Hulkster

also, if you want a slightly slower but more powerful reel for throwing big lipped cranks/big blade baits like large Mepps spinners and spinnerbaits, the Curado is offered in the 5.5 gear ratio (the 200i PG) I have the Curado 200i PG and its amazing. I got it for the above reasons. also I believe the spool on the curado is double anodized.

if you can swing it, the G. Loomis E6X MBR843 is a great rod with a really versatile taper and won't destroy your bank account.

I grabbed a G. Loomis Escape Travel rod (MH spinning rod, 3 pieces with rod bag and travel PVC tube) normally $375 for $281 with free shipping pre Black Friday sale from American Legacy. I plan on pairing it with a Shimano Nasci 5000 for saltwater fishing down south.

Nasci 3000. same size as 2500 with better handle grip (T knob) and more line capacity than the 2500. same reel otherwise. same weight too.

Agreed. I have the curado 200i PG and love it. I would argue it is better than many competitor's more expensive reels.

when I bought my Curado 200i PG it came with another set in the box. switch them out?

I am currently using an E6X MBR843 (or at least was in the summer) for 3/8 and 1/2oz size spinner baits and really liked it. Using it with a Curado 200i PG. great set up. I too am from the GTA and I got mine at JB's Fishing Depot near the airport. its not a GLX or IMX but its one great rod from Loomis. Just an Idea.

I like 1000 size shimano reels for UL setups. the new generation of sedonas are one hell of a reel for the price point.

I am so glad they did away with the awful EVA foam handle. there were countless posts for the last few years over on the Tackletour Shimano support forum about how to change out the knob to non-EVA. shimano finally listened and got the message. kudos to them. the new reels are apparently amazing

I have a curado 200i and in another post on the new system (SVS infinity) vs the old VBS system, I outlined what works for me (using a curado 200i PG with 12 pound test mono): this is what works for me:

still ticks me off they stopped including spare spools while still increasing the prices. come on

I use a curado 200i PG which has a 5.5:1 ratio as all around use. its awesome for crankbaits, spinner baits and big blade baits but I tend to fish too fast most of the time so I use it for all around use even with typically faster retrieve baits like lipless cranks etc.

my fav. loomis spinning rod for all around use is the SJR842 available in a few flavours, GL3, E6X and I believe IMX. I have the GL3 version, its amazing. classic taper.

the problem with underfilling any reel is that you sacrifice your gear ratio and inches per handle turn. because now you are winding the line over a smaller circumference with each handle turn vs what you would be if the spool was filled properly. so I fill mine up to just below the spool lip, spinning or baitcasting.

I played with the newly designed shimano Sedona the other day and was really impressed. it was smooooth. and under $100. just a suggestion.

I have the Loomis TSR791 and agree its awesome. I have mine paired with the older model Sustain 1000FE. its amazing.

i'd get a Calcutta conquest too. that thing is a work of art

ok, a few of my Loomis Rods and shimano reels: SJR843 GL3 with Saros 4000 MBR843 E6X with Curado 200i PG TSR791 with Sustain 1000 FE SJR842 GL3 with Sustain 3000 FE. love all my Loomis Rods, I also have an Escape travel rod (love it) and an SJR700 GL3 (mag light one of my faves) Cant wait until the next one even if it results in divorce hahaha

im cast right switch to left. back when I started to learn to use a baitcaster (late 90's) lefties were just starting to show up on the market.\ so I learned the way most people did it back then - cast and switch.

Long time XL user switching this year to Big Game. I find lately XL to be almost too soft and I can't seem to get good knot strength after its been on the reel for a week or more - which isn't good. I have to tie several knots before I can give a good tug to one that doesn't break using 6, 8 or 10 pound. In using the Big Game, yes it has more memory and it might cast 5% less distance but man is it STRONG. solved my strength issues immediately. to me, the trade off for toughness and strength is worth it. Im using 8 pound big game on spinning and 12 pound test on my baitcaster. so far I really like it. big game has been around for eons and im only now learning its benefits and why it has such a huge following for us old school mono users lol

For what its worth, G. Loomis used to state in their warranty policy that using lure weights above the rated lure weight of the rod would void the warranty. I guess it makes sense, if you take an UL spinning rod rated for 1/8oz max and try and cast a 3/4 oz lure you could definitely add stress cracks or break the rod.

This is all still in effect as far as I know. if a rod is found to be broken via a manufacturing defect, it is covered by the rods lifetime warranty which all loomis rods have. if you have an accident and break a rod (eg car door) you can use the one time wild card replacement certificate. but these are two different things. nothing has changed as far as I know. (lots of discussion on all this stuff a while ago on tackletour's shimano support forum where the shimano rep explained it like this if I recall). either way, Loomis rods still have the best warranty/broken rod coverage in the business, now that st. Croix has reduced their coverage from lifetime to a number of years on the avid and up lines.

I believe the wild card thing is still in use? Shimano has owned Loomis since 1997. the Wild card thing is fairly new if im not mistaken.

I love my shimano curado 200i PG. its around your price range. just one idea there are tons of great reels out there

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.