Shimano Curado 200K Review

Game Over for the Average Joe

-Specifications-

Model: CU201 K

Retrieve: Left

Gear Ratio: 6.2:1

I think it’s safe to say that there comes a time in every angler’s life when they take the next step. At some point, $100 combos or mediocre gear just doesn’t get it done for you anymore…it seems to me that the Shimano Curado 200K is that next step.

Here’s how I’ll put this. I live on the East Coast, and I’ve skied for most of my life. I’d consider myself a high-advanced to borderline-expert skier, but on the East Coast, oftentimes the conditions aren’t ideal. The snow can be heavy, icy, or simply nonexistent. Temperatures can get down below-zero, sometimes even worse with the blustery winds we find commonplace on our northern mountains. One day, we saved up our money and spent a few days skiing the canyons in Utah, in deep powder, in a sweatshirt, with no lift-lines or a care in the world, and East Coast skiing would, quite simply, never cut the mustard the same way again.

That’s what the Shimano Curado 200K does to the average angler.

Usability:

The Curado 200K makes me feel like I’m holding something I shouldn’t be. The usability factor here is huge; the standard features of a modern baitcater are all here, but they just seem to be put together better. Under a side-plate lies the 4-pin magnetic braking system, which is adjusted by pushing down the pins based on how much control you want; the less pins engaged, the further you can hoon the bait of your choosing. The highly-touted “SVS Infinity” braking system, which is adjusted by the turn of a dial located near the drag star, allows for infinitely-variable braking tension. Because I’m a simple ape, I prefer the “clicking” noise common on other reel’s braking systems, but the Curado 200K did its best to convince me otherwise. Spool access is easy, and everything feels undoubtedly solid and composed.

Casting:

I’d say the first three hours I spent with this rod saw me backlash my reel more times than I had all year prior. I simply couldn’t figure it out; I was ripping out a crankbait like I would with some of my cheaper reels, and instead of simply going, I’d over-cast, get less distance than I wanted, and end up with a bird’s nest. Not cool. Eventually I began to realize that what I was holding in my hand was much less of a claymore and more of a katana; it wasn’t going to take as much force to get the job done as I’d thought. Armed with that knowledge, I started to cast easier, with less beef behind the motion, seemingly casting at half-speed every time – and it worked. Suddenly a fully chucked bait that would only make it 20 yards was rocketing to 35, with little effort. I was casting daggers into tiny pockets with stunning accuracy, knowing the exact distance my bait would go with a given amount of force exerted. By the time I had 10+ hours on the water with the Curado 200K, I had more confidence with the reel than almost every other in my arsenal (Revo X not included). Casting with this is a dream, plain and simple.

Retrieve:

Just when you thought it might not be possible to get better, it does. The Curado 200K features Shimano’s Micro Module gearing, which translates to unholy-smooth performance under all conditions. When you hook a fish, you immediately feel the reel bite down, and every crank feels like you’re putting down the power of Thor upon the poor fish on the other end of your line. Everything is smooth, tight and steady. The drag is as good as I’ve seen on a reel, stripping off without hitches or jolts under any and all circumstances. What you have here is a machine that builds confidence to the highest degree; every time you connect with a fish, you know that if you lose it the reel won’t be to blame.

Techniques:

This is not my reel, I borrowed it from a friend on several trips. He was looking for a reel to attach to a cranking/jerkbait rod for spring fishing this year, and as such he bought a model with a 6.2:1 gear ratio. I’d say that crankbaits and other treble hook baits are a great technique to have in mind when making your purchase. The Curado 200K only puts out a maximum drag pressure of 11lbs., which isn’t terribly much, but will certainly get the job done for treble hook baits where you don’t need to slam on a fish. The drag is so buttery smooth that reeling in fish is a dream, and you can be confident that on-the-fly adjustments to pressure will keep the hooks from bending out under a heavy load.

Pros:

·         Very sexy reel

·         Construction is excellent

·         Drag system is fantastic

·         Braking adjustments are easy to adjust and easy to dial in

·         Retrieve is the best of any reel I’ve ever used

Cons:

·         I don’t own this reel

Like I said earlier on in this review, The Shimano Curado 200K really did change the way I look at fishing. For a good while, I haven’t strayed from the $100 for a reel or rod price range, and I had become convinced that I’d never have to leave. Now, after the experience of the Curado 200K, I’m not so sure. While I do still have confidence and an affinity for many of my other reels, the thought of what lies in the price range double what I’m comfortable spending lingers constantly. While I’m wrenching in bass with my Revo X or my Mach II, I can’t help but remember, even if for only a brief moment, that somewhere over the hill is the land of the better, and I’m just not quite there yet. Better start saving.