50E - First Impressions Edit: 4 Pounder From This Morning 2024

Fat-G reply :

I recently traded my used 200e7 that was saddled on my Cumara CUC-72MH for a BNIB 50E. I got her in the mail today. My first thought was wow this thing is TINY! It palms perfectly with my Cumara.

Now, I have always been a heavy braid, big jig, drag set all the way kind of guy, at least since I tried braid for the first time. Now whenever I use mono I think "how did I ever get a good hookset with this crap?" The advantages of braid FAR outweigh the disadvantages (for me, at least). Plus, the only disadvantages that really come with braid are visibility and abrasion resistance around rocks. Well, I fish in slightly stained ponds that have no rocks.

When the 50 first came out I heard a lot of people complaining about them being rough and inconsistent, or even just not a good all-around performer, but MAN I must have gotten one of the good ones. I wasn't even really excited about it 'till I went out back and cast.

I had my e7 filled with #50 Fireline braid and was throwing jigs and soft plastics on it this spring. The rod was a touch too light and short for my liking for those techniques, but the rod is also a real keeper. I think Cumara rods are extremely under-rated. So, when the opportunity presented itself I jumped on a trade for a finesse reel.

Coming from me, who literally flipped and pitched ALL last year, it feels weird having a combo that weighs under 10 ounces. I SERIOUSLY like this reel. It feels like a Chronarch compared to me 200e7. It is just absolutely buttery on the retrieve and the drag has zero slippage. The only non-braided line I have at my house right now is #15 Big Game, so I just spooled up, adjusted the reel, and went out (at 1:30) to do some yard casting. WOW is all I can say. I tied up one of the 1/4 oz. Finesse Football jigs that Strike King came out with a while ago, and hung a Rage Baby Craw on the back. I can pitch it a freakin' MILE!

I think I will start throwing more finesse style plastics and jigs. Most of my ponds have been overfished by myself, so my routine 20+ fish trips have turned into 2-3 fish outings. The idea of downsizing arose after the spawn.

I can not put into words how awesome this combo feels. For Shimano to have put so much emphasis on the Cumara rods being super-lightweight, the model I have (7'2" MH/F) is incredibly balanced. It also looks sweet with the 50e on it. I am super excited about this new little jig rod!

The list of applications I could use this rod for are basically endless. Here's what I have come up with so far.

-1/8-3/8 oz finesse jigs

-light t-rigs

-Senkos

-small cranks (rare)

-weightless plastics

-spinnerbaits

-buzzbaits

The list goes on. I already love this setup.

Now all I need to do is decide on a good 12-15# copoly or flouro line to throw on her. I think for the first couple of weeks I will just leave the Big Game on, though. What line should I try? I've been "out of the loop" of non-braided lines for a while now. I was thinking good ol' Yo-Zuri, or maybe P-Line Halo.

It HAS to be low-stretch. I was thinking of a 40# braid with a leader, but I really want to give straight copoly or flouro another shot. It is going to be weird taking on a whole new style of fishing, for me at least, but one of the exciting things to do in fishing is try new things, new baits, and styles of fishing. When the fishing is slow, throw them a change up.

Thanks for reading!

islandbass reply :

Nice write up! Makes me want to go and get one myself. However, for my fishing needs, I try to make certain my reels can serve double duty for bass and salmon. As a result, the 50 sized Curado is ruled out as an option, but your report is making me reconsider.

Fat-G reply :

Thanks man! I got a new ADD medicine today so I'm in the zone, LOL. I think it would do fine for salmon, but I don't know how much line capacity you need to catch them. If drag is an issue, the stock 50e is silky smooth. I would imagine that with an upgrade you would be golden. Part of me wants to get a Bassart or ZPI handle for it to shave off a little more weight, but we'll see. I was beginning to shy away from Shimano. They seem to be letting a lot of people down with some of the decisions they have and are currently making, so this might be my last. I firmly believe that in the upper price range Daiwa reels are built better and are way smoother, but this is one BAD dude. I know that burley sold his Core 50MG reels and replaced them with 50E's. He told me in a PM that he literally saw no difference other than weight and looks.

