Poolshark

I bought a pair of curado g series reels for $90 us and thought they were good reels for the price I paid. Mine have held up great for a few years now. I do feel that the citica I series is a marked improvement over the g series curado and can be had for a similar price online. Even if I had to spend a couple of extra dollars, I'd rather opt for one of those. For that reason, Id probably pass on the g series.

If they are BOTH making a faint noise, there might be nothing wrong. What type of line did you spool it with? I own four of these now and they are all fairly quiet. They aren't velvet smooth but quiet enough. One of mine , that has had the most use, started making a course plasticky grinding noise when reeling after 7 months of hard use. There was no mistaking it. I removed the side plate and spool and lightly oiled/wiped down the spool bearings along with the break drum and they got quiet again. If you think there is a legit problem or pronounced noise, post a vid and someone here would able to give you more accurate info.

Mine kinda sounded like that before I put line on it. Then it sounded smoother when spoiled up.

Tighten the drag maybe? What pound test braid are you using?

I might be in the minority on on this opinion. But honestly I'm very happy with my avids. They fish every bit as well as my ltbs. I wouldn't sweat it. The legend elite and the LT is a different animal but I think it's kind of a novelty with all the great rods out there right now. Not using one has had zero effect on catching fish and enjoying my equipment.

The build quality of the legend tournament is supposed to better. The biggest differences I feel between my avids and legend tournament are the slight differences in the taper of the blanks. i dont feel much difference in sensitivity or balance.

It is my favorite senko rod hands down. I have one spooled with mono for bigger moving baits, and another spoiled with braid for everything from wacky rigged senkos to Texas rigged worms. It will do ok for traps in grass but Im not a fan for using it with squarebill cranks though. I've tried it and lost to many big fish, even with mono and the drag backed off. The tip is pretty fast. I ended buying a moderate action rod to compliment it for that purpose.

I thought it was a great performing combo for the (sale) price. The combo is feather light and I really like the rods grips. The rod is also surprisingly strong. The reel casts well and is not bulky like the other Jm signature was. I personally think the colors of Bps newer rods and reels are kind of tacky and cheap looking. But that's personal preference. As far as worth the price? I think it is, and you will enjoy using it, but I ultimately ending up exchanging mine for curado 70 and carbon lite rod, for no other reason than I liked the curado 70 even more. I felt that is was an over all a better value for me. The performance differences were barely noticeable to me

I live near the coast and I prefer to buy reels that are saltwater rated. So Ive looked into this as well. My thought process was that the g would be would be built all around better because of its saltwater ability. the shimano website states that the spool is the MAIN difference. So I would infer that there are others, they just aren't listed. I also stumbled upon a post on the tackletour forum where others were asking if they could simply buy the g spool and switch from fresh to salt. It was stated by Bantam1 that there were other differences that made the mgl version a better performing reel than the g. His advice was to buy an mgl for fresh water. He didn't specify what those differences were.

Since you seem to prefer shimano reels The metanium will work well (if you want one, buy it) .. but you don't need to buy one specifically for throwing light plastics. I'm using curado 70s and chronarch mgl and they all toss weightless plastics just fine. Mine are mostly thrown on medium extra fast or even medium heavy fast rods on thin braid and light floro leader. With the newer reels these days, I seem to rely less and less in my spinning setups for finesse work.

I used the 76 Veritas For a couple of years for frogs and it worked well. It doubles as a nice light flipping rod as well. You'd have no problem winching bass out of the thick stuff. The 7'3 Veritas works well too, but it doesn't load as nicely on the cast.

I think that the 73 mmf is a good all around treble hook rod. It handles small to large top waters, jerkbaits, squarebills, lipless baits and even deep divers pretty well. The 7'4 mhf for anything with a single hook, from t rigs, jigs, smaller swimbaits, all the way to frogs and light flipping. It's rated 1/4 to 1 1/4 ounce. The 7 mf is a good all around finesse rod.

