bootytrain

Look at it like this, going out and getting skunked for 8 hours with a super smooth/refined/super lightweight Core 50 is a lot more pleasureable than going out and getting skunked with a heavier/less smooth/less refined Citica E, which Ive done SEVERAL times lol.. Everybody is having fun when you are catching fish, but the days where you aren't is where the high end tackle helps out a lot with the experience. That's what that guy is refusing to try to understand.

A few holes in your argument guy. Im well aware of the fluctuating dollar/yen ratio. The past year its been in our favor and buying reels from Japan is cheaper than getting the equivalent models here now and has been for awhile. Daiwa went the wrong way in their strategy IMO(until the release of the Tatula) by raising prices and coming out with high end models that the average angler couldn't afford or couldn't justify the price. Just look at the Z200. In Japan they are retailing for slightly cheaper than the Steez, but here they wanted $650 and Tackle warehouse barely sold any so they are dropping the model and currently trying to clear the remaining inventory at half price. 1. Steez and Calais DC came out around the same time, yet Calais DC has remained the same price. Both still made in Japan 2. The cost of certain tackle went up due to the strong yen but also the fact that they were made in Japan(higher yen=higher labor cost) Shimano came out with the made in Malaysia Curado G and priced it accordingly, Daiwa came out with the made in Thailand T3s and wanted $430? now T3s are now discounted heavily. 3. If you are going to jack the price up by $150 then at least give us 1 major improvement. Daiwa should have no problem fitting the Steez with Magforce 3D at least?

I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't, when the old Stradic CI4 went on sale because the new one was coming out, it only got discounted 20 dollars and stayed there... at TW at least.

The price shot up $150 for mostly cosmetic tweaks.

Bantam gave the official specs on TT

You are going to love the Essence.. Thanks for taking great pics too!

It should be the new JDM Scorpion equivalent, new spool design called S3D, 4 brake SVS, and a very recessed external brake dial.

It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't taper down so sharply.

Bantam1 said there would be several new releases at the bassmaster, maybe this is one of them? If so I'd expect about a $500 price tag.

Makes you wonder if the new conquest is coming here this year..

Why do you have to change your whole arsenal? Just buy one first and if you like it great, if not you can sell it.

Dude we need to stop buying the same tackle LOL.. all kidding aside, I liked the short handle(great for one handed casting), but shortness of the top grip combined with its sharp taper caused my hand to cramp after a half hour of fishing or so. Also as hogsticker may have pointed out, the rear reel seat portion is wide so under load the reels Ive had on it moved around(shimanos), that may not happen with other brands? It is a beautiful rod and I love how the foregrip gets totally flush so theres no gap as in the pic. If you do decide on getting one, try Fish USA, 99 shipped to your door, got mine in 2 days.

The Steez has 1 more bearing? And a lot of people who service reels say that the Calais DC has the highest quality bearings from a stock reel they've ever seen and theres no need to upgrade. Tackletour measured the Steez drag at 8.8lbs, the Calais DC 12.6lbs. According to Japan Tackle, the Antares/Calais DC cast a 5/8 plug on 14lb test 118 meters. The new Antares cant do that, and I doubt the Z can either and until someone actually proves it can with a measured test from a reputable source or video, Ill go with the Calais DC. Its obvious you like the Steez and theres no doubt its a great reel and I would love to have one, but would YOU pay $600 for a new one?

And what weights would those be? I have my doubts about that. My Exsence DC can cast quite well and very far under 1\2 oz. I'm sure the Calais would do just as well with the more adjustable system that it has. I'm not saying the Steez is a bad reel, just not worth the current price Daiwa wants for it IMO. Needs to bring a lot more to the table than "ultra refinement".

You will feel X-Ship under load when fighting a decent sized fish

Yeah that's what you tend to hear about the Steez. Its not the longest casting(Calais DC) or has the strongest drag(Revos), or the lightest anymore (Revo MGxtreme), And doesn't even have the most advanced braking in Daiwas own lineup(Mag 3D )but people say its ultra refined, which is definitely a plus when fishing for extended periods of time. I think its time for new flagship from Daiwa, and if its going to be $600 then it better have a magnesium frame and BOTH sideplates(like the Core 100s and Antares), a new braking system, stronger drag, and the T-Wing, be the longest casting in Daiwas lineup and either stay the same weight or lighter. Then it might be worth the $$.

The spinning reel Steez IMO is not worth the money, they are trying to charge more money than a Stella(magnesium) for a reel that is all Zaion? The baitcaster gets mixed reviews, guys that love them are fierce about it, then there are guys who had them and didn't like them or didn't think they were worth retail. Granted they started out at $450 and now they jacked the price up to $600 for a reel that's has no improvements over the original, only a longer handle and different colored accents. For $600 at least make both sideplates magnesium. Personally if I were you Id return it and shell out $50 and get a Calais DC

Are you talking about the baitcaster or spinning reel?

If 100 is your pricepoint, Id wait and see what the Curado G will sell for when the new Curado comes out.

My suggestion is if you like the Chronarch CI4 then save up the money to get it or you will always have that nagging in the back of your mind what you really wanted when you are fishing something else you bought. Good news is that the new Curado will be out in a month and it looks like its got all the Chronarch Ci4 features but made of aluminum and the reports are that its going to cost about $179.

If they are using the metanium/chronarch ci4 tooling then the new curado should be made in Japan I think.

Yeah.. My ex gf bought me a pflueger spinning reel a few years ago solely based on bearing count.. It has 10 but it still wasnt as smooth as my Sonora that has 3 or maybe 4 bearings lol.

The core100 is made of magnesium, frame and both side plates. That's why it costs what it does. The all aluminum version was the now defunct Chronarch D which was priced at 299. I've never fished the 100 but I have the Core50. I can't speak on the performance of the lews, core 100 or chronarch d, because I've never fished them, but this where personal preferences come in. But I do think they should have at least put bearings in the handle on the core100.

That Lews BB1 your grandfather has was made by Shimano. Just look at it this way, if Lews took their top of the line model and priced it $650 like the Calais DC do you think people would buy it? The only way Lews can compete is if they take a higher spec reel and put it in a lower price bracket. That's what Abu has been doing with their Revo line for a few years.

Who cheapened their product and charged more? Instead of listening to haters who talk bad about a product without even using said product(and that's probably 99% of people on the internet who complained about the Curado G) you should try one decide for yourself. As far as where to start? I'd probably go for the best reel you can afford.