Curado E7 or E5?

[Simp]

Well I'm planing some purchases out and I keep thinking about the E7 or E5 Curado for a St croix Medium 6'6 glass rod I have. I use this rod for rattle traps,square billed cranks that go as deep as 7ft. I also use it for Chuggers and Jerkbaits. I'm leaning toward getting another E7 because I like being able to pick up line fast. I've also used my E7 on some deep cranks and it was still very easy to reel. What are some of the reasons why I should reconsider and go with the E5? Also to anybody who has both how much smoother is the E5 over a E7 on deep cranks like a DD22?

[Five-Alive]

Unless you will be using the reel exclusively for cranks (especially deep cranks) I would recommend going with the E7 and just slowing down when you need to.

[barroncooper]

it's not so much smoother than the e7 it's just easier to turn. lower geared.  I got another e5 that I'm putting citica gears in to give it a broader 6.3:1  ration.  I'll use this reel kind of like you said,  for traps shallow to medium cranks and spinner baits.  I'll keep the 5:1 e5 strictly for dd22's

[Uncle Leo]

Simp the E7 will wear you out throwing a DD22. I would go with the E5 for that even slowing down it will wear you out.

[barroncooper]

Simp the E7 will wear you out throwing a DD22. I would go with the E5 for that even slowing down it will wear you out.

agreed

[roadwarrior]

The E7 is a much better "all-around" reel;

E5 is "technique specific".

8-)

[Simp]

it's not so much smoother than the e7 it's just easier to turn. lower geared. I got another e5 that I'm putting citica gears in to give it a broader 6.3:1 ration. I'll use this reel kind of like you said, for traps shallow to medium cranks and spinner baits. I'll keep the 5:1 e5 strictly for dd22's

Maybe you should send me the E5 gears to use in my Citica that's on my deep cranking rod . I plan to add a bearing in the drive shaft to make it smoother. Then I was going to decide or not if I should upgrade it to a Curado.

Right now I have a Citica 201E on my flipping rod. A Curado 200E on my 7ftMH that I use for anything that requires braid. Then I have a Citica 200E on my 7ft MH cranking rod. On the 6'6 M glass rod I just have a crappy silver max at the moment. I also have a spinning out fit that rounds out what I carry when I fish out of the boat.

I'm thinking about putting a new Curado E7 on the 6'6 Medium rod. Plus another one on a new finesse casting rod that I'm looking at having dick build me in a month or two. Right now I'm hoping that the extra bearing in the drive shaft smooths things out in the citica 200e on the deep cranking rod. Otherwise I guess I'd buy a E5. Right now I find after a long session of deep cranking with the Citica is causing me to wear out some. Where when I've put on a deep crankbait on the rod with braid that has the E7. I end up having no fatigue at all. It got me thinking if the E7 is this smooth and strong why mess with the E5? the other thing that I think that helped was the rod the Curado uses is a much stiffer rod then my crankbait rod. So the crankbait rod put alot more stress on the reel I believe. I might have to put the E7 on my deep crankbait rod to test out how it fills to determine if a E5 might be necessary or not. I'm REALLY hoping the extra bearing helps the Citica in it's deep cranking.

[barroncooper]

it's not so much smoother than the e7 it's just easier to turn. lower geared. I got another e5 that I'm putting citica gears in to give it a broader 6.3:1 ration. I'll use this reel kind of like you said, for traps shallow to medium cranks and spinner baits. I'll keep the 5:1 e5 strictly for dd22's

Maybe you should send me the E5 gears to use in my Citica that's on my deep cranking rod . I plan to add a bearing in the drive shaft to make it smoother. Then I was going to decide or not if I should upgrade it to a Curado.

Right now I have a Citica 201E on my flipping rod. A Curado 200E on my 7ftMH that I use for anything that requires braid. Then I have a Citica 200E on my 7ft MH cranking rod. On the 6'6 M glass rod I just have a crappy silver max at the moment. I also have a spinning out fit that rounds out what I carry when I fish out of the boat.

I'm thinking about putting a new Curado E7 on the 6'6 Medium rod. Plus another one on a new finesse casting rod that I'm looking at having dick build me in a month or two. Right now I'm hoping that the extra bearing in the drive shaft smooths things out in the citica 200e on the deep cranking rod. Otherwise I guess I'd buy a E5. Right now I find after a long session of deep cranking with the Citica is causing me to wear out some. Where when I've put on a deep crankbait on the rod with braid that has the E7. I end up having no fatigue at all. It got me thinking if the E7 is this smooth and strong why mess with the E5? the other thing that I think that helped was the rod the Curado uses is a much stiffer rod then my crankbait rod. So the crankbait rod put alot more stress on the reel I believe. I might have to put the E7 on my deep crankbait rod to test out how it fills to determine if a E5 might be necessary or not. I'm REALLY hoping the extra bearing helps the Citica in it's deep cranking.

how do you like the citica.  in terms of smoothness,  how does the citica compare to the curad? i'm interested in buying one

[Simp]

IMHO the Curado is a fair amount smoother in terms of retrieve. As I mentioned there is a drive shaft bearing you can buy to replace another part that should make it as smooth as the Curado for the most part. It would give the Citica 5 bearings and the only two extra the Curado has is in the handle. The bearing part is just like 10$ here. http://www.bocabearings.com/main1.aspx?p=product&id=2322&n=SMR95-ZZ_#5

Now in terms of casting I'd give the Curado a 10 and the citica a 8. I love the Curado spool and it casts a mile and light baits are no problem. The Citica is basically the same except it doesn't cast some ulta light small cranks as well. It certainly does the job well just not as well as the Curado. Personally I'm buying nothing but Curado's from now on. I'd say if your looking for a Curado in 6.3 your best bet might be to buy a Citica, install the bearing upgrade for 10$ and buy a Curado spool for the Citica from Shimano for 40$. Then you got yourself a silver curado that has 6.3 ratio and a Citica handle. Your not saving any money or anything but you would get what you want plus a spare spool in case you want to quickly change line.

