|
First Look Inside the New
Shimano Curado K Series Baitcasters
| Date: |
7/7/17 |
| Tackle Type: |
Reels |
| Manufacturer: |
Shimano |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Introduction: The most important reel in the Shimano baitcasting
lineup, the mainstream workhorse Curado, gets a major update this year and will
be officially introduced at next week's ICAST event in Orlando. Pictures of the
reel have already leaked online but we had the opportunity to not only fish the
reel but bring it back to the lab for a first look inside.
The new Shimano Curado 200K is the sleekest
looking Curado yet
Still Mean, Not So Much Green: Over the years the Curado baitcasters have
undergone many changes, and save a few missteps, the series has been one of the
most popular reels for bass and inshore anglers looking for a every day reel
that delivered on performance and features without breaking the bank.
Though the Curado Series
reels have worn many different colors and shades of paint over the years the
most memorable versions were probably the instantly recognizable green variants.
Gone is the 5.5"1 gear ratio and in comes the
quick 8.5:1 retrieve
The K Series goes with a much stealthier looking matte black finish but in a
homage to the green Curado's of the past Shimano has made the cast cotnrol knob
and the spool a very dark olive green. In low light the highlights are easy to
miss but under the bright sunlight the green and gold accents definitely add
character to the reel.
The new reel features a similar styling as the
current version but is shrunk down about 10%
There are a total of six new 200K reels, a 6.2:1, 7.4:1, and 8.5:1 retrieve
ratios, and all models will be offered in both right and left hand retrieve.
When compared with the previous generation reel the styling is similar but
noticeably more compact.
The Curado 200K's
Hagane Body is about 10% smaller than the current Curado I Series and though
this seems like a small percentage the improvement when palming is immediately
obvious.
|
Shimano
Curado K Series Baitcasting Reel
Lineup
Specifications |
|
Model |
Gear ratio
|
Mono Line Capacity
|
Ball Bearings
|
Weight (oz)
|
MSRP
|
| CU200K |
6.2:1 |
8/180,
10/155, 14/110 |
6+1 |
7.6 |
$179.99 |
|
CU201K |
6.2:1 |
8/180,
10/155, 14/110 |
6+1 |
7.6 |
$179.99 |
|
CU200HGK |
7.4:1 |
8/180,
10/155, 14/110 |
6+1 |
7.6 |
$179.99 |
|
CU201HGK |
7.4:1 |
8/180,
10/155, 14/110 |
6+1 |
7.8 |
$179.99 |
|
CU200XGK |
8.5:1 |
8/180,
10/155, 14/110 |
6+1 |
7.8 |
$179.99 |
|
CU201XGK |
8.5:1 |
8/180,
10/155, 14/110 |
6+1 |
7.8 |
$179.99 |
After a week of fishing
the reel I can confidently say that the reel is also noticeably smoother than
the Curado I and surprisingly it casts better as well.
The Curado K casts are more effortless and short pinpoint casts seem more
controlled with this new reel. To understand what has impacted these performance
attributes we took a closer look inside.
Improved casting thanks to the updated SVS
Infinity System first debuted on the Aldebaran
Next Section: Souped Up Inside and Out...  |
