Shimano Curado 200 G Series Casting Reels - $159.99

Features:

-Aluminum Frame
-Lightweight Graphite Sideplates
-Recessed Reel Foot
-High Efficiency Gearing (HEG)
-Super Free Bearing Supported Pinion
-Gear System (SF)
-A7075 Aluminum Magnumlite Spool
-Dartainium Drag
-5 Bearings - Total
  -4 Shielded Stainless Steel BB
  -Roller Clutch Bearing
-Variable Brake System (VBS) with
-Reduced Mass Hub
-Super Stopper
-Assist Stopper
-Septon PV Power Grips
-1/8 Turn Easy Access Attached Sideplate
-Metal Cast Control Knob
-Anodized Spool and Handle
-Disengaging Levelwind System
-QuickFire II Clutch Bar

Click on the logo to read their review.

Newly redesigned and lighter than ever, the Shimano Curado 200 G Series Casting Reels deliver enhanced performance and reliability - honed over two decades on the water.

Comments: it's not really all a bad reel even though it looks a little bad on the well everything, but it really isn't worth $160 to me i would say about $100. Overall not bad its like a canean but a little better. Remember the phrase "dont judge a book by its cover."

From: Enrique: Houston, TX

Comments: I been using my curado 200g6 for about 3 weeks now and I have no problem with it. My first casting reel I bought and I'm pleased with it. Nice and smooth. Nice long cast and never disappoint me. My next reel is gonna have to be the curado 300e because I need to add a few more curado to my collection.

From: Sai: Fresno, CA

Comments: Full time reel tech weighing in. Yep, the Curado G series is quite a bit different from the E series. It feels different when you hold it in your hand. Our understanding of the reduction in weight is that Shimano found a durable composite material they were happy with which reduces weight and cost. As far as bearings go?  My opinion? 4 + 1 is plenty. I have an old Abu 3600 Pro Max in my arsenal that has 8 bearings. They had to put bearings in the handle to increase the bearing count. Nice reel, but ridiculous. My Black Max feels just as smooth. Ok, I own a G7, and I'm not disappointed with it thus far. The bearings are smooth, the gears smooth right up when I put a little load on it when pulling a plug. It's very light and balances well on my 6' Fenwick HMG.  One note to those deciding to give one a try. Pop on at least one extra set of brake blocs when you're starting out.  Mine floated 10# line, and backlashed every fourth or fifth cast no matter where I put the cast control until I put some more brake on it.  As far as casting goes, it's as good as anything out there. A nice smooth lob is enough to get it right out there. There seems to be a very tight sweet spot with light lures, but it chucks light lures just fine for me.  Yeah, the E7 feelsa hell of a lot more substantial, but the loss in weight on the G7 means effortless casting if you get it right. Let me get a summer on it before I declare it worthy of the Curado name, but it doesn't suck, it's just different.

From: Elton: Des Moines, IA

Comments: I just  bought one of this today and have not tried it yet but, talk about Shimano going cheap on the reputation side man. I was told by the sales person when I called the store back, that the new reels do not come with oil and wrench anymore just extra breaks. The reel feels tight on the handle even with the tension knob loose all the way. I do not know how it will perform but it makes me think about returning it though!

From: Charlie: Trenton, NJ

Comments: I bought this reel yesterday and im already having to take it back because the spoll got bent when the side cover came off and all my line rats nested. After i put it all back together i can almost not even turn the handle on the reel. Im not the only person that i know this has happend to. I would much rather have my E Series Im not a big fan of the G Series..

From: RJ: Hot Springs, AR

Comments: This weekend I had the opportunity to fish a few generations of the Shimano line on Lake Toho.  I think the 200G is at the top of it's game at the price point, especially when coupled with the 30 dollar rebate.  I fished the Citica 200D, Citica 200E, Curado 200E5, and Curado 200G7.  Each generation felt better, from a weight and performance standpoint.  The 200G7 performed exactly like the E series - once you get used to the "plastic" feel of the drag star and the weight of the extra 20 dollars (50 with the rebate) in your wallet, you'll be just fine.

From: G7: Tampa, FL

Comments: Curado G = Downgraded From the E series. Curado E = the new Chronarch E. In response to William from TN. You say you like the quality and performance of this reel but yet you only had it for a week. Put the G series through some heavy work throughout the season and see if it can compete with the Curado E series. I have used the E series 3-4 times a week for roughly 8 months and it took beating. In the end it still works like it is brand new. Why would they make a new Curado and say its "better" but mark it at a lower price than the E Series?

Comments: It's time to buy reels from other makers. Losing market share will force Shimano to correct their mistakes.

From: Curado201e7

Comments: It really irritates the fire out of me to read all of these negative comments about the new curado e series reels. I bought 2 last week and I am very pleased with their quality and performance. Shimano does not make a bad curado to replace a great curado e reel. You are stupid if you think they would put the curado g reel on the marked if it was not the best reel that money can buy. I have to stand up for what I believe in. I have owned Shimano curado reels every since the first one was built, and I plan on owning them forever. I will never change to any other brand as long as they perform the way I expect them to each and every time I go fishing. I am 58 years old, fished all of my life, and when I could afford the curado I left the Zebco 33 behind. The curado g series are just as good a quality as the curado e series. I own them and I fish them hard every time I go fishing and I have never been let down. Shimano reels to me are like a good woman, if you know you have got one you had better hang on to her, because you don't run upon the best everyday.

