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Posts: 13
| Hey i have a Shimano Calcutta 400b and it's a pretty awesome musky reel, my favorite.
I was curious to know if anyone has used the new Calcutta D(CT300D or CT400D) series reel before. Any feed back would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Again! |
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Posts: 1660
Location: central Wisconsin | I've got a 400D, casts a mile. The non-disengaging levelwind is not an issue. A very smooth reel, more so than my 400B's or Abu Garcia Morrums. I like the drag adjustment on the outside also and the fact that it clicks. One of my little nitpicks is that it does not come with a reel cover and I do not care for the type of screws they used to attach the faceplate. Just my opinions though, take them for what they are worth. |
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Posts: 58
| What pound test are you using? |
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have used one for several weeks. I tried 80# and 65# just to see what the reel can do, no real difference in performance for me. Casts very well, very smooth, nice drag, and I also like the drag on the handle. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Got one (400) for my son and put it on Friday. Loaded it with 80# Suffix 832. Love it, both of us. First impressions are 1) no need for a power handle on 10's and 13's, though I can understand why some like the bigger knob for leverage, 2) no problems casting (friction-wise) with the disengaging levelwind, 3) Smooth as can be, 4) powerful and quiet, 5) Can see how the handle being in closer to the reel will lessen the torque and possibility of stripping the threads on the end of the drive shaft. And even though it takes just a bit of getting used to, it feels great having the side of the reel closer to the rod for those of us who palm the reel. Much more control and leverage, and less carpal claw syndrome. As for it having a plastic line guide, time will tell of course but I've never broken a plastic one on all the Corvalluses I used when I was first getting into this. Excellent reel, though still not sure why they discontinued the TE, unless sales were simply going downhill on those. This reel would sell in addition to the TE, though now it will sell more without the competition  |
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Posts: 307
| Used mine just a couple days ago. Really like the reel, I've got a bunch of te's too that I really like. My only gripe is that the thumbar digs into my hand when I palm the reel. This happen with anyone else? I'm going to fix the problem with a file, but I'm sure most people would cringe at the thought of doing that to their brand new top of the line reel. But hey I'm a guy that needs stuff to work for me. |
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Posts: 1660
Location: central Wisconsin | azmuskyman - 10/22/2012 9:54 PM
What pound test are you using?
I am using 80# Power Pro. |
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Posts: 424
| Is it possible replace the original levelwind/line guide with a titanium coated levelwind/line guide (a TE levelwind/line guide,for example) ?
esoxone |
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Posts: 13
| Using 80lb Tuffline XP |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Got my 300D today, and WOW IS THIS REEL SMOOTH !!!! I added 6 bearings to the 300D, one to the spool and one under the drive shaft,and 4 to the handle, 2 to each paddle and I replaced the stock steel Level Wind Pawl with a Ceramic one, and Cleaned out the Bearings and relubed them, also polish the inside of the pinion gear and polish the spool shaft and tips and this reel will cast better then my 300 ConQuests !!!!!
I will have to order a 400D now and play around with it this winter.
The 300D with it's 5.6:1 gears are maxed out for me at a Double 8, so I'm sure I'll be installing the 400D, 5.1:1 gears to gain some power.
As far as line goes I put on some #65 Slick Braid and that size is right for this reel. I will be cking to see if the all metal line guide from the TE will fit, I think it will ??? the Cast buttom is plastic and the all metal one from a TE will not fit.
So far I'm liking what I feel from the new D. |
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Posts: 424
| keep us informed and let us know, Richard !!!
esoxone |
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Posts: 22
| I HAVE BEEN PUTTING ALLOT A MILES ON MY 300D. REALLY SMOOTH AND POWERFUL FOR IT'S SIZE AND GEAR SET. THAT SAID, IT 'S NOT A DBL. 10 REEL. I AGREE, DBL. 8'S IS ABOUT IT'S MAX. IS IT BETTER THAN THE TE'S ? NOT SURE YET. I DO KNOW THAT THEY ARE PRICED SIMILAR. IF THE COST OF A NEW "D" MODEL WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE I WOULD SAY THE TE IS THE BETTER WAY TO GO. FOR A FEW BUCKS YOU CAN GET D MODEL SMOOTHNESS OUT OF A TE. PIKEMASTER,GOT A QUESTION, WHY WOULD SHIMANO NOT USE A FULL CARBONTEX TYPE DRAG ON THESE NEW REELS. T KNOW WHAT I WAS TOLD BY A FACTORY REP. BUT I FIND WHAT HE SAID HARD TO BELIEVE. I MEAN THEY PUT IN ON A TRANX. (MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT).REGARDLESS, I CAN'T WAIT FOR MY 400D TO GET HERE. |
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Posts: 218
| PIKEMASTER - 10/24/2012 6:20 PM
the Cast buttom is plastic and the all metal one from a TE will not fit.
So far I'm liking what I feel from the new D.
I just had a guy show me a TE with a cracked thumb bar. It was clearly plastic with the brushed silver plating. This was a stock 400TE that is only a couple years old. I thought that part was metal until I saw this (yesterday). Did Shimano make both plastic and metal thumb bars? If so, can you tell which generation/age of TE's have a metal vs. plastic thumb bar? |
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Posts: 192
| Have they completely discontinued making the TE's? |
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Posts: 256
Location: plant earth | yes they have but if you kick over enough rocks you will find one. the most amazing thing i have seen is if the 400 te is new or in great or mint condition they are going for more than the new D series on ebay for what its worth. I will say the new stuff is great but its hard to give up a TE when its been so reliable and just about bullet proof for years its one of those if its not broke don't fix it things. |
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Posts: 192
| I agree, I'm a big fan of the TE's. Got two but guess I better get moving and pick up a couple more. Has anyone tried the Conquest? Is there a significant difference. Seems to be a little more expensive. |
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Posts: 339
Location: Denmark | LarryO - 10/27/2012 9:01 AM
Have they completely discontinued making the TE's?
