FrnkNsteen

Well,... You guys did it to me again!! 😂😂 Just when I am happy with something I bought, you HAVE to suggest more ways for me to spend money! I couldn't help but think one of those orange SV spools would be a nice addition to the Sol, so I went ahead and ordered one. 😜😜 And I'm not saying the gear set from Tackle Trap isn't tempting either!! Resisting the temptation on that though for now.

Interesting. What spool does the Alphas use? Are the spools and gears from the SV105 still available anywhere?

I bought a Curado DC for myself and a SLX DC for my wife when they first came out. Didn't see much advantage with the Curado DC and the SLX was finicky and my wife had better luck with her Daiwas, ... Plus the noise started getting on our nerves I recently sold both of them.

I have kind of developed a liking for the various old Team Daiwa reels over the last year or so.. Started with the left hand TDZ and TDX 103HL versions with the clutch up on top, and then expanded to TDZ 103H, 100ML and 103ML, TD Fuego and noticed I liked the looks of the TD Sol but hadn't seen a lefty Sol for the right price.... Until last weekend that is when I saw one for a reasonable price on the big auction site. Got it in the mail this morning and it was in better shape than expected. Felt a little tight so I tore it down, flushed all the bearings and cleaned things up. Didn't know what I wanted to do with it and happened to look at the rod rack and saw the Kistler Jerkbait rod. Kind of looks like they were made for each other!!.... and throws a casting plug around the yard great. Can't wait to get it out and try it!!

I'm a rod and reel addict and I freely admit it, but I have my limits and the upper end rods are above it. Don't get me wrong, I've bought some upper level used stuff and grade B stuff like my Legend Extreme and the Legend X I got at the the St Croix factory in WI, but the only time I can justify it at retail is when the new models come out and the old ones are discounted. Beyond that, I tend to cap out around $200 - $250. I picked up an IMX Pro. (854c JWR) last fall when the local shop was clearing them out and had them all for 35% off. Recently ALF had their GLXs starting around $299 so I picked up an 853c JWR, then they knocked the remaining ones down to $279 so I ordered a 783c MBR that is supposed to arrive today. That being said,... I do like to follow the new models coming out and seeing how technology trickles down. It's just hard to justify the higher dollar stuff due to diminishing returns. Too many times I've splurged and stepped up to a higher end model expecting huge differences, the clouds to part, light to shine down from above due to people's raving reviews only for reality to step in and go,...Meh! I guess it might be noticeably more "Sensitive" 😁😁

I lay them out on a white dish towel in the order I remove them. That way I can just reverse the order when going back together. The basic parts to get down to the drag stack are muscle memory now. The camera comes out if I start digging deeper into the mechanism components mounted to the frame because they can be slightly different. Where I have run into problems is bearing retainer spring clips, e-clips, or springs getting away from me and struggling to find them again! There have been a few times I knew something could get away so I grabbed a large ziplock bag and removed springs with my hands in the bag so if it gets away from my fingers it is likely captured inside the bag!

I have the Tranx 150. I don't know that they are the exact same frame as as the Curado MGL 150, but if there is a difference,.... it isn't much of a difference. The Tranx feels much more comfortable than the Curado K or M.

Oh,.. And as for rods I have my SLX MGLs paired with: Dobyns Sierra 682C with a Chugbug Kistler Jerkbait Special with a jerkbait Bird Dog 6'9" Jerkbait rod with a jerkbait Daiwa 6'9" ML Regular with OG Tiny Just bought 2 more and tentatively have them on 7'1" Legend Extreme and GLX rods with texas rigged worms to try out this spring. Our flood control reservoirs are pretty vegetation free so will be testing them for more open water and around laydowns.

I probably don't throw them as often as I should, but my box is mostly Rattletraps and Red Eye Shad with a few Rapala Rattlin Raps mixed in.

I agree with what everyone above said, though I personally don't like throwing braid with treble hooked baits, so I throw my cranks and top water on 10, 12, or even 15lb flouro or mono depending what the bait is (flouro for deeper cranks and mono for shallower cranks and topwater). I don't mind braid for weightless plastics but always feel like flouro or mono give me more slackline sensitivity if I'm letting a weightless plastic sink down slowly. I reserve braid for when I am slow dragging a senko or texas rig. I have a few of the SLX MGL 71s (lefties) so I commend your choice. I think you will find the 70 size SLX doesn't limit you like you think it does. I have never found myself wishing it had more capacity or lacking in casting distance. Quite the opposite in fact..... They cast like a dream. I am using mine for jerkbaits (12lb flouro), small topwater poppers like a small Chug Bug (12lb mono) shallow cranks like an OG Tiny (12lb mono) and even texas rigged worms and creatures (14-17lb flouro).

Agreed. While I like the idea ov an SV Fuego without the TWS, the fact it is only available through one vendor and the chinese market is concerning, especially with all the newer options in the $100 - $200 range as mentiobed above. Speaking of that,... If Alphas SV is down to $163,.... I need to know where! 😁

I had one too until the handle fell apart. Had my Zillion SV TW on there for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits and it was great!!

