New Calcutta: We Can Crank Again

[Part 2 of a series.]

When it comes to rods and reels, I’m more of a rod guy. Don’t know why. Also like amps more than guitars, if that helps. But it’s for that very reason that I’m going to tackle the new Shimano Calcutta D first in these “get the new Calcutta and Loomis GLXs as fast as humanly possible” posts.

What I mean is, I admire Shimano reels as feats of fishin’ engineerin’, and love ’em because they keep on performing. Never once had a problem with one. But when I heard about the new Calcutta – even when I saw a pic – my reaction was basically…meh.

I mean, what’s exciting about a new round-body reel, even if it is from Shimano?

Well, I wasn’t alone:

“When I first heard about the new Calcutta, to be honest I was like, ‘Okay, I’ve seen Calcuttas, what’s the big deal,” says Bassmaster emcee and Facts of Fishing host Dave Mercer. “And when I first picked one up, it was, ‘Okay cool. A nice reel.'”

Ha! So he was in the same boat, and I bet we weren’t alone. We’re in the era of light, killer, low-pro reels – so who wants to “step backwards” and do the big, heavy, round-bodied thing?

But as Dave and I came to know, literally none – zilch, nada – of that is true about the new Calcuttas.

Feel It, Fish It, Don’t Feel It

“It’s one of those reels that once you strap it onto a rod, because of the S Compact Body design, it feels so much smaller in your hand,” Dave says. “That’s the first thing you notice, and to me that’s a huge advantage – because the more comfortable a reel is in your hand, the more you throw it.

“You want a rod and reel to be an extension of your arm, not a big cumbersome tool.”

And on that note, take a look at these pics. On the left is the new Calcutta on the new G. Loomis GLX cranking rod, and on the right is the old Calcutta on the old Loomis cranking rod:

Check it: The new Calcutta D is a 200 Series while the older reel on the right is a 100 Series. In other words, Shimano has found a way to make a “bigger”-size reel smaller than the former smaller-size reel – with the same line capacity, yet lighter, better and more powerful.

“It looks like an ultralight version, but its performance sneaks up on you,” Dave notes. “When someone picks it up, they might think: It’s too small to do what I do with it. But it’s not. It has same line capacity and all the bonuses from using a larger reel, but it’s not nearly as cumbersome.”

That’s good, but “the most impressive thing you can do with it is fish it,” Dave says. “Once you cast it, the castability is incredible and the cranking power will literally shock you. The thing that’ll blow everybody away is [Shimano’s X-Ship technology]. It’s taken me a couple years to figure out what it is [laughs], but what it does is give you the power you need.

“When we think of a reel with power, we think of just fighting the fish – the power to move that fish. But with the power and gearing of X-Ship…put it this way: When you’re using a deep-diving crankbait, you’ll start throwing it and will put it down if the fish aren’t eating right away because it’s not a comfortable bait to throw. Your arm gets tired. You feel it. But with the Calcutta D, you won’t feel it anymore.

“X-Ship does that. It gives you that power. It’s like an effortless winch.”

He adds, “When you fish it, it’s exciting. Now I’m using it deep-cranking, big-bladed spinnerbaits, stuff like that. It’s found a spot on deck of my boat it didn’t have before.”

Casting and Winding Glory

The one and only Mark Zona comes from the same place as Mercer, but thinks round reels are “cool. The [new Calcutta] generally looks kick-ass,” he says. “Granted some of our low-pro reels look like stuff out of Star Wars, but a round reel to me looks and feels ‘bass fishing.’

“I love my low-profile reels and they definitely serve a purpose in how I fish, but there are certain things that a low-pro reel does not excel at where a round-profile reel is extremely superior,” he notes.

“Where my Calcuttas really play a role in my fishing is when I’m power fishing – when I’m winding. Two reasons for that. Number one is the line capacity and distance of casts. When I’m cranking or throwing spinnerbaits in open water, the first thing I need is distance. I’m launching it as far as I can cast. You’re wanting to get a 70- to 80-yard cast, and this reel is able to do that.

“The next thing to me is the critical thing, and that’s this: In the past, if you threw a big plug for 15 minutes you’d be like, ‘Screw this.’ Everybody reading this, and my buddy writing it right now, is saying, ‘Yup, been there, know exactly what you’re saying.’ The beauty of a Calcutta – I can sit here and give you all the fancy words for what the guys have done inside this thing, but here’s the thing: It doesn’t fatigue you.

“It does not fatigue you.

“You can throw a 20-foot diving crankbait or 1-ounce spinnerbait and not be tired 6 hours in – and that couldn’t be done before. In a nutshell, this reel does not kick your butt.”

Zona continues, “The other side of it gets into the gearing and the innards of the reel, the power you have when you’re fighting fish. It’s day and night – day and night even over other reels that I own and use. It’s the most powerful baitcasting reel you can put on a rod when you’re power fishing.

“You understand what I’m saying when I say you can throw a 20-foot crankbait and…you know how when you throw a lipless crankbait and there’s basically no resistance? That’s how a 20-foot crankbait feels with this reel.

“I know that sounds crazy. There’s never been a reel like that.

“That’s why we have great offshore jig and worm fishermen – because they’re like, ‘The heck with this [crankbait], I’m throwing a jig or worm.’ This reel will make you a better winder.”

He adds, “What’s funny is, if I go to a low-profile reel when I’m cranking now, it feels awkward to go back to winding with a low-pro reel. It just doesn’t feel right. That’s the juice with this reel.”

[End of part 2 of a series.]