Daiwa Zillion or Shimano 51MG

[GAMEOVER]

I helped my brother drop a motor in his rx-7 a few months back and he said he'd buy me any reel of my choice thats around 190-200 dollars retail. I own a Pheugler President WLPL and love it but would like to get another caster for another rod I have. Ive narrowed it down to two reels and need solid advice on which one to get. Please no fanboy remarks and by "fanboy" I mean people who only will use or buy one make of a reel (or anything) only if its made by say Shimano. With all that said im looking at the Shimano Curado D (CU201DHSV) the gear ratio is a little fast but you can always slow it down easyer for say crankbaits rather then having to speed it up because of it being too slow. The second choice is a Pheugler Supreme. I will be using the reel for everything.. in order crankbaits, jerkbaits, topwater, spinnerbaits, plastics. The difference between the two on paper that I see is about 40 dollars and 5 bearings.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

I haven't used the new Curado but I have two of the last generation super frees and they are a thing of beauty.

[Raul]

Get the Curado, at least you know that every single repair shop in the country is going to service it.

[NBR]

I have 2 Quantums, 2 or 3  Pfluegers, a previous years Curado, 3 or 4 BPS reels, a few older Daiwas and Shimano's and frankly I can't see much difference in any of them. So long as they have bearings on the spool shaft they all cast plenty far enough. More bearings seem to make them smoother but when I'm fishing I don't notice that feature.

I must admit when Shimano upped the price on the Curado by 67% for a slight if any increase in features it did aggravate me more than a little and I vowed to buy else where.

I set the drag fairly light and use my thumb on the spool for hook sets and to snub up a fish from time to time so the drag doesn't work into my equation very much.

I do prefer an external cast control but not enough to make that a must have feature.

My .02 is pick what feels best to you on your rod.

[castaway]

I agree with NBR. I haven't found too many reels out there I don't like.the 2 you mentioned to buy are on my not so hot to buy list.I was going to buy the Curado and then I learned that they had a recall on the line pawl system. Then I started looking to buy it after they solved that problem,but the disclaimer p*ssed me off, where they stated the anti reverse bearings may malfunction due to extreme weather conditions, or excessive lubrication, that's where the back up assist stopper anti reverse was designed for the newer shimano line up.I have owned a few of the older curados before. (the first ones were red in color and newer green colored curados )and I never experienced failure of that kind with them.I wasn't going to pay $200.00 for a reel with a disclaimer attached to it.I do own a president and a Trion, I hate the trion, love the president.The supreme has the dual cast control where the side plate is spring tensioned like a clutch, the higher the rpms, theplate compresses the spring and slides closer to the magnets which slows the rpms down.I was afraid of either spring tension failure, or friction wear, where the plate might rattle on the cast and be annoying to fish with. so with my useless post, buy whatever you feel most comfortable with and I hope whatever you decide to buy boats alot of fish and builds alot of memories for the times  your not able to go fishing.Ivan

[GAMEOVER]

Well d**n, from the sounds of it I should just stick with my President or buy another President.. Didnt know the Currado had all those problems nor did I know Shimano got greedy and uped the price when they probably use to cost as much as the President.

Get the Curado, at least you know that every single repair shop in the country is going to service it.

Very true, thats the only thing that ticks me off about Pfluegler reels.

[scbassin]

I have 5 of the older Shimano Curado's & 4 Pflueger Supreme's.  I like the lighter weight & the external spool adjustment of the Supreme. That would be my choice.

[GAMEOVER]

What about the Daiwa Zillion, its only 50 dollars more.. does anyone own one of these?

[basspro48]

CURADO!!!!!! but then again the Zillion looks schweeeeeeeeeet, but why don't you just go all out and get a steez or a calais  

[jayhawkfishin]

I am only a shimano guy so i will only comment on shimano's in this post.

If you are going to go with the curado i would look at the 100d.  I think the 100 size is a all around better size for bass fishing and the weight is a bonus as well.

And if you are thinking of the extra $50 on a zillion i would suggest taking a look at a 50mg.  I have 3 50mg and i like them better than the calais. At only 5.9 oz it is pleasure to fish with

[GAMEOVER]

The 50mg you like better then the calais? : o like it better then the curado?

Alright lets start over.. lol.. Daiwa Zillion or Shimano Chronarch 51MG?

Its between those two does anyone own both the two reels mentioned in this post?

[basspro48]

hmm...I have never actually used a zillion so I would have to say the chronarch.

[GAMEOVER]

If you used them either or own either/both please post what you like or dont like about them because what you dont like I might like and vice versa, thanks!

[bassclown]

if you are considering the MG line then remember that salt will corrode magnesium. i know they are coated but that still didn't sit well with me. i fish tidal waters and was scared that over time salt would corrode my reel due to a scratch or any number of ways. so i went with the curado and absolutely love it. i am by no means a shimano fanboy. i have a quantum tour ed., quantum energy, pflueger pres., johnny morris sig. and numerous others. shimano did have a problem early on with some of the new models but so did other reel manufacturers. they have since been dealt with. they also didn't just up the price. it's a new reel. the old one would be more like new citica. i know i didn't offer much help as to which one to choose but thought i'd just give a little info.

[GAMEOVER]

Good post clown, I was actually looking at the newer Cron. series. I dont fish salt water at all only fresh. I think the new Cron B is all alumium anyway.

[Triton9]

i would get a chronarch or the curado. shimanos are the only reels i use and have never had any problems with them.

[Guest DavidGreen]

Lets get something clear here....

I was going to buy the Curado and then I learned that they had a recall on the line pawl system.

