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A Signature Whine: Shimano’s Curado 150 DC Feels Both
New and Familiar, all at the Same Time
(continued)
 
Retrieve:
While the Curado DC offers a very different experience than the Curado K on each
and every cast once your bait is in the water and you start cranking the reel
suddenly feels familiar. Making use of the same Micro Module gearing the Curado
DC delivers a smooth and powerful retrieve that is a signature of the series. I
still find the Chronarch MGL to be a smoother more refined reel, but the Curado
feels more solid, and is getting surprisingly close to the Chronarch Series when
it comes to fluid retrieves.
A look into the heart of the reel
and we see the oversized brass master gear
Though the
Curado DC also makes use of a 6+1 bearing system like the K-Series it should
hold up a bit better if you employ it in brackish or saltwater conditions thanks
to the sealed cast control system and the use of S A-RB bearings, which undergo
the same corrosion resistance treatment process as the A-RB bearings but also
implement shields on both sides of each bearing to further protect the internals
from salt, sand, and other environmental contaminants that can inhibit
performance.
When retrieving the new reel
suddenly feels familiar
Over the last
five months I’ve really become impressed with how the Curado DC is able to
handle a wide variety of baits, and even when comparing the fast 8.5:1 gear
ratio reels with the more powerful 6.2:1 versions I didn’t experience any
binding when cranking with the oversized long lipped deep diving cranks or
winching in 8oz. plus swimbaits. This reel doesn’t break a sweat under load, and
when a fish is on the line the combination of the reel’s finely cut gearing and
drag do a great job converting strikes into boated fish.
One of the main reasons why the
reel is so smooth is the precision cut micro module gearing paired with X-Ship
The only area
where the Curado DC falls short of the Curado 200K in retrieves is line
capacity, which is the reason the DC is designated a 150 reel. This is not
because the new DC reel is smaller or lighter than the Curado K but because of
the new reel’s smaller line capacity (20-25 yards less depending on the line)
than the Curado K. This is due to the shallower spool which is required to
accommodate the DC unit’s larger diameter magnet array. I personally never felt
limited by the reduced capacity, especially when fishing with braid, but this
primarily because of my testing focus on largemouth bass. Species that require
more line for longer runs may leave angler’s desiring the slightly higher
capacity of the K Series.
Gear mesh with this reel is
precise and well isolated with the metal frame and Ci4+ sideplate
Drag:
There are a lot of reel companies out there that boast massive drag numbers, but
the reality is that you really don’t need all that much when fighting largemouth
bass, and having a smooth and reliable drag is of equal importance. If you are
fighting Striped Bass, Redfish, or Muskie then you are going to want more top
end drag pressure, but the ability of the drag to consistently perform under
extended runs and heat buildup is still equally, if not more, critical to
protect your line and keep your bait pinned.
The drag system is simple yet
reliable
With the latest
Curado Series Shimano is prioritizing reliability and consistent performance
over max drag pressure with a rating of 11lbs. of maximum drag on both the
Curado K and Curado DC. Upon inspection internally the cross carbon drags are
pretty much identical, and make use of a combination of carbon washers
sandwiching the main brass gearing. This system doesn’t have a whole lot in it
that can fail, and though simple I found the execution very smooth under load,
and like many other previous Shimano drags we found the factory rating to offer
some headroom as we achieved 12.1lbs. of drag pressure under full lock in our
lab tests on the Machine.
Like the Curado K Series the DC
sits nice and low on rod seats
Ergonomics:
The Curado 150 DC beats the standard Curado K in almost every area, but there is
one category where the more traditional reel continues to shine, and this is in
ergonomics. Neither Curado’s feel particularly light, but they do feel solid and
have a small enough form factor that they can be palmed. The Curado K has a
sleeker profile because of the more compact non-handle sideplate. The Curado 150
DC needs to make extra room for the DC module and is larger in the front to also
accommodate the adjustment dial. On the plus side having the adjustment dial on
top makes it easier to make those DC casting profile changes on the fly. The
Curado 150 DC also weighs .2 ounces more than the Curado K at 7.8 ounces, a
difference that I could barely detect when mounted on rods.
The DC system is adjusted via a
dial on the top side of the reel
Overall the Curado 150 DC
continues the tradition of being a comfortable reel to fish all day, and the
large knobs make it easy to wind in fish with authority. While the overall
profile of the new reel follows the Curado K it does have a larger wider stance
in the non-handle side and I found the more traditional K Series reel the
sleeker and more comfortable reel to palm, not to mention the better looking
reel between the two.
While the DC dial is easily
accessible it also increases the bulk of the reel's form factor
Next Section: Is the new Curado DC the real deal?  |
