Is this the perfect choice all-round reel for the UK based angler? Available in two sizes and featuring the somewhat unique combination of a lever drag, level wind and centrifugal brakes, this is one reel that is equally at home casting baits uptide from an anchored boat as it is working artificial lures such as jelly worms and shads over deepwater wrecks and reefs on the drift. The Shimano Charter Special is the perfect choice for use with either braid or monofilament lines.
A Conventioanl Trolling Reel from Shimano. The Charter Special is a lightweight, dependable leverdrag reel, with levelwind for line control.
The Facts: The Shimano Charter Special reels are basically TLDs with a levelwind. They feature stainless steel gears, 4 ARB ball bearings, and a titanium lever drag all housed in a graphite frame.
There are two versions of the new Curado 200DHSVseries . The DPV focuses on delivering power, and can even be used in certain inshore conditions. The HSV concentrates on high speed applications. We decided to hone in on the Shimano Curado‘s abilities to take on large-mouth and striped bass, so the HSV’s blazing fast retrieve was the more attractive choice for our tests. The 7.0:1 retrieve ratio brings this reel right into “burner” class, making it equal in speed to some of the fastest reels already available on the market. Reel’s like the Curado 200DHSV and the Quantum Burner are all about delivering a proper balance of speed, refinement, and power.
The Shimano Curado200DHSV makes use of many of the same materials we first saw in the 100D, but actually steps it up a notch higher with an aluminum sideplate construction on the handle side (the 100D uses graphite on both sides). The engineers at Shimano did a great job improving the ergonomics when it comes to ease of access via the same quarter turn access switch we first saw in the remade Citica. Other things have been done to improve the strength and durability of this reel over previous generation Curado’s including harder more over-sized gearing and a more refined aluminum frame.
Retrieve and Power: This is where most anglers will notice the biggest difference in between Curado generations. The Curado 200DHSV is a super fast reel sporting a gear ratio of 7.0:1, and at the same time to support this high speed Shimano implemented the HEG system to delivery the power when needed. Here’s what Jeremy Sweet of Shimano had to say about the retrieve and power of the Curado 200DHSV. “The one feature that anglers have asked us for year to include in the Curado series was a gear ratio faster than 6.2:1 that can retrieve more than 25 inches of line per crank,” said Jeremy Sweet with Shimano’s product development staff. Without HEG, a faster gear ratio reel would lack power. The HEG system, over-sized drive and pinion gears, and aluminum setplate and sideplate enables us to provide a blistering fast 7.0:1 gear ratio on the Curado 200DHSV to pull more than 30-inches of line per crank – and still with the power to fight big fish in heavy cover.
Curado E Series Features:
* The new 200′s are smaller than 100′s with the capacity of a 200
* Aluminum Frame
* Lightweight Graphite Sideplates (Aluminum Handle Side on 300 sizes)
* Recessed Reel Foot
* High Efficiency Gearing (HEG)
* Super Free Bearing Supported Pinion Gear System (SF)
* A7075 Aluminum Magnumlite Spool
* Dartainium Drag
* 7 Bearings • 1 S A-RB BB • 5 Shielded Stainless Steel BB • 1 A-RB Roller Clutch Bearing
* Variable Brake System (VBS) with Reduced Mass Hub
* Super Stopper II
* Assist Stopper
* Drilled Handle Shank
* Septon PV Power Grips (SV on 300 sizes)
* Cold Forged AL Drag Star with Clicking Adjustment
* Titanium IP Line Guide
* 1/8 Turn Easy Access Attached Sideplate
* Metal Cast Control Knob
* Double Anodized Spool and Handle
* Disengaging Levelwind System
* QuickFire II Clutch Bar
* Made in Japan
* Approved for use in Saltwater
* Rated for use with Mono, Fluorocarbon and PowerPro lines
Our initial lack of respect for the reel’s larger profile has now been replaced with admiration for the reel’s well thought out implementation and stellar abilities in the field. This reel is built tough, and while stronger and more robust than ever it continues to deliver a smooth refined retrieve that is to be expected from a higher end Shimano. What it boils down to is Shimano has a created a Curado for everyone with the new series. If small profile and refinement is your thing than the 100D is your best bet, but if power fishing and retrieving topwater baits are among your favorite ways to incite strikes then the larger more powerful Curados 200DHSV will better fit the bill. It would be a crime to not award the even better built Shimano Curado 200DHSV an Editors Choice award, making Shimano the only reel manufacturer this year to win an Editors Choice Award at all, let alone twice!
For more information on the Curado 200DHSV, visit the Shimano web site – www.shimano.com – for additional details on Shimano’s Paladin Gear Durability Enhancement and Propulsion Line Management System, or call Shimano’s product support team at 877/577-0600 (6 am to 5 pm Pacific Standard Time).
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