TackleTour

Hey TT,

I'm kicking around the idea of acquiring an older Shimano reel to add to my arsenal. It may sound funny, but I would probably consider anything pre-2012 as older to me. I would like to try and acquire it new or mint, and get it dressed up and super-tuned. I'm not acquiring for any specific applications necessarily.. just want to experience an older Shimano. In a way, I'm sort of looking for Shimano's TD-Z if that makes sense. If you could pick one that is just a sheer joy to fish or one that everyone should get to experience, what would it be? If you want to say what you use it for and/or why you love it, that would be great also.

Thanks in advance!

I always liked the Chronarch 50MG and the Curado 100D a lot. There are a lot of excellent older Shimano reels, however, as with the 50MG, critical parts are becoming quite scarce and no more of them will be made, so consider that before you acquire one of these older gems and spend what it would take to dress and tune it up to your liking. Best of luck on the endeavor either way, be glad to help with the tuning and parts as much as possible through The Tackle Trap!

Thats all i use from Shimano is their older reels. I have a Curado50E, Scorpion XT1000, 09Aldebaran MG7 (that would be the Shimano TDZ!), Conquest 50, and a Scorpion Antares on the way to me. IMO, you cant beat the older models, and some can be found for really good prices off ebay. I found 2 new in box 09Aldebaran MG reels for what some of the beat up ones were going for, so I bought both. The one I use I put a set of CoreMG7 gears and carbontex drag in, and that sucker is smooth as silk. The other one is in the box tucked away safely.

I have a Shimano chronarch 200 it still casts great and is very smooth its 20 plus year's old.

Calais DC

Have some of the older Shimano Scorpion Metanium MG Working Horses

PikeMike wrote:Have some of the older Shimano Scorpion Metanium MG Working Horses


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Love mine too. Was my first casting reel many many years ago.

D7 maybe ?

Thanks for the suggestions! It looks like I have my work cut out for me "Older" Shimano must be pretty special as basically everyone recommended something different!

The Shimano Chronarch SF was a great alternative to the TD-Z as was the Calais. I have a SF as well as the JDM silver/gray Metanium XT version. I also have a Calais 100A which is a beautiful reel.

Big-Bass wrote:The Shimano Chronarch SF was a great alternative to the TD-Z as was the Calais. I have a SF as well as the JDM silver/gray Metanium XT version. I also have a Calais 100A which is a beautiful reel.

I have one of them Metanium Xts as well, that sucker is a caster! Its now retired on my shelf because I dont wanna bang it up. I did use it quite a bit though.

I have a few "retired" reels and some have never seen water. My "classic" Shimano reels that are currently retired are:

Shimano Chronarch 100SF (almost totally NIB)
Shimano Metanium XT (with longer Chronarch B handle (original handle included) and upgraded ABEC7 bearings)) (also essentially NIB)
Shimano Calais 100A (excellent with box, pouch, paperwork, etc.)
Shimano Calcutta TE 100GT (excellent and almost NIB)
Shimano Curado 100D (NIB) - never been out of box except for photos
Shimano Citica 200E (NIB) - never been out of box except for photos

Then there are my Daiwas that are NIB...

bronzefly wrote:I always liked the Chronarch 50MG and the Curado 100D a lot. There are a lot of excellent older Shimano reels, however, as with the 50MG, critical parts are becoming quite scarce and no more of them will be made, so consider that before you acquire one of these older gems and spend what it would take to dress and tune it up to your liking. Best of luck on the endeavor either way, be glad to help with the tuning and parts as much as possible through The Tackle Trap!

I have four Ch 50MGs that I stopped using when I moved to the Delta because repair parts are no longer available.
They are great for light line techniques , so I keep them for when I get a chance to fish lakes around here instead of the Delta. They are a dream to fish.
On the Delta I'm fishing heavy cover and weeds, and need heavier line and tackle so I can winch fish out of that stuff, and the newer reels, with more bearings and stronger drags, are what I fish, day in and day out.

I've had many of the following reels Chronarch D's, Curado E's, Chronarch 51mg's, Core's through my fishing life, which is about 32 years. The last 15 of those years are spent solely on bait casting, I love my Core's, but I miss my Chronarch D's. I regret selling them. I don't own very many spinning reels anymore.

A bit older, but I used to fish with these. (not my pic)



They hold a sentimental value to me and I love the way they look. I really want to supertune one and put it on a period correct pistol grip rod like I used to have. I've heard they're an absolute nightmare to re-assemble though. I sent one out to someone years ago and he sent it back in pieces in a ziploc bag. He said one of the studs on the frame was broken so it was pointless to re-assemble. I think he might have broken it himself as an excuse.