Super Curado 50E 2025

WdyCrankbait reply :

Hey everyone,

I wanted to see if anyone has gotten upgraded bearings and drag put into their 50E? I sent mine off to DVT and REALLY, looking forward to get her back. I have the top of the line Boca's in her now and with the upgraded drag, wondering/day-dreaming and meeting a huge bass with her. I'm blaming this purchase on bait-monkey and impatience.

John G reply :

I plan on sending my 50E in to DVT this winter for a bearing upgrade and whatever else that will make it a better reel. I am happy now for the most part but I think that I should be getting more distance. Also, watching youtube videos of guys spinning their spools in freespool and the spool spins for what seems like forever makes me think mine is definitley slower that it should be.

roadwarrior reply :

Please post results.

WdyCrankbait reply :

I'll post a review for sure. I have an E7 & E5 I might upgrade as well if I like the refinements enough. DVT got it yesterday so, I figure by Wed. I should have it back.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Beware of those You-Tube videos. Those are made with dry bearings and zero spool tension, nothing like you would experience in real life fishing. A deep cleaning and proper lube will do wonders even for a new reel. The solid spool shaft design used in the Curados also makes them a candidate for Super Tuning. The Carbontex drag is the real deal and very affordable. I recommend them for most any reel.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

On 9/29/2011 at 7:04 PM, WdyCrankbait said:

I'll post a review for sure. I have an E7 & E5 I might upgrade as well if I like the refinements enough. DVT got it yesterday so, I figure by Wed. I should have it back.

Wdy..

Your reel will ship tomorrow. I think you'll be pleased. I'm going to flush and oil the stock bearings as well so you'll have them if needed.

Thanks,

Mike

jeb2 reply :

On 9/29/2011 at 8:22 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:
A deep cleaning and proper lube will do wonders even for a new reel.

Very true. I always tear apart all new reels I buy and give them a good cleaning an proper lubing. Makes a huge difference.

I got a new 50E when they were on closeout. I told my fishing buddy about them and he picked one up, too. I switched out the bearings for Orange Seals the day I got it and started fishing it right away. My buddy said he was not at all impressed with the stock reels empty spool spin, so he never got around to using it. I had him bring it over and all we did was clean the spool bearings. They were super over-lubed. Almost grease. So cleaned them out, applied some good lube and the spool spun FAR better. Makes an amazing difference.

I did not upgrade the drag. Seems adequate so far, even pulling nice bass out of the grass and over logs.

J Francho reply :

Quote
My buddy said he was not at all impressed with the stock reels empty spool spin, so he never got around to using it.

Do you really think is a fair representation of how the reel will perform on the water?

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

That's nothing. When we had our lube oil distributorship, potential customers would dip their fingers into two different brands of motor oil and rub their fingers together and tell you which one was more slippery. No sense in trying to discuss crude quality, additives, quality control... after that.

jeb2 reply :

On 9/30/2011 at 8:36 PM, J Francho said:

Quote
My buddy said he was not at all impressed with the stock reels empty spool spin, so he never got around to using it.

Do you really think is a fair representation of how the reel will perform on the water?

If you mean just spinning the spool in a store to compare different reels, no, I don't think that it means all that much for NIB reels since many are over oiled. But it can make a difference to a guy that is not comfortable tearing down his reels and cleaning/lubing his bearings.

J Francho reply :

He doesn't even need to do that, LOL. Who tells the car salesman, "Well, I really didn't like the pickup on that car without any gas in it." It's preposterous. Put line on it, adjust the spool and brakes, and go fishing for an hour, and tell me what you think.

s13john reply :

i did a clean and lube on mine and its pitches like a dream. i live in around rva if you want to try it out one day you are more than welcome too

South FLA reply :

DVT upgraded by Zillion and Metanium MG w/drag and bearings, WOW is all I have to say!

jeb2 reply :

On 10/1/2011 at 2:26 AM, J Francho said:
He doesn't even need to do that, LOL. Who tells the car salesman, "Well, I really didn't like the pickup on that car without any gas in it." It's preposterous.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Are you implying that simply adding line to the spool will make up for over oiled bearings?

Quote
Put line on it, adjust the spool and brakes, and go fishing for an hour, and tell me what you think.

But doing a proper bearing clean and lube still can make a big difference in performance and satisfaction, especially if the bearings are way over oiled like they were in my buddies 50E.

BigMoneyGrip reply :

Yep, Shimano uses grease in the 50e bearings. I cleaned mine and used Kroil for lube. It really makes it easier to pitch with this reel after doing this.

