What Diawa Is A 'must Have' Diawa?

[.ghoti.]

I have four Alphas, four Zillions, six Fuegos, and two TD-Zs. I think I can say all are must haves, because I have them. LOL

You can still buy a ZIllion, but it looks like it's days are numbered. The rest are out of production, and have been for a while.

I don't really "need" any more reels, but the SS SV is on my radar. I may not be able to resist much longer.

[Jeff H]

I don't need anymore either, I can work with what I've got now.  I like fixing them up but I'm not blowing money on cosmetic enhancements that offer no performance advantage.  I'm only going to put one foot over the fence into the dark side, not going completely over.  My favorite reel is still the HSTA for all around use.

[Capt.Bob]

I don't tournament fish but always finesse fished unless it was for money, like I had to do when I was running Charters. I never cared for dragging and horsing fish to the boat, and prefered feeling the bite and playing the fish with as little on the line as possible, I like the lightest rod capable for the job, on the lightest line (leader) and the smallest reel capable of holding enough line and drag to get em stopped before I get spooled. Then use the lightest lure, bait, or rigging to get"r"done! If you aint getting paid to do it, it should be fun, and I like given em a chance, even when it's frustrating and their winning!! Enjoy sounds like you got that down though!!

[jtesch]

Part of the hardcore Daiwa love is the ability to work on and trick out their reels. I've built quite a few tricked out td-x's and either use them or sell them at a nice little profit. My last score was a new/display Fuego BC for $130. I put the Gigas spool, carbon tec drag, Boca bearings and a zillion swept drag star with a swept handle and 4 bearing Megabass knobs. Total cost of upgrades was around $150. Now I've done the same upgrade package to Zillions and it really turns them into a superb reel but your looking at $450 when done. The Fuego totals out at $280 and fished side by side the Fuego casts better, is better with lighter weights and is Much lighter. The zillion is gonna have a better drag and is a more heavy duty reel. So I have to say the Fuego is a must have, even if you just change the spool and clean and relive the stock bearings it's s huge improvement

[Silas]

I have the Daiwa Zillion, 3 TDZ's, Purple Alpha, Sol, Yellow Pixy, Red Pixy, and 2 Steez.

 

The Zillion is my "Beater."  I loan it to my brother when we fish.  He loves it.

 

The Sol is a great small crankbait reel.  Very smooth and best bangs for the buck.

 

The Purple Alpha is wonderful ( I traded the Ito for it because I didn't want to be careful with the plastic type sideplate, although it cast better than the Purple)

 

The Yellow and Red Pixies are my go to for wacky worm light fishing.

 

But.....the 2 Steez are presently my "must have" reels.  They are the smoothest, cast the lightest, and all around......with minimum adjustment.  And I bought BOTH of them off forum members, slightly used for about $280 each. 

 

I DO feel, after experimenting with differerent RODS for each, that MUCH depends on the choice of rod as to how much you enjoy the reel.

 

  I've finally found that the Dobyns Extreme models and the old Shimano Cumulus, and the Megabass Rattle Viper are at their very best with these reels. (Also Loomis IMX)

[new2BC4bass]

I have the Daiwa Zillion, 3 TDZ's, Purple Alpha, Sol, Yellow Pixy, Red Pixy, and 2 Steez.

 

The Zillion is my "Beater."  I loan it to my brother when we fish.  He loves it.

 

The Sol is a great small crankbait reel.  Very smooth and best bangs for the buck.

 

The Purple Alpha is wonderful ( I traded the Ito for it because I didn't want to be careful with the plastic type sideplate, although it cast better than the Purple)

 

The Yellow and Red Pixies are my go to for wacky worm light fishing.

 

But.....the 2 Steez are presently my "must have" reels.  They are the smoothest, cast the lightest, and all around......with minimum adjustment.  And I bought BOTH of them off forum members, slightly used for about $280 each. 

 

I DO feel, after experimenting with differerent RODS for each, that MUCH depends on the choice of rod as to how much you enjoy the reel.

