davidgs

I've got a Tatula Type R... and while happy with the reel out of the box, I felt some improvements could be made. There are a small number of changes that have affected the overall smoothness of the reel. Here's what I ended up doing for performance sake. 1. Remove the 2 worm gear bushings and replace with bearings (they don't have to be super expensive... $2.50 steels are fine). 2. Remove the 2 knobs and replace the single bushings with bearings (again - don't go super expensive). When you screw them back in, don't overtighten. 3. Lube ALL bearings with a ulta low viscosity oil designed for precision bearings. 4. Grease the grooves of the main gear, clutch gear, and lower edges of the Pinion yoke (makes engaging the freespool smoother and requires less force) Total cost.. bearings (4) = $10, lube = $8, grease = $6... $24. Makes a big difference in the end... reel feels like it has tighter tolerances, and is smoother on both cast and retrieve. Pretty close to the Steexz at this point, which for a total of under $200 is great. Hope this helps others considering this reel. Regards, David

I tested it with both my rods. With a 6'6" rod baitcasting reel, 30 lb smooth braid, a 3/8 oz practice weight, I could get 53 yds. With a 8'0" rod and same setup... 70 yds. Clearly, lure, rod, line, and wind condition influence the results. I can believe Kevin can regularly cast 70 yds, but to be honest... what impresses me more is when he can hit a 1 sqft patch of water under a dock from 15 yds. That's just ridiculous. D

You can get a Tatula for $110 and a Type R for $130 on amazon. I chose the Type R in 6.3, because I like the red parts. Performance wise, there will be no real difference. I chose to replace the 4 bushings (2 worm drive, 2 grips) to basic boca bearings. Total cost $10. It's a touch smoother while reeling in a fish, but no practical difference in casting. Happy fishing, D