From: William: Hohenwald, TN

Comments: all i can say is the 200e is better if u can find 200e buy it

Comments: This reel is a 2012 model of an old 200B. However, it does have a metal tension knob where the B series was plastic. These are great reels. No, they are not as flashy as the E series, but they are quieter on the retrieve and cast just as well, if not better. To me, they palm better. Everyone wined and moaned when the E series came out but they eventually came around. I think that will be the case with the G series. Inside, they are built just as well as any Curado has ever been. All six of mine have performed flawlessly for the last few months. The rather stiff thumbar lightens up with use.

From: Rob: TX

Comments: this reel isn't as bad as it seems from all the negative comments if you don't like the bearings in it, then replace them its as simple as that. Like the guy said below decide for yourself don't let some kid who has never tried it persuade you into not buying it.

Comments: I agree with the posts below:  If you have any of the 200E series from last year this is definately a downgrade.  They obviously just turned last years curado into this years chronarch ( why else would they offer the 50e series in the chronarch this year and not the curado?) because they just swapped the plates from green to silver and bumped the price.  I would hesitate to say that this G series curado is even in the same class as the 200E citica from 2011.  Shimano was all I have ever fished over the last few years because they were the only company who made a quality reel that would hold up to the rigors of tournament fishing 100 plus days a year.  I honestly feel like there are no options left beside trying to buy up all of the 200E series. 

From: Jeremy: Punxsutawney, PA

Comments: Just bought 2 and fished a tournament this weekend and I actually took this reel off my rod and replaced it with one of my old curados. It sounds like it is missing bearings when it casts and it does not wind the line evenly. Not impressed at all. I am selling and going with the Chronarch.

Comments: Do not listen to these negative comments this reel is awesome, and i love it. Decide for yourself instead of letting someone who hasn't used it, or felt it decide for YOURSELF

From: David: Tampa, FL

Comments: I just got this reel today and it felt like crap at the store.. But one i put my quantum hot sauce, line and a jig on it felt like a million bucks. It casts like a dream, the smoothness is normal to good. and everything else about it i like. This is also my first Curado so idk how the old ones were

From: Trevor: San Diego

Comments: The new Curado is poorer quality than the E series. Read some reviews online. The Chronarch is basically the old Curado with new gears.

From: Ehdg

Comments: I have 18-20 of the old green curados and starting to swap them out with this model.  I have been extremely impressed with the performance of the new curado. 

From: JW: SC

Comments: I've also fished Shimano for a very long time. The negative comments about this reel have to be from people who have not used it. This is the best Curado to date. If you get this reel and acually use it you will love it.

From: Mike: VA

Comments: I have been fishing shimano reels since the early 90s it is all that I fish with.I have the old Chronch reels the 100 series.This is better than any reel that shimano now makes in this price range.Also have 5 curado e7 great reel for the money.Tried the new Curado g In the store and it felt like junk.They are know where as smooth as the E series and  they make allot of noise.I have not used one on the water but would not even consider them as I like very smooth and noise free reel which these are not.Shimano was know for their smoothness not this reel.They made a big mistake and will now make me use other reels if I buy one which would be the Lews pro tourament reel these reels are great.I hope shimano listens to the people and changes them fast as most people I know will not buy them.

From: Erick: VA

Comments: This reel is decent i havnt tried the curado 200 e, but this reel is pretty good for heavy carolina rigs and swimbaits

From: Mason: Tallahassee

Comments: this thing is the best i have the citica and curado both great but i love my 200g7

From: Julius: Peoria, AZ

Comments: Right out of the box this does feel like a piece of crap which is what i think turns a lot of people away from the curado g. However once you put this thing on a rod and start fishing, your whole mentality will change. When I first got mine it felt like a cheap peice of poo and i wanted to return it but once i fished it, whew, ill never doubt shimano again it casts much further than anything i have ever casted and is a solid preformer for the price Thank you shimano you still got it

From: Grant: CA

Comments: They cheap with this reel.  Cheaper drag wheel, no titanium line guide, lower bearing count, cheaper handle and worst of all outsourced to Malaysia instead of Japan.  Then they took the old Curado E and renamed it a Chronarch and added $20 to the price tag.  I wasn't fond of the plastic line pawl on the 200e7's but I guess it's okay since the other attributes make up for it.  I own 5 of the 200e7's and this is a different reel than the 200e series.  I also have 1 Chronarch, 1 Revo STX and 2 Quantum Kinetic PT's (bought the quantums because they were on sale for half price). All of my spinning rigs are Shimano.  I have been a life long Shimano fan and have owned about everything they've made over the past 20 years but I am starting to shift to the Abu Revo series.  They're a lot more reel for the money.  I have a Revo STX and it puts the Curado to shame.  I just wish Abu would make one with a VBS type brake to improve casting light baits.  I still think Shimano makes the best spinning reels but they are going downhill with their baitcasters and are losing customers to Abu Garcia.  They need to listen to the customers instead of trying to improve the margin on their products.  Quality and customer satisfaction should be the #1 priority.

