Do the Curado E's deserve their legendary status? 2025
The Maestro reply :
These were the reels that were out when I was first getting serious about fishing and just starting to build my arsenal about 10 years ago. I have 5 of them + a few lower model Shimanos. I can honestly say they work better now than when they were brand new but I don't have much of a frame of reference for comparison. I did buy a Pfluger Patriarch (casting) a couple of years ago and while it's a decent reel I was a bit disappointed that I didnt like it nearly as much as my Curados.
For those of you who've been in the tackle game for a long time or just guys that have a bunch of different reels. Do the E series Curados live up to their reputation as an all time great reel?
fishballer06 reply :
The Curado line has had quite a reputation for 20+ years. The B and E series being the biggest standouts.
Long story short, yes.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
They are and they are not. They are some advantage of the reel, like set it and forget it, or easier to control yield to more accuracy. But this can achieve with any reel if you custom with the reel long enough, especially those of Daiwa SV. I still like to use either Daiwa or the E when fishing at night. The E also a workhorse reel and not a lot of issue unlike the I series with noise when cast (easy fix with oil on brake drum) or grinding noise from X-Ship bearing on newer model.
Another reel the deserve legacy is the D series, this reel is a tank, cast great and will last for more than a generation. The D, you can swap spool between 100 and 200 size from same frame. The only downside is weight which is 7.5oz on 100d compare to 50e at 6.7oz.
The 50e series is one of the best small size reel ever made, nothing come close to it performance and comfort, and when talking E most of ppl target 50e not 200e.
Now if it’s deserved 200 for old e, maybe not at least in my eyes. I might pay 200 for core50mg becuz of its weight magnesium frame and aluminum gear, but I doubt it now. I might even sell two of my e (Aldebaran MG7 and scorpion 1000xt) when the time come.
Jelvas reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 1:43 AM, fishballer06 said:(...)The B and E series being the biggest standouts.(...)
Ad the D to that list and you´re in the money! I had all the generations from the Curado since the B´s and my 201D is still the smoothest, and one of the more refined, of them all
Mike L reply :
Absolutely!
To me the E is the best reel Shimano ever made.
Mike
The Bassman reply :
This is coming from a guy who owned several. They were very functional and easy to service. Beyond that I found them to be quite geary. Newer platforms (I & K) are superior (IMHO) although I'm also one who preferred the old VBS braking system as @JustJamesmentioned.
JLBBass reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 4:41 AM, Mike L said:Absolutely!
To me the E is the best reel Shimano ever made.
Mike
for the money, yep!
OnthePotomac reply :
Lovin' my two Curado 100B's and three 200E7' s. One of my E's, will empty the spool down the backing if I let it with a KVD caffeine shad and 15lb Invizx. Strange how that happens with one of three.
CrankFate reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 5:00 AM, OnthePotomac said:Lovin' my two Curado 100B's and three 200E7' s. One of my E's, will empty the spool down the backing if I let it with a KVD caffeine shad and 15lb Invizx. Strange how that happens with one of three.
If you turn it upside down and everything spins worse I think it’s from using it a lot or using it with heavy rigs or catching big fish. Everything gets pulled downward all the time. If you give the handle or spool a spin and everything is way faster right side up, I think that’s how baitcasters break in and can actually get better over time. It doesn’t happen the same way with most round reels. But I find that the ones I’ve used the most break in and get better.
TBAG reply :
So if you could get a lightly used E or a new K for the same amount of coin which do you pick?
I've got a few K's but I've never owned an E or fished with one. I'm seriously considering grabbing it just to try. Dumb idea? Just buy another K instead?
The Maestro reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 7:43 AM, CrankFate said:If you turn it upside down and everything spins worse I think it’s from using it a lot or using it with heavy rigs or catching big fish. Everything gets pulled downward all the time. If you give the handle or spool a spin and everything is way faster right side up, I think that’s how baitcasters break in and can actually get better over time. It doesn’t happen the same way with most round reels. But I find that the ones I’ve used the most break in and get better.
Glad to see I'm not just imagining my Curado E's actually feeling better than when they were new. I guess the gears and everything just work themselves into even better smoothness and alignment. I can just spin the handle (when there's no load) and they just go so fast and smoothly. I try that with my Pfluger and it spins for a fraction of the time at a fraction of the speed.
zell_pop1 reply :
I sold my E series but I kept the 100dsvs, to me they just cast better.
