Shimano Curado K 200, Tough to dial in

[ryguy1313]

Hey guys, asking for some info regarding one of my bass setups.

 

I have a Shimano Curado K (200 size), and I purchased it back in 2018. Overall, the reel is frustrating me a bit. I am pretty experienced with baitcasters, but I just cant dial this thing in. It throws larger cranks good and far, but when I go to 3/8oz jerkbaits, I get birds nests left and right.

I'm a little confused because based on reviews im seeing, this reel should be handling these lures fine. I have it paired with 15lb Seaguar Red label, could it possibly be the line?

 

I have to dial it so tight when I cast these lighter lures, I barely get any distance out of it. Also, if there is the slightest bit of wind, forget using this reel at all. 

 

Any thoughts here?

[jbsoonerfan]

There is a lot that could be going on, but that reel and line is just fine for a 3/8 oz JB. What rod are you using? Casting over head, sidearm? Are you having problems at the beginning or end of the cast?

[waymont]

Check to see if you over spooled it. That could cause those issues. Also your tstyle of casting, and the rod as stated above.

[FishTank]

I have a couple K's and have no issues casting a 3/8oz lure, especially jerk baits.  My preferred line is 10lb FC and a Medium Fast rod with a soft tip. 

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, ryguy1313 said:

Any thoughts here?

The K is fickle with baits under a 1/2oz, especially if you're really slinging them. Dinking out casts 50-60 ft? Not so bad. It's not the versatile workhorse people seem to reflexively regurgitate that it is. The Standard SLX handles lighter baits far more predictably, as do many other reels near or below the K's price point. The SLX MGL is even better yet.

[JustJames]

What is your internal brake setting? Most of the ppl set 2 on 2 off, yes it might optimize in casting distance and should be fine with heavy lure but you leave no room for control when switching to light weight lure.

The 3/8 oz jerkbait is not considered as light weight lure at all and the K should have no problem casting that. Try all 4 on and set dial high first, spool tension set to just no side to side play.

[garroyo130]

4 hours ago, ryguy1313 said:

I have to dial it so tight when I cast these lighter lures, I barely get any distance out of it. Also, if there is the slightest bit of wind, forget using this reel at all. 

 

Any thoughts here?

 

What are you setting your brakes at and the dial at?

[ryguy1313]

Thanks for the feedback guys, some answers to your follow up questions:

 

-Currently I have the reel paired with a 7' GLoomis E6X rod Medium Heavy Fast action.

(Previously had it on a moderate action rod, but hated it. The rod was so flimsy, it felt like a pool noodle and I got no sensitivity out of it)

 

-The birds nests seem to happen in the middle of the cast. They sometimes undo themselves during the cast if the cast is long enough. A lot of birds nests happen at the end however.

 

-I have the brakes tuned with 2 centfrig on, and 2 off. The fine tune dial is at about halfway.

 

-I cast sidearm from my right side and have noticed that a lot of my casts seem to go to the "10o'clock" position often (if I am aiming for 12o'clock). The lure just doesn't seem to fly straight and off the tip of the spool. Almost like it is getting pulled left. Way different than my brothers Daiwa Tatula I have used where the line seems to come off the reel seamlessly and the lure always goes right where you wind up pointing the rod tip

 

Let me know any additional thoughts! 

Thanks guys 

 

 

 

[LCG]

It could be that you need to increase the internal brakes to 3 and see how that works. You may need to alter your thumb release point when casting, sound like you need to release thumb pressure a little earlier in the cast. I can cast down to 1/4oz without much issue on my Curado K. It's not perfect but works fine in a pinch. 

[ryguy1313]

21 hours ago, PhishLI said:

The K is fickle with baits under a 1/2oz, especially if you're really slinging them. Dinking out casts 50-60 ft? Not so bad. It's not the versatile workhorse people seem to reflexively regurgitate that it is. The Standard SLX handles lighter baits far more predictably, as do many other reels near or below the K's price point. The SLX MGL is even better yet.

 

 

I fear you may be right here. I can cast 3/5oz crankbaits all day with no birds nest, good range and no issues whatsoever. However, once I go below that 1/2oz threshold, the reel just gets SO finicky. 

 

It just confuses me because on a lot of forums, people actually recommend this reel for lighter jerkbaits and stuff. And like other users in this thread have mentioned, a 3/8oz lure is not objectively a light lure. It leaves me thinking "What am I doing wrong?" 

 

19 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Replace the line with braid to a flouro leader or drop down to 12# flouro.  15# flouro is hard to deal with.  Also is this line recently spooled and spooled onto the reel in the correct direction?

 

 

I'm going to try that. Going to step down to 12lb Flouro or mono. 

[Way2slow]

What you are probably running into is the aerodynamics of the lure.  A heavy lure that starts the reel to spinning super fast, but the lure is slowing down way faster than the reel.  The fact that you are side arming it leads me to believe you are probably using more of a throwing motion instead of a whipping motion, which is not a good way to cast one.  The wrist and rod tip should be doing the casting, not your arm.

 

A little trick I have everybody I teach how to use a bait caster that saves tons of frustration.  Pull off as much line as you can possibly cast on your longest cast, plus a few feet extra, then wrap piece of black electrical tape around the spool, then wind back in over the tape.  This eliminates backlashes.  If you do somehow get one, it's only a couple of turns deep and very easy to get out.  Do this until you have your technique perfected.  

[garroyo130]

3 hours ago, ryguy1313 said:

I fear you may be right here. I can cast 3/5oz crankbaits all day with no birds nest

 

Are you throwing 3/5 and 3/8 on the same rod? That might be the issue

[brophog]

4 hours ago, ryguy1313 said:

I cast sidearm from my right side and have noticed that a lot of my casts seem to go to the "10o'clock" position often (if I am aiming for 12o'clock). The lure just doesn't seem to fly straight and off the tip of the spool. Almost like it is getting pulled left. Way different than my brothers Daiwa Tatula I have used where the line seems to come off the reel seamlessly and the lure always goes right where you wind up pointing the rod tip

 

You can try altering your release timing to compensate. That’s usually a sign the brakes are altering the course of the lure. Pretty common when trying to cast a bait that’s too light. Make sure the rod you’re using can load properly for that lure and that your casting motion is indeed loading that rod.

 

4 hours ago, ryguy1313 said:

-The birds nests seem to happen in the middle of the cast. They sometimes undo themselves during the cast if the cast is long enough. A lot of birds nests happen at the end however.

 

That’s happening because your bait isn’t carrying its momentum throughout the cast. Try a more aerodynamic bait or a flatter trajectory. Sometimes a sidearm cast will kinda loop in the air, using up its momentum very early then slows down before the spool does.

 

Birds nests at the end of the cast are all down to the user, imo. Some reels are more controlled at the end of the cast, but by the end of the cast the user should be able to apply breaking via the thumb to prevent an overrun.

[Kenny Yi]

I recently got my first Curado K 200HG a month ago.  On the reel; 20# Red Label, thin mono backing to braid backing to the fluoro, and a 3/8 oz ball head finesse jig.

 

It does seem finicky to dial in at the beginning, especially with two brake controls and the spool tension, but it's a huge upgrade for me and is a much better workhorse than my SLX.  Casting is great, pitches well, just need to figure out the perfect settings for skipping still. 

[ryguy1313]

Thanks for the good feedback guys. I have some options to try here when I go fishing in a couple weeks. 

In the meantime, I bought an Abu Garcia Revo Premier Gen4 baitcast reel. Got it half off in the fall on a Bass Pro sale. I've heard this reel is better at handle lighter stuff. Hopefully it wont give me any issues chucking my lighter jerkbaits.