Opinions on my next reel purchase, please.

[Ray K]

I've recently become semi-retired and am getting back into bass fishing after a hiatus  of about 20 years.  I was an avid tournament fisherman back in the 70's and 80's and was sponsored by the Mann's Bait Company at one time.  So, it's time to upgrade my tackle.  I've still got my well  maintained old tackle consisting of Lew's Speed Spool reels, Daiwa Procasters, Garcia 5000s, and one Quantum KV600CX that I received for Father's day about 5 years ago.

I've spent the past few days researching reels online and have scoured the forums for what seems the most popular reels in the $150 to $180 range.  I've narrowed the list down the these three:

Shimano Curado, Daiwa Tatula, Lew's Tournament Lite, Cabales Arachnid (Tatula?)

I'll be buying one reel (with the appropriate rods) for top water and lure fishing and one reel for worming and soft baits.  I'd appreciate some opinions on my short list as well as any I haven't listed while keeping reel cost below $180.  Thanks for some input.

Edited May 16, 2016 by Ray K
spelling

[Raul]

From that list I would have problem deciding which one would I purchase first: Curado or Tatula, Tatula or Curado, man that´s a difficult one .....

[fishballer06]

Curado or Tatula, neither will treat you wrong. I've owned both and I have since sold my Tatula. I just prefer the Curado over it. 

[Evan K]

I have experience with the Tatula and it's a great reel. I am about to get some experience with the Curado, it feels like a good one as well. If you want to save a few bucks and get one just as good as the Tat check out the Lews Tournament MB. Any Lews reel I've used has been absolutely terrific, no complaints at all about them.

[Ray K]

1 hour ago, Raul said:

From that list I would have problem deciding which one would I purchase first: Curado or Tatula, Tatula or Curado, man that´s a difficult one .....

Of these reels, which ones have their cast control on the outside of the case vs. having to open up the left case cover to make adjustments?  I'm not sure I'd like that as I change lures a lot and would rather make adjustments externally.

[Scarborough817]

i personally love my tatulas but i have a friend that has held them and said he didn't find it comfortable personally i would see if you can find a shop that has both and hold them to see which you feel fits in your hand better then pick that one. i'm in love with my tatula type R 8.1.1 it just feels like a beefier real to me than the curado does

[Ray K]

24 minutes ago, Scarborough817 said:

i personally love my tatulas but i have a friend that has held them and said he didn't find it comfortable personally i would see if you can find a shop that has both and hold them to see which you feel fits in your hand better then pick that one. i'm in love with my tatula type R 8.1.1 it just feels like a beefier real to me than the curado does

Regarding the Tatula, I'm seeing two Tatulas that look similar to the Cabela Arachnid and maybe they are the same.  However, there are two Tatulas, one at $150, and the Tatula R at $200.  The Cabela Arachnid is priced right in the  middle at $180.  So, which Tatula is it supposed to be similar to?

[Scarborough817]

Just now, Ray K said:

Regarding the Tatula, I'm seeing two Tatulas that look similar to the Cabela Arachnid and maybe they are the same.  However, there are two Tatulas, one at $150, and the Tatula R at $200.  The Cabela Arachnid is priced right in the  middle at $180.  So, which Tatula is it supposed to be similar to?

look as though it is supposed to be a type R just re-branded for cabelas

[Choporoz]

Type R with more bearings - and only $110 at the moment - sounds like a steal.  I got my newest Type R from ebay for $120 and thought I got a deal....

[Scarborough817]

1 minute ago, Choporoz said:

Type R with more bearings - and only $110 at the moment - sounds like a steal.  I got my newest Type R from ebay for $120 and thought I got a deal....

it's only the 6 gear ratio that is available for 110 though

[Raul]

1 hour ago, Ray K said:

Of these reels, which ones have their cast control on the outside of the case vs. having to open up the left case cover to make adjustments?  I'm not sure I'd like that as I change lures a lot and would rather make adjustments externally.

The Tatula has magnetic brake, the dial is on the outside, no need to make adjustments to the weights found in centrifugal braking reels like the Curado.

[blckshirt98]

The Curado I's are on sale at Monster Tackle for $140 if that helps!  I know Cabelas uses some of Daiwa's technology and are made in the same factory (the higher end Cabela reels even still have Daiwa's "D" logo on the reel), but I'm not sure about the small differences between the Cabela vs Daiwa reels at the similar price points.

[Wprich]

Don't forget about the pflueger line of reels, particularly the supreme and supreme xt baitcasters they run from 100-150 respectively.  You get alot of bang for your buck on each model, but that's with all pfluegers IMO.  The Patriarch is about 200 or 250 new I believe, I got a brand new one off eBay for 140 a year ago and love it.

[Ray K]

9 minutes ago, Raul said:

The Tatula has magnetic brake, the dial is on the outside, no need to make adjustments to the weights found in centrifugal braking reels like the Curado.

I notice that the Lew's Speed Spool Tournament Lite also has a centrifugal brake system but, the adjustments (27) are on the outside .  Are there also more adjustments inside or, no need to open it up to adjust?