Mike L reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 7:47 AM, TBAG said:So if you could get a lightly used E or a new K for the same amount of coin which do you pick?
I've got a few K's but I've never owned an E or fished with one. I'm seriously considering grabbing it just to try. Dumb idea? Just buy another K instead?
I would take the lightly used E.
I use a D, E, G, I and K every outing and the E is my overall favorite.
It doesn't have all new technology or materials but that's alright with me.
Mike
The Maestro reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 9:13 AM, Mike L said:I would take the lightly used E.
I use a D, E, G, I and K every outing and the E is my overall favorite.
It doesn't have all new technology or materials but that's alright with me.
Mike
How do the K's feel in hand? The E's just fit so comfortably. It's a simple looking design but the roundness of the palm side make them a joy to fish with. It's almost as if they took a mold of the human hand and designed an ideal size/shape around it.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 7:47 AM, TBAG said:So if you could get a lightly used E or a new K for the same amount of coin which do you pick?
I've got a few K's but I've never owned an E or fished with one. I'm seriously considering grabbing it just to try. Dumb idea? Just buy another K instead?
I have a couple 70's and prefer them to my 50E and Core50. My 50E pretty much doesnt get used any longer the Core is limited rotation. The performance of the 70 in my hands makes the 50 too old school. Xship makes a big difference and the svsi braking as well.
Hulkster reply :
I may be in the minority here, but I really like my curado 200i.
FishTank reply :
I have the G and the new K (haven't fished it yet). I have owned the the Curado B, BSF, and the D. I have never fished the E but it seems to be the reel that everyone sets bring up. The weird thing, I haven't seen anyone with one in a long time but I do see a lot of the Curado B's still out there.
To me they are all good in their own way but when Shimano switched from manufacturing in Japan to Malaysia, it seemed, at the time, that something was lost when the G came out. Even though I own the G and love it, there is just something special about the B and especially the BSF.
jbsoonerfan reply :
I have fished the B's, D's, E's, G's, I', K, Core (50 and 100) Chronarch (50e, 200e, 150) and I currently fish a 200HG, Scorpion 70xg, Curado 200K XG and Citica 200HG. This is just my opinion but the newest stuff is my favorite. To me, they are much more aesthetically better. Better swept handle, better drag star, easier to use cast control knob and sleeker front end. That being said, the E series would be my next favorite. I have a friend who loves the D series and uses them more than he does his I series.
Edit-I shouldn't have read this thread. Went to the auction sight looking at Curados, just bought a new 150DC for a good price. Dang monkey.
craww reply :
Yes, they deserve it...Ive never seen a low profile bass reel that'll cast as far as an E w/freshly flushed and lightly relubed bearings.. I mean tangibly, dramatically farther when you get a bait that cuts through the air...I've spooled one of mine a couple times with a 115(?) Sammy and 12lb Yozuri.
The paints held up remarkably well over the years as well...As gloss paints almost always do vs flats...The K feels more powerful and solid, but there's ever so slightly more resistance turning the handle if that makes sense. The flaw in the K is its average at best lure range it can go down to...The D's and 200 E's didn't have that problem... The new brakes are acceptable, (a lighter spool would help them) but VBS is my preference by far. Never used an I, the reports of having to oil em so often kept me away.
Mike L reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 9:19 AM, The Maestro said:How do the K's feel in hand? The E's just fit so comfortably. It's a simple looking design but the roundness of the palm side make them a joy to fish with. It's almost as if they took a mold of the human hand and designed an ideal size/shape around it.
It's fits like the I does, a little more streamlined than the E which makes it feel smaller.
The worst thing about it is the
"cap" over the worm gear.
I use my index finger in front and can feel the level wind as it moves.
Not a deal breaker but something that needs getting used too.
You nailed it about how the E feels!!
Mike
Stephen B reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 7:47 AM, TBAG said:So if you could get a lightly used E or a new K for the same amount of coin which do you pick?
I've got a few K's but I've never owned an E or fished with one. I'm seriously considering grabbing it just to try. Dumb idea? Just buy another K instead?
