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Low
Profile Design, Round Reel Muscle, the Shimano Curado 300DSV
(continued)
 Durability:
The Curado 300DSV is primarily constructed from aluminum, and that includes
the handle side sideplate. The reel features the same painted finish as it’s
smaller siblings. Inside the gearing is impressive, and the drags are not only
durable, but easy to service when the time comes. It only took us about three
minutes to access the inner workings of the reel, not too bad for that seasonal
maintenance.
One of the best things about the
Curado 300DSV is the comfort offered with the ergonomic design
The finish is more prone
to scratches than a traditional anodized round reel, and in comparison to
baitcasters the Curado 300DSV is no worse or better in terms of cosmetic
durability. Edge: When it comes to functional durability the Curado
300DSV is as good as larger round reels, but in terms of abuse to the finish
wear and tear is going to show more on the Curado 300DSV than on a round reel
like the Calcutta 300TE. Are saltwater anglers going to lose sleep over a few
scratches? Probably not.
Still not too big to palm
Price &
Applications: The Curado 300DSV really doesn’t have any direct competitors,
but then it was designed to give traditional round reels a run for the
money….and it does exactly that. Daiwa has the Coastal, but with a 12/140
capacity it is really designed for inshore use only. The Curado can handle
striped bass, salmon, snook, jacks, bull reds, peacocks, yellowtail, tarpon, and
even small tuna.
Extra large Septon grips
Retailing for $249.99 the
Curado 300DSV is priced in between a Calcutta B and similarly sized Calcutta TE.
Ask yourself what applications you will employ for your saltwater reel. If most
of your fishing is done straight down you would be best off with a round reel
that sacrifices speed and ergonomics for sheer power, however if you are
planning on fishing lures and targeting any species closer to the surface the
Curado 300DSV can do what other reels simply cannot.
The finish on this reel may not be
as durable as a pure anodized round reel but in terms of baitcasters it is as
good as it gets
Turning back to the first
time I fished the Curado 300DSV I remember wondering if this reel had enough
range to appeal to anglers. The 200 size reels could already handle just bout
any freshwater fish, and the 100 size was optimal for any finesse fishing. Don’t
think of the Curado 300DSV as a pure freshwater or saltwater reel, it is fact
very much of both. The reel has enough finesse abilities to cast smaller lures
with accuracy, and has enough capacity, brute gear strength, and drag counter
pressure to match up with saltwater species that would put just about any other
low profile baitcaster to shame.
Zander manhandles a Cabazon to the surface
with a Butterfly Jig fishing the Curado 300DSV
Ratings:
|
Shimano Curado 300DSV
Ratings (?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
Top
notch construction, and the same quality as the other Curado reels. Aluminum
frame and handle sideplate, this reel can handle saltwater punishment
|
9.5 |
| Performance |
Excellent performance in both freshwater and saltwater applications. Not as
strong as round reels when it comes to sheer lifting but in terms of balance
of speed and power the Curado really gets the job done. The gearing is
smooth and powerful, and the souped up Dartanium drag makes short work of
all but the biggest saltwater fish |
9 |
| Price |
We
penalized the other Shimano Curado reels for the increase in price but were
getting over it. The reel has proven to be worth the extra money, and this
is even more obvious with the larger Curado 300DSV. Your getting a lot of
reel for the money, and it is priced reasonably in comparison to mainstream
saltwater round reels |
8.0 |
| Features |
This
reel in itself is a feature...there is no other low profile baitcaster with
the attributes that the Curado 300DSV showcases. The spool capacity is
exceptional, yet casting ability remains very respectable, and the reel
overall feels very refined in comparison to any round reel under the
Calcutta TE series |
9.5 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
Top
notch ergonomics. When put on a rod it doesn't really feel much bigger than
the 200 size at all. The power handles feel great, and access to the VBS
cast control system is quick and easy |
9 |
| Application |
This
isn't a freshwater reel, nor is it just a saltwater reel...its absolutely
both. The Curado 300DSV spans a very wide range of applications and can be
used for all but the most finesse fishing where the 100 and 200 sizes are
better suited |
9.5 |
|
Total Score |
9.08 |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
| J
Great layout, great capacity in a low
profile reel |
L
Not as powerful on sheer winching as
round reels |
| J
All the latest Curado features |
|
| J
Gearing offers exceptional balance of
speed and power |
|
| J
Top notch ergonomics |
|
| J
Can easily handle freshwater and
designed for serious saltwater |
|
| J
Allows anglers to get creative with
saltwater lures |
|
| J
Quality drag can handle big fish |
|
Conclusion:
When it comes to advanced
engineering nobody does it like Shimano, while a larger Curado may not seem as
interesting on paper as an entirely new-fangled reel like the Calais 4x8 DC, the
reel absolutely makes sense. The Curado 300DSV was born out of necessity for a
more ergonomic reel that blends excellent casting performance, high line
capacity, and high speed retrieve without sacrificing power into one complete
package. Shimano didn’t just throw Curado 200 guts into a slightly bigger frame
coupled with a high capacity spool. They looked at the application itself,
asking anglers what they wanted most from a high capacity baitcaster, and the
answer they received was…”no compromises.” Shimano doesn’t ask crossover anglers
or saltwater fishermen to make any sacrifices as they implemented oversized
drive and pinion gears, seriously souped up the Dartanium drag, and tweaked the
overall ergonomics to appeal to both types of anglers. Could this series get any
better? Perhaps further application specific design. If they offered the Curado
300DSV in a lower speed 5.0:1 gear ratio the reel would also excel at deep
applications (of course some of our editors are waiting for the left handed
model as well), but for now no other reel
offers the best of both worlds like the new Curado
can. The Curado
300DSV completes a sweep of awards for the lineup, and is the only reel
series in TT history to win an
award in every size, simply because the
100, 200, and 300 size reels are all unique and capable of standing on their own
merit. If you pursue big freshwater species, or are a saltwater angler looking
for the sleekest combination of speed and power ever found in a high capacity
casting reel….your search is officially over.
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