200e7 vs. Patriarch vs. HSTA.. OR ZILLION? 2025

Bassin_mizzou reply :

I am currently looking to buy a new baitcaster. Currently, I am using a Pflueger Purist that I have had for a few years. I will probably switch back between my new reel and my purist, but overall I will be using this reel for anything and everything, including weightless plastics. I know getting a new reel is a topic beaten to death around here, but I wanted to get some opinions on some reels I am thinking about that I don't often see talked about.

I am leaning toward getting a 200e7, but a couple other reels have caught my eye. Namely the Pflueger Patriarch and the Daiwa Advantage HSTA. I have seen bad things about Pfluegers, but my Purist has held up very well over the years. Also, I haven't seen much talk about the Daiwa Advantage HSTA. So, I was wondering if anyone with experience with the Patriarch or HSTA could offer an insight and maybe a comparison to the 200e7. Thanks, any help is appreciated.

Uncle Leo reply :

I have owned all of these. All perform well. The Curado is best at ease of use. Both the Curado and Patriarch will cast lighter weights, The Diawa Advantage although a fine reel will struggle with lighter weights as opposed to the Curado and Patriarch. In my opinion the Curado 200E7 will make a better all around reel.

midnighthrasher reply :

Curado E7

Raul reply :

Also you might consider another thing, reel dimensions, I find the Advantage a little bit too wide.

ToledoEF reply :

Having owned all three, I would go... 1. Patriatch, 2. Curado, 3. HSTA, but thats just my opinion. Go to a tackle shop and do the hold test, see if they will let you mount it on a rod and how you think it feels.

Stasher1 reply :

I've never owned or used an HSTA, but I do own a Patriarch and a Curado 200e7. They're both great reels but I'd take a Patriarch over a Curado.

hmongkidBee reply :

curado E7 is the way to go. It's well worth the money and you can find one for cheap in the flea market.

RWSCHMITZ reply :

Patriarch all the way.

TBendBassin reply :

curado is the only way to go.. i gave pflueger a chance ive had three of them and all three locked up within 1 to 2 years. i do alot of tournament fishing but i take care of my stuff so they should last longer than that.. i still have 2 old curados when they first came out yep they still work just fine..

BassThumb reply :

Quote
I am leaning toward getting a 200e7

Go with it.

northern basser reply :

CURADO 200E7!!!!!!!!

s13john reply :

e7 hands down just an amazing reel

KYntucky Warmouth reply :

You can't go wrong with either a Patriarch or Curado. I have both, 2 Patriarchs and 4 Curados, I personally prefer the Curado for it's low profileand spool access. I originally swore by the Patriarch and the dual braking but it's sort of unneeded, I hardly ever use the mag brake any more unless tge wind kicks up.

zerofivenismo reply :

I had a HSTA. Fine reel...easy to cast (never tried light baits tho), good distance, and smooth retrieve, but it was a bit wide for my mini-hands to comfortably palm. Traded the HSTA for an e7 and never looked back.

Bassin_mizzou reply :

Thanks for the input guys. I was all set to go ahead and get the Curado until I saw the Zillions for sale in the flea market section for $180. From retail prices this seems like a superior reel to the Curado, but is it that much better? While the zillions appear to be in excellent condition, should I buy a used zillion over a new Curado? And since this will really be my only reel for pretty much everything will it be as sufficient of an all around reel as the Curado appeared to be? Thanks for any input fellas..

Micropterus salmoides reply :

I have 2 Zillions and just bought a Curado E7. While, both are great reels the Zillion doesn't cast light lures that well. Say anything below 3/8oz. The E7 is good for 1/4oz and above.

rubba bubba reply :

I would go for the Zillion. I cast weightless Senkos and 1/4 oz drop shot on my Zillions with no problems. The Zillion is one overbuilt reel - it will outlive you.

Stasher1 reply :

Quote
I would go for the Zillion. I cast weightless Senkos and 1/4 oz drop shot on my Zillions with no problems. The Zillion is one overbuilt reel - it will outlive you.

I haven't weighed a 1/4 oz dropshot rig, but a weightless Senko weighs 3/8 oz. which is the same a 7" Power Worm and an 1/8 oz worm weight.

rubba bubba reply :

Quote
I haven't weighed a 1/4 oz dropshot rig, but a weightless Senko weighs 3/8 oz. which is the same a 7" Power Worm and an 1/8 oz worm weight.

I highly doubt a 4" senko weighs 3/8 oz, which casts fine on a Zillion or any decent baitcaster - even my Bpro Extreme.

David P reply :

Curado and Zillion for me have cast light baits very similarly.

Curado weighs a bit less, which depending on the rod you're using can be a good thing or bad thing. If the rod is already tip heavy, the heavier reel can balance it out making it feel lighter.

