Backlash becomes absolutely useless. I have yet to meet any fisherman who enjoys the task of removing tangled line from the baitcaster after a bad cast. So the advent of digital control (DC) reels that use an internal microcomputer to monitor spool speed and apply magnetic braking was a thing of pure genius.
As Dalmatian came out with several different DC offerings, I was lucky enough to add a few to my reel collection and start spending time on the water with them. Almost immediately, I fell in love with the forgiving nature of the DC baitcasting reel, and while the reel’s wheezing may bother some people, I’ve become quite fond of it.
Until recently, Dalmatian had the market cornered on DC offerings, but a few months ago, Abu Garcia introduced its own DC reel, the Revo SX VoltiQ. Naturally, I was giddy with anticipation of getting my hands on the VoltiQ to test Abu’s grip on the DC reels. After several months of fishing with the Volticue along with the Curado DC from Dalmatia, I’ve got an in-depth look at what each reel does well, and where each reel falls a little short.
Specifications and Features:
shimano curado dc 201hg
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Bearings:
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6 stainless steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing
Abu Garcia Revo SX VoltiQ
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Bearings:
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9 stainless steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing
Review of Revo SX VoltiQ and Curado DC
After receiving the Revo SX VoltiQ and spooling it with a Curado DC, I have spent hours fishing with each reel on different setups. Personally, I love power fishing, so both were used extensively with spinnerbaits, squarebills and chatterbaits.
For a real head-to-head test, I also spent time swapping reels between rods Fenwick HMG 7’2″ Medium Heavy with Medium Sharp TipTo make sure I stirred them well. This rod was perfect for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits and now that my testing is complete it will likely become the permanent home for my VoltiQ.
In addition to catching massive amounts of fish with both reels, I also put them head-to-head in a casting competition using a Fenwick HMG. On a flat surface, I fired five casts with each reel. I had ½ ounce Z-Man Jack Hammer But tied. I then measured the distance of each cast to provide a general average distance you can expect. While fishing with each reel, I suddenly noticed that the Kingston Curado DC seemed to cast a little further forward than the Abu Garcia Revo SX VoltiQ, but I couldn’t be sure without actually measuring a few casts. So, when I returned home from a recent trip, I broke out the tape measure and got to casting. Below you can find the casting distances and their averages for each reel.
castability
The castability of a reel really depends on the weight of your lure and setting the magnets correctly for the action of your rod. They dictate how quickly and easily the line can be removed from the spool without any backlash, moving your cast forward when done correctly. For this test, I fully spooled both reels with 12 lb. berkeley gin clear fluorocarbon. It is important to note that I spooled ‘fully’, as this undoubtedly increases casting distance. The less line there is on the spool, the smaller you can expect.
shimano curado dc 201hg casting distance
- Cast #1: 118 feet
- Cast #2: 127 feet
- Cast #3: 130 feet
- Cast #4: 122 feet
- Cast #5: 132 feet
- Average: 125.8 feet
Abu Garcia Revo SX VoltiQ Casting Distance
- Cast #1: 117 feet
- Cast #2: 119 feet
- Cast #3: 121 feet
- Cast #4: 119 feet
- Cast #5: 123 feet
- Average: 119.8 feet
Now, based solely on distance, you might think that the Curado is the clear winner in the DC castability category, and it is. But it’s also worth noting that spool widths vary. With a larger and wider spool, the Curado has the advantage of holding more line and allowing the line to come off faster and smoother than the VoltiQ. Finally, the two reels are spaced an average of six feet apart, which doesn’t really make or break a cast in most scenarios.
Ergonomics
The construction and ergonomics of the reels are also quite similar. Both are small profile reels that fit well in the hand and allow for hours of continuous fishing without the desire or need to change rods due to reel holding fatigue.
As I mentioned above, the Curado DC has a larger and wider spool than the Revo SX VoltiQ, but I honestly couldn’t feel the difference in the hand. The biggest difference I noticed was the reel handle. The reel handle length on the Revo SX VoltiQ is ¼ inch shorter than the Curado DC, which may not seem like much, but it makes a difference in the way you reel when you’re cranking in big bass.
As far as tuning is concerned, I focus on the Revo SX VoltiQ for its easy-to-use design. The large side magnet is easy to reach and read, while the fine tune magnet near the drag is also easily accessible. One complaint I have with the Curado DC is the location of the large side magnet adjustment knob. It is hidden in the upper right corner and requires the use of a fingernail to rotate and dial it into place.
While I liked the tuning adjustments on the Revo SX VoltiQ, I have to say I prefer the thumb bar on the Curado DC. Thanks to the wide spool, it is easy to compress and lock when casting. I did this once or twice with the Revo SX VoltiQ, where I thought I’d compress the thumb bar enough to cast, but made a mistake and it shocked me. This was certainly not a common occurrence, but it forced me to pay attention to it.
ease of use
For general ease of use, I prefer the Shimo Curado DC. Right out of the box I was able to quickly dial in the magnets and get the Chatterbait casting long distances with little effort.
As far as the Revo SX VoltiQ is concerned, I spent several days feeling like I had it figured out, only to then make a cast with a little more courage and see a slight reaction. Although the magnets are very easy to access to make adjustments, it seems I need to set them perfectly for each bait to really get the most out of the reel. The Curado DC allowed me to change baits and not have to make fine adjustments on the fly to avoid backlash.
Apart from the minor difficulties I encountered in getting the Revo SX VoltiQ perfectly dialed in, I really enjoyed using it when it was set up correctly. Plus, the 25 pounds of drag available is no use when fighting a big fish diving into a tangle of tangled grass. I have always been a big fan of better drag systems and the Revo SX VoltiQ did not disappoint.
final thoughts
Although I have really gone back and forth between the two reels with a fine-toothed comb, I will be the first to admit that both reels are excellent choices for the angler looking to join the DC club. I preferred the wider spool and longer reel handle on the Curado DC, but really liked the better drag system and easier-to-access tuning system on the Revo SX VoltiQ.
But, if I were going to choose just one to expand my arsenal, I think I’d go with the Revo SX VoltiQ due to the difference in price. Being a more affordable option and having so many similar features, the price makes it the better choice if you’re considering buying several at a time, even if I do wish it were a little quicker to get the tuning adjustments set correctly. Thankfully, I already have both. Because my true recommendation would be to add both to your arsenal and find out which techniques you prefer to use for each reel.
