daiwa fuego???

[OroBass]

Has anyone used this reel yet? Talking about the brand new model with 12 bearings

[PitchinJigz]

I got one this summer and I've been using it quite a bit. It's a pretty solid reel for the price. I like it. I got it because I wanted an 8:1 reel and Shimano doesn't offer it in the I series reels. The 8:1 Fuego picks up line super fast. One thing to note is 6 of the bearings are in the handle, which really isn't an improvement over a 4 bearing handle, so don't get too caught up in bearing count.

[Big C]

I have the 8.1:1 gear ratio, it is ridiculously fast.  I have only had it a month or two, but so far I LOVE it.

 On a side note, right now on TW if you buy one you get a rebate for a free long sleeve T-shirt, you just have to send $5 for S&H, but it says if you send cash it will not be accepted or returned.  So, where does that $5 cash go?  

[Molay1292]

37 minutes ago, PitchinJigz said:

I got one this summer and I've been using it quite a bit. It's a pretty solid reel for the price. I like it. I got it because I wanted an 8:1 reel and Shimano doesn't offer it in the I series reels. The 8:1 Fuego picks up line super fast. One thing to note is 6 of the bearings are in the handle, which really isn't an improvement over a 4 bearing handle, so don't get too caught up in bearing count.

6 bearings in the handle, how so?

[Tmmytomato]

Don't get caught up in the number of bearings in a reel. There are some lower quality reels that boast a rather high number of bearings but after a year or less of regular use they get noisy and sometimes even crunchy feeling.  Some of the very best reels I own have less than ten bearings and one with 5 total bearings but one of the smoothest I have ever owned is a Shimano Calcutta. Granted it's a more pricey reel. But the quality is in the bearings themselves, not the number but the hardness and roundness of the bearing.  I have owned in the neighborhood of a hundred fifty baitcasters and the best reels have the best qualaity bearings, not necessarily the most bearings.

I have added Boca Bearings to less pricey reels and made them very smooth to fish with for days.

[OroBass]

I am definitely not tricked by bearing counts. I am just trying to decide between the new fuego or a tat. I have several lexa 100s that I love but it looks to me like they have been replaced?

[robster80]

is has a plastic sideplate right? vs aluminum on the tatula.  

[iabass8]

1 hour ago, robster80 said:

is has a plastic sideplate right? vs aluminum on the tatula.  

Yes, the fuego has a composite side plate. 

[5fishlimit]

23 hours ago, robster80 said:

is has a plastic sideplate right? vs aluminum on the tatula.  

The only sideplate on the Tatula that is aluminum is the handle side.  the side you take off to access the spool is composite.