Power: This is where I would have thought the Monster Drive enhancements took place, but as it stands, the Scorpion MD is pretty status quo. It comes with Shimano's micro-module gears and a ninety-millimeter (90mm) handle which by today's standards is actually a little bit short on a reel made for big baits. Having said that, thanks to the oversized, flat knobs, I found the handle and power on this reel to be just fine. It did everything I needed it to do including dragging some of those topwater rats back to the boat quickly which, if any of you have tried this, can be quite the chore if the reel you are using is underpowered. There were no such difficulties with the Scorpion 200/201 MD.

A single drag washer nestled within the main gear

Drag: The 24 Scorpion 200/201 MD comes with a factory rated drag of under fifteen pounds and consists of a single drag washer nestled within the main gear. For those seeking big bait reels with a "monster drag" this reel is not it. Nor is any Shimano reel really. However, for those who actually use the drag on their reels, this Scorpion MD's drag performs in typical Shimano fashion which is smooth and consistent - allowing aggressive fish to pull drag during battle as needed to mitigate the risk of damaging your equipment and/or pulling the hooks out of the fish's mouth.

Some topwater fun thanks to the Scorp MD

Design & Ergonomics: I mentioned earlier that this 24 Scorpion 200/201 MD is the same size and shape as the previous generation Scorpion MGL and DC 150s. The only change is in spool capacity achieved by giving the new 200 a slightly deeper spool. The outside diameter of the 200 and 150s' spools are the same. Moving to weight, somehow the measured weight of the new MD (7.5oz) is less than that of the MGL (7.8oz). Both come with the same length handle. All this is to say, while fishing the new 24 Scorpion 200/201 MD, the reel felt the same to me as the Scorpion MGL and that's a good thing. I find this size and shape ideal for big baits and that extra degree of line capacity - while not necessary for me - is a nice little bit of reassurance to have.

Position from the back. Like the Curado the Scorpion has a wide flat profile

I will say, that same size and shape I find ideal for big baits, I did not like while fishing that Megabass Big Gabot on board the Orochi X10 F7-71XT. In this instance, I found the Scorp 200 a little too big and heavy - just a little bit - for my hand and wrist to handle when working a bait like that on the surface. My wrist and forearm fatigued within an hour slinging and walking that topwater frog. For what it's worth, I preferred the new Metanium DC on my Swamp Survivor.

Manufactured in Malaysia

Price & Applications: What makes Curado and Scorpion so popular is their price point. Formerly a platform somewhere around $130, this Scorpion 200/201MD currently retails for 29,500 JPY which, given the exchange rate at the time of this writing translates to just under 200 USD. As for application, though marketed for big baits, it is capable of more. The only thing to be mindful of is the diameter of line you want to use and how much of that line this reel will hold. This is the same thought process for any reel really.

Conclusion: I found the Scorpion 200/201MD to perform like an old school reel back when everything was "200" sized and the only enhancement of significance was whether or not the reel came with corrosion resistant bearings which, by the way, this reel does (and it's rated saltwater safe). Like those old school reels, the new Scorpion 200/201 MD just works, and if the size and line capacity matches what you're looking for in a reel, it should suit for years to come.

I found the Scorpion 200/201MD to perform like an old school reel

My only reservation is this reel doesn't feel very different to me than the 2019 Scorpion MGL, so I'm not buying into the whole MD tuning for this reel. Don't get me wrong, it's good to have more line capacity, but other than that and the color, those are the only two differences that feel discernable. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing, it just cools my enthusiasm when a new reel isn't really all that new.

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