FrnkNsteen

Agreed! I have always liked the Daiwa Regal spinning reels. I don't currently have any as I have replaced them with Fuegos and up to Tatula, Ballistics and Shimano Stradics and Vanfords. I've had Regals going way back to the old Regal X and Regal Z reels from the 90's up to having a couple newer versions as recent as a year or two ago. To this day I think it's hard to beat the lower priced Daiwa reels like the RG, the Revros, and the Regal reels. My experience with them has only been in the 2000 and 2500 size. I don't know how well a 2500 will handle 4lb braid though. I used them for #2 and #3 Mepps and Aglia spinners up in Ontario for smallies, but I used 10 or 14lb Berkeley Fireline. That fused Fireline holds up surprisingly well to the toothy Northerns and Muskies and is very limp once it wears in and starts to turn gray.

You could also shorten them to whatever size you want. I buy 3/8" heat shrink from the electrical section at Menards. Cut the tipped end off an off-the-shelf mesh rod sock to the length you want. Fold the cut end into an "S" shape and slip a 1" piece of heat shrink over the end. Apply heat to the heat shrink to tighten down on the tip and Poof! You have a shortened rod sock! The only thing I do is pick a standard color for the ones you shorten so it's easier to get the right ones on the short rods at the end of the day. I only use the silver Academy rod socks for shortening. All the regular length ones are various other colors.

I love my Sierra 734 and use it for everything from 1/4 - 3/8 spinnerbaits and swim jigs to 90 & 110 Whopper Ploppers. I don't know what is going on with Dobyns recently, but I have a few Sierra models, including a 682 I use for small topwater poppers like a chug bug or Popr, to a 733c and 734c and all of them are a bit slower than the Kaden and Champion. In my opinion, they work fine for treble hooked baits as long as you don't swing for the fences on the hook set and try to horse them in like your fishing a frog

Thanks @Bigbox99. I've been happy with the spools I have in the ML100 and TD Fuegos, but the thought of having other options was interesting. Nice to know there are options and what to watch for.

Hey @bulldog1935... Didn't the old TD Fuegos, TDZ 100ML US Trail and Zillions have a 36mm spool?, slightly different than the TDZ and TDX 103 and 105 reels that had the 34mm? Do you know if the 1516 spool you mentioned being a 36mm spool would fit them? Just wondering if it would be an option for the old TD Fuegos and 100H US Trail Team Daiwa reels I have.

You're a kinder gent than I @bulldog1935. Very patient response to a post I found rather rude! For the record, I have always appreciated the help and information that you have always provided!

Me too!!

I have one of the new Tat100, an original SLX and both the Curado 151 and 71 MGL. I actually like them all for what they are. For a $100 centrifugal braked reel, the SLX is fine. I currently have it on an old 6' Fenwick "Venture" rod throwing Zara Spook. The reel casts great and that short rod length and very short handle work great for walking the dog. Is the SLX as nice as the Curados,... No, but I wouldn't expect a $100 reel to be as good. I WILL say the SLX MGL gives the Curado MGLs a run for their money though!! As for the new Tat100. I just have the one in an 8spd I bought from someone on here. I have it running a buzzbait and I like it for that. The reel frame is much more comfortable than the older Tat100 l, it casts well, and is very smooth. I wouldn't pass on it in the future.

Actually,.... I think I agree with this. I had a number of Fury rods and after trying other things, I have sold the majority of them. I think the only Fury models I still have are a few 705CB. I DO still have a few Sierras, Champion XP and Champion Extreme

I was thinking 703 or 733 for everything until I got to the 3/8 - 1/2 MiniMax. Once you put a plastic on that, I think you would be overloading the 703 or 733. My issue is I didn't care for the Fury 734 I had. I really liked the 733 Fury I had, but my 734 was heavy and I didn't like the action. A 704 might be better, but I don't have anything to base that on. I DO really like the 734 Sierra I have and think it would be a great option for what you are looking at, but price is a bit higher on the Sierra. Maybe you could source around for a good sale price on one.

Oh,... Your's is an original Tatula Type R. Mine is a Tatula CT Type R. The pic I'm attaching is one I snipped from online

I have a needle applicator bottle full of Abu Garcia Silicote oil I have been using up and haven't had any issues, so I am just l continuing to use it up. I also have bottles or TSI321, yellow Rocket Fuel, and I believe a bottle of ReelX. I've tried each of them and they all seem fine. I don't know that I notice all that much difference between them.

I also bought a New In Box Tatula Type R from a local shop about a year or two ago. This one was a shiny new 6.3:1 in left hand. They originally wanted full price for it and it sat in their display case for quite some time. I looked at it every time I went in there but no way was I paying full price for a reel that had been discontinued for quite a while. I went in one day and they had it marked down to like 50% off so I grabbed it. Nice reel... Very smooth!

I don't know for sure how to tell the difference. I think it's the older model due to the shape of the handle.

