Shimano Curado 200E5 baitcaster review, cranking reels

Reel Review

The Lean Green Cranking Machine, meet Shimano’s Curado E5 (continued)

Impressions cont'd: The first time I actually held the Curado E5 in my hand I noted the return to a more deep green color in the series and a radically different design than the more rounded and larger D version. The Curado E5 is considerably smaller than the 100 sized Curado D yet has the capacity of the previous 200D size reel. In comparison the Curado E series is also more angular in design than previous versions and is very low slung with a recessed reel foot and an enlarged gearbox hanging over the handle-side.

The Curado is now more angular in design

Shimano manages to shave off a great percentage of weight by using a aluminum frame with graphite sideplates on both sides. I know what you’re thinking, and we had the exact same thought. Would graphite sideplates be able to be rigid enough to keep the reel in tight tolerances with torque pressure on the gears? It’s time to find out.

Resting quite low on a traditional Fuji reel seat

Real World Test: To test the Curado E5 we fished the reel for an entire season targeting largemouth bass on a number of local lakes, the California Delta, Lake Pardee, and Clear Lake. To really test the Curado’s permanence we also decided to try something different and headed to Pyramid Lake to pit the reel against some hard fighting Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.

Shimano manages to squeeze in the HEG gearing with a extended handle-side sideplate

Casting: The Curado E5 makes use of Shimano’s A7075 aluminum Magnumlite spool which is mounted with a SF bearing supported pinion gear. The spool starts up quickly making this reel good for both flipping and pitching, and when it comes to long distance casts the Curado E does not disappoint. Cast controls are courtesy of the standard VBS system on the company’s reduced mass hub. While not as able to be as quickly adjusted as Daiwa’s external Magforce systems, the 1/8th turn rotating switch provides reasonably swift access to the system, but requires two hands to operate.

The magnumlite spool, improved bearings, and Super Free system help the Curado E5 outcast both the Citica E and other competitors at the same price point

When fishing for largemouth bass in both Clear Lake and the Delta I found the Curado E5 to be a very capable caster, and above all very consistent. Once you dial in the proper cast control systems I found that I rarely had to adjust the external spool tension knob. I threw everything from un-weighted plastics to 6” swimbaits with the Curado E5 and found the reel to be a capable caster at all ranges in the weight spectrum.

Under the 1/8th turn easy access sideplate is the VBS cast control system on a reduced mass hub

Next Section: A little trout fishing anyone?