Shimamo curado sale 119.00

American legacyfishing is having its 12 days of Christmas sale .comes in right and left hand configuration. Like too short says (get it while the gettin is good)

Anyone know how these compare to the lexa300? 

I know its smaller. but thinking using it for fresh water

The curado line [minus the "G" model] is one of the best baitcasters of all time.  The Lexa is nice, but for the price the Curado is far superior.  The Lexas, from what I've seen of them, have a tendency to start having pesky little problems after owning them for awhile.  The curado, at most, is going to need a tune up and a new drag.  I have a few of the older 200E's and I've fully worn out the drag multiple times without any real mechanical failures. 

Is this reel used for fresh as well as saltwater ?

Alex

I use mine for both.  5 years and still works fine.  I just clean it after I use it in salt which I'm sure you probably do already anyways. 

I use mine for both.  5 years and still works fine.  I just clean it after I use it in salt which I'm sure you probably do already anyways.

Im guessing you use braid ?

Anyone know how these compare to the lexa300? 

I know its smaller. but thinking using it for fresh water

These are the same size as the Lexa 100

Yes.  30 lb braid all around.  My dad has a few of the silver ones which he threw some Bocas in.  He loves them.  He uses mono though, but they do fine for salmon at Benicia either way.

What's the biggest salt water fish you've fought with your curado?   Or how has your curado performed with strong fighting fish?

I caught my 100 pound shark on a curado.

I am doing this on memory but here's a list of what I caught before I fried the drag:

15-20 salmon (biggest being a big ol' 25 lb zombie)
30-40 stripers (up to 35 inches)
2 limits of rock cod and lingcod

That was basically use during a season and a half of fishing.  No problems yet.  The reel isn't going to go out on you.  I would use this for rays or sturgeon too honestly.... the reel is fine.  Most of the times when people have problems with reels its due to the following: they don't service they're reels or clean them properly or there's too many plastic parts. 

When I'm buying baitcasters I look for 2 things: how smooth the spool is and how balanced the reel is in my hand.  The curado is good all around.  If you really want a workhorse get the Lexa HD or the Revo Beast.  I have an NACL 60 and I'm pretty sure I could stop a 100 lb Bluefin with it.

Burning out drags,replace it with carbon tex  then it'll last longer