 

  I've finally found that the Dobyns Extreme models and the old Shimano Cumulus, and the Megabass Rattle Viper are at their very best with these reels. (Also Loomis IMX)

 

Glad to see you are still around.  Been awhile since I've seen a post of yours.  You've put together some VERY nice gear.....even if the reels are Daiwas. 

 

Must be nice to have a $300 "beater" to loan out.    Doubt you paid that anymore than I did for my Zillions.  I might let a responsible person use one, but they better take good care of it or

 

I've gotten 2 Purple Alphas since last talking to you.  Love these reels.  An Alphas is a must have as far as I am concerned.  Can't afford the Pixy or Steez.  Definitely not those rods.

 

I am up to 21 Daiwas....and that doesn't count my spinning reels.

[BasshunterJGH]

Zillion, tatula and Lexa 300 for swimbaits.

[papajoe222]

For the applications you mention, the Sol would be the perfect answer. It will handle the lighter weight stuff easily and on the rights rod 1/2oz isn't out of the question. Not to pricey either, but there aren't a whole bunch available.

[Big Texan]

Tatula, it will out cast the old Zillion and is a little lighter. The new Zillion will outcast, distance wise, theTatula. All three are great reels just the Tatula at $149 retail is the deal. Great reel and will cast really light baits in the wind with ease.

[Cgrinder]

For the applications you mention, the Sol would be the perfect answer. It will handle the lighter weight stuff easily and on the rights rod 1/2oz isn't out of the question. Not to pricey either, but there aren't a whole bunch available.

 

I agree, though the Sol needs some fairly significant modifications to make it a truly special reel in my opinion. At the very least, the handle and monster handle nut have to go. Carbontex washers are also probably a "mandatory" upgrade. The downside of the Sol/Alphas is that your spool options are limited. Additionally the drag star does not click, but you can throw money at that and change it.

 

I am a big fan of my Sol. It spent the last week throwing Baby Rage Craws for river Smallmouth and I was very impressed by its performance. So for now I'd say the Sol is must-have Daiwa, though we'll see if my choice changes after I acquire a TD-Z and a Steez.

[Jeff H]

The new Zillion will outcast, distance wise, theTatula. 

How do you know this?  I would expect it should but I've not seen any comments from anyone who actually has one yet.

[rippin-lips]

I can't understand all the hype of the steez. I have one that's gotta boca os7 bearings and a rcs 1016 spool. Yes it's super light and it's smooth but it doesn't handle weightless plastics well at all. To throw a weightless senko I have to crank the brakes up pretty high and add a few clicks of tension. I am using fluoro which isn't know to be the most manageable though. My tatula throws a weightless fluke with no troubles.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Im outta my league here but i finnesse fish with a BC sometimes.i have 2 tech specs and use them on a old school pistol grip lightning rod with 6 lb yo zuri.the reel weighs 6 oz the rod 3 oz .im casting 1/16 on up with no probs.To the OP though the rod IMO is 90% of your casting. med light and light action rods will .cast better as mots are made for lighter weights as posted on the rod.

[jamesholton]

i think THE diawa you should try is the pixy. same size as sol, but shallower spool. finesse MACHINE!!! make it a "pixzilla" and it's just awesome!!!

[new2BC4bass]

i think THE diawa you should try is the pixy. same size as sol, but shallower spool. finesse MACHINE!!! make it a "pixzilla" and it's just awesome!!!

 

Pixy might be the same size as a Sol with a shallower spool, but I have to think there are more differences than that.  I have an upgraded and tuned Sol that I installed a Presso spool in.  Yes it improved handling light lures.  It isn't quite apples to apples as I made the mistake of spooling 10# Super Natural on it versus the 6# XL and 6# Elite I have on a couple other reels.  The cheaper reels are getting a little better distance than the Sol.  So is my tuned and upgraded TD-Z 105H.  Didn't change the line when the 105H arrived, but it looks like 6# as well.  Lighter line on the Sol should improve its distance to compare much more closely to the other reels...maybe even equal them.

