Shimano Chronarch 201E7 baitcast reel

Taking a look and a few thoughts on the renowned Chronarch. It is a very smooth reel that casts wonderfully and is rather forgiving in the backlash department.

[@joebuck574]

Thanks for the great video, just picked one up and I'm really excited to take it out on the water! Keep up the great work!

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Hey Joe - Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. It is really a great reel...hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine.

[@hunterchevaillier9170]

Getting one tomorrow super excited!

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Awesome Hunter....I'm sure you'll love it.

[@Tezido]

Awesome review!

[@AznBassAngler]

curado e series were also produced in japan.

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Thanks!

[@halidharis]

hi mate..this reel using centrifugal break,is it design to make a long cast..??

[@cocx88]

I started bait casting with a lower end abu Garcia reel and just couldn't get it down and also swore off bait casting until I bought a shimano citica e. Since then I only buy shimanos lol. Practicality, functionality, form and ease of use is the key.

[@FishingForLargies]

Just picked one up for 135 hope i like it.

[@benlivesey6446]

were did you find this

[@josephkoziol5421]

Hello. Do you still use this reel. Have the Boca bearings been reliable and long lasting? Miss your regulars postings. Live long and prosper!

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Yes....and yes. Its in the starting line up and its my reel for most crankbaits. I have SO much stuff I want to make video's on (gear wise) as well as other stuff. I hate just doing table top reviews now as I want to provide on the water, as well as in-water action when applicable. But, it comes at the cost of having to collect that footage, which sometimes takes multiple trips. Thanks for watching and sticking with me.....more is always coming, maybe just not as regularly as we would both like. Thanks again!

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Such different reels. I think 95% of people would tell you the Chronarch, but I lean toward the Ballistic. It's not nearly as refined as the Chronarch, but I much prefer the 3D braking system and the t-wing line guide.

[@joebuck574]

I put it on a 6'9" Abu Garcia MH veritas rod. It's my first attempt at a frogging rod, whaddya think? Good rod reel combo?

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

I don't think I have handled the 6'9" MH before (just the 7'0" for MH power). I got away with a MH power up until last year for frogging and did pretty well. Ideally, a heavy action rod is the way to go, but a good amount of the time you can get them out with the MH. If you find you are losing a lot of fish though, you may want to consider bumping up in the future to the heavy action.

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Definitely

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Ha ha....no doubt man. I enjoy your vids

[@BRAD51000]

Do you still have this reel?

[@manziimoveis]

Hi, I just bought a Shimano Chronarch 201E7 baitcast reel and i'd like to know what is the best Line and rod for it. Can you help me?

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Hey Marcelo - Is this going to be a "do it all" set-up? Or, do you have other rods and reels you will be using. The correct rod and line is based not on the reel, but what you will be fishing for and the environmental conditions of where you fish most (clear open water vs very weedy and murky, etc). Let me know so I can give you the most appropriate recommendation.

[@atbyeathatsme]

I have a saros now looking to get a baitcaster thinking chronarch ... Do u know how this compairs other than ones a spinning and ones a baitcaster

[@jonathanly666]

hey....does the shimano chronarch cast soft plastics far?? I wanted to know because i need a reel that could hit islands at legg lake...and i really need a reel that could help me out..and im saying without boca bearings

[@gavinbaker6864]

Would the shimano be good for casting light or weightless lures?

[@FloridaRains]

You see these reels are adjustable so it doesn't matter what weight your throwing as long as you ha e the right line and pole

[@michaelpaul9672]

I wished I'd have paid attention in school like I do for all your videos! lol...good stuff as always. I want to buy my first baitcaster and after some research I was going to settle on the Shimano Chronarch 201E7...I am going to pair it with the Shimano Crucial 7.2 MH Fast rod (worm and jig version). I use PowerPro 30lb braid. Your opinion is highly valued. Is this the reel for me to start with? Or have you discovered an alternative over the last few years that might even be better for a beginner? My price range is about $200. Thank you ,sir! Enjoy the Holidays!