Man, this medicine is epic.

Fat-G reply :

One more thing, I think one of the most important applications (for me) this reel will do particularly well with is throwing Rage Baby Thumpers with < 1/4 oz. weights.

Just an awesome combo!

islandbass reply :

Yup, you got it. I love how small the 50 is. But some of the salmon I battle can definitely make short work of a size 50 reel. I have been spooled with a Curado 201DHSV that was filled to optimum capacity by a brutish chum salmon.

John G reply :

Congrats on the 50E. I like mine too.

WdyCrankbait reply :

Hayden, awesome news you got a 50E! You are going to love that thing! Let's get AJ and Sam together and hit the golf pond before you guys head off to college.

Fat-G reply :

On 6/29/2011 at 7:13 PM, WdyCrankbait said:

Hayden, awesome news you got a 50E! You are going to love that thing! Let's get AJ and Sam together and hit the golf pond before you guys head off to college.

I still got one more year of high school! I want to fish that pond that Sam took AJ to!

Fat-G reply :

Got this fish this morning to begin my 50's career. 4 pounds even on my scale. I was throwing a 1/2 oz. Red Eye Shad and she thumped it on top of a rockpile in 4 feet of water. It was weird actually having to use the drag! She fought like crazy man. Stripped a bunch of line! I definitely need some low-stretch flouro. The Big Game is absurd, feels like a rubber band.

Is it weird to read that Fat-G threw a reaction bait that wasn't a swimjig? I REALLY hope that I don't get in to throwing hard baits more, that would cost a good chunk of money.

hookingem reply :

Good deal bud! Glad you like her! I didn't really think that the 50e would really fit your style of fishing but I'm glad your happy with it. I have mine on that CU72MXF and its a good fit

Fat-G reply :

Thanks man haha it's slow as hell. This was at the super private pond we fished the one time on the road.

BigMoneyGrip reply :

I have mine filled with 8lbs InvizX and really like it.

BASSclary reply :

You wont be dissapointed with Seagaur InvizX or AbrazX.

Hooligan reply :

One of my favorite rigs is my 7-2 Med Xfast with a 51 on it. Number one application is 3/16-5/16 ounce jigs with Baby trailers. I fish very feww TX rigs with it, those get thrown on the NRX.

Edit:

In terms of line, I've actually got XPS 12lb on a couple 51s. I like it far better than InvizX and slightly more than AbrazX. The XPS has better manageability over time than the AbrazX and far less stretch than the InvizX. The thing that gets me with the XPS Fluoro is that it sort of "wears in." I haven't experienced it with any other line. It actually becomes more manageable over time, then again I could just be soaking up enough KVD L+L with it that that's the case. I do not, however, like it in 14-20.

Edited June 30, 2011 by Hooligan

webertime reply :

On 6/29/2011 at 2:30 PM, Fat-G said:

Thanks man! I got a new ADD medicine today so I'm in the zone, LOL. I think it would do fine for salmon, but I don't know how much line capacity you need to catch them. If drag is an issue, the stock 50e is silky smooth. I would imagine that with an upgrade you would be golden. Part of me wants to get a Bassart or ZPI handle for it to shave off a little more weight, but we'll see. I was beginning to shy away from Shimano. They seem to be letting a lot of people down with some of the decisions they have and are currently making, so this might be my last. I firmly believe that in the upper price range Daiwa reels are built better and are way smoother, but this is one BAD dude. I know that burley sold his Core 50MG reels and replaced them with 50E's. He told me in a PM that he literally saw no difference other than weight and looks.

Man, this medicine is epic.

I can totally feel it in your writing! Reminds me of College!

s13john reply :

Awesome man I need to get one soon

Hooligan reply :

On 6/30/2011 at 3:31 AM, s13john said:

Awesome man I need to get one soon

Yes you do, because they're going away, at least from all reports... Well, check that, they're changing.

Fat-G reply :

I've used one before and it didn't feel nearly as refined. I think if you work to find one of the odd-ball "good" ones, you will be more than pleased, but otherwise it will quickly become just another reel in your arsenal.