You can still get the version targeted at the japanese market. But you will have to order it in Japan. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | I have 5 of the ConQuest reels and the ConQuests are the Best, I will give some more time on the D to see how they last over time. I have one ConQuest 400 reel that is over 10 years old and still smooth as glass, worth the $$$$$ |
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| jdeezay74 on the discontinued TE series: jdeezay74 - 10/27/2012 9:22 AM
if you kick over enough rocks you will find one .
well, most of those rocks have been kicked. Huge Shimano fan here (plus Daiwa and Okuma) who is skeptical on the Calcutta D series.
wasn't planning this but in the last two weeks I picked up a 200 te, 200 te gt, 300 te at $40, $40 and $60 off retail. all these places are now *out*
the coveted 700 series is harder to come by... some places still list them on the website but your order will be canceled when they realize they are out. this happened twice to me already and I've got my third order in for a 700Te.
If the D's work out they will be great but I like a bigger reel with more metal.
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Metal isn't always the best material for a reel part. |
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Posts: 339
Location: Denmark | sworrall - 10/29/2012 10:21 PM
Metal isn't always the best material for a reel part.
So true. |
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Posts: 432
Location: Eagan, MN | Has anyone figured out how to put a power handle on one of these yet? |
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Posts: 63
| Spent Thursday- sunday fishing vermillion I used one rod/ reel combo all weekend. 9' XXH TI with the 400D.. I threw everything from pounders to cranks.. It casted all of them very well. So much power no issues at all with casting into the wind. I was launching casts farther than my buddy in the boat throwing the same stuff I just had a new reel vs his 400b.. Im really happy with it so far. We will see in the next month how it holds up to the cold and big baits. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | cast10K - 10/30/2012 12:14 PM
Has anyone figured out how to put a power handle on one of these yet?
I wonder if Shimano has made this reel so you can not put a POWER HANDLE on it ?????
Power Handles put alot of stress on the frame and the gears and the spool pin of a reel. |
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Posts: 1100
| Where in the world is the reel produced ? |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Japan I believe. I never looked on the box. Didn't matter to me |
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Posts: 1100
| Found the answer in a youtube vid, yes its japan made. |
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Posts: 120
| This little beauty showed up in the mail a few days ago... Found a GREAT deal online that I couldn't pass up.
Loved my TE but didn't fish it much because most of my reels pull double duty and I just couldn't bring myself to fish my pretty TE in saltwater. D model is supposed to be more saltwater resistant, so decided to pull the trigger on this one. Anyway, on to first impressions of the D:
Spooled it up with 80 lb super slick, and it took about 145 yards of the 150 yard spool... Could have taken the whole thing, just didn't want to overfill too much.
I know everybody else says this, but seriously, the reel is super smooth!
As far as casting goes, I had to open it up and adjust the breaks to get it to cast the way I prefer. I found I had to crank way down on the cast control knob to keep things from blowing up with only the factory "3 break on" setting that it came with. My personal preference is to use more centrifugal breaking and then loosen up and fine tune things with the cast control knob.
Anyway, while opening the reel up I found the only thing that I don't really care for... That is, the 3 small, flatheaded screws you have to remove to take the sideplate off... They could have put phillips or any other kind of screws on there and I would have been happy... I just hate flatheaded screws, one slip and you put a nasty scratch on your brand new reel. Fortunately this didn't happen but easily could have. Anyway, breaks are now set and hopefully I won't have to open it back up until I send it to Pikemaster for service next year, lol!
I test casted it with a few different lures, but seems most people want to know how it does with blades... I thought it handled 10s really well--definitely better than the TE did with its stock (shorter) handle. Imo, it feels pretty close to the way toro winch handles 10s, just faster, which is great! I had a nice big power handle on my TE and though that it may have pulled the blades a little better than this D does stock, but not by much!
I really like how much narrower this reel is than the old calcutta. It feels great in you hand for a larger round reel. The reel is tall, and imo doesn't feel like a low pro at all.. but is much more comfortable to hold compared to other standard round reels because of how narrow it is, and b/c of the smaller non-handle side.
Anyway, the reel is a great caster.... and feels very solid and powerful to me. The drag feels very strong and line comes off smooth... Jury is still out on the small drag adjustment knob. Will have to wait until I get a couple fish on it.
I actually kind of like the fact that the non-handle sideplate doesn't open up, just because that is one less thing I have to worry about when fishing in saltwater (just wish they would have used different screws, lol). I guess time will tell, but I think this reel should hold up great.
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 calcutta 401d1.jpg (76KB - 625 downloads)
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Posts: 696
Location: Northern Illinois | Anyone know if there is going to be any deals if you buy a reel you get a deal with some rods at a show? Looking to get this reel and probably the St. Croix Big Nasty but wanted to check to see. Also, anyone know if Shimano will still repair TEs that are having problems. I've always loved Shimano's customer service with their reels so I was hoping. |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | does this reel have the same levelwind system as the tranx |
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