Also the only thing I don't like about the Citica is the "plastic" spool. My Citica 200E had one of the pinion gears or brakes brake off. I have no idea how it happened, but I opened up the citica to adjust the brakes and there the break pin was broken off. I've used it since with it broken with no perceivable difference. I finally contacted Shimano and there sending me a replacement spool free.

[David P]

After listening to everyone on here, I purchased a 5:1 slow speed reel for DD22 and other deep diving crankbaits. I couldn't stand it, way too slow even for dd22's for my taste.

Randy McAbee throws a LOT of deep diving crankbaits and uses a 7:1 all day while doing it. I went ahead and tried it, and really it wasn't as bad as guys make it out to be.

Go with the E7, it's much better all around, and you'll do just fine with Dd22's when you do throw them!

[barroncooper]

After listening to everyone on here, I purchased a 5:1 slow speed reel for DD22 and other deep diving crankbaits. I couldn't stand it, way too slow even for dd22's for my taste.

Randy McAbee throws a LOT of deep diving crankbaits and uses a 7:1 all day while doing it. I went ahead and tried it, and really it wasn't as bad as guys make it out to be.

Go with the E7, it's much better all around, and you'll do just fine with Dd22's when you do throw them!

you're right it's not that bad and to be honest i find the 5 to 1 a little slow myself.

[JohnFromLisbon]

I just got a G. Loomis CBR843 and I'm getting a Curado. I found a store with the 201DHSV on sale for 148, but the 201 E7 is just 2 more... I'm probably going to go for the E7, as it was said here, the E5 is more focused, but the E7 has a broader ranger of applications 

[lapieza]

As stated above. E7 will serve a broader range of applications.

[Gone_Phishin]

Sorry for the jack, but I still don't understand why such a popular reel doesn't have a 6.x:1 model.

[Choke Canyon Boy]

I cant stand the ugly green color of the Curados. Had they been silver or black I might have one right now.

[roadwarrior]

I cant stand the ugly green color of the Curados. Had they been silver or black I might have one right now.

Now, that's funny there...

Most of my reels are silver or black, but for

everything else, some shade of "forest green"

is probably most guy's second favorite color...

beige being #1.

8-)

[Grey Wolf]

I cant stand the ugly green color of the Curados. Had they been silver or black I might have one right now.

Performance means nothing then ?

[Stasher1]

I cant stand the ugly green color of the Curados. Had they been silver or black I might have one right now.

You really need to get them out in the sun to fully appreciate the paint job on the newer Curados. That metallic green/bronze flip-flop thing they have going on is pretty d**n sweet.

[I Love BassResource]

After listening to everyone on here, I purchased a 5:1 slow speed reel for DD22 and other deep diving crankbaits. I couldn't stand it, way too slow even for dd22's for my taste.

Randy McAbee throws a LOT of deep diving crankbaits and uses a 7:1 all day while doing it. I went ahead and tried it, and really it wasn't as bad as guys make it out to be.

Go with the E7, it's much better all around, and you'll do just fine with Dd22's when you do throw them!

This just doesn't work for me, so I guess its just dependent upon how disciplined you are with a reel. When I'm deep crankin, I'll always drift off in concentration and forget about forcing my self to slowdown. I've found a slower reel helps me keep cadence, plus as someone mentioned I don't fatigue as bad.

Oh and the color of the curado is just plain sexy

[Incheon Basser]

I cant stand the ugly green color of the Curados. Had they been silver or black I might have one right now.

I agree... That's why i'm planning on buying the JDM version Scorpion XT... it's a Sexy dark purple.

[RussBert]

I cant stand the ugly green color of the Curados...

Awesome post! ;D

I have an E7 on a Crucial 6'6" MH/F rod. Very nice set-up, and purty too!

[Stasher1]

The Crucial is another Shimano product that really needs to be seen outside to fully appreciate the finish. The ultra fine green glitter is beautiful in the sun, but you'd never know it was there if you've only held them in the store.

[Choke Canyon Boy]

I cant stand the ugly green color of the Curados. Had they been silver or black I might have one right now.

I just bought the E5 lol. The shimano quality I have come to expect from their products persuaded me to give these reels a try. I took the reel out in the sun and I now appreciate the reels color a little more. I just bought a Stradic FI as well and this is easily the best spinning reel I've ever had so if this curado is as good it will be money well spent.

[j-bones]

The E7 is a much better "all-around" reel;

E5 is "technique specific".

8-)

I absolutely love the E7 and considered an E5 when lookin for a cranking set up.  I chose to go with the abu garcia winch.  Check it out, the drag is one of the bests on the market and its just as smooth if not smoother than the 200E series, for an extra $20.  THe best part is that you can go to bass pro shops and pick one up and they have a rebate for a free pair of wiley X polarized sunglasses listed at $126 a pair.  Kinda makes it worth it.