I am looking to get a new setup and have been doing some research on the Curado. During that research a lot of people say the Citica is basically the same as the Curado but cheaper. My question is what really is the difference and is it worth spending more for the Curado.

Thanks.

In a nutshell, the Curado will toss lighter lures out a bit better.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanocitica200e.html

If you use the Compare feature on the Shimano website, there are only a few differences:

- paddles are a bit better on the Curado

- 1 extra bearing + handle bearings

- Magnumlite spool on the Curado, drilled/ported only on the Citica

- Curado available in 5 and 7:1. Citica only in 6.x:1

For what its worth, I just bought the Citica (yesterday) as I couldn't justify the extra $60 on the Curado for such a minimal upgrade.

For what it's worth.

I sold 2 old superfree Curados and 2 Citicas and took the money to buy 2 new E7 Curado's.  I like them so well I sold 3 setups and some baits so I could buy 2 more on Monday.

The brake on the Curado and Citica differ a little.  The brake shoes on the Curado are on metal pins, whereas the brake shoes on the Citica are on plastic pins.  Both apparently work well but I think Bantam1 once told us the brakes activate a little quicker on the Curado due to the metal pins. 

I think these differences are worth the price difference:

Three bearings separate the two series and the Curado E comes with a Magnumlite spool versus an aluminum lo-mass spool on Citica E. Other differences between the two reels include a titanium line guide versus ceramic, cold forged dragstar versus standard metal alloy, and Septon PV power grips versus traditional rubber knobs.

..from TR review..

I just recently bought both of these reels... and although I'm somewhat new to baitcasters, I can definitely tell a difference between the two.  For me, the Curado casts with much less effort, especially with lighter baits and is noticeably smoother during retrieve. 

I just recently bought both of these reels... and although I'm somewhat new to baitcasters, I can definitely tell a difference between the two. For me, the Curado casts with much less effort, especially with lighter baits and is noticeably smoother during retrieve.

x2. I really enjoy using my curado but don't really feel much for my citica.

I just recently bought both of these reels... and although I'm somewhat new to baitcasters, I can definitely tell a difference between the two. For me, the Curado casts with much less effort, especially with lighter baits and is noticeably smoother during retrieve.

x2. I really enjoy using my curado but don't really feel much for my citica.

x3 I feel the same way.

I think these differences are worth the price difference:

Three bearings separate the two series and the Curado E comes with a Magnumlite spool versus an aluminum lo-mass spool on Citica E. Other differences between the two reels include a titanium line guide versus ceramic, cold forged dragstar versus standard metal alloy, and Septon PV power grips versus traditional rubber knobs.

..from TR review..

in this post: http://www.tackletour.net/TTForums/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=43529&hilit=+plastic+citica, bantam1 confirms that the citica drag star is plastic. otherwise, i would've believed that they're alloy too based on their look and feel.

i currently have two each of the curado and citica Es. the biggest thing i notice are the differences in the handles. the curado handles have big, grippy knobs made out of septon and are bearing-supported whereas the small, straight rubber knobs on the citica handle have no bearings. i don't notice much difference performancewise.

I am looking to get a new setup and have been doing some research on the Curado. During that research a lot of people say the Citica is basically the same as the Curado but cheaper. My question is what really is the difference and is it worth spending more for the Curado.

Thanks.

Always buy the best you can really afford  , buy the curado if you can.

the curado is noticeably smoother 

The curado is a little better than the citica.  A little.  The speed and the brake pins are different,  like already mentioned.  I believe the spool on the cur. might be lighter too.

I have both and can't tell much of a difference.

The curado is a little better than the citica. A little. The speed and the brake pins are different, like already mentioned. I believe the spool on the cur. might be lighter too.

I have both and can't tell much of a difference.

X2, but... I find it more comfortable with the Septon grips and we'll see if there are differences in how they hold up.

official spool weights according to bantam1:

• curado 200E7 13.8 grams
  
• citica 200E 14.8 grams
  

basically, one-third of an ounce difference

I think a ounce is roughly 28 grams,  which would make it 1/28 of an oz. lighter.  Even so,  that little bit of a difference in just the spool is prob. enough to give it the edge in casting lighter lures.

A while back I read a post on this site that stated how shimano was on the money w/ the pricing of there reels.  I totally believe that statement.  The citica definitely has more plastic parts than the curado.  It still performs pretty well though.

oops, my mistake...i always was terrible at unit conversions. thanks for the correction 

No problem.  I wasn't trying to be a mr. know-it-all.  We should have adopted the metric system a long time ago like the rest of the universe.  It does actually work better all around,  but would be hard to adjust to.  Been using   lbs.,  yrds,  miles,  oz. ect....   way too long!

As far as throwing med to deep cranks, am I missing anything by using a Citica 200e vs a Curado 200e5? I have been throwing them with the Citica, and it seems to work fine, but have been told the Curado would work better.

As far as throwing med to deep cranks, am I missing anything by using a Citica 200e vs a Curado 200e5? I have been throwing them with the Citica, and it seems to work fine, but have been told the Curado would work better.

These days depending on who you listen to, you'll hear that the Pros are going to 7:1 for deep cranks and yet others will tell you that a 5:1 for deep cranks. Obviously both those speeds are on the Curado side of the fence. I've got both and the citica as well as a few Curado 101D's. The 7:1 for all day cranking is tooo much for this old man. The 5:1 is definitely easier if you're cranking all day. But my little Curado 101D's do the job nicely for me. They're geared the same as the Citica 200E.

I live in Central Fla and I haven't found the day where I've had to deep crank for the better part of the day. BUT if I lived up north I might change my mind about the 5:1 gears on the Curado.

In the end you are the one who's is going to have this reel in your hand all day, and the money is coming out of your pocket. Don't borrow the money and don't finance it on a credit card. IF you can't pay cash for it, wait til you can.

The Citica is a nice buy but the Curado is nicer.

Let us know what you ultimately decide.

Nick O

Nick O,

thanks for the advice,  the reel would be paid for with cash.  Just trying to see if I am missing anything by picking up another Citica vs buying the Curado.  The only time I have ever felt like I was "working" with the Citica was throwing DD22s, but on anything shallower it seems to work fine. 

Nick O,

An update since you asked....I decided to go with another citica, Cabela's was running a $20 off $150 special, so I picked up the Citica 200e, the Cabela's Tournament ZX Spinning Reel, and an 8# and 10# 300 yard spool of Pline CX premium, shipped to my door for $180 total...as an added bonus, I have my 8 month old son's college fund set up through upromise, so he gets cash back into it from certain online stores, and Cabela's happens to be one of them.  So he got 2% of what I spent put into his fund.  Not much, but multiple orders over 18 years adds up.....

Well thanks for the help everyone. I ordered the Curado last last friday and got it yesterday. It looks sexy with my new Crucial and will be using them together for the first time this weekend 

congrats on the new set up....let us know how you like it..