I have two 50e series Curados and one 50e Chronarch. I tend to associate these reels with finesse fishing only, so I rarely use them. I have said before, I am partial to full sized reels......200e series.  Might sound like a silly question from someone who should already know, but, hey, I don't know everything..lol. Would these reels hold up under the stress of pulling a  3/8 to 1/2 oz. spinnerbait? Or say, a squarebill crankbait? I never throw anything larger than a 1.5 and never any deep divers. You teeny reel guys out there, " HELP"!

Hootie

While I haven't fished lures like that often,
my Chronarch 50e handles them fine when
I have. FWIW

They have held up fine for me while using 3/8 oz Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits in that range. The aluminum frame is nice to dampen the thump of the blades over something like Zaion or Magnesium. The 6:4.1 gears are a great in between ratio as well. 

I have a strong preference for the 50 size. They can handle just about everything although I still fish the CTE200GT for deep divers and The Rig.

p.s. I have a VERY GENTLY used Core 100MG that I might be interested in trading. I don't know why it is designated 100, it seems to be the same size as the Curado 200E.

From what I have read, many use the 50 size for much more than finesse.  However, I am just like you.  I view them as reels for lighter baits and use them as such.  Both my Curado 51Es are spooled with 8# mono and sit on Medium rods with the Smallmouth 6' 10" combo being a favorite.

Therefore I can't be of help other than to say "Try it, you might like the results."  Many do.  I think tomustang fishes 15# CXX on his.  Maybe he will read this thread and chip in with his opinion.

My spinnerbait reel is a Calcutta 50A, it took 25 year of throwing 1/4-1/2 spinnerbaits before anything wore out & then it was actually my fault. I have a really bad habit of stopping my spinnerbait by engaging the reel...wore out a worm gear & paw!

The 50 size reels will easily handle those baits. I think their suitability for casting light baits is more of a happy coincidence than intentions for Shimano. The insides are pretty much the same as the 200 just packed into a smaller space. 

What DVT said, plus the fact that the frame is actually stiffer on the 50E than the 200E, the spool is also stiffer, being narrower, Physics dictates that the all else being the same when you narrow the spool and the gap in the frame that supports each end of that spool you simply stiffened the entire package! 

I think there misconception many have on using these reels for tiny baits that have little resistance or fishing techniques that don't require as large of line diameter, because that is what most use them for, but they are actually the bulldog version of their larger siblings. Stronger actually goes to the 50 over the 200.

53 minutes ago, Catt said:

My spinnerbait reel is a Calcutta 50A, it took 25 year of throwing 1/4-1/2 spinnerbaits before anything wore out & then it was actually my fault. I have a really bad habit of stopping my spinnerbait by engaging the reel...wore out a worm gear & paw!

This actually very hard on the main and pinion gear, I am amazed you did this often without feeling it in the gears. I highly recommend no matter what you use your baitcaster for, to use your thumb to terminate a cast before engaging the spool,, so to speak "shifting into gear", this is like cramming your car into a gear from a dead  stop without using a clutch,,, maybe a little exaggerated,, but same principal,, 

I don't think of it as a finesse reel, but rather, a smaller framed baitcaster. It's a joy to use..

8 minutes ago, Capt.Bob said:

This actually very hard on the main and pinion gear, I am amazed you did this often without feeling it in the gears. I highly recommend no matter what you use your baitcaster for, to use your thumb to terminate a cast before "shifting into gear" this is like cramming your car into a gear from a dead  stop without using a clutch,,, maybe a little exaggerated,, but same principal,, 

Aye Aye Captian

I actually bought the 50 for throwing jigs/t-rigs but the 5.0:1 gear ratio made it kinda hard to keep slack outta my line!

I would like to put a 6.5 or 7 to 1 gear in it!

5 hours ago, *Hootie said:

I don't know everything..

You are an ole dawg, you can still learn a few tricks. 

Back to the question, even though them 50 size reels don´t feel manly enuff because of their small size and lightness ( cos of them aluminum alloy gears ) they have actually very powerful guts so they can easily handle a bait that weight, remember that 13 1/2 Lber big momma I caught some years ago, well I was fishing with a Chronarch 50 Mg, if it can handle a 13 lber it can handle a 1/2 oz spinnerbait. 

That is pretty easy and inexpensive to change, Speed of your reel, or IPT has more to do with how efficient it works different uses than it's size. But I've seen pinions and main gears, as long as everything else is in good condition, the pawl actually was probably just worn from service, this would be one place the 50 wears quicker than the 200 and wider spool reel, it changes direction much more often and the Pawl is quite inexpensive and easy to change,,,, and you will see it real quick when it gets worn out.  

I want a setup i can use for a rigs and swimbaits the biggest swimbait i would be using would be a 6 in hud and i dont wanna spend more than 180 if posible

8 hours ago, Catt said:

Aye Aye Captian

I actually bought the 50 for throwing jigs/t-rigs but the 5.0:1 gear ratio made it kinda hard to keep slack outta my line!

I would like to put a 6.5 or 7 to 1 gear in it!

The core 50 mg7 gears drop right in. Let me know if you need help. 

I think Catt is talking about a Calcutta 50A, not a core 50E, just saying.

The 50's have smaller width spools that hold less line than 100's or 200's. Less line capacity affects IPT same as any when the spooled line diameter drops so does the IPT.

I would think everything being equal the narrow frame reel would be stronger than a wider frame.

Tom

50E has brass gears my friend. 100D had aluminum gears, 

The reel can certainly do the work. I just think there are better options, calcutta 100 works better for me. 

2 hours ago, EvanT123 said:

The reel can certainly do the work. I just think there are better options, calcutta 100 works better for me. 

Ironic that you should say that. The Calcutta 100b is exactly what I've been using for the job. I suppose it's true that "great minds think alike"...lol. 

Hootie

Hootster.....I love the smaller reels....they can take the stress just like the bigger reels. I just bought 2 Curado 70's and 2 Scorpion 70's and all 4 will be used for my pitching of jigs, creatures, tubes etc.

I've used my curado 51e for everything but deep cranking.  It will do the job but I mainly use it for finesse.  I have a shallow avail spool in mine.

I've pitched with them in heavy cover with no issues.  They are just as strong as a 200 sized reel but with less line.  Also the Curado XG 70 if you look, they recommend that for flipping and pitching.., I think punching too.

Funny thing is now that I have a variety of 200,150,100 sized reels.  I tend to use my 50 sized reels for finesse now.  I want to supe up my 50Es. 

I used a 51E Chronarch on a lighter (1/4 oz. +/-) jigging/worming setup last year, and when it was broken down, cleaned, and inspected in the offseason, the reel appeared to be no worse for wear.

If it could handle jigs and braid, I don't see why spinners and cranks would be an issue.

If you're not convinced, try putting those reels up in the Flea Market and get your money back. You could break even, at least. 

22 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

The core 50 mg7 gears drop right in. Let me know if you need help. 

What gear ratio?

16 hours ago, EvanT123 said:

The reel can certainly do the work. I just think there are better options, calcutta 100 works better for me. 

I have two 100A, the extra line capacity is really not necessary!

1 hour ago, Catt said:

What gear ratio?

 

7:1 ratio

28 IPT (pretty sure that's the IPT on the MG7 gears)