Calcutta 251 or 151

[smoky]

Anybody know if there is a big difference in these two reels when throwing lighter weight.

I would think the 151 casts better with lighter weight? What about 151 vs. Curado?

Just sold my Curado. Going to replace it with either another 251 or a 151.

[Thumper]

For ease of casting and distance I'd take a Curado over either of the smaller Calcuttas any day. The advantages for the Curado, and they directly relate to ease of casting and retieval rate, are the number of ball and roller bearings (4 and 1 for the Curado vs. 2 and 1 for the Calcutta) and the retrieve speed (6.2:1 gear ratio for the Curado vs. 4.7:1 for the Calcutta). The Calcutta has only one major advantage and that is tolerance to salt water (mainly due to the fewer $10 ball bearings that are subject to saltwater corrosion).

[Tilla]

If you wanna spend some money, there is always the Chronarch! :rolleyes: :grin:

[Nanook]

http://fish.shimano.com/

[Thumper]

Well, after reading ******'s post ---- never mind everything I said. I am about a year out of date.

[ 01-02-2002: Message edited by: Thumper ]</p>

[Fubby]

I have a 151 and I have loved it for the last two years. I think that it casts great and it has a great drag - or I should say did have a great drag.
During a recent trip to Forks my drag went out on me. I am not one to tinker with reels so I have it serviced regularly. I have heard that there is a problem with the drag system failing on the Calcutta reels. No evidence to back up this claim.
I am still a believer and mine is headed to the shop for an overhaul but it might be something to look into.

[Bob Barthlow]

FUBBY STUCKER the drag system on my calcutta's is one of the things I like best about them. In my guide service I use 6 250-251's and 4 400's and in 3 to 4 years of alot use never a problem ,still sooooooooooooooo smooth. :wink:

[Spooled]

Hey Fubby, I can't speak for the 151 model, but Shimano has had trouble with the drag washers on th 400 series. This link explains the upgrade. Http://www.shimanofishing.com/service/maint_tips.html

I will still fix yours if you want. Sure you don't want a Curado?

[Snapshot]

I have a green curado that I would swap for a left hand winding something similar. I don't catch enough fish to wear them out, I just like the left hand retrive reels. The Curnao is a right handed one and it must have been made for people that are not well coordinated; I do like the shimano reels though. Maybe swap for a good 201....

*Fish only bite wet hooks*

[fop]

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/2756072.jpg

Fubby Stucker, I have several Calcuttas'. Have replaced the drag washers with the Xtreme Smooooothie washers on the 250,150 and 50 models and they seem to be working good. fop

www.smoothdrag.com (http://www.smoothdrag.com)

[drifter]

Smoky: I have several 251 and one 151. I love them. I use the 251 for chinook, chums, silvers and large river steelies. I use my 151 on small river/creek steelies. Its more a matter of balance with the rod I am fishing. Good fishing, drifter.

[Snagly]

I have a couple of drawers full of Shimano reels. They're the only baitcasters I use for saltwater fishing at home, and steelhead/ salmon in NA. My observations after up to 7 years experience with individual reels are as follows:

1. The drag washers require reasonably frequent maintenance even if not abused. I treat my reels like fancy watches and sometimes the drags lose their smoothness. This isn't a big deal with Calcuttas, as you take the reels apart and clean (not replace!) the drag washer. Most of these washers should be only very lightly greased or fished dry, not saturated.

Chronarchs are beyond my personal level of patience/ ability to self-service, so I take them to the shop when/ if the drags start jerking.

2. If the reel gets wet, you MUST service the drag as it will start to stutter.

3. Extreme Smooth drags (www.smoothdrags.com) make substitute drag washers that I've monkeyed around with over the last year. The good news is that these washers (fished wholly dry!) enable you to put several more pounds of drag on the reel. The (very) bad news is that the inertial (start-up) force required to get the drag in play is very high. So high that you can pull hooks.

After experimenting with Extreme Drags in Alaska Spring '01 I replaced the washers with original Calcutta drags for BC Fall '01, and simply used more thumb. This worked fine.

4. I would fish a Chronarch or Curado in preference to a C150/151 if I were interested in greater casting distance with light weights.

5. Shimano reels last a long, long time with only an occasional need to change ball bearings or drag disks even if you fish the salt a lot PROVIDED you take the time or spend the money to send them in for a general cleaning 1x (fresh) or 2x (salt) a year. In addition, I use a spray bottle with a "mist" setting and spray each reel after use in salt/ brackish water. I then dry the reel with a soft cloth, and back all the way off on the star drag. I do NOT put reels under running water -- you force salt and grit into the reel, as well as perhaps putting a substantial amount of water into the reel itself. :mad:

[Fubby]

Hey RR I don't know what to say...My drag failed. I had a nice chrome hen (weighed in at 15lbs) that I almost had to hand line in because of how jerky the drag released line. As I said I love the reel and once it is fixed I will be one with it again and I am planning on purchasing several more. I just wanted to drop my experience on Smoky and he can take it or leave it. FOP - thanks for the tip on the washers. I do not usually tinker with my reels but I think that it's time.

[WOODUXS]

I've fished alot of reels over the years and as long as you fish a shimano you cant go wrong. All 12 of my baitcasters are shimano. As far as which reel is right for light tackle, personal prefrance of a properly adjusted reel is your answer,all reels work different for each fisherman. GO SHIMANO