best 200-size casting reel for braid.

[jimmyjoe]

   I have a Curado 200i with 50 lb. Sufix 832 on it. It was just professionally serviced this spring. It casts fine, and control is fine. However, the reel makes noises when I cast that I don't like. I THINK (don't know for sure) that this reel doesn't particularly like braid.

   What is the best 200-size reel for 50 lb. braid? I'd rather not buy another 300-size reel, but if I absolutely have to, then I will. I'd like to stay with 200-size for comfort.

 

   Thnx for all replies.                  jj

[Derek1]

When I got my Swimbait rod I threw 65 pound braid on my currado k. So I could play with it while I waited for my tranx to come in. After the tranx came in and I switched the currado back. I didn’t bother to change out the braid it handles it just fine. I throw spinnerbaits, jigs, swimjigs 1/4 3/8 Texas rigs anything really, on it. No troubles at at all. If I’m not mistaken the 65 pound braid is 17ish mono equivalent. Which is right in its wheelhouse. Your 50 should be the same, or a touch better. 

Just reread your post. It was a sound you didn’t like. The heavier braid does seem to make more noise on the hookset. 

[jimmyjoe]

4 minutes ago, Derek1 said:

Just reread your post. It was a sound you didn’t like. The heavier braid does seem to make more noise on the hookset. 

 

   It's hard to explain the sound I don't like. The sound comes on strong at the instant the cast begins. It's as if the bearings can't take the acceleration, although I hope that's not the case. The sound fluctuates for about a half a second, then disappears. Since the RPMs are highest at the beginning of the cast and less at the end of the cast, I figured this to be some kind of mechanical stress. And I don't like putting mechanical stresses on this reel; it's my go-to reel for 200-sizes.

   I had 12 lb. Big Game on this reel before this braid, and it casted fine as regards noise. I have a stick in the water at a local lake that I use for testing distance. The Big Game and the 50 lb. braid cast the same distance, so I wouldn't think that the acceleration over-all of the braid is any different than the acceleration over-all of the nylon, although conceivably it might be. If that were true, I was thinking that the braid, exhibiting less stretch, might cause an instant of greater acceleration right at the beginning.

   It's possible that the "K" series has several things improved in it versus the "i" series, and these things might improve the performance with braid. I don't know. I also don't know how far you try to cast, either. I try to get as much distance as possible without risking backlash problems.

   It's also possible that one of the Daiwa reels might be better than the Shimano reels, but I can't be certain. I was going to buy a Tatula 150, but when I found one at a retailer, the reel had a mechanical problem. That doesn't instill confidence in Daiwa as far as I'm concerned.

   I've had a love/haste relationship with braid for several years. It's been on-again/off-again. But the weedier the lakes get, the more tempting it is to turn to braid. Right now, the temptation is strong.  ???

 

   But   ......   thank you for your help!            jj

 

[Jmurphy87]

Of my 16 bait caster reels I have braid on 4 or 5 of them. My Lew’s pro ti has 30lb sunline plasma on it that was quite overall when I used it this past Sunday. My tatula elite has 50lb sunline plasma on it have not tried that one so I can’t comment on how it does. I also have a 13 fishing concept c2 with 40lb power pro and that was good for me last year no issues, then my tatula 300 has braid of some sorts on it I don’t know what brand it came with braid spooled on it from the store I bought it from.

[JustJames]

For curado i you need to oil the brake drum/red brake blocks very more often to get rid of those vibrations noise (just use Q-tip and clean around brass drum and red brake blocks on spool). If you want another 200 series then The Tranx 200 will perform just as good and a little more comfortable to palm. The 200i though very smooth after all these years and abusive. BTW those red brake blocks got replaced right after i series with white one with less noise (aldebaran 50), then the SVS infinity current one in all Shimanos. I

 

[jimmyjoe]

45 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

For curado i you need to oil the brake drum/red brake blocks very more often to get rid of those vibrations noise (just use Q-tip and clean around brass drum and red brake blocks on spool).

 

   I never thought of that, mostly because I just got it back form the repair service. I'll try it and see whether it helps.   Thnx!                     jj

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Braid can make noise through the guides but it’s not stressing the reel in any way. 