Me too.... Most recent was a nice clean Daiwa left handed TD Sol I picked up a couple weeks ago. Already had one I picked up a year or so again and like it, so I picked up another. You don't see the lefties as often. Funny!! I've bought one from A-Jay too! I think I bought a nice clean Daiwa "Skipping" rod from him a year or so ago. Bought a reel from FishTank too. Both were in great shape for a fair price!!

That's it @bulldog1935. That step you showed in the image was what Tackle Advisors was referring to that was different between the two and needed to be addressed. I didn't know that some knob makers included a shim.

Daiwa knobs on a Shimano or vice/versa??? 😯😯😯 Isn't that going to make people lose their minds and faint?!? Good tip though!! I didn't realize they had the same shaft diameters and lengths? I thought I had seen a video from Tackle Advisors saying there was something different about them that caused issues with aftermarket knobs from places like Gomexis. Maybe that was just on spinning reels though.

Yes, they are two different reels. I agree with the comments above on the DC vs Bantam. I had a Curado DC and I sold it. It wasn't a BAD reel. It just felt bulky, and in my opinion the braking was inconsistent. Eventually the noise got on my nerves too. I don't have a '22 Bantam MGL, but I have a 2018 Bantam MGL and really like it. It doesn't cast light stuff very well with the closer line guides, but does great with 3/8oz and up jigs and chatterbaits and is buttery smooth!. I've heard the 2022 version has much improved casting after they moved the line guide further away from the spool. I do also have the Curado MGL and love it. I think you would be happy with either the Curado MGL or the Bantam MGL. My personal preference is Bantam over the Curado. The Bantam is heavier, but built like a tank.

Well,... Like you said,... To each their own. Sucks you had that bad experience with them! I can understand where you are coming from. I've just never had any issues with them. I've bought MANY rods and reels from them. New and used, both in person and online and having them shipped and their service has always been great. I am about 100 miles north of them and I like to go down there when I can and weed through the used rods and reels. Why, I don't know,... Since I have WAY more of both than I will ever need. 🤔🤔

Was this through American Legacy? I have never had an issue with them and they have always been good to me, whether on orders, problems with orders or rods broken during shipment. They always stood behind things. Sounds like you had a bad experience, but I don't agree that they are a horrible company. I've dealt with others that were FAR more questionable.

I have a few different setups I have been using. First, I have a couple Dobyns 736cb Glass that have a pair of old Shimano Calcutta reels loaded with braid. I like the braid on those setups so I can feel what the lure is doing on those composite rods, plus it doesn't hurt the hook sets. The braid on the softer composite rod lets me feel it without being numbing after fishing it all day. Currently running a Jackhammer on one and a Sieberts Fogy on the other to vary to actions and sounds. Second, I've got a pair of older Fenwick Techna AV that I throw lighter MiniMax setups on up in shallower spots. I think both of those currently have 15lb mono on them. Lastly, I've got one setup I run 20lb Abrazix on while throwing chatterbaits up around the rocks and reefs when we go to Ontario for Smallmouth. The hope is the larger flouro stands up a little better against the northerns without having to run a steel or titanium leader. So far so good! I think I have only lost one to northerns. My point is to do what works for you. Different setups for different situations

Funny you should ask that. I JUST bought a used 6'9" St Croix LTB Jerkbait rod from American Legacy and received it just yesterday. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but I think I already like it. I put a spare SLX MGL 71 on it for now. It is light ( weighs in at 3.9oz on my scale.) With the reel mounted with 12lb flouro, I think it weighed in at 11.3oz. Weight and balance feels really good and balances right at the front of the reel seat nut. Action seems to be just a bit moderate. Not too much, but the bend seems to come around 1/3 way down the shaft.

I have been using the brand Academy Sports carries. I think it might be called Rod Glove. They seem to work ok and only cost $4.99 for Casting rods and $5.99 for Spinning rods. I HAVE had a few issues with line guides or tips popping through the mesh, but not really enough to cause any issues. They do protect them on the rod racks in the garage and a lot less issues with tangled lines in the rod locker since I started using them.

I personally try to keep my lure weights in the middle ground sweet spot for a rods rating and try not to push the edges. I would definitely imagine rod manufacturers would have a safety factor in their rod ratings in an effort to avoid risk of breaking rods. My suggestion would be to work your way up to it and see how the rod likes it. Start with a 3/4oz jig and see how it does. Then add a soft plastic to that as you work up to that 1oz window and see how it goes. You should be able to get a feel for how the rod is liking it, or if it feels like it is loading up too much. The big thing is to avoid fast, jerky, snappy kinds of casts that really load up the rod. Focus more on smooth roll casts or casts that lob the heavier baits out there. The load on the rod greatly increases with a specific weight bait as acceleration rates of the bait increases. In other words,... The harder you fling that lure, the more load you apply to the rod.

The only reel I have replaced original bearings with aftermarket is a Tatula CT Type R that I fell on and did some damage. Had to replace the AR bearing and sleeve, so while ordering the parts for that, I decided to also splurge and put a set of Hedgehog bearings in. They were smooth, but in my opinion,... I wouldn't say they gained me any casting distance. I WILL say that the smoothness was noticeable and made pitching or casting take less effort. Just didn't feel like it was enough of a difference to warrant the cost