Why I chose Daiwa Tatula Type R over Shimano Curado

[adrenalizd]

I know that there are a lot of people out there like myself and this is why I made this post. Many are wanting to finally move up and get some decent fishing equipment but have no idea what to get or where to start.

I spent hundreds, actually thousands of hours researching before I bought my equipment. I visited all of the forums, read the posts, watched the reviews and every youtube video I could find. I went to several stores and paired several reels with several rods to see how they felt. I even borrowed each reel and rod from various friends so that I could try them out on the water.

So after all of this, what did I learn? Which one was better?

Comfort: I have been using cheap reels for my entire life. In my hands I could tell they were a different size but neither felt better than the other to me. I have large hands so the small difference in size meant nothing to me.

Which one flipped, pitched and casted better? Neither. I was able to adjust the brakes and each one performed flawlessly, especially when compared to what I have been used to. Yes I could tell a huge difference between my $25 combo reels and the Tatula and the Curado, but I could tell no real difference between the Tatula and Curado themselves. I am sure that there are people that fish 250 plus days a year that can tell a difference but for an average fisherman wanting to move up in their equipment, I highly doubt you will find a difference in performance.

How about dependability? Now I have not personally owned them long enough to tell personally, I have read every forum that I could find that has these two reels in their posts. My conclusion: They are both wonderfully reliable with great customer support and will last you a lifetime if taken care of.

Looks: This is the biggest difference I could find between the two. This all comes down to personal preference, as they are both beautiful reels.

So why did I choose the Tatula over the Curado? It wasn't features, as they are both packed. It was't performance as they are both evenly matched. It wasn't brand loyalty, before this purchase my best reels were Abu Garcias. 

So why did I choose the Tatulas? I bought three, two 8.1:1's and a 6:3.1.

Simple... Price. I found the Tatulas on sale for $109.95 each. I was able to purchase three Tatulas for less than two of the Curados. Had the Curados been the less expensive reel then they would have been my choice. So in my opinion if anyone is looking at these two reels go for the one that you like the way it looks better or for which one costs less, as they are pretty much evenly matched. If your skill level is great enough that you can tell a huge difference between the two then you are probably not reading forums looking to see which reel you should buy as you probably already know. 

[S. Sass]

In this discussion Lew's wasn't even mentioned? Considering Lew's midrange reels are dead in their wheelhouse I find the absence of them in your decision odd or incomplete. 

Did you compare the Lew's offerings? If so how did you eliminate it and keep the Tatula?

Just curious 

[J Francho]

Because there's Daiwa and Shimano, and then there's everyone else.

[Raul]

11 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Because there's Daiwa and Shimano, and then there's everyone else.

Pretty much says everything that needs to be said.

Wanna know why I chose a TDZ over a Calais 100A ?

Because the Calais kicks butt and the TDZ kicks butt twice.

[Turkey sandwich]

While I've never owned a Daiwa reel, I own several Chronarchs  purchased for around $180-200.  I also own a Lews SS BBB1 that I bought for around $160.  I actually really like the Lews, but it is nowhere near as manageable as the Chronarchs and at times a pain in the ass when the wind does silly things.  Even in the midrange category, Shimano's Curados and Chronarchs are a pleasure to fish and I would take them over the Lews I've fished any day. 

[adrenalizd]

I don't know anyone that has a Lews that I was able to try out.  I saw a couple in the stores,  but had no way to actually try it out. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

1 hour ago, Turkey sandwich said:

While I've never owned a Daiwa reel, I own several Chronarchs  purchased for around $180-200.  I also own a Lews SS BBB1 that I bought for around $160.  I actually really like the Lews, but it is nowhere near as manageable as the Chronarchs and at times a pain in the ass when the wind does silly things.  Even in the midrange category, Shimano's Curados and Chronarchs are a pleasure to fish and I would take them over the Lews I've fished any day. 

Same here. my Lose BB1 Pro was a dud even before it dudded out it didnt perform as well as tatula or my curados chronarchs. That said even my tatula rarely gets used just not liking the reel all that much but the price I got it for cant be beat.

[Hulkster]

I have a Curado 200i PG and love it. its amazing. but it was $240 Canadian. that's how much they go for up here with our crappy dollar and all..

[NYBasser]

9 hours ago, adrenalizd said:

Simple... Price. I found the Tatulas on sale for $109.95 each. I was able to purchase three Tatulas for less than two of the Curados. Had the Curados been the less expensive reel then they would have been my choice. So in my opinion if anyone is looking at these two reels go for the one that you like the way it looks better or for which one costs less, as they are pretty much evenly matched. If your skill level is great enough that you can tell a huge difference between the two then you are probably not reading forums looking to see which reel you should buy as you probably already know. 