[bulldog1935]

@jimmyjoe

upgrade your Curado spool with a 10-g Avail microcast spool  

 

 

Ultra light tuning spool for 2014 Scorpion 200, Curado 200i, 15Curado 200 JDM, Citica 200. With this spool you may cast from 5g 3/16oz without effort. Please use SVS Infiniti brake holder from original spool, and Avail SVS puller 4 white, listed at the end of spool section, is helpful to remove SVS. Spool weight 9.9g(Scorpion genuine 14.2g) 0.31mm(US12lb)-90m(100yds)

[new2BC4bass]

6 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@jimmyjoe

upgrade your Curado spool with a 10-g Avail microcast spool  

 

 

Ultra light tuning spool for 2014 Scorpion 200, Curado 200i, 15Curado 200 JDM, Citica 200. With this spool you may cast from 5g 3/16oz without effort. Please use SVS Infiniti brake holder from original spool, and Avail SVS puller 4 white, listed at the end of spool section, is helpful to remove SVS. Spool weight 9.9g(Scorpion genuine 14.2g) 0.31mm(US12lb)-90m(100yds)

Looks like this spool will seriously limit the amount of 65# braid.  80 yards, maybe?

[bulldog1935]

The purpose of the microcast spool is to limit capacity, mass, and inertia, and with it, backlash.

The added bonus is improved cast distance and reliability, which is reduced cast effort, over a wider lure weight range.  

I hope this thing is on @jimmyjoe

Our friend asked for a new reel that's better for braid and fits the comfort of his old reel.  How about improving the old reel that's already comfortable

 

Noisy 50-lb braid is not going to improve by switching to random 65-lb braid (that was certainly a vasoline number).  If you're not after tuna, I don't get the choice to fish more than 20-lb 832 braid - unless you're simply trying to fill a big, deep spool. 

Better braids are more than twice the test of 832 for the same diameter - and 832 is good braid, with good manners.  

 

The 90 m 0.31-mm-diameter line capacity that the microcast spool is rated gives many better braid options than the deeper and greater capacity stock spool.  

One can compare those line diameters on this excellent line capacity calculator.  

And if you want to take the simple approach, fitting for the purpose of this reply @new2BC4bass the 100 yds 0.31 mm braid would be 40-lb test Sufix 832.  The two together would improve our OP's splight - quieter braid and the ability to cast a wider lure range farther with less effort and less backlash.  

 

 

 

[jimmyjoe]

   Now the big question:

 

   Is that Avail spool STRONG? And I mean STRONG as in slop fishing, as in frogs in total weed cover, and as in the occasional accidental musky?               jj

[bulldog1935]

I would say yes, I'm using the Abu 6500 version in the surf for bull reds, and casting 2-oz spider weights.  

 

 

The Avail spools won't be compromised like the much lighter Roro and Ray's Studio spools.  

[bulldog1935]

that was already addressed above, but I'm not sure why you'd need a quarter-mile of 50-lb braid to bomb frogs.  

 

is 80 yds of 50-lb not enough?  

And again, if you switch to X-braid, the microcast spool capacity is 150 yds 50-lb.  

[jimmyjoe]

15 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

that was already addressed above, but I'm not sure why you'd need a quarter-mile of 50-lb braid to bomb frogs.  

 

  

  

   I don't know anything about the line capacity of other brands and models of reels. All I need is 40-50 yards of 50 lb. braid for frogging, and I'll be set.

 

   Thank you.               jj

  

[bulldog1935]

bro, the microcast spool capacity is right there at the end of the listing I copied above and first linked:    

0.31 mm - 90 m (US 12-lb mono - 100 yds)

 

In 50-lb Sufix 832 that's 75 meters = 83 yards.  

[jimmyjoe]

3 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

bro, it's right there at the end of the listing I copied above.  

0.31 mm - 90 m (US 12-lb mono - 100 yds)

 

In 50-lb Sufix 832 that's 75 m = 83 yards.  

 

   Duh! Fast scan eyes, slow scan brain. Sorry.   ?      jj

[new2BC4bass]

I don't know why I thought the OP said he was using 65# braid.  If he tries the line you suggested, then I would be using backing so I didn't use too much braid. 

[jimmyjoe]

1 minute ago, BaitFinesse said:

Just oil the brakes as has been standard practice with the 200i reels since they came out (dozens of threads on this) or use it as an excuse to buy a 200k. 

 

   Old Fart putting things down on the to-do list:

 

   1) Oil brakes. See if problem goes away.

   2) Change line back to mono. See if problem goes away.

   3) Decide whether or not I want to fool around with the Avail spool.