A lot of it is a matter of preference. Both will perform very well, both are solid reels. Can't go wrong with either.

dodgeguy reply :

i would get a patriarch xt.

rubba bubba reply :

Quote
i would get a patriarch xt.

Dodge - as much as I like Suffix, I finally spooled up a reel with Fireline braid. It's looking like it may be my new favorite.

cart7t reply :

No questions.

Go with the pinnacle.

burleytog reply :

Quote

Quote
I haven't weighed a 1/4 oz dropshot rig, but a weightless Senko weighs 3/8 oz. which is the same a 7" Power Worm and an 1/8 oz worm weight.

I highly doubt a 4" senko weighs 3/8 oz, which casts fine on a Zillion or any decent baitcaster - even my Bpro Extreme.

Then I suggest you weigh a 4" stickbait and get back to us.

Stasher1 reply :

Quote

Quote
I haven't weighed a 1/4 oz dropshot rig, but a weightless Senko weighs 3/8 oz. which is the same a 7" Power Worm and an 1/8 oz worm weight.

I highly doubt a 4" senko weighs 3/8 oz, which casts fine on a Zillion or any decent baitcaster - even my Bpro Extreme.

Your posts didn't say anything about 4" Senko, you just said Senko. A 'standard' 5" Senko weighs 3/8 oz.

The point I was trying to make is this: Saying your reel excels at casting weightless soft plastics based solely on the fact that you can cast a weightless Senko is misleading, at best.

A weightless Senko is still a fairly heavy lure. If you want to see how well it handles weightless lures, try casting a 6" floating worm, 4" ring worm, or a Trickworm rigged with a 2/0 offset round bend hook.

Stasher1 reply :

I stand corrected.

A 5" Senko weighs more than a 7" Power Worm, 3/0 EWG, and an 1/8 oz. bullet weight.

A 4" Senko with no hook weighs the same as a 7" Power Worm, 3/0 EWG, and an 1/8 oz. bullet weight.

4" Senko (Kinami Flash)

7" Power Worm, hook, weight

For the record, a 5" Senko (0.40) weighs almost as much as two Trick Worms (0.45), according to my little shop scale.

dodgeguy reply :

Quote

Quote
i would get a patriarch xt.

Dodge - as much as I like Suffix, I finally spooled up a reel with Fireline braid. It's looking like it may be my new favorite.

told you it was good.i'm not using braid this year.i'm doing a study.fireline braid and diwa samurai are the 2 best braids.

RoLo reply :

I apologize for going somewhat off-topic, but every lure has an intrinsic weight,

with or without a sinker. It might be better to call them unweighted senkos

rather than 'weightless' senkos.

Heavily salted lures such as the senko, usually exhibit a considerable variation in weight.

I just weighed several 5.0" senkos of different colors & laminates and the intrinsic weight

ranged from 155 to 170 grains. Since 3/8oz is equivalent to 164 grains,

it would be fair to say that an unweighted 5.0" senko weighs 3/8oz.

BTW, an unweighted 7.0 Zoom trick worm weighs 90 grains, just a bit over 3/16oz (3/16oz = 82 grains).

Roger

Mike__D reply :

Curado hands down.

Mike

rubba bubba reply :

Quote
A weightless Senko is still a fairly heavy lure. If you want to see how well it handles weightless lures, try casting a 6" floating worm, 4" ring worm, or a Trickworm rigged with a 2/0 offset round bend hook.

I didn't specify any size Senko, you assumed it's a 5". I'm sure not aware of a "standard Senko". However, I did weigh a 5" with hook and it came to 9 grams (8 without the hook); and so doing the 1g to 0.0352739619 oz conversion, that puts it at .317466 oz, with 3/8 oz = .375 oz.

Now since Burley asked nice, I weighed a 4" Senko with hook at 6 grams, or .211644 oz. The Zillion casts either just fine; so does my STX, S, and Bpro Extreme.

Where did I say the Zillion "excels at casting weightless soft plastics"? By all means, quote my post and prove me wrong. Was I misleading in referencing Senkos only? Again your words not mine - did you miss the drop shot part? Go re-read my post again. Quote away.

Now I realize spinning tackle is pretty challenging for Burley, however if he or you would like some tutelage on casting a .21164 oz Senko on a Zillion (or even a 3"), I would be more than glad to spend some quality time with you. The point never was the Zillion "excels" at casting light weights, the point is that it casts light weights just fine. If there's a difference in casting light weights between the Zillion and the Curado, it's miniscule at best.

Will a Zillion "excel" at casting 6" floating worm, 4" ring worm, or a Trickworm rigged with a 2/0 offset round bend hook? No. Will a Curado? No.

The hyperbole by the posse never ceases to amaze me.

4634

200e7 vs. Patriarch vs. HSTA.. OR ZILLION? 2025

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