opinion, didn't say it's a bad reel or anything

[rock rock rock]

UPDATE: I got the Curado K two weeks ago and I couldn't be happier, it is a joy to cast, and it's also smoother ( i got the K in the low gear ratio), the DC are not for me (at least the IDC4 version, I wanna try the other more advanced ones), 

 

Thanks and have a great day!