By Tackle Warehouse | December 2023
Our goal with Tackle Warehouse Product Reviews is to provide anglers with an honest opinion on the latest bass fishing tackle and equipment, so they can make the most informed purchase possible. We test products by distributing them to a team of trusted Tackle Warehouse employees who have a wide breadth of fishing knowledge and experience. Each reviewer is responsible for field testing and grading the product before and after use. After our reviewers have completed their testing, the grades are averaged, and their notes are compiled to highlight the most important product elements – all to provide as much information as possible for anglers to consider while shopping.
All scores are rated from 1-to-5 with 1 being the lowest score and 5 being the highest score.
Visually, the Shimano Curado BFS Casting Rods offer a sophisticated and appealing look, especially when paired with the matching legacy green accents and sleek lines of the Shimano Curado BFS Casting Reel. Boasting premium features throughout, each rod is fitted with Fuji tangle-free K guides, Fuji FazeLite inserts, a custom Ci4+ reel seat, and the quality of craftsmanship certainly meets or exceeds our expectations from a rod at this price and from such a reputable brand.
In this product review, each staff member was tasked with testing the Shimano Curado BFS Casting Rod 7'2" Med Lt and the Shimano Curado BFS Glass Casting Rod 6'10" Light. These rods feel very lightweight in hand, but all of us immediately noticed how the actions felt rather stiff for bait finesse applications and casting ultra-lightweight lures. For example, after making our initial bend into the office carpet with the 7’2” ML, the tip bend felt great and the overall action smooth, but the taper felt rather slow for casting ultra-light jigs and more applicable for baits with treble hooks.
The BFS (bait finesse system) concept has always been an intriguing technique for the Tackle Warehouse staff, as it represents an opportunity to potentially swap out some of our spinning rods on the boat deck in favor of BFS combos. The product reviewers are eager to see if Shimano was able to create a more cost-effective bait finesse system but are skeptical if the Curado BFS Casting Rods have the right taper to properly cast bait finesse lures.
Featuring Shimano’s exclusive carbon Hi-Power X technology, the Curado BFS casting rods are wrapped with carbon tape in a spiral pattern to increase overall strength and minimize blank twists when casting and fighting fish. The Shimano Curado Casting Rod 7'2" Med Lt has a responsive feel that offers supreme control when playing fish in tight situations, and one reviewer noted how much fun it was catching keeper spotted bass with the rod using compact jerkbaits and topwater plugs. While many of us felt the rod was rather tip-heavy for throwing the exceptionally tiny stuff, the slower actions allow anglers to be more reactive to fish surges or jumps which is highly important when hooked up on light fluorocarbon fishing line.
“I would say overall the Curado BFS casting rod performed well, but it wasn’t great true ultra-lightweight bait finesse applications. The rod felt slightly overpowered and made for a better compact finesse jig rod.” - Charlie
The Curado BFS casting rod received extremely mixed reviews from the staff with some reporting no durability issues, one reviewer breaking a rod while boat flipping a fish, and others taking exception with the placement of the hook keepers. With only one rod breaking during our test period, we attribute the break to a simple defect in workmanship or materials, which isn’t uncommon with production rods, and another reason why Shimano offers great warranty services. From a ‘no questions asked’ Express replacement program, a general one-year warranty, and insured shipping coverage when you order from Tackle Warehouse, there’s plenty of ways anglers can get back out on the water.
On the 6’10” glass cranking rod the hook hanger is centered between the split EVA handle grip, and we found treble hooks would inevitably grab and damage the handle grip, tangling with other rods on the boat deck. Not to mention, when you reach for the rod handle the first thing you’re likely to grab is the treble hooks, and you can easily catch a hook in the hand if you’re not paying attention or can't see the bait when you pick it up.
“The hook keeper is in a very inconvenient spot for treble hook lures. I almost snagged my hang multiple times on a slender jerkbait, as it was often unidentifiable behind the rod handle.” - Kyle
The entire Curado lineup was revamped in 2021 to meet the demands of tournament anglers, including improved strength, high-quality components, and high performance glass and carbon blanks. Along with those modifications, Shimano expanded the lineup to include the two BFS models – the 7’ 2” medium light and the 6’ 10” light. Normally, the entire Curado lineup is priced at $179.99 - $189.99, but these two models will be featured at a reduced pricing during TW’s future sales. This makes them some of the most cost effective BFS options on the market and a great choice for anyone who wants to experiment with bait finesse, without breaking the bank.
At the start of the test period, we found it hard to identify what lures would perform best with each rod, but after working through some of our early frustrations with castability we identified specific finesse applications that performed best. The Curado 7’2” Medium-Light Casting Rod proved to be great for throwing 3/16-1/4oz finesse jigs, but its casting ability wasn’t great when it came to ultra-light micro jigs. After having limited success throwing bait finesse lures that were 1/8oz or lighter on the 6’10” BFS model option, one reviewer leaned into their success with the compact jerkbait and swapped out their BFS reel for 10lb and a 100-sized casting reel.
While most of the reviewers felt the Curado BFS casting rods were a touch heavy for super-light finesse tactics, all of us felt the rod still represents an excellent middle-of-the-road to high-end finesse set up for multiple finesse applications. We could categorize the Curado BFS casting rods as an excellent choice for any angler who wants to throw shakey heads, neko rigs, or Ned rigs using the increased feel, responsiveness, and leverage of a baitcasting outfit.
Breaking down the barriers of entry to what was once an extremely costly category of bass fishing, the Shimano Curado BFS casting rods are a great cost-effective option for entry-level BFS anglers or BFS aficionados who want to fill out their lineup. There’s no question that the Shimano Curado BFS Casting Rods are excellent for finesse tactics, but overall, the reviewers were slightly let down with the BFS designation after struggling to cast super lightweight lures.
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