[Ktho]

1 minute ago, Ray K said:

I notice that the Lew's Speed Spool Tournament Lite also has a centrifugal brake system but, the adjustments (27) are on the outside .  Are there also more adjustments inside or, no need to open it up to adjust?

The adjustment is done via a dial on the sideplate. You can open it up but there is no internal adjustments. The ones that have magnets and centrifugal the dial is for the magnets and there is an internal adjustment needed for the centrifugal.

Lews are my favorite reels by far, they have all exceeded my expectations.

[Ray K]

2 minutes ago, Ktho said:

The adjustment is done via a dial on the sideplate. You can open it up but there is no internal adjustments. The ones that have magnets and centrifugal the dial is for the magnets and there is an internal adjustment needed for the centrifugal.

Lews are my favorite reels by far, they have all exceeded my expectations.

I'm kind of leaning towards the Lew's because of the magnetic brake with 27 external adjustments.  I have one of the very first Lew's speed spools from the early '80s and it's still going strong.

[Ray K]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their opinions.  I've bought two Lew's Speed Spool Tournament MBs with dual brakes.  One with 6.8:1 retrieve and one with 7.5.  I'm pairing them with two #8 Blackout 7 ft. rods.  One Medium and one Medium Heavy.  Total cost just under $400 with shipping.  That should get me upgraded just enough to make me want more later on.  I know it will happen if past experience hold true.

[racedad]

I'm in the same boat as you, no pund intended. While getting back into fresh water from my 10 year hiatus, in the last three weeks I have started upgrading my arsenal by purchasing 1 Lew's Tournament MB 7:5, BB1 5:xx, BB1 6:4, BB1 8:1, 2 Lew's custom lites and a Dobyns 934. Wife is having a fit.

[new2BC4bass]

53 minutes ago, Ray K said:

Just wanted to thank everyone for their opinions.  I've bought two Lew's Speed Spool Tournament MBs with dual brakes.  One with 6.8:1 retrieve and one with 7.5.  I'm pairing them with two #8 Blackout 7 ft. rods.  One Medium and one Medium Heavy.  Total cost just under $400 with shipping.  That should get me upgraded just enough to make me want more later on.  I know it will happen if past experience hold true.

 

Know nothing about the rods, but I got to use my new Tournament MB for the first time yesterday.  Very smooth.  Wind strong at about 12:30/1:00 gusting to 30-35mph.  Tossing downstream was still across the wind.  Had to use more magnetic brakes than on my Lew's Pro Z...which are at zero, but that reel wasn't used in such strong winds.  Both reels have 2 internal brakes on.  I think you will be pleased with your choice.  You did good. 

Safe bet that you will be listening to the Bait Monkey more often now.  You need to start looking at such reels as the Shimano Metanium or Conquest, Steez SV, Lew's Team Pro Magnesium and don't forget the Pinnacle Primmus Xi HS or Pinnacle Optimus Xi HS....both hand tuned at the factory.  Liked my first Primmus well enough I bought two more.   Another reel that impressed me from the first cast is the Okuma Helios Air and was able to pick up a second for less than $160.  Great deal on a very good reel.  Have cast a 3/16 oz. crankbait with it on a rod rated 3/8-3/4 oz.  Not bad for an old so and so like me.

[Mr Swim Jig]

You can't go wrong with any of the reels you mentioned. I have Tatula Type-R reels, regular Tatula reels and a coupe of the new Tatula CT Type-R reels and I absolutely love all of them and have not had any problems with any of these reels.  

[SMITTY0045]

The price range you are looking at is very competitive amongst the big reel companies, meaning that you should be getting a good product with whatever reel you choose. Personally I like the Revo SX: it feels the best in my hands and I like the way it performs. I have handled all of the reels you mentioned though as well and from my experience they are all quality reels. I would just choose whichever you like the best.

Also, I believe I saw somewhere that the Arachnid is supposed to be the same as the Tatula type R. Many of Cabelas reels are actually Daiwa reels with the cabela's labeling and logos on them. If you look at many of the reels, the Daiwa logo is still near the gear box (not sure what to call that area of the reel)

[Evan K]

6 hours ago, Ray K said:

Just wanted to thank everyone for their opinions.  I've bought two Lew's Speed Spool Tournament MBs with dual brakes.  One with 6.8:1 retrieve and one with 7.5.  I'm pairing them with two #8 Blackout 7 ft. rods.  One Medium and one Medium Heavy.  Total cost just under $400 with shipping.  That should get me upgraded just enough to make me want more later on.  I know it will happen if past experience hold true.

Good for you! Please report back, I'm pretty confident you'll be just as tickled as I was with my first MBs.

Happy fishing!

[Yudo1]

Lew's make some great reels.  I prefer daiwa/shimano but started with Lew's and they have always been trouble-free and used friendly.  Congratulations on your purchase.

[Mike2841]

I have a tatula and a curado I , I've also used lews reels before. Between the tatula and curado you could really flip a coin, both are phenomenal reels. If I were to buy another reel reel right now if opt for the curado over the tatula just because it's smaller and I find it more comfortable, performance wise it's a wash. If you can get your hands on these feels at the store I would buy whichever one feels better in hand, you won't be disappointed by either.