BEST baitcaster???

rola76 · 12-18-2002, 10:43 AM

I know I'm getting a 9' Loomis for Christmas, so of course that means I'm gonna have to get a new reel!!

I've got two Curados that I absolutely love, but am wondering if I should get something different just for a change. Is it worth the change, or should I just drop another $150 for another Curado super-free?

In advance, thanks for suggestions :grin:

tailchaser · 12-18-2002, 12:03 PM

I have the 150 calcutta and absolutely love it for steelies. I have it on a 8.5' lami and it's a great combo.

tc

foxer · 12-18-2002, 12:11 PM

5500c3...works great for silvers and will hold enough for chinook...still trying on the steelhead thing

AtWorkALot · 12-18-2002, 12:14 PM

I use Abu 5500's for bobber fishing. I love my Curado for steelhead. The new Pfleuger Trions look pretty nice, a lot like the Curado, but only $100 and six ball bearings vs. five in the Curados.

rola76 · 12-18-2002, 12:20 PM

The new Pfleugers are definitely nice, but I forgot to mention that I'm one of those "lefty" guys! Unfortunately that eliminates some of my options.

Fish Finder · 12-18-2002, 04:59 PM

Bye one of those diawa millionaire cvx series that is on sale at Bi-mart. It'll handle a salmon easily. Great reel for the price. I feel it's better than a stardard calcutta.

riverraider · 12-18-2002, 05:07 PM

for a drift rod I'd have to say the curado also.
For a change though I noticed in Bass Pro Shops that they make one with an all aluminum frame for about $40 more. Might be worth looking at. I like a reel that parts are easily available for. Its a bummer when you wear out the drag washers or something and can't use the reel 'cause you're waiting for parts that had to be ordered.

First Light Bite · 12-18-2002, 05:29 PM

If price is no object and you want to use it mostly for casting check out the Shimano Calais. Smoothest reel I ever used . I got one off e-bay its left hand retreive, be sure if your going to use in salt water not to get the magnesium spool (very corrosive in salt water).
11 BB smoooth and sweeet.

12-18-2002, 11:11 PM

Steelhead?
Curado works for me. I do like the two Calcuttas I have too. Just depends on how much you can spend.

rola76 · 12-18-2002, 11:12 PM

Yes, mostly steelhead, but occassional salmon as well.

12-18-2002, 11:21 PM

Curados are a bit small for salmon (I landed a 32# king in Ketchikan Creek with one). A 251 Calcutta ( :shocked: 250 for all of the backwards fishers here :shocked: ) might be better. Or a 5601 Ambassadeur.

Smily · 12-18-2002, 11:43 PM

Love my 5600C4 Abu Garcia, I think it's a smooth casting reel.

:smile: Smily :smile:

rola76 · 12-19-2002, 06:58 AM

FishFinder, (or anyone else)

Do you know if the Daiwa comes in left-hand retrieve?

outdoor.spec.ops · 12-19-2002, 07:29 AM

The left hand retrieve was all I saw at Bimart for the Diawa Reels.

rola76 · 12-19-2002, 08:55 AM

For those of you who fish the Calcuttas, do you use the regular ones or the ones with more ball bearings? Any MAJOR difference?

I don't think my two Curados are THAT different (Super-Free versus regular).

crabbait · 12-19-2002, 09:23 AM

This is like asking, "Is a really sharp axe the right tool?" Answer: Not for brain surgery!!

Curado BSF is an outstanding steelhead reel for bobber/jig or drift fishing. It is like using a Ferrari to haul firewood for plunking.

If you think an ABU 5600 is a great casting reel, get your hands on a Curado BSF or a Calais or a Chronarch. An ABU 5600 is a great plunking reel (and I own a bunch of ABU reels and like them all).

If you need a do-all reel, go for it. If you want a specific tool for a specific job you will be out some bucks but you will not regret the decision. If you don't think a Curada or a Calcutta (Calais, Calcutta, Stella) is a better reel, try posting one for sale in the classifieds forum for $100 and see what kind of response you get!

rola76 · 12-19-2002, 10:26 AM

Crabbait,

I've got a Curado BSF, and you're right, it's silky smooth!! I've just never fished with a Calcutta, so I wasn't sure exactly how smooth the regular one fishes as compared to the one with more ball bearings.

Thanks

rola76 · 12-19-2002, 12:26 PM

Okay, so I'm either going with a Calcutta or an ABU 5601. Last time, which is the better reel for a 9' Loomis and drift fishing w/ corkies and eggs?

RC · 12-19-2002, 12:36 PM

Check out the Ambassadeur Morrum SX 3600 Mag. Bought one for my wife last year, best casting steelhead reel ever. Hard to find, Cabelas has them in their catalog. Casts so good, you don't even need to use your thumb to stop it. Good looking reel, different than a regular ambassadeur, doesn't even compare to my Calcutta 251, in a class of it's own.

RC

Thumper · 12-19-2002, 12:53 PM

Daiwa Millionaire CVZ203 or 253. Absolute top of the line. Or Quantum PR600. Both outperform our Calcuttas, Curados, and certainly are way, way ahead of our Ambassadeurs. We mainly use the Ambassadeurs for plugging since the levelwind travels, making it easy to keep track of line distance.

SeanD · 12-19-2002, 02:36 PM

great deals on abu reels, including the Ambassadeur Morrum

http://www.ffo-tackle.com/ProductDir...&SearchLevel=3

Firedog · 12-19-2002, 03:40 PM

Rola, go with the Calcutta if you are going to be drift fishing and those are your two reel options. You won't be disapointed.

brshooter · 12-19-2002, 03:41 PM

I stopped and looked at one of the Daiwa Millionaire CVZ203 today. I had heard positive things on the board about them. It was very smooth, but I didn't like the plastic levelwind mechanism. Has anyone had any problem with this. $69 seems like a good price.

nerta · 12-19-2002, 03:52 PM

[img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] s h i m a n o curado or better

Fish Finder · 12-19-2002, 05:20 PM

brshooter, the millionaire cvz come with a stainless steel titanium coated levelwind guide with twice the ball bearing of the cvx. The one you saw was the cvx model with the plastic or nylon levelwind guide. the cvz come in gold finish will the cvx come in grey finish.

Green Machine · 12-19-2002, 05:28 PM

Rola, why change something that works! :grin: The calcutta is going to cost you a lot more than the 5601 or your curado. The 5601 is a good reel, great drag, and very durable. Calcutta seems a little spendy to me for what it is. As others have said, it all depends on what you want to use it for. Just my $.02

Grren Machine

willametteriveroutlaw · 12-19-2002, 05:35 PM

I bought one of those bi-mart specials the other day and can't see anything wrong with it. I have or have had all of the above mentioned reels xcept the calcutta. If your going to be banking it go with the bsf curado or Chronarch. The diawa is nice, but its no curado.

ultralight · 12-19-2002, 06:25 PM

Outlaw,

can you differentiate the Daiwa Millionaire from the Curado, then? How is the Daiwa inferior or is the Curado superior?

rola76 · 12-20-2002, 06:57 AM

The biggest issue for me is the ease and "castability." I fish in some "tight" spots, especially when I fish with spoons. It's not like I'm a rookie or anything, but even experienced fishermen must admit, not having to worry about making a cast is helpful.

So it sounds like either the Calcutta, Daiwa Millionaire, or an ABU (5601 or Morrum). I must admit, I want something different than another Curado.

Thanks guys, the input so far has been great.