J Francho reply :

Shimano greases spool bearings for increased smoothness and durability. Yes, flushing the bearings will give you gains in spool speed, but you will need to keep those bearings oiled. And the spool will probably be too fast for 90% of users, which means you will add spool tension. Increased spool tension means you will wear out the spacers sooner. It's all trade off. Put line on it, fish it like you stole it. Any issues, call Shimano, they take care of their customers.

WdyCrankbait reply :

Hey everyone,

Ok, so I got the DVT 50E back today. I have not fished with it, got it 15 minutes before dark. So, my impressions are based on merely playing around with it.

I got it out of the box which was caved in (I’m not giving the name of the mail service to protect the guiltily) I raced up to a local tackle store that had some 50E’s to compare mine to Shimano’s (I’m a regular there so, they let me have a run of the place).

First impression, Mike was right it will not “Super-free spool,” as in the Youtube videos, but it does turn/reel-in easier then a stock 50E, less work. Second, and the thing I like the most is the drag upgrade seemed to really made a difference. Even at lighter settings, it seems to “catch,” and have more power then a stock 50E. I got my senko rod ready to go tomorrow afternoon and can give you guys another review then. I’m expecting a little further distance on casting tomorrow and certainly better hook sets with the upgrades. So far, I'm very pleased.

Thanks,

Wdy

Midnight Splash2 reply :

I cant wait to hear the review. I have the same reel on the way to be cleaned, super tuned, get the bearing upgrade, and add the carbontex drag washers.

Jaheff reply :

I was wondering if DVT is greasing the carbontex, or leaving them dry in the curado's?

J Francho reply :

Mike will probably answer the same as I would: depends on the application. Do you want brute strength and ZERO maintenance? Go dry. Are you managing big fish on light line, need a smooth transition from grip to slip, or dealing with high heat generated by long runs? Then go wet. Cal's and Shimano Star drag grease work equally as well.

J Francho reply :

Quote
Second, and the thing I like the most is the drag upgrade seemed to really made a difference.

Best upgrade for the money. Every reel that I open up gets one now.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

J's right they can be run either way. My default setup is a light coat of Cal's Universal for the smoothness.

fishinkeebs reply :

Hey Wdy, thanks for bringing your 50 E up last night! Feeling your upgraded one next to a stock 50E you can really feel the differences. The drag feels way better and the spool does feel smoother. Hope you go test it on a Biggin soon and let us know how it truly performs!

jeb2 reply :

On 10/3/2011 at 9:11 PM, J Francho said:
Shimano greases spool bearings for increased smoothness and durability. Yes, flushing the bearings will give you gains in spool speed, but you will need to keep those bearings oiled. And the spool will probably be too fast for 90% of users, which means you will add spool tension. Increased spool tension means you will wear out the spacers sooner. It's all trade off.

I sure don't find any trade off's cleaning and oiling bearings in my reels. IMO, it's a shame to leave the increase in reel performance laying on the table, especially when this is free to anyone with a little mechanical ability. To each their own, I guess.

WdyCrankbait reply :

Hey everyone,

Alright, I went out and used the DVT 50E tonight. My set-up I used tonight. Powell Endurance 723C Med-Hvy/Xfst tip. Brand new 12# line, P-line (and various lures) spooled the reel up to about 1/8” from the top (To give for reference against what other people use). There was no wind on this small lake tonight.

First thing I noticed, the reel is super quiet now on retrieve. You don’t hear the gears turning, kind of keeping actually because your wrist is rotating without the reel making noise to verify you’re reeling in.

Second, the casting distance increased about 5’-10’. But, what was not expected was the increased accuracy. I was side-arm/underhand casting to a target about 40’ out and hit within 1’ almost everytime.

Third was the drag, I did catch a “Bass dinkle-berryous,” tonight, just set the hook and reel in. Just stuck him and that’s all I needed.

The lures I used tonight were 4” Senko, then 5” Senko (normal size on this rod). Then, I went over to a 1/4oz. Chug bug, I cast that a little further then I thought I could. (Bryan (That’s Fishnkeebs), I could almost cast across the little cove.)) This is where I got my small bass and lure. Finally, I went to a DT-4 Rapala to try it for that application. Did fine, no problem at all.

I’m pretty happy with the modifications, it will not make a “night and day,” difference with the reel, just a “better refinement of a tool”. Like sharpening a blade on a good knife, the reel just works better.

You guys have a great night!

Wdy

WdyCrankbait reply :

*creepy instead of keeping I had not eaten dinner when I typed this up.

JFrancho, I want to go fishing with you! Smallies that big Are you kidding me!!

5817

Super Curado 50E 2025

related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic