Baitcasting Reels · owner-verdict comparison

Abu Garcia Revo Baitcast Reel vs Shimano Curado DC: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 79% of 29 Abu Garcia Revo Baitcast Reel owners recommend it, vs 75% of 358 for the Shimano Curado DC.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Abu Garcia Revo Baitcast Reel

79%of 29 owners recommend
79% recommend · 11% neutral · 10% don't
Full owner report →

Shimano Curado DC

75%of 358 owners recommend
75% recommend · 9% neutral · 16% don't
Owners praise
  • The DC braking system makes backlash and birds nests almost impossible
  • Casts smooth as butter and easy to launch long
  • Excels in windy conditions where you'd normally grab spinning gear
Owners complain about
  • Hard to justify the price over reels costing a fraction as much
  • Reliability complaints: gritty reeling, clicking, or feeling like a lemon within months
  • Struggles to cast very light baits (around 1/16 oz)
Full owner report →

What Abu Garcia Revo Baitcast Reel owners say

“I have the Revo STX HS and, having been a die-hard Shimano fan, I can tell you that IMO it is now my pick of all the baitcasters on the market. Smooth long casts and smooth powerful drag system.”
— Bob Coleman on 2 Cool Fishing Forum
“Revo inshore or better yet toro beast is a nice salt reel! Does it all jig, cast, bottom, surf, Muskie, froggin! Love mine caught many keeper fish including a 43 inch Striper jiggin 7oz jigs!”
— libertyminded on StripersOnline (SurfTalk)
“Two years ago I bought a Garcia Revo Inshore that felt great, cast great and one day the side plate fell off into the gulf at a near shore rig.”
— Omanj on 2 Cool Fishing Forum

What Shimano Curado DC owners say

“It prevents backlashes during the cast…it does not prevent stupidity.”
— @bmcrider34 on YouTube
“This reel is perfect for me”
— @codster200 on YouTube
“I get a backlash like that almost all the time”
— @bigndlittlefirearms8395 on YouTube