IMO Ilike ABU, but Shimano makes great stuff! It,s all about personal preferences. (But puttin a revo on a Shimano rod just seems wrong. The Abu Winch is my personal favorite reel I've ever owned paired it with a kistler(E-Bay) and WOW I love that combo! Just my 2cent.

Shimano Curado 200e7 (201e7 for lefty's). These retail for $179.

Won't cast light baits??? HA! I'd like to see someone put a Curado against any of the beefy, sluggish Revo's and try to cast a 4" worm and 1/8oz weight.

Oops, sorry. Revo's are great reels also, just can't cast light stuff well. If you were just going to use your reel for heavy jigs and fishing the grass than I'd recommend a Revo. But for all-around? Curado E7 all the way.

go with the curado... ive always been a shimano guy but recently bought a revo s and a revo sx.. let me say that the revos are great reels but they dont compare to my cores and curados

I'd go w/ Shimano.  I purchased a couple of Revo STX's and love the drag power on their guys but they felt bulky and heavy. 

I have both and love both.  Granted I did not like the older Revos but the new 2010 Revos are very nice.  You can't go wrong with either one.  Both are exellent reels.

Later,

I have the Curado E series reel and also the revo STX.I even have the Daiwa Fuego.

I have nothing bad to say about any of those reels.They are all great reels.However i will say this...the Curado E has a slight advanage for people new in the baitcasting world.It's just a tad bit easier to use IMO. The Revo line is coming out with the duel braking system...which I'd bet is going to help alot.

I'm not brand loyal at all $200 is going to get anybody a great reel in those brands.....  ;D

Thank you to everyone. I really appreciate everyone's input.

I ended up with the Shimano Curado 201E7, and I love it. It took me a full day of casting to get used to it. But no more backlashes  ;D. It is sooo smooth, I will never buy another spinning reel again.

I think that the next reel is the Abu REVO! 

-Snogle

It is sooo smooth, I will never buy another spinning reel again.

Congrats on your purchase.  Baitcaster's are addicting.    I just started with a Revo SX.   Its all I want to throw but I still break out the spinning gear when the time calls for it.