   4) Check price of Curado 200K model. This may make #3 (above) redundant. ?

  

   Thank you, all of you, for your help. After I mess around a bit and decide what I'm going to do, I'll get back to you and let you know.   ?            jj

[garroyo130]

Just now, jimmyjoe said:

 

   Old Fart putting things down on the to-do list:

 

   1) Oil brakes. See if problem goes away.

 

^ that's the list. These reels are notorious for requiring frequent oiling. As mentioned above a light coating of Shimano's oil once a week or so will do the trick.

 

I'm a big fan of the "I" series myself. Given the choice I'd take a new "I" over a new "K" ... just a matter of preference.

[jimmyjoe]

17 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

If you use the special crazy small diameter braid that OP with 100% certainty will not use

 

 

   Now, now ..... when you get as old as I am, it's hard to predict just what kind of crazy things I might try! I always look at fishing as fun, and part of fun is ... occasionally ... trying new things.

   I'd hate to be lying there on my deathbed and tell my wife, "Yeah, the only thing I regret in my life is not trying that special crazy small diameter braid."   ???           jj

[NavyVet1204]

11 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   It's hard to explain the sound I don't like. The sound comes on strong at the instant the cast begins. It's as if the bearings can't take the acceleration, although I hope that's not the case. The sound fluctuates for about a half a second, then disappears. Since the RPMs are highest at the beginning of the cast and less at the end of the cast, I figured this to be some kind of mechanical stress. And I don't like putting mechanical stresses on this reel; it's my go-to reel for 200-sizes.

   I had 12 lb. Big Game on this reel before this braid, and it casted fine as regards noise. I have a stick in the water at a local lake that I use for testing distance. The Big Game and the 50 lb. braid cast the same distance, so I wouldn't think that the acceleration over-all of the braid is any different than the acceleration over-all of the nylon, although conceivably it might be. If that were true, I was thinking that the braid, exhibiting less stretch, might cause an instant of greater acceleration right at the beginning.

   It's possible that the "K" series has several things improved in it versus the "i" series, and these things might improve the performance with braid. I don't know. I also don't know how far you try to cast, either. I try to get as much distance as possible without risking backlash problems.

   It's also possible that one of the Daiwa reels might be better than the Shimano reels, but I can't be certain. I was going to buy a Tatula 150, but when I found one at a retailer, the reel had a mechanical problem. That doesn't instill confidence in Daiwa as far as I'm concerned.

   I've had a love/haste relationship with braid for several years. It's been on-again/off-again. But the weedier the lakes get, the more tempting it is to turn to braid. Right now, the temptation is strong.  ???

 

   But   ......   thank you for your help!            jj

 

I am in the same shoes as you are with the “braid-on/braid-off” situation. I have noticed that braid has a different tune to it than FC across all of my bc’s. The only application where I attempt to use braid is top water and I never get to enjoy it because of backlash and dialing issues. Admittedly, it’s probably my inexperience with braid and my improper use of the technique that are my problem areas. It’s hard for me to justify paying for good braid when I can just fish my favorite techniques without issue on FC.

[jimmyjoe]

18 minutes ago, NavyVet1204 said:

I am in the same shoes as you are with the “braid-on/braid-off” situation. I have noticed that braid has a different tune to it than FC across all of my bc’s. The only application where I attempt to use braid is top water and I never get to enjoy it because of backlash and dialing issues. Admittedly, it’s probably my inexperience with braid and my improper use of the technique that are my problem areas. It’s hard for me to justify paying for good braid when I can just fish my favorite techniques without issue on FC.

 

  True. No matter what the ads and articles say, everyone needs to find the thing that will work for them, whatever that is.               jj

[jimmyjoe]

   I cleaned and oiled the brakes and went fishing this PM. Noise was 80% better, but still some vibration. I think I need new spool bearings ..... maybe?  They're not expensive. I'll see whether or not that clears the problem up 100%.

   Thanks to everyone.                         jj

  

[MyKeyBe]

Try putting a drop of oil on the spool shaft where it passes through the pinion.

[JustJames]

14 minutes ago, MyKeyBe said:

Try putting a drop of oil on the spool shaft where it passes through the pinion.

That is a no no for Shimano reel. The spool shaft need to be cleaned of debris and alll lubricant. To get the most distance and because of tight tolerance spec anything in there would restrict the spin rate of shaft/spool.