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The Lean Green
Cranking Machine, meet Shimano’s Curado E5
(continued)
 
Ergonomics: In
terms of ergonomics the new Curado E is a world better than the D version, not
only is it lighter but it sits lower on the reel seat and because the reel is so
much smaller it is even more comfortable to palm. The reduction in weight is
noticeable and when paired with just about any rod the entire rig feels lighter
and easier to cast all day. Applications where we really noticed the benefit of
the lighter reel were crankbait fishing where the lighter reel reduced stress on
your arm when making countless casts, as well as when working topwater lures
like frogs when the constant rod motion is made easier on the wrists with the
lighter overall package.
A look at the front end of the
Curado E5
When I first looked at the Curado I didn’t really like the Septon PV Power Grips
on this particular reel, they looked overly large for such a small profile reel.
Shimano had successfully shrunken the reel in size and reduced the overall
weight, so why include such large knobs as standard equipment? The answer became
crystal clear the very first time I fished the Curado, the knobs though much
larger in size than the standard Septon knobs do not add much weight, but the
increased surface area does add a significant amount of grip that makes it
easier to really crank down aggressively on the reel.
The Curado E5 is also excellent
for working lipless crankbaits
Cal shared the same original opinion as I did regarding the oversized handles in
the beginning, but after just two days fishing with the Curado he has become
such a big fan of them that he transplanted the handles onto other reels
including the Calcutta 100 DC.
A look under the hood
Durability: I
was skeptical in regards to both the durability and overall feel of the reel
under heavy torque when I first discovered that both sideplates on the reel
would make use of graphite versus aluminum but the longer I fished the Curado E5
the more these reservations seemed to fade away. After a while I started to even
forget that the handle-side sideplate was not even metal to begin with. The
Curado E5 feels very solid with even big fish on the line, and the tolerances
still remain very tight when it comes to keeping the gearing in alignment.
This small reel is also powerful
enough to slow retrieve mid sized swimbaits
The overall design of the reel makes it possible to sandwich the plates very
tightly onto the aluminum center frame. We didn’t have any problems with reel
durability and while a number of our lures rusted after just one day in the
alkaline Pyramid Lake waters the Curado held up very nicely. The deeper green
paint finish on the new Curado also held up well and there is a thick layer of
gloss on this reel, and surprisingly the clear coat doesn’t feel overly slick
when wet, and does an excellent job warding off boat rash.
The green finish takes on
different tones depending on the lighting
Next Section: The rundown...
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