View Full Version : Shimano Catala 400 (product review)
Killertraylor
08-13-2002, 01:58 PM
Thought I'd post a review of this new(er) reel from Shimano. I've got 4 Shimano Calcutta 400's that are very near and dear to my heart, but I thought I'd save $100 and try the Catala this summer - Joes has them for $95. The reel looks much like a Calcutta with the gold body, but parts of the reel appear to made out of cast aluminum instead of the prettier forged aluminum. I think they also have a few less ball bearings.
My experience with the reel is about 10 keeper size sturgeon, a few dozen short sturgeon, and 4 or 5 fall chinook/silvers both on the ocean and at Buoy 10. The reel has performed flawlessly. I've got it spooled with about 150 yards of 25lb. Berkely Big Game. It has an extremely smooth drag and I literally can't tell it apart from my Calcutta's mechanically. It feels much smoother than the Shimano Corsair 400 I have, and last time I looked, the Corsair was only $25 less. I guess the true test will be to see if it lasts as long as the Calcutta. 3 of my 4 Calcutta's are 5 years old and still work perfectly, but I'd recommend the Catala to anyone. I picked up another one today at Joes and had it spooled with 250 yards of 50lb. Powerpro as I've been eager to try out the braided line. I still love my Calcutta's, but if a guy wants to equip two rods for the price of one Calcutta, you ought to give the Catala a try.
chuck 'n' duck
08-13-2002, 02:04 PM
I took a look at these reels about 1 year ago, but they didn't have any left-handed models out. They looked pretty sweet. Do they now make the reel for people that aren't bass fishermen? :shocked:
CnD
I have the LH model and put it to the test with spring chinook this year. It performed flawlessly and I heartily reommmend it. Of course the Calcutta is better but for rugged every day use the Catala is a good buy if you don't have the $$$ for the Calcutta.
The Corsair, however, is a different story.
graemlins/berry.gif
[ 08-13-2002, 08:32 PM: Message edited by: Shane S ]
Killertraylor
08-13-2002, 02:24 PM
CnD - I'd swear Joes had both right and left handed. Just get used to the right hand model! Just think, how are you ever going to land that Marlin next time you take a charter out of Cabo if you can't handle a right hand retrieve!
Shane - I share your sentiments on the Corsair - it's now my shad reel....
[ 08-13-2002, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: Killertraylor ]
Get Bent
08-13-2002, 02:27 PM
Careful with that spooling of Power Pro you received at Joe's. My experience with their spooling of Power Pro is that they don't spool it tight enough, causing all kinds of trouble. I've had people tell me that they attach one end of the line to the reel and the other to a goal post at a school field, tighten the drag WAY down, then reel the post out of the ground. Okay, maybe not that last part but reel in so that the line goes on really tight. That'll keep you from getting really bad birds nests.
Take it from someone who had a bad experience with Power Pro and Joe's. When I spooled it on tightly myself it went flawlessly.
[ 08-13-2002, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: Get Bent Tackle ]
TheRogue
08-13-2002, 02:45 PM
I bought 2, a 400 and a 401 about two weeks ago. I had to hit two different Joe's as they only had the 400 at Sherwood.
The 400 felt very tight, smooth, darn near perfect. The drag was nice. It felt almost as good as my 5 year old Calcutta 250. HOWEVER!!! The 401 out of the box felt more like a Corsair. Much more spool slop, the handle had a touch of play in it.
The Ambassadeur 6500/6501 C4's came on sale last week at Joe's and FMO. Took the Catala's back, and for a total of $26 less, got one of each of the C4's (00 and 01), which are lighter, just as smooth, and have a LONG track record.
I'll let someone else do the testing.....although maybe I would've stayed with the Catalas had I read your report KT!!!
Small Fry
08-13-2002, 02:46 PM
I bought a 400 catala for my wife and I love it. graemlins/hearton.gif A whole lot less maintance then my ABU's.
As far as left handed you want the 401 in any of the Shmanos.
Grnhead99353
08-13-2002, 03:13 PM
I bought the 300 at Phil's Sporting Goods in Pasco during their going out of business sale for $63.00. I wish I would have bought more. :depressed: I've used it once and can't wait to try it on the fall fish when they get here. I also recently purchased a Calcutta 200. Love them both.
The guy at Ollie Damon told me the same thing about braided line. He said the whole spooled line will slip on the reel spool. You won't have any drag no matter how tight you crank down the star drag. It happened to me until I free spooled the entire thing out last year on Tillamook Bay. I could have been in the boat at Memaloose and had my bait in the Ghost Hole :grin:
Master Baiter
08-13-2002, 04:57 PM
For you die hard lefty abu fans out there, I just purchased a couple of 7001's for the salt. Have not used them yet but they sure are pretty!
Get Bent
08-13-2002, 05:48 PM
Originally posted by Shane S:
The guy at Ollie Damon told me the same thing about braided line. He said the whole spooled line will slip on the reel spool. You won't have any drag no matter how tight you crank down the star drag. It happened to me until I free spooled the entire thing out last year on Tillamook Bay. I could have been in the boat at Memaloose and had my bait in the Ghost Hole :grin: <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">That is true if you do not use a mono backing. Use just enough to cover the spool and you should be fine. Of course, you could always have a bunch more mono on the spool and just fill 50 yards of Power Pro at a time if you are fishing smaller bodies of water.
monoman
08-13-2002, 07:08 PM
Killer T
Here is the Marlin answer. http://www.avetreels.com
Two speed lefthand models two to three months away!