Low profile Baitcasters for UK Sea Bass/Lure Fishing, (Curado DC)

[SeaFleaTV]

Hi, new to the forum, my first post.
Dose anyone use Low profile Baitcasters in the UK for Sea Bass/ Lure fishing, e.g. Shimano Curado DC 201 HG, and what are peoples opinions on the subject.
I know they are all the rage in the US and some parts of Europe, they also seem to be popular with Pike fisherman and for Bfs but i don't see a lot of sea anglers using them.
Would love to get peoples opinions on pros and cons.

 

[Trampster]

Welcome to the Madhouse SeaFlea! I presume you mean something like this Quantum baitcaster?



I've got one but couldn't get on with it. I'm no good with multipliers either, just can't train my thumb to brake the spool, so many tangles.
It's a good little reel but I've gone back to the fixed spools I've been using for over 50 years.
Not seen anybody else using one for sea fishing/spinning either.

 

[SeaFleaTV]

Hi Trampster, thank you for your reply, yes exactly.
I mainly use multipliers and very rarely use fixed spools, the old Abu's (6500's) with no mag brakes can be a pain but the new ones have mag braking systems, so there not too bad, I run a Penn 525 on my beach casters and I'm running an Abu max pro Baitcaster for lure fishing, I have a Shimano Curado DC 201 HG on order at the mo, as it has a digital control unit for controlling back lashes.
I don't see many (if any) anglers using the Low Profile Baitcasters in the UK, as well as Multiplier reels, it seems that the fixed spool has become the industry standard, at least for shore fishing anyways. boat fishing will always remain Multiplier dominated, I'm still using a Abu 7000 and an Abu ambassador big game Gold multiplier for Boat fishing. don't make them like they used too, lol

 

[Trampster]

That Shimano baitcaster looks good, but jeez, it ain't cheap! By digital control, do you mean the thumbwheel to alter the Mags? That was all I could see having looked at the reel. The Quantum and I think most Baitcasters have got something similar.



Loads of folk on here that prefer Multipliers - everyone to their own as with a lot of things! @wingnut55 has got enough multipliers to set up 2 tackle shops!

True what you say about they don't make things like they used to! Many years ago, I used to boat fish with a good mate. I was browsing around Trago Mills and decided to treat myself to a new Penn boat rod & 320GTI level wind reel. Both genuine USA back in those days. Anyway, I had a call a few nights later to say my mate was moving house and had to sell the boat! Rod & Reel still sat in a cupboard here and never used.

 

[Beach]

I prefer multies for sea/shore fishing, use coffee grinders (fixed spool) reels for mullet in the river and course fishing with a float. Fly reels for trout, sea trout & salmon matched to a 6/7# weight rod.

 

[Wolf]

Welcome to the forum,I use bait casters for spinning off my local pier & beach.

 

[AlanT]

I use baitcasters for BFS and older ABU 6501s, 5501s and others for pike lure fishing, braided line in both cases. Many years since I used a multiplier for lure fishing in the sea. The advent of braided lines meant that you could use thinner and stronger line on your fixed spool and still cast very light lures. Additionally you could use smaller and lighter reels. BFS baitcasters with their ultralight spools would not stand up to heavier fishing.

 

[SeaFleaTV]

That Shimano baitcaster looks good, but jeez, it ain't cheap! By digital control, do you mean the thumbwheel to alter the Mags? That was all I could see having looked at the reel. The Quantum and I think most Baitcasters have got something similar.

View attachment 68686

Loads of folk on here that prefer Multipliers - everyone to their own as with a lot of things! @wingnut55 has got enough multipliers to set up 2 tackle shops!

True what you say about they don't make things like they used to! Many years ago, I used to boat fish with a good mate. I was browsing around Trago Mills and decided to treat myself to a new Penn boat rod & 320GTI level wind reel. Both genuine USA back in those days. Anyway, I had a call a few nights later to say my mate was moving house and had to sell the boat! Rod & Reel still sat in a cupboard here and never used.

The DC reels are controlled by a inbuilt computer chip that handle the brakes, most modern non DC reels have a mag braking system that is manually set depending on cast weight. I still have a load of multiplier reels with no mag braking system, they use the old Centrifugal braking system ( the old thumb shredders ).
I think Trago's is the only fishing shop we have in Falmouth nowadays.
Not sure if im aloud to use links on here but this is the info for the Curado DC =

It should explain how the DC works.

 

[Trampster]

The DC reels are controlled by a inbuilt computer chip that handle the brakes, most modern non DC reels have a mag braking system that is manually set depending on cast weight. I still have a load of multiplier reels with no mag braking system, they use the old Centrifugal braking system ( the old thumb shredders ).
I think Trago's is the only fishing shop we have in Falmouth nowadays.
Not sure if im aloud to use links on here but this is the info for the Curado DC =

It should explain how the DC works.

Links no problem. Popping out but will have a look at that with interest later.

 

[Topwater]

My concern would be if the electronic wizardry DC could stand up to prolonged use in saltwater? LP baitcasters are by their nature quite tricky to clean properly without stripping down with tools. You need to be meticulous in cleaning and lubricating them. Level wind systems add a lot of nooks and crannies too. They are nice to use but slightly impractical imo. Like Alan T, most of my lure fishing is with FS reels these days

 

[Angrybear]

Welcome to the Madhouse SeaFlea! I presume you mean something like this Quantum baitcaster?