From: Brian: Bella Vista, AR

Comments: People need to do a little research before complaining about a reel that 99% of you haven't even actually fished with. There was nothing downgraded on this reel. Shimano built a new facility in Malaysia that has more technology and quality control than their plant in Japan. The only reason for the price drop is because of the currency exchange rates in Malaysia, if it was still made in Japan there would have been a price increase. The body uses a new graphite that is stronger and stiffer than last years curado and all though they dropped the bearing count, the new bearing are higher quality. Fishing the two back to back there is no performance difference. No difference in casting distance or ability to cast small baits. I actually think the new reel balanced a little better because of the weight reduction.

From: Drew

Comments: Whats wrong with you guys this reel is great! its light, powerful, and affordable. i have mine on a 7,5 heavy crucial flippin stick with 60 pound braid, i can flip and pitch with this reel all day with no fatigue. I agree with Robbie, the loss of 2 ball bearings doesnt matter! Mine still throws skinny dippers and jigs a mile and with almost no backlash. Awesome reel i love mine!

Comments: Why is EVERYONE Saying this is a downgrade? or a disappointment? The Ball Bearings does not matter as long as you have the 5 CRITICAL bearings, if you have that amount of bearings in the critical places then it doesnt matter how many ball bearings you have. You can find articles about it on bassmaster. Second the only reason it is cheaper is because they make it in Malaysia now because it would have been a $200+ reel if they would have made it in Japan. 3rd: They have actually upgraded things on this, they have 2 NEW features on this reel, only thing that is different is that it is made in Malaysia and that it has ONLY 2 LESS BB. So give this reel a try I'm sure you will be pleased, and the only real reason I can think of why it would feel cheap is because it is .4 oz reduction. If you want to buy a reel I would do research on it anyway. About every other reel is made in the SAME factory that other brands make their reels in, so its basically like making the same reel but in a different brand. Well there is my 2 cents I am not a pro but I have done some research and this is what I have come up with.

From: Robbie

Comments: Lets me say this the g series r great but if you had and e you will be disappionted. The g is a great reel but it is lower quality than the e. In my mind i think it is around the same quality as a revo s which is a great reel. Also IMO the revo sx was better than the curado e

From: Ryan: Chicago, IL

Comments: VERY disapponted wth the quality of the new G curado.  Ive been wating for awhile to get my hands on these and was not appy with any of them.  Shimano needs to get it together everyone I no is switching to revos

Comments: this is just a caenan with an aluminum main frame and new handle and knobs.

From: Jack: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Comments: After feeling it out at a local tackle shop, I'm actually disappointed in the Curado 200G.  If I'm not comparing it to the older Curado, the G is a great reel.  Comparing it to my older 200E, I feel Shimano took away alot of features to shave $20 off the price.  I also don't like the fact that the Chronarch 200E for $200 feels exactly like my Curado 200E (which was $179).  I have a bad feeling Shimano just repainted and rebranded the Curado 200E as the new Chronarch E. I won't be buying the new Curado (or the Chronarch for that matter).  It's a shame because the Curado, starting with the old school bantams, is what made me a Shimano fan.  I'm flipping back to buying mainly Daiwa again.

From: Richard: San Diego, CA

Comments: i went out to bass pro today to get a new reel and i was lookin at the abu garcia sx and the i saw this reel and i feel in love with it... the ponds are frozen here in colorado so i took it to the back yard to cast and im impressed it cast a mile with a 3/8 ounce jig. get youself this reel.... i plan to get more

From: Andrew: Arvada, CO

Comments: Disappointed its no longer made in Japan

From: Yexpir: Los Angeles, CA

Comments: These reels are awesome.  Priced right and very dependable.  I have two cranking and two high-speed models.  Both are improvements over earlier models.  Less weight and compact design translate to less fatigue on fishermen's hands on long days of casting.  I have two Chronarchs from 2003, and they still perform great, but the Curados perform equally well.  I actually sold my older (2003: $110.00 new) cranking Curados for $80 each in 2011, and the shop owner told me that the older Curados were still in high demand with a lot of fishermen.

From: John: Lexington, KY

Comments: Average reel at best! lighter than the older curado E series but a few steps back than curado e series. If you are used to the curado e series this reel simply won't do! If you want performance of curado e series buy the chronarch e!

From: D: Toledo Bend, LA

Comments: Very nice looking reel & smooth casting but Curado E is more better.

From: Nelz: MAS

Comments: YEEEEESS Shimano finally did it thank you I have been waiting along time for them to come out with a curado in all gear ratio and as well for the citica and cronarch thank you again shimano and TW for carrying there great product!

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