If you know where to look, ex: craigslist, the flea market section, other forums, etc. you can easily find Curado 200I's for $120 brand new, or even as low as $85 slightly used. Personally, I'd go with the Curado. Had a friend who had some bad experiences with Daiwa. 

[adrenalizd]

This was a mistake on my part,  everything I read compared the Tatula to the Curado e, I didn't know about the I series,  so those were the two I was comparing.  The e series were all around $200.

[fishnkamp]

So far I have changed 6 reels to Tatula, Tatula Type Rs and 1 Exceller.  Over the last three years I have fished them hard in tidal water for bass and stripers with many big blue and channel cats thrown in. I also fish deep clear lakes in Tennessee for largies, Kentucky spots and huge smallies,  l am curious for those that did not like their Tatulas what did you dislike? Was it that you always fish Shimano's. I can see Lews owners finding the larger bodied Tats not as comfortable. If you are used to Lew's smaller frames I think the Tatula CT would fill the bill.  I am about to get rid of one Chronarch and several other reels to add a total of 5 more Diawas. These things are workhorses. Personally I fished the Chronarch for two years and found it overpriced and overrated.

[adrenalizd]

I love the Tatula, I think they are the best at their price range.  Such a major improvement from other reels. 

[Scarborough817]

i personally prefer daiwa over shimano i have a citica i as well as 3 tatulas 2 standard 100 7.3.1 and one type-r 8.1.1 i find that the citica just doesn't cast as well as i would like it to now it may be the rod that it's on but who knows 

[new2BC4bass]

43 minutes ago, adrenalizd said:

I live the Tatula, I think they are the best at their price range.  Such a major improvement from other reels. 

Hard to argue with that point.  I've got 30 Daiwas and the only problems I have had with the new ones were the drag not working on a T3 1016 and an Alphas SV105 backlashing and not getting good casting distance.  Removing the plastic part under the spool tension knob (and re-inserting it) on the T3 cured that problem.  A good cleaning and tune up solved the problem with the SV.

Never had to deal with Daiwa's customer service, but pretty sure they would treat you right.  Daiwa didn't get to be a major player by not taking care of their customers.

[WRB]

One method to gage a reels real worth is resale value.

Tom

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

He has ABU Garcia reels so he knows what lews brings to the table whether he realizes it or not. 

[DubyaDee]

I saw this long post and was excited to read about what reel 'spoke' to you and earned it's right onto your rod. Then I read that you found a deal on one so decided on it....oh well. You should put this in the deals thread. Congrats on saving a few dollars! Hope the reel does everything you expect it to.

[Catt]

If they didn't make Shimano I would use Daiwa

[WRB]

Daiwa's Luna isn't equal to Shimano's Calcutta, can't say that about the low profile reels, both are good and can't go wrong with either, I use both.

Tom

 

[Big Bait Fishing]

3 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

He has ABU Garcia reels so he knows what lews brings to the table whether he realizes it or not. 

i don't know about that , i think the ACB brake sytstem is a lot better than Abu's

the reels are smaller making them palm better  and  alot of the reels come with better , longer handles .

[Big Bait Fishing]

56 minutes ago, WRB said:

Daiwa's Luna isn't equal to Shimano's Calcutta, can't say that about the low profile reels, both are good and can't go wrong with either, I use both.

Tom

 

maybe not the Luna , but this one is ..

 

then again , i will never use a round reel as i prefer low profile bait casters ..

 

[NoahWatts]

I have several Lews reels but I'm a Daiwa guy.  Owned a few shimano's for me it comes down to the breaking system.  I prefer magnetic over centrifugal 

[Further North]

I've got a couple of Shimanos...a couple Daiwas...several Quantums...a few Pfluger (all spinning) and a bunch of Abu Garcias...which covers the Lew's...

Toss in a couple Nautilus, a dozen Lamson, 3 or 4 Orvis, and I begin to realize that they're all good at the price they were purchased and if I

1. Understand what they're for and use them that way, and
2. Take care of them

I'll see value in all of them.

I've never been one to get caught up in the Ford/Chevy/Toyota wars.  I don't get it why someone else's choice can ever be a problem to me... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[fishnkamp]

If any of you Shimano guys are interested I just listed a Chronarch 200E7 ( 7-1 gear ratio) for sale on the Flea Market forum. Check here if you are looking for one. 

 

[Catt]

I have a friend who has been in the reel repair business since the mid 60 & in his opinion Shimano & Daiwa are #1 & #2 for reliability.

I started with Shimano & Daiwa has shown me no reason to change.

My first was a Bantam 100EX with rosewood handle

Solid as an anvil, versatile as a pair of ChannelLocks, dependable as a 30/30!