Shimano Calcutta 51

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Ghost
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Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Ghost » Mon Mar 15, 2021 8:15 pm

I’ve had this small round reel for years. Is a shallow spool for BFS fishing available for the Calcutta 51? Or is there a way to make the spool shallow to cast lures from 1/8oz up?

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by eklikewhoa » Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:41 am

There's an avail option or you can go with the China Aliexpress spools.

Both great options

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Ghost » Tue Mar 16, 2021 1:23 pm

Hi, do you have links to either or, or both? Thank you

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Fishingelbow » Sun Mar 28, 2021 6:21 pm

Never moon a werewolf!

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Slazmo » Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:18 am

Is the Calcutta a B or XT series?

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Ghost » Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:45 am

B series

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Daltontribe » Fri Apr 23, 2021 1:57 pm

Unfortunately all the spool mods suggested here are for the Calcutta Conquest 50 and do not work with the Calcutta 50b or 50xt series. I have been looking for quite a while for a spool for my 50xt and there seemingly has not been a shallow spool in production for it for many years. There has occasionally been one available on ebay for the over inflated prices of $500+.

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Slazmo » Fri Apr 23, 2021 2:22 pm

The 50XT spool is as best as you can go as standard. Just take off the standard VBS and put a 4 Puck on, and use the lighter blocks.

That spool casts pretty well in its own.
Last edited by Slazmo on Sat Apr 24, 2021 1:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Daltontribe » Fri Apr 23, 2021 3:15 pm

slazmo- which 4 puck do I choose? I was looking at the ones on hedgehog studios and did not see an exact compatibility, but I assume one of those listed on that website would work. I am now extremely interested in this mod .

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Slazmo » Sun Apr 25, 2021 1:01 am

2 options - find one that fits or modify...

You can buy these from places - I think Ray's makes one but getting the right fitment may be something you'll have to look into.
IMG_20210425_174557.jpg
Aftermarket VBS cradle
IMG_20210425_174557.jpg (25.31 KiB) Viewed 4081 times
I personally would modify. I surprisingly found a listing on some Canuck sales site for Calcutta reels and had to do some editing to the image so that you could see what I'm talking about.
IMG_20210425_174734.jpg
Modified OE VBS cradle (2 pin)
IMG_20210425_174734.jpg (43.41 KiB) Viewed 4081 times
The plastic pin VBS cradle that has all the brass pins in it is hollow on the other side as my image shows. It wouldn't be hard for you to reshape it while the cradle is still on the spool - maybe just put some tape so you mitigate scratches. The B series cradle has plastic pins than brass of the XT just as a FYI to anyone considering doing it to their B series.
IMG_20210425_174532.jpg
Difference between B & XT
IMG_20210425_174532.jpg (45.49 KiB) Viewed 4081 times
IMG_20210425_174442.jpg
XT VBS cradle being hollow plastic
IMG_20210425_174442.jpg (39.15 KiB) Viewed 4081 times
IMG_20210425_174411.jpg
How to cut for 4 Puck etc
IMG_20210425_174411.jpg (93.78 KiB) Viewed 4081 times
You could edit it to either have the pins alone (which will fall off if you remove the spool - like older Abu's) or leave the sides where the pin puck shoulders click up and down (on / off). Upto you if you wanted 2 pins, 3 pins, 4 pins or all of them?

You should be able to remove a fair amount of plastic off this structure to help spool rotation with the addition of bearings and polymer spool friction plates to help reduce friction.

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by John G » Sat Jun 26, 2021 8:56 pm

Did you modify the centrifugal brake? How did that work out for you? Another thing you could do is just don't put as much line on your spool. Go with about 100 feet. Measure 100 feet and put that amount of line on.

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Re: Shimano Calcutta 51

Post by Slazmo » Sun Jun 27, 2021 12:39 am

I myself haven't done the above mods for the fact of the Calcutta 50 / B series are hens teeth over here and replacing a spool isn't an option - and buying shares is also out of the question.

But the benefits would be there for sure absolutely.

I also don't run a full spool - basically the level to the line guide itself, as there are no silly angles the line has to exit off the spool and the extra rotational weight is reduced. Who needs more than 70 meters and some mono backing???

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