That was not a recall. It was do to a tight tolerance issue in the line carriage and stabilizer bar on 3 of the reel models. It was and still is an easy fix, and not needed for every 06 reel. NEW LEVELWIND SYSTEM FOR CURADO D, CITICA D AND CRUXIS BAITCASTING REEL..

Then I started looking to buy it after they solved that problem,but the disclaimer p*ssed me off, where they stated the anti reverse bearings may malfunction due to extreme weather conditions, or excessive lubrication, that's where the back up assist stopper anti reverse was designed for the newer shimano line up

Any and I mean any IAR system will fail if you over lube it (especially in extreme cold or hot conditions), in fact the IAR systems should not get any lubrication what so ever. The assist stopper was placed in the reels to assist the IAR and relieve some of the reverse torque placed on the IAR when fighting larger fish on tighter drags setups. That system was actually placed in the inshore versions first...

Absolutly nothing wrong with the new CU series reels....

Just my .02¢

Tight Lines All!!!  

[Raul]

What about the Daiwa Zillion, its only 50 dollars more.. does anyone own one of these?

How about 60 LESS and a get a Scorpion MG for 185 ?

[erice97699]

I love my chronarch 50mg it is light as a feather and cheaper in cost the the diawa...

Eric

[castaway]

Lets get something clear here....That was not a recall. It was do to a tight tolerance issue in the line carriage and stabilizer bar on 3 of the reel models. It was and still is an easy fix, and not needed for every 06 reel.

When you have to send the reel in with a 2 week waiting period ? Forgive me for being wrong, but that sure sounds like a recall to me. I understand your a reel repairman, but to the best of my knowledge, I never have had a IAR fail due to extreme weather conditions, or excessive oiling, which I am guilty of doing when I clean them, you have told me so prior to this posting.I am sorry you cannot understand why I passed on the 100D Curado, I was going to buy, which I still feel some sort of obligation to buy it.My local tackle shop ordered it after I mentioned wanting to buy the 100d.He figured he would sell it if I didn't want it. It seems as though no one will buy it. I didn't mean to offend you in posting my opinion, I posted what I felt was the truth.I have been fishing for 14 years, if the IAR was going to fail due to extreme weather, or excessive oil, I should have experienced it by now and the truth is, I haven't even heard of such a thing until I read it on the Shimano reel page of the Bass pro catalog.Ivan

[Matt Jungblut]

mg

is the way to go

i bought 1 and love it

i also bought a chronarch 100b

i dont like it as much

becareful once u got light nothing feels the same

[SBM-RL]

Im in a similar position my GF said i can have a b day present between $250-$300 Ive been checking out reels for a while bc i was gunna get one my self anyway but after research and trusted advice im goin with a diawa pixy it $247 or somthin like that at brooklin bills if i were u id check it out the zillion look sweet too

good luck Ryan

P.M. if you want any info on reels bc ive gathered alot in the last 6 months

[Guest DavidGreen]

castaway

When you have to send the reel in with a 2 week waiting period ? Forgive me for being wrong, but that sure sounds like a recall to me.

That just tells me that the warranty shop is busy. Especially if you send a reel in for servicing in the middle of the season.

I understand your a reel repairman, but to the best of my knowledge, I never have had a IAR fail due to extreme weather conditions, or excessive oiling, which I am guilty of doing when I clean them, you have told me so prior to this posting.

You have been lucky, I have seen the failures due to over lubrication on a lot of differant brands...

I am sorry you cannot understand why I passed on the 100D Curado, I was going to buy, which I still feel some sort of obligation to buy it.My local tackle shop ordered it after I mentioned wanting to buy the 100d.He figured he would sell it if I didn't want it. It seems as though no one will buy it.

That is your preference...

I didn't mean to offend you in posting my opinion, I posted what I felt was the truth.

No offense taken, my point was to clear up a miss conception about a recall only...

I have been fishing for 14 years, if the IAR was going to fail due to extreme weather, or excessive oil, I should have experienced it by now and the truth is, I haven't even heard of such a thing until I read it on the Shimano reel page of the Bass pro catalog

Here is what it said

"The backup Assist Stopper racheting system takes over should the bearing begin to slip due to overlubrication or extreme weather"

That my friend doesn't read like anything written about the Curado on the Shimano® site

* Super Stopper is a one-way roller bearing that eliminates backplay for solid hooksets.

* Assist Stopper is a back-up anti-reverse system that reduces the stress placed on the one-way roller bearing to increase durability.

Personally I don't believe a lot of things written up in the BPS catalog...

The truth is, is that the Curado no matter what model or year, is a top notch reel that the company stands behind 100%.

I would still take a 51MG or Curado over a Zillion anyday.....

Sorry for the thread high jacking...Nuff said...

Tight Lines All !!

[K_Mac]

I think this is a least close enough to the topic : The MG50/51 is a proven winner, and the new Curados seem to be fine reels, but what about the Zillion? Has anyone fished with this reel? ReelMech is your preference a Shimano/Diawa thing or is there some other reason? Thanks guys.

[Guest DavidGreen]

K_Mac,

Your statement

The MG50/51 is a proven winner, and the new Curados seem to be fine reels

is my reason..

Both manufacturers build some fine equipment. I am a diehard Shimano® guy from back in my training days (back in those days Daiwa® was actually trying to copying some of the new technology that Shimano® was bringing out). I have and use Quantum reels right now (but that is changing), because when I was buying my arsenal that is what I could afford at the time. I have recently been picking up some of the Shimano® reels that I really wanted to have.

IMPO, The Zillion is a re-vamped version of the old TDZ series reels.

Tight Lines All !!!