Today I could throw the cranks a loooooong ways. I also threw a Zoom Trick worm t-rigged with an 1/8 oz slip sinker, same settings. I could pitch it farther than a t-rigged Rage Craw with a 1/4 oz weight on my e7.

Fat-G reply :

On 6/30/2011 at 1:25 AM, Hooligan said:

One of my favorite rigs is my 7-2 Med Xfast with a 51 on it. Number one application is 3/16-5/16 ounce jigs with Baby trailers. I fish very feww TX rigs with it, those get thrown on the NRX.

Edit:

In terms of line, I've actually got XPS 12lb on a couple 51s. I like it far better than InvizX and slightly more than AbrazX. The XPS has better manageability over time than the AbrazX and far less stretch than the InvizX. The thing that gets me with the XPS Fluoro is that it sort of "wears in." I haven't experienced it with any other line. It actually becomes more manageable over time, then again I could just be soaking up enough KVD L+L with it that that's the case. I do not, however, like it in 14-20.

I think the XPS flouro is just InvisX right?

s13john reply :

Just put some samuri or 832 on it

And I did get one

BASSclary reply :

On 6/30/2011 at 9:24 AM, Fat-G said:

I think the XPS flouro is just InvisX right?

I think XPS is like the cross breed of InvizX and AbrazX.

BassThumb reply :

Maybe give 15 lb. Trilene 100% a try. It has less stretch than any fluoro I've tried.

BASSclary reply :

On 6/30/2011 at 11:59 AM, BassThumb said:

Maybe give 15 lb. Trilene 100% a try. It has less stretch than any fluoro I've tried.

Id does have a bit less stretch, but I found 100% to have poor knot strength and more memory. Other than that it is a nice line.

Hooligan reply :

On 6/30/2011 at 9:24 AM, Fat-G said:

I think the XPS flouro is just InvisX right?

Not really. Far less stretch, better knot strength and better abrasion resistance. Like that Clary kid said, sort of a Cross breed but with slightly better attributes than both. Similar to what Tatsu is but not on the same scale. For the $20, though, it kicks the pants off both Seaguar lines.

Fat-G reply :

Hell, I might try Tatsu.

Hooligan reply :

Don't do it. You won't want to fish any other line.

Fat-G reply :

It's very expensive. Maybe if I can find some on sale I will. Otherwise I will probably try AbrasX and XPS. I want to try Halo as well.

BASSclary reply :

If you try Halo let me know how you like it. I've been thinking about it on and off for about a year but I cant bring myself to buy any.

Bass_Fanatic reply :

I tried Halo and hated it...too much memory and terrible knot strength. Invisx and XPS is quality floros. I want some Tatsu, but cant justify the money.

Fat-G reply :

Just ordered a spool of 14# Sunline Super FC flouro. Hopefully I will like it.

BASSclary reply :

On 7/1/2011 at 11:19 AM, Fat-G said:

Just ordered a spool of 14# Sunline Super FC flouro. Hopefully I will like it.

Is that Shooter or Sniper?

Fat-G reply :

http://www.***.com/Sunline_Super_FC_Sniper_Fluorocarbon/descpage-SLFCS.html

Sniper.

Hooligan reply :

On 7/1/2011 at 11:19 AM, Fat-G said:

Just ordered a spool of 14# Sunline Super FC flouro. Hopefully I will like it.

Sniper's not bad. It's in the same class as Abrazx and XPS, really. It's a quality line with good characteristics in that price range. It doesn't stretch as much as InvisX, but is more abrasion resistant than it, as well.

tmier reply :

Isn't this reel in a recent issue of field n stream? I'm looking for a finesse caster since my first setup can't throw anything light very far or accurately.

webertime reply :

I just got another one for $97 shipped five minutes ago! (pm me if you want to know where) I love my 51!

Fat-G reply :

Dang I almost want another one! I wasn't giddy with excitement over my e7, but man this thing feels way better!

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50E - First Impressions Edit: 4 Pounder From This Morning 2024

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