I picked up my first 70 sized curado last year and since then I've gotten rid of most of my 200s in favor of the 70s. I've relegated the remaining 200 sized reels to heavier moving baits. The 70 holds enough line to cast a 1/2 ounce plug as far as I could possibly want to and Handles baits 1/4 ounce and under much much better than the 200s. Since you own a 200 already, keep it for your heavier moving baits and you'll love the 70 for everything else. The braking system in the 70 is an updated version and is far less maintenance than the old i series.

My fav is the 845 cbr, but noticed your price range... 1)73 mmf Ike series lipless special (Abu) $149 my second fav. 3)falcon trapcaster bucoo $99 4) medium heavy crankin stick (bass Pro) 5) the slim grip bionic blade in the medium fast fishes more like a medium moderate/fast and is overlooked for lipless baits. Especially in grassy areas. $79 - another overlooked one is the falcon Jason Christie crankbait/spinnerbait model I think they sell at Walmart for under a Hundred bucks. I nabbed one for less than 30 one day and it does really well for traps as well. I hated the color though.. But very functional

All purpose??? if it's going to be a medium heavy fast, I'd get the one that has the most moderate taper out of all of them. Think g loomis 843mbr

Mm open water mhmf grass

I personally tend to stick with one brand and only one or two different models. That doesn't work for everyone, but I personally like the fluidity between one setup to another. Also it helps me when I'm breaking them down for maintenance and stockpiling certain parts. It's just easier for me all around. Most every reel I own is a curado/chronarch. My personal experience with both Diawa and shimano has been great. Those are two places I prefer to spend money. Solid reels that last.

i love both of these reels and if I had to break down in simplest terms... if im going to throw heavier moving baits, I'd just get the curado and save money. It performs/casts 3/8 ounce and up, as well as any. For my lighter techniques ( smaller top waters, small cranks, and plastics) I'd get the chronarch mgl or even the curado 70. They will perform consistently better in the lower weight spectrum. and just as well with heavier baits.

I have absolutely no issues with bass pro rods. I've never had one break, loose and eyelet, or not function above its price range. The pq 2 is going to be a little heavier in weight than the carbon lite. It will also have a slightly slower action; which can be good for a general purpose rod. There is kind of a negative stigma with house brand rods; that the quality is off or its "cheap". I own and like rods from g loomis and St Croix and many others. I use some bass pro stuff too and it doesn't skip a beat. Especially for its price. i use and fish with extremes that I bought in 2003. I've caught more bass on those rods than I can count. Throw a nice reel on one and you'll be good to go.

I own many of the Ike series rods now and love them for the price . the 6'4 delay would work well for you. i use mine for mostly close quarter squarebill fishing. It is a true moderate action and jelly like tip. I also have the 7'3 delay in a medium mod fast. I like this one even better for spooks and jerkbaits because you get into the backbone of the rod a little quicker. It will handle small cranks all the way to the large medium divers. If you get a chance, check that one out as well.

^this. The chronarchs and metanium cover the lightweight reel spectrum. Many people have said they wanted shimano to build an affordable, high performance reel like a tank; as they did with some of the reels of old. I think this caters to them. I'm looking forward to fishing one.

Can't vouch for that use. I Don't fish for smallmouth here in Florida. But, I will say my 7 footer handles 3/4 ounce Carolina rigs well and sets hook nicely in deeper water apps.

Judging from my other avids, I'd say frogs, buzztoads smaller swimbaits like big EZs, larger worms, jigs, bigger spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. It would make a good pitching rod as well.

Check out Abu Garcia Veritas 7 mhf, or if you can swing it, the Ike series 7'2 mhf. Both of these rods fish like TRUE heavy powered rods and are close to your budget. I own both and like the Ike series a lot better. For your reel, I would at least get an aluminum frame. I'd get a tatula online, a used citica or anything else with an aluminum frame. There are plenty of them from 100 to 140 out there. Just my opinion, take it with a grain of salt

Does anyone have any experience with this rod? If so, how would it handle the baits listed below: I'm thinking of buying it to use for lipless cranks, small squarebills and maybe some smaller spinnerbaits. my resolution this year is to slim down my Arsenal and find rods that multitask. The taper and power seem like it might do well. Thanks in advance for any input