Hulkster

ok so only the curado 200i had the sideplate that cannot be dropped and lost. this is a good thing. Shimano should take note we want more reels like this

I just can't believe they made the sideplate completely detach. granted you aren't changing the internals very often but still...it can be dropped into the water. Even the curado has a swiveling side plate. Come on Shimano!

from what I understand there are 3 differences: the Curado 200i has: 1. double anodized spool 2. shielded bearings 3. drag star is metal 4. also available in 5.5:1 for crankbaits and big blade baits (this is the one I have, the PG version), citica is not.

This depends on the manufacturer though. some, like G. Loomis, offer different lengths of the same taper (action) and power and they literally fish like carbon copies of each other despite being different lengths. I actually prefer this because I know that I can get a longer rod (7 foot) and have it behave the same as a shorter rod because the tapers are (proportionally) the same. ie. if the rod begins to flex 1/4 the way down the blank, it will do so whether the rod is 6, 6,6 or 7 feet or longer. that being said, I too agree that the Avid 7 foot med power fast action is awesome!

if it were me and I had $300 US to spend, I would get the following: either St. Croix Avid 7 foot med. light power (1/8-3/8 oz), fast action (I prefer the full grips of the avid vs avid X) Or G. Loomis E6X SJR842 (same line/lure rating as the Avid) love the Loomis tapers both are about $200 US. and the Shimano Nasci 3000 (for $100 US) -handle is better than the 2500 size and it has a bit more line capacity. otherwise same reel. either would be an awesome setup

if you have any doubts about how good the curado 200i is, read the following extensive review from Tackletour: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanocuradoibaitcaster.html they loved the reel and they are quite precise and picky with their testing/reviewing. this review is what convinced me to pull the trigger on one.

I've had my curado 200i for almost a year and have had no issues at all. Rest easy and tight lines

I have played with the Sustain FG in the store and one thing that drives me nuts is the shape and material of the handle. its barrel shaped and EVA foam. the Stradic FK has a much nicer handle. Granted, you can always change out the handle knob on the Sustain, but I would be inclined to think that the Sustain is not worth the extra money over the stradic FK. its $100 more for an extra bearing and a crappy handle knob lol

I believe the IMX is a superior blank to the Avid, which is comparable to the GL3/E6X (which are also very similar). its up in Loomis' higher end rod offerings. up here in Canada they are almost $400, but are by all accounts, amazing.

very nice. a classic. I had one that I bought in 1998 or 1999 and used forever. very smooth and easy to cast. it was my first baitcaster back in the day

Although I have not fished with any of the loomis crankbait rods, I have a rod rack full of the other Loomis models and can tell you that Loomis rods typically do not run heavier than their ratings. their lure weights for the rod are pretty much bang on. if you go higher or lower it doesn't cast as well. put something on that is at or in the range of the rating of the rod and it will sail. St. Croix tends to run heavier, where their medium is more like other's medium heavy. But the Loomis's typically run true to their ratings/actions

Congrats. I really like my curado 200i PG. Here is what I posted in another thread about the SVS system and what works for me: when I first got my new curado 200i early this year I was cursing the new system. only because it is a little more complicated as compared to the VBS because each time you change lure weights you now have to adjust both dial and cast control knob, whereas with the old system you just had the cast control knob to deal with. both systems I never really touch the internal spool brakes/magnets. now that I have mastered the new system, I love it and can cast much better than with the VBS system. but it took me a little while to get the hang of it. what works for me is this: internal brakes : 2 on 2 off -adjust cast control as normal (luring falling slowly to ground when spool released) -dial start at 4 on first cast and loosen up accordingly. that's how I do it now and I really like it. most of the time I can even back the dial off to 3 or lower and just leave it. I only find I need to touch it when I am significantly changing lure weights (eg. from 1/4 to a 1/2 I would adjust, from 3/8 to 1/2 I don't bother) with lipless cranks and spools, lures that are rocket launcher casters, I can back the dial down to 1 with no issue. one thing that I have found is the new system although a touch more complex and with more of a learning curve, casts much better with no backlash/loose loops. I can cast big wind grabbers like big lipped diving cranks and big spinnerbaits much farther than before. stick with the new system you will get the hang of it and like it too im sure.

something is up. shimano never drops the price on anything. the only time reels go on sale is if they are being discontinued. besides, even if it were true that they were lowering the price because of competition, the reels wouldn't be listed as 'on sale' just the listed price would be lower - I think.

but isn't the same thing required on the Curado 70? they changed the brake shoes but it still works the same way - brake makes contact with the brake pipe. so wouldn't that make the same squealing noise without a light application of oil?

I am curious to know whats going to happen to the power ratio version. I bought the 5:5:1 ratio for big lipped cranks and big bladed baits and love it. if they update the line will there be a power ratio still available? as the Tranx is quite big.

back in the sort of early days of the internet (1997) many people talked about how rods made in China used "Asian graphite" which was supposedly more brittle than North American graphite. that rhetoric sort of left a bad taste in my mouth so I only bough rods made in North America. however, I doubt that's actually true. if rods are brittle its due to the design and or craftsmanship of the rod. now many high end and expensive rods are made overseas and perform fine. That being said I'm partial to Loomis and St.Croix's USA made stuff, mainly because I like full cork handles and many of the higher end stuff coming from overseas has EVA foam grips and no foregrips.

thanks

at our local spring fishing show they were selling these at huge discounts, everyone was walking around with them. not sure if that's good or bad but they were selling them cheap.

Agreed. I own both a Premier and an Avid and the difference is substantial. SCIII is the way to go

How do you like your E6X Jig and Worm rod? I just pulled the trigger on the 7'1" version (see above although I don't have mine next to a nice bass yet lol)

picked up a Loomis E6X JWR 852S this past weekend from a local tackle show. feels awesome, I can't wait to use it. im going to pair it with a new Ultegra 3000 reel from shimano.

at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I have a curado 200i (the PG version for crankbaits and big blade baits) and love it. this review (from TT) is what made me decide to buy it in the first place: its a good read: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanocuradoibaitcaster.html

and it is one of the best ever. I am a die hard shimano fan, but I think a lot of people are turned off by the fact that currently, the stradic FK is the FIRST reel in the shimano lineup of spinning reels to have an alumninum frame. and its $200 US. They are turning everything to composite material in the name of (likely) profit with the spin they put on it being durability and light weight. that being said, I felt the new Ultegra and Nasci reels at the local fishing show the other day and was really impressed. Butter smooth. But at the price point, the Ultegra should have had a tapered bail wire like the Saros that it is replacing does. They are giving their customers less and charging the same or more. Im on the fence myself. They are going forward in some ways ( butter smoothness even at the nasci level, so the Hagane gearing is actually a thing and not just a marketing gimick) but going backwards in others (no more aluminum frame until you get to the Stradic FK, no more oil ports anymore- which was a unique shimano feature that no one else had)

my reason for never stepping over to daiwa for baitcasters is the T Wing grooving issue. there is a thead over on TT right now about it. was it ever fixed? I know there are lots of photos around of people having their T wings getting grooved up over time.

I have not fished with a zodias but I hear only good things. I own one E6X (mag bass) and I do like it. one thing to consider when handling these two rods is the grips/styling. the E6X is old school with full cork and foregrips (which I like) the zodias has no foregrips (if im not mistaken) and has EVA foam. I prefer cork grips so I would lean towards the Loomis. but to each is own. best thing to do is see if you can handle both and see what feels better to you. both are great rods.