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Hi Michael, and thanks for the kind words. I've only two years into using bait casters, but they are now my preferred type of reel. The Chronarch is a very solid reel....maybe the best overall reel for the money by many people's standards. My only gripe with it, and most Shimano's is the 6 pin VBS system. For some reason I've had more issues with it than other braking systems....but that's just me. I like the adjustability of Daiwa's Magforce (usually 20 points of adjustment) or the new generation of centrifugal brakes such as on my Lew's BB1 Pro (also 20 points of adjustment). I find that BB1 to be my most forgiving in terms of backlashes. So, just in terms of being new and avoiding backlashes I would recommend the BB1 Pro. Also, if you already have 30lb braid then of course use it, but I much prefer 40lb. 30lb braid has 8lb mono diameter and one a bait caster will dig in more easily than 40lb. Of course 50 is ever more forgiving in terms of digging into the spool. If you like the Chronarch, go with it, I'm sure you, like so many others, will learn to use it just fine. But in terms of the easiest one that I personally have used so far....that would be the BB1 Pro.

[@michaelpaul9672]

KeepinItReelFishing Thank you,sir! And,as always,much appreciated!

[@dannycarpenter2168]

Are you left handed? I'm about as right-handed as a person could be, but I have all"left handed" baitcasters. I like to keep the rod in my stronger hand, just like using spinning gear.

[@alldaytony2751]

has this reel stood the test of time?

[@brandonmoore7041]

What's the difference between the 51e and the 201e7?

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

+Brandon Moore The 51e is the "50" size reel....quite a bit smaller than the "200" size 201e7. Also, the 51 only came in a 6.4:1 ratio where the 201e7 is a 7.1:1 gear ratio. The smaller size of the 50 series reels also means a smaller, lighter spool so many people like them for "finesse" application and light lures. However, it works just as well for heavy duty techniques too.

[@fishindude27]

really solid reel. that should last you for awhile

[@usparktalk]

In the video you say the breaks need to be balanced. I've had the Chronarch 200E6 for three years now and could not cast that far. So now I'm trying with just one break on and it casts a a log longer with no wind or with the wind with no backlashes. Into a light wind I need two on. But no wind, only one break. The heck with that "balanced breaks" stuff. I don't think any of the manuals say they need to be balanced either.

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Hi, and thanks for watching. At the same point in the video that I mention that there is also a dialogue / caption box that pops up saying how I was actually incorrect and they do not need to be balanced (information that I got from Shimano's web site).

[@usparktalk]

KeepinItReelFishing OK. I wasn't bashing you or anything. I think your video is one of the reasons I bought the reel, it's my first and only baitcaster. I've not been able to cast too far with it. So I decided to buy a new crankbait rod just for this reel and tried casting and still could not get far. Then I tried one brake for the first time and wow - I can casst a long way and with no backlash. I was casting light and slightly heavy cranks too and they were casting nice. Into the wind though I would get a backlash. Two brakes fixed that. But with the wind or no wind - one brake and casting those crankbaits really good. My new rod is an Abu Garcia 7 foot Veritas 2 winch rod made for crankaits.

[@CJ-so6vl]

Give it a green paint job and you have a Curado E series. But I will probably pick one up.

[@carpkai]

I see you use "left handed" bait casters. I'm about as right handed as a person could be, but since I grew up using spinning gear, I much prefer left handed bait casters.I used to always watch Orlando Wilson's fishin show, and he did the same thing.I want my rod to stay in my stronger hand and arm.And, for lures like buzz baits, you can start reeling right away without passing the rod to your other hand after a cast.

[@KeepinItReelFishing]

Yes....exactly! You hit the nail on the head on all three examples. It's funny how it's just catching on now when it made more sense the whole time.

[@smartmoneyspecialist]

I feel this way too as a righty

[@joel5673ify]

Just a curado E painted white and with a better drag