Last year, one of our favorite new items introduced at the ICAST fishing tackle show was the Shimano Stradic C3000. At the 2017 ICAST show, would they top it? Naturally, we were interested to see what this industry giant would be introducing. And we weren't disappointed, when we spotted the Shimano Sustain spinning reel and the Curado K baitcasting reel. So we whipped out the video camera to give you a peek at what these new reels pack.
The Sustain seems quite similar to that Stradic C3000 we loved so much, though the body does seem more rigid and we're guessing that as a result, it'll hold up for the long haul. And, by the way, the Sustain won the award for Best Saltwater Fishing Reel introduced at the show. We handled it, we liked it just as much as the Stradic, and if there's anything we'll whine about it'll be the slightly steeper $300-plus (depending on size) price tag. Hey - you get what you pay for.
Shimano Curado baitcasting reels, on the other hand, have been around for years. But now they've made them lighter, smaller (by about 10-percent), and smoother. This is a serious upgrade to the series, but just as importantly, the spool’s line capacity remains the same (230 yards of 30 pound braid, or 180 yards of eight pound monofilament). Handle length has been increased to 45mm to add leverage, and “MicroModule” gears are what Shimano uses to improve smoothness. The brake system has also been improved, with both adjustable internal brakes and a wide-adjustment external dial. The Curado K won the award for Best Freshwater Reel, but we're going to argue that point. Plenty of anglers use these reels in the briny waters of the Chesapeake and truth be told, they perform exceptionally well. (Shimano does say that they're suitable for inshore use, too). We’re not about to suggest you eBay all your old Curados and upgrade, but… well, you know.
For more information, visit Shimano.