I typically have a hard time justifying the cost of rods like the IMX Pro or Falcon Cara that was mentioned for moving baits like spinnerbaits. I have a couple 7' Mojo MHMF "Spinnerbait" models that worked well for light baits, but in my opinion had too soft of a tip for the 3/8 - 1/2 oz that you mentioned. I like the rods though and currently have them setup with Whopper Plopper 90s for topwater. My two spinnerbait rods right now are a Lews Custom "Spinnerbait" model with the Gforce torque handle or whatever they called it and a old school TD Fuego 6.3:1 reel. That Fuego is a perfect fit on that rod in my opinion and is comfortable as the day is long. The other is a Megabass Levante Diablo Spec R with a clean old Shimano 201E7. I run a little lighter baits on the Lews (1/4 - 3/8) and heavier baits (3/8 - 1/2oz) on the Levante. They both do a nice job!

Have you called them to ask about them? That is not like them. I've never had an issue with them.

The one in Cincinnati is the same way. I could have done the same thing, but I think I subconsciously knew I wanted to get something either way so I didn't really care! 😂😂. Just would have been nice if they had any of which I went there wanting

I like the idea of this thread too! I have to admit I went a little nuts at the Bass Pro Spring sale. It was annual bonus time at work, so I brought 3 old spinners to trade in. Wanted to check out a 2000 Vanford for a little Falcon Expert "Dropshot" rod I have, and maybe check out a couple Tatula MQ 2500 reels for my wife to replace a couple heavier Presidents she had been using. As usual lately,.... Bass Pro didn't have what I wanted. No 2000 series Vanford. Doesn't even look like thet stock it when I checked online, and they had no 2500 Tatula MQs. I had already traded in, so I was stuck and decided to liok at other options. Decided on a Tatula MQ 3000, a Ballistic MQ 2500, and a Vanford 2500. I put the Tat on a 6'9" ML Fenwick HMG my wife likes. Balances REALLY nice! I put the Vanford on an older Fenwick World Class I had picked up at American Legacy. Feels good! Lastly. I put the Ballistic MQ on the 6'10" Falcon Expert rod. Nice light setup! I set it up as a light little ned rig rod for now. I think I am done for a while!! (I hope!!)

Can't believe I have never seen a Fuego SV?!?

That would be awesome, but unfortunately I don't think that exists anymore does it? Last example I know of that was the original SV103. Love the one I have and certainly would buy more!!

Didn't know it existed. For the price, I'd give it a try. I like Big Game mono for certain things.

Nice! I was at our local shops fishing expo recently. There was a guy that had a box of old Curado B and E series labeled for $75 a piece. They were pretty clean so I bought one of the E series. Brought it home and cleaned it up. Forgot how nice those reels were. Wish I would have bought the other two Es he had.

Agree with what others have said about filled too full and that they act up on the first couple casts. I actually had 2 DC reels and have sold the Curado DC and have the SLX DC sitting for sale on the consignment shelf at the local shop. What I found was like others said.... If you didn't cast them for a while, they would kind of struggle the first cast or two. It really messed with my wife, who isn't the smoothest of casters, so between not using it regularily, or if she had a bit of a jerky cast, it would give her issues. She is doing much better with the smaller Tatula SV 70 and the Daiwa T3s I set up for her. The final deciding factor was the noise started getting irritating after a while of using them. Cool at first but the novelty wore off quickly!!!

That's awesome!! What a great memory for them!!

Daiwa can get a little confusing with all their different models. Let me see if I can help. The Fuego and Tatula CT are slightly larger and built on the CT frame along with the older Tatula SV TW from 2017. The main differences are the Fuego has a round line guide while the Tatula CT and Tatula SV TW have the "T-wing" that is supposed to help with casting due to less line binding as it goes through the guide. Some time after that the came out with the smaller Tatula 100 which also has the T-wing system and the Tatula SV TW 103 came out in 2020 with the same smaller body as the 100. The SV reels have what I believe to be a shallower, lighter spool to help make casting easier and more controlled and have built a reputation for being very controllable for skipping. They also just came out with a new Tatula 100 that has some new features and copies the gearing of the higher end reels to improve smoothness. I would suggest holding the different models to see the differences, as there is a significant difference between the CT frames and the newer models. I happen to have both styles and don't really have a preference.... They are just different.

If you are considering JDM,... I would throw the Alphas SV in the mix too, especially if you are thinking you want something for the lighter range of baits. I like my Alphas SV about as much as my Zillion,... In fact, I probably fish it more!

As @bulldog1935 said,... The issue is the backlash. I just looked up a kinetic energy calculator and a 1oz lure moving at 150 ft/sec equates to about 21lbs of kinetic energy. Jumping that speed up to 200ft/sec bumps that energy to about 38lbs. If you zing that bait out there and a backlash makes the line come to an immediate stop, that 14lb line, or the knot, isn't likely to stop that 1oz bait.