Curado Vs Fuego Question

[ToledoEF]

How do they compare vs each other. I get the whole daiwa vs shimano debate and braking is different. I may have a chance to trade two of my unused new curados for a couple used fuegos. Is the value of a fuego used on par with a bnib curado e7?

[ww2farmer]

I have (had) both. Keep the Curados. Other than being light, the Fuego didn't impress me.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

How used is the Fuego? I don't think you're looking at worlds of difference performance wise. Both are good reels and it would boil down to your personal preference at the end of the day. If the curiosity is killing you, go ahead and try one. If not, you didn't pass up the deal of a lifetime or anything.

[J Francho]

The Fuego is lighter, made of magnesium, which commands a higher price. Both are discontinued, and value can be determined using a search on ebay of completed auctions.

[.RM.]

Have serviced 100's of Curado' & Fuego', IMPO keep the Curado's

Tight Lines!

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I have both and fish both, personally, I prefer the Curado. I like the profile better and feel they cast easier and further. The Fuego is a nice reel but I was never overly impressed with it. I say hold on to the curados unless you are just wanting a fuego. I always felt the price of a fuego was a stretch, just because it was priced over the E7, doesn't make it worth the trade.

[grimlin]

I'll take a Fuego over the curado any time of the day.

My only problem is the same as DVT,how used are the fuegos?

[ToledoEF]

He says barely used because he has so many reels that he is getting rid of them. I just have never tried a Daiwa reel and wanted to give one a shot. I dont know if I will do it, but at some point I will get one maybe to try.

[ww2farmer]

To expand more on what I said, I had the Fuego on the same rod I have a Curado 51E on right now. 7' M St Croix LTB. I have also had a Revo STX on that rod. The Revo and Fuego were both NIB when I bought them, both were spooled with 20 lb braid, and with that rod used for the same stuff. Small squarebills, lipless cranks, jerkbaits, topwaters, small spinnerbaits, senkos, finesse jigs, light t-rigs, it's basicly my jack-of-all trades rod, except for deep cranking and flipping heavy cover. Since were talking Fuego vs. Curado, I'll leave the Revo out. The Curado cast's the lighter baits I use with this set up ( 3/16 oz jigs, 1/4 oz cranks like Bandit 100's or SK series 1's etc...) worlds farther than that Fuego, the Fuego realy didn't like stuff less than 3/8's, and was perfect with 1/2 oz stuff, which, except for 1/2 oz lipless cranks, is a weight range that I don't use on that rod. So the Fuego wasn't for me.............on that rod. I did briefly switch over to my 7' MH Avid, and used it for pitching, but I was so used to my Citica 201D on that rod it felt strange in my hand, even though it's lighter, I just couldn't get used to it. So I sold it.

[J Francho]

That's a really good analysis and review right there. The Fuego was never meant for light baits, whereas the Curado 50 series is. The Sol is Daiwa's light bait reel from that era.

Just curious....where did the Revo stack up?

[ww2farmer]

The STX casted lighter stuff down to 3/8's better than the Fuego,but not as good as the Curado. In fact, the reel that I liked best on that rod other than the Curado, was a Revo S. Thats the reel I started with on that rod, and went back to after the STX/Fuego experiments, but was replaced by the 51E, and that reel ain't coming off that rod anytime soon. To be fair to the STX, I had the older one with just the mag brakes, maybe the new one with dual brakes is better with smaller stuff?

[J Francho]

If I had to guess, I'd say the newer reel is worse with light baits. The best reels with light stuff have the lightest spools.

[ToledoEF]

If I were to try a nice Daiwa reel, which one should I get? On a side not if we are comparing reels of all the ones I have my Lews Tournament Pro is my favorite. It outcasts my curados in distance and light weight rigs no problem. I will add more of them to my collection.

[new2BC4bass]

You guys are making me feel bad that I have 3 Fuegos...2 being tuned. Guess I shouldn't be liking them so much. Maybe I'm lucky I don't have a Curado to compare them to. Well...I do have a Curado 51E, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. However, I'd be more likely to compare the 51E against my Alphas ito and Sol, the Fuego against a regular size Curado (200).

ToledoEF, the Daiwa to try would depend on what you are planning to throw with it, and how much you are willing to spend. Try a Sol, Pixy, PX68, an Alphas type or Steez for lighter lures. I assume any Type R reel should also do well with light weights. Of course several (all?) of these reels will do quite well with heavier lures as well although I assume line capacity would be limited with some if you wanted to use heavy line.

I haven't tried to see how low I could go with my Fuegos, but imagine 1/4 oz. would be reaching my personal limit given my capabilities. I've read that some people are capable of going even lower with theirs.

I have one Zillion (the 50th Anniversary model), but would love to have a couple more. According to what I've read you should stick with 3/8 oz. or heavier weights with the Zillion. Not a problem for me as I keep it on a MH rod. (I did read the reviews before buying.) I picked up a Zillion Flip and Pitch rod at the end of the fishing season (for me!) last year and got to try it once. I mounted the Zillion (loaded with 12 lb. Elite) and tied on a 3/4 oz. spinnerbait. I was amazed at how for this beginner could throw that combo. Probably too far to get a decent hook set with mono.