 

I would hope that a Pixy...and especially a Pixilla....at several times the cost of my cheap reels, and at least twice (for a Pixilla) what I have in the 105H would be a much better performing reel.  Would love to find an Airy Red I could afford.

 

The Steez is loved by many.  However, I have read several posts stating that it can be a bear to control....especially with light lures.  I think this pertained more to one model.  (Maybe the 103?  Don't remember.)

[jamesholton]

yeah, i'd like a red one too. i have a stock orange one,and custom painted pixzilla. caught my pb on the stock pixy. 9 #er! i just really like the whole alphas/sol/pixy platform a lot. 

i have 15# smackdown braid on the pixzilla now. havent used mono in a looooong time.

[new2BC4bass]

i just really like the whole alphas/sol/pixy platform a lot. 

 

 

So do I.    I've got 5 reels on that platform.  I am also a fan of the TD-Z platform.  Had my first Low Profile out this weekend...a Fuego.  Still a sweet reel.

[Big Texan]

Jeff H , I have casted a New Zillion then a Tatula with the same bait and same rod and line. With the TWS system now in the Zillion it will out distance every reel out there I believe. The spool completely disengages on the Zillion when the bar is pressed, It was 25 feet further than the Tatula and it casts the country mile.The Zillion was a factory proto type but pretty sure production reel. Didn't get to see if the Zillion will cast micro baits like the Tatula will but probably will.

[new2BC4bass]

Jeff H , I have casted a New Zillion then a Tatula with the same bait and same rod and line. With the TWS system now in the Zillion it will out distance every reel out there I believe. The spool completely disengages on the Zillion when the bar is pressed, It was 25 feet further than the Tatula and it casts the country mile.The Zillion was a factory proto type but pretty sure production reel. Didn't get to see if the Zillion will cast micro baits like the Tatula will but probably will.

 

Some nice information.  Thanks.

[jamesholton]

i'm thinking maybe a T3 mx will be next on the list!!

[Hot n Tot]

I have: two Steez, two Std Zillions, one 50th anniv. Zillion, one Type R Zillion, two TDZ-105H and oneTDZ-103P. I also got 2 TDZ-100M spools for the Zillions which enable them to toss 1/4 oz baits such as a tiny torpedo a long way. But I gotta say, my 2 TDZ 105H reels are my favorites (for feel baits) Even better than my two steez. I love fishing small topwaters with the Zillions with the shallow spools.

[new2BC4bass]

i'm thinking maybe a T3 mx will be next on the list!!

 

Personally think they are better looking than the T3 1016 with the black reel and purple accents.  Couldn't tell any difference between the two for what little I have used them so far.  No surprise there    Played with both early this year.  Got down to Longcast and zero brakes casting a mid-size weight on MHF rods.  However, I could tell that setting could lead to problems for me if everything wasn't just right.  Could feel the line "fluffing" on every cast.  Maxbrake yield about the same distance with less fear of backlashing/overrunning.

 

I say go for it.  Doubt you will be disappointed.

[aavery2]

Im outta my league here but i finnesse fish with a BC sometimes.i have 2 tech specs and use them on a old school pistol grip lightning rod with 6 lb yo zuri.the reel weighs 6 oz the rod 3 oz .im casting 1/16 on up with no probs.To the OP though the rod IMO is 90% of your casting. med light and light action rods will .cast better as mots are made for lighter weights as posted on the rod.

Are you sure you meant to say 1/16th oz baits,  there are some seriously high end BFS reels out there that do not cast a bait this light with any accuracy or distance using high end rods specifically designed for ultra light baits,  

[John G]

I still haven't bought the Daiwa yet, but I did learn how to spell Daiwa since this Thread was started and many other things. In the near future, I will be down sizing a bit and if I keep my MBR842, I may get a Daiwa for it to throw weightless plastics.

[Cgrinder]

I still haven't bought the Daiwa yet, but I did learn how to spell Daiwa since this Thread was started and many other things. In the near future, I will be down sizing a bit and if I keep my MBR842, I may get a Daiwa for it to throw weightless plastics.

 

Nah MBR842's are terrible. Send it to me; my Sol will "dispose" of it for you.