K
I think the K and E are the best Curado series I have fished with. The I wasn't bad but the K was a nice improvement. The G series IMO was a disappointment.
iabass8 reply :
nope
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
I had 2 100d,s at diff times and i wish i never sold them now ...ive used the new ones a few times and the e series the 100ds felt better to me then the new ones with the b was next ...
Bankbeater reply :
After my dad passed away I sold his E. Every time I think of that I could kick myself in the rear for doing it.
Burke reply :
Love those two reels (Curado 70 & Core 50MG7).
I have replaced the handles for longer ones. Not only that, Upgraded two of my core with Shimano 7.7 Brenious Chronarch 50E fast gear kit.
Chris at Tech reply :
The only Shimano's I have in my arsenal are Stradics With that said, my observation as a non-Shimano baitcaster guy is it seems that every time a new version of a Curado comes out, the version just before the new one becomes the new hot item. And it seems the reason for that is usually that Shimano cut some corner with the newest model that they didn't in the previous model.
Your mileage may vary.
Diggy reply :
On 2/1/2019 at 9:56 AM, Hulkster said:I may be in the minority here, but I really like my curado 200i.
I like mine a lot also. No problems on my end.
Mike L reply :
On 2/3/2019 at 12:06 AM, Chris at Tech said:The only Shimano's I have in my arsenal are Stradics With that said, my observation as a non-Shimano baitcaster guy is it seems that every time a new version of a Curado comes out, the version just before the new one becomes the new hot item. And it seems the reason for that is usually that Shimano cut some corner with the newest model that they didn't in the previous model.
Your mileage may vary.
I don't know Chris...
I own more Shimano's than any other. The K was an improvement over the I, which was an even bigger improvement over the G.
To your point, the G was a definite down grade from the E, but to me they all are.
Mike
WRB reply :
As I recall the original green Curado stayed the same frame until the E series came as a economical version of the Chronarch upgrade. The Core series being in the Chronarch series price range. Locally the Curado E's didn't sell well, noisy compared to higher end Chronarch and were discounted. The Core series being one of Shimano's top performing reels, no comparison to heavier Curado E series.
Not intending to down grade the Curado reels, they are work horses, the original green reels are still preferred by a few pro's.
Tom
Catt reply :
I only got one ????
RB 77 reply :
Yes. I have been hoarding the "E" series for years now. They just have that "mojo" that no other Curado has had since. I recently took a brand new K down to El Salto to give it a proper go and judge from there. While it performed as well if not a MAYBE a smidgen better than the E under load (X Ship/ Micro Gear), the difference was so little it was essentially a moot point. The E blew doors on it casting wise, like it does so many other reels. The B earned a solid rep, but that tech is outdated. The D was a tank, but felt like one too. The G was a joke and the noisy brakes on the I were too. It was just one of those cases were a product lived up to to and exceeded the rep that made it famous in the first place.
The Maestro reply :
On 2/4/2019 at 5:30 AM, RB 77 said:Yes. I have been hoarding the "E" series for years now. They just have that "mojo" that no other Curado has had since. I recently took a brand new K down to El Salto to give it a proper go and judge from there. While it performed as well if not a MAYBE a smidgen better than the E under load (X Ship/ Micro Gear), the difference was so little it was essentially a moot point. The E blew doors on it casting wise, like it does so many other reels. The B earned a solid rep, but that tech is outdated. The D was a tank, but felt like one too. The G was a joke and the noisy brakes on the I were too. It was just one of those cases were a product lived up to to and exceeded the rep that made it famous in the first place.
I just finished cleaning and greasing mine. I feel like I lucked out when I decided to make these my primary casting reels.
Mike L reply :
On 2/4/2019 at 7:29 AM, The Maestro said:I just finished cleaning and greasing mine. I feel like I lucked out when I decided to make these my primary casting reels.
You're my hero! ????
Mike
Heartland reply :
I had a few, I do believe they are/were very solid reels. I eventually decided that I preferred The Revo Premier Gen II, for it's superior drag, spool design and braking system. I always found the 50E the star of that lineup.
drew4779 reply :
The E series is my all time favorite. I have a 200e7 and 50e chronarch, and a 200e citica that's been upgraded over the years. I've owned many other nice reels since, some that I really liked a lot, but still find myself fishing the E series reels more often than not.
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