I planned on buying the 200E7 when I first got into baitcasting last year. It didn't work out that way. Instead the majority of my reels are Daiwas. I'm very happy with them. Maybe that old adage is true....ignorance is bliss.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

What tuning are you having done? The two piece spool shaft design leaves very little to be polished.

[new2BC4bass]

Mike, I'd have to ask. It was the first BC reel I bought. Sent it to a tuner on another forum. He upgraded the bearings also, but I don't remember with which ones. Probably ABEC5s. Seriously doubt he would know now unless he keeps records. Been too long. I'm pretty sure I didn't keep any correspondence either. Wish I had.

I do remember you telling me that before. Made me wonder exactly what had been done. Could ask. He is still very active there. He may be a lot better than I at keeping track of his work.

[Gone_Phishin]

It took me quite awhile to find a permanent home for my Fuego. It's not that I don't like the reel, because I do, but it is unique: large line capacity, lightweight, not the best for true finesse.

It finally found a home on a DX744. I use this rig for long casts off of my dock, as that is where I do the majority of my bass fishing, and cast jigs and worms. I spool the Fuego with 12-15lb fluoro, and it has the necessary capacity for these lines and this presentation.

It also excels at tip down presentations, where heavier line is needed. For those who fish some topwater baits with heavy mono, the fuego is a great option: it is quite light, and will help prevent some pain in the wrists/hand/arms for those walking the dog all day.

[J Francho]

Sounds like you stumbled upon it's original intention. Makes a great jig and worm reel. If you are looking at finesse, the Sol is the reel you want. Also, a very light weight reel. You can modify a Fuego to be a light bait reel, but it's better to start with the right tool to begin with.

[new2BC4bass]

Don't know about the OP, but I appreciate the additional information from both of you. BTW, that is one of the reasons I bought my Sol. Not that I need a reason to buy another reel.

[.ghoti.]

I've had both Fuegos and Curados. Kept the Fuegos, sold the Curados. Nothing about performance; all about ergonomics. The way I hold the reel, my ring finger kept getting pinched by the levelwind. Not really pinched, just in the way. It was annoying so I got rid of them.

I have 6 Fuegos; all tuned, or tweaked as I prefer to call it. I've polished all the drag washers, spool ends, contact surfaces of the spool engage/disengage mechanism, and gears. Added a BB to the levelwind, added a 4BB handle, and installed ABEC 7 SS spool bearings and Carbontex drag washers.

I use these for a variety of applications. One is on my crankbait rod, one is on my spinnerbait rod, and one is on my deep crank rod. One is a spare reel I have no rod for.

Two are on matching rods, both used for finesse plastics. One combo has a 1/8oz Gammy shakeyhead jig tied on all the time, usually rigged with a 3X worm. The other has a T-rig; 1/16oz weight and 2/0 Owner rig-n hook, usually rigged with a Rage Baby Craw.

That is a wide variety of weights and wind resistance; and the Fuegos perform nicely for all of these apps.

To be fair about it, the Curado E's would also do just fine for all these apps.

[Gone_Phishin]

Sounds like you stumbled upon it's original intention. Makes a great jig and worm reel. If you are looking at finesse, the Sol is the reel you want. Also, a very light weight reel. You can modify a Fuego to be a light bait reel, but it's better to start with the right tool to begin with.

Yea, it only took long enough. I simply did not have an open, heavier worm rod for the Fuego.

Both my Fuego and Sol are tuned, and both have their place for sure. I made the finesse comment for those without a lot of experience, fishing the Fuego out of the box.

[new2BC4bass]

I've had both Fuegos and Curados. Kept the Fuegos, sold the Curados. Nothing about performance; all about ergonomics. The way I hold the reel, my ring finger kept getting pinched by the levelwind. Not really pinched, just in the way. It was annoying so I got rid of them.

I have 6 Fuegos; all tuned, or tweaked as I prefer to call it. I've polished all the drag washers, spool ends, contact surfaces of the spool engage/disengage mechanism, and gears. Added a BB to the levelwind, added a 4BB handle, and installed ABEC 7 SS spool bearings and Carbontex drag washers.

I use these for a variety of applications. One is on my crankbait rod, one is on my spinnerbait rod, and one is on my deep crank rod. One is a spare reel I have no rod for.

Two are on matching rods, both used for finesse plastics. One combo has a 1/8oz Gammy shakeyhead jig tied on all the time, usually rigged with a 3X worm. The other has a T-rig; 1/16oz weight and 2/0 Owner rig-n hook, usually rigged with a Rage Baby Craw.

That is a wide variety of weights and wind resistance; and the Fuegos perform nicely for all of these apps.

To be fair about it, the Curado E's would also do just fine for all these apps.

I believe you are one of the gentlemen whose posts I have read on how well the Fuego can handle light weights. I went out after work for about an hour. Tied on a 1/4 oz. Skitter Pop. 14 lb. Red Cast. Can't throw it the proverbial mile, but can definitely get it out there far enough to catch fish. If only the fish would cooperate!

[Gone_Phishin]

Don't know about the OP, but I appreciate the additional information from both of you. BTW, that is one of the reasons I bought my Sol. Not that I need a reason to buy another reel.

No sweat buddy.

Ghoti is spot on about the 4BB handle upgrade; the difference is night and day on both the Fuego and Sol.

[ToledoEF]

I am gonna trade for one and see if I like them, will pry go on my trig rod.