View attachment 68679

I've got one but couldn't get on with it. I'm no good with multipliers either, just can't train my thumb to brake the spool, so many tangles.
It's a good little reel but I've gone back to the fixed spools I've been using for over 50 years.
Not seen anybody else using one for sea fishing/spinning either.

The thing with those baitcasters is that they're designed for single handed rods so you need to wind with your weak hand & use your primary hand to hold & control the rod, and cast & control the spool, same as a fixed spool,
so the reel in the pic is for lefthanded casting.
Lots of people buy them wrong way around because boat & beach multipliers you wind with your primary hand, so that you can adjust drag during the fight, while your weak hand just holds the rod.

 

[Trampster]

The thing with those baitcasters is that they're designed for single handed rods so you need to wind with your weak hand & use your primary hand to hold & control the rod, and cast & control the spool, same as a fixed spool,
so the reel in the pic is for lefthanded casting.
Lots of people buy them wrong way around because boat & beach multipliers you wind with your primary hand, so that you can adjust drag during the fight, while your weak hand just holds the rod.

All very well in theory. I'm the exception! I'm Left handed, but my Right arm is my strongest arm. So hold the rod with my Right hand and wind with what is still my 'primary' hand !!

 

[Angrybear]

By "strongest" do you mean strength or dexterity ?
which hand/arm do you catch & throw with ? because that's your primary hand, and that's the hand that should hold, control & cast the rod, with lite tackle.

 

[Trampster]

By "strongest" do you mean strength or dexterity ?
which hand/arm do you catch & throw with ? because that's your primary hand, and that's the hand that should hold, control & cast the rod, with lite tackle.

Strength, for casting. Right arm is my throwing arm. Dexterity is the Left hand, for writing & similar. As with quite a few Left handed folk, I'm pretty Ambidextrous anyway!

 

[Seaside Malc]

I’ve got one that I bought in the USA about 20 years ago and it’s still fine although I don’t use it much. It’s hanging on the wall in my lounge/kitchen/dining room. It’s got spiderwire braid on it and it’s attached to a zebco two piece rod that came from bass pro. The reel is a Bill Dance quantum.

 

[Angrybear]

Strength, for casting. Right arm is my throwing arm. Dexterity is the Left hand, for writing & similar. As with quite a few Left handed folk, I'm pretty Ambidextrous anyway!

Many right handed people are as well,
generally your throwing arm is the one where control is instinctive so that would be the one to hold the rod, so you can twitch the bait around as you retrieve it & use the rod to 'steer' the fish where you want it.

 

[Beach]

I cast right handed and reel in also right handed, cack handed I reckon

 

[Casker]

On the matter of right-hand/left-hand: we're a mixed lot aren't we !?
I'm strongly right-handed and left-hand dexterity is lamentable (slow/wobbly reel-in on a left-hander).
Right-hand-side casting is the only way I can do it, with the left flipping the bail on a fixed (as required), but after that it's all lefty on the rod and righty on the reel and that all feels "just so right" for me.

 

[JohnL]

Hi, new to the forum, my first post.
Dose anyone use Low profile Baitcasters in the UK for Sea Bass/ Lure fishing, e.g. Shimano Curado DC 201 HG, and what are peoples opinions on the subject.
I know they are all the rage in the US and some parts of Europe, they also seem to be popular with Pike fisherman and for Bfs but i don't see a lot of sea anglers using them.
Would love to get peoples opinions on pros and cons.

Sometimes use an ABU 4600 C5 Mag-X with a one-piece 6' rod for spinning in the sea. Also have an ancient Penn 930 Levelmatic that gets the occasional outing for pike.

In these days of soft plastic lures and braid, I don't think multipliers are the best tool for the job. However there is something nice about the more direct feel of using a multiplier. I still have mono on mine and tend to use them with metal lures. Can't get my head around the common US preference for shorter rods, though.

The Penn has only centrifugal brakes so there's a certain satisfaction to using it without getting overruns. In my case there's also a dash of nostalgia since I've owned it since I was a teenager. Despite this, for 'serious' fishing, it's always fixed spool.

 

[welshtroutfisher]

I primarily lure fish for trout, perch and pike using bfs and baitcaster setups.
All my reels are left handed, as I feel I can work the rod better right handed.

I use a shimano calcutta conquest bfs paired with a majorcraft finetail glass for trout, and can use small soft plastics on a 1g-5g cheb weight, or the rapala countdown/ countdown elite from 2g-5g.

For perch or Jack's I have a majorcraft days casting rod (652bfs/ul) and use a shimano alderbaran for soft plastics (mostly z-man) and use chebs from 3g-7g.

Lures can range from 10g- 70g, and mostly use a shimano curado 201k with a savage gear rod, or an okuma komodo ss364 and a savage gear rod upto 150g for the bigger lures.

I use braid on all my setups, with a fluro leader for trout and perch, and wire for pike.

A baitcaster feels more suited to my style of lure fishing, once gotten used to and familiar with and I am considering a shimano tranx to use for sea, and would use the curado for lighter work(LRF)