Daiwa Vs. Shimano

[jsh32]

I am in the market for a new reel and was wondering what the difference in the two brands are? I'm looking to stay around the 129 price point for right now. I have the Daiwa Tatula CT and I absolutely love it. But since I am looking to get a new reel I have been wondering if the Shimano Casitas 150 would be better, worse, or about the same just with a different logo. The reviews I have been reading on them both seem to say the exact same thing, "Best reel for the price" and so on. I know some people on here are strictly "Team Daiwa" or "Team Shimano" and I would like to know why they have stayed loyal to one brand over the other. I would also like to hear from people who have used both reels or at least both brands.

[iabass8]

[J Francho]

Either are good.  I have both, but favor Daiwa.  Pick what frame feels best in hand.

[Darren.]

Agree with @J Francho, these are two brands you can
really "take your pick". I have a Lexa and a Chronarch 50e,
the latter of which feels better in my hands. Actually gave
the Lexa to one of my boys, but it is a solid reel, and I
caught a lot of bass on it, including a 14# Striper. Just 
happen to be moving away from casting and back to 
spinning these days...

[Logan S]

The Tatula is the best value in casting reels right now IMO...And I say that as someone that's fully on the Shimano bandwagon.  It's a great reel at a great price.  My reels are mostly Shimano's above that price point, but I do have 1 Tatula and I don't see myself getting rid of it anytime soon.  

 

[kickerfish1]

Title should read "Daiwa and Shimano" ... The only 2 brands of reels you will ever need.

[fishnkamp]

I have sold all of my Shimano Curado es and my 1 Chronarch 200E7 and replaced them with Daiwas. I own 1 Exceller and a mix of  tatula Type Rs and Cts. Here on the Chesapeake Bay tributaries and the Potomac river if you fish for bass and stripers you best be ready to tangle with big snakeheads and big blue cats. To date my biggest striper was 30 inches. My biggest cat was just over18 pounds. That took a while. These reels cast well, have great drags and are just workhorses.  One thing I really do not like is opening a reels sideplate to adjust a drag system. If you fish rough water you can understand why. Just my preference. 

[roadwarrior]

Strong, silent and reliant.  I have been VERY happy with Shimano over the years.

Recently I acquired a Daiwa Alpha, my first ever of this brand. I have been VERT impressed.

 

[kstephes033]

Big thing to keep in mind between these two reels are that the casitas is a carbon frame composite, and the tatula is aluminum. This is going to equate generally to a longer lasting reel. I have had both, sold both of my casitas reels, as well as all of my other shimanos, and now own all daiwas ranging from the steez down to the tatula ct, and as said, i believe the tat ct is currently the best value reel on the market. You can get it in any speed, strong drag, casts a mile, and fits in hand very well. Plus you can generally find them around the $100 range.

[evilcatfish]

Both are great. For some reason I favor Daiwa for casting reels and Shimano spinning. Not sure why, just always been this way

[Hogsticker]

Braking style and form factor preference. 

[WRB]

I was a Abu Ambassaduer 2500C, 4500C, 5000C reel user for decades and started to add smaller light weight reeks like Shimano Bantam 100, 1000 in the 80's and put away the Ambassaduers. 

In the 90's the first Shimano Calcutta's like 250 became my swimbait reels and still use them. Daiwa came out with Team Daiwa HTSA first free running spool reels and change out the Shimano Bantams for my go to reels until the Tatula high speed 8:1 reels came out. Today my Shimano's are the Calcutta and spinning Stratic reels, my general use bait casters are Daiwa's.

The reason is the Daiwa drags have improved and prefer the braking system, both Shimano and Daiwa reels cast extremely well and are very durable, you can't go wrong.

Tom

[Raul]

12 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

Title should read "Daiwa and Shimano" ... The only 2 brands of reels you will ever need.

[F14A-B]

At that price, not much. As was stated, pick a frame that fits your hand and the braking system you favor. If you need more assistance on braking systems, simply ask. Myself or others will be glad to help you.

Good luck.

[Jrob78]

17 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

Title should read "Daiwa and Shimano" ... The only 2 brands of reels you will ever need.

This!

[Yudo1]

19 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

Title should read "Daiwa and Shimano" ... The only 2 brands of reels you will ever need.

x2.  For me it simplifies things quite a bit when I only stick with these two stellar choices.  To reiterate what others have stated, consider how the frame fits your hand and the braking systems.  You can't make a bad decision here because they are both quality reels.

[Raul]

22 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

Title should read "Daiwa and Shimano" ... The only 2 brands of reels you will ever need.

To me it became a matter of which one I was going to purchase first, personally what I like about Daiwa is that it has a lot of really cool stuff, Shimano is more conservative.

[Mr Swim Jig]

I have both reel manufactures in my arsenal and both companies produce a top quality product, you won't be sorry with either one of these two manufactures. It all will come down to preference...But I personally prefer my Daiwa reels, just saying...

[Jeff H]

This choice, for me, has always come down to braking systems.  My casting efforts were changed dramatically for the better when Daiwa introduced Magforce Z.  I have no reason to change and I'm not encumbered by any brand loyalty so if something comes along that works better I'll use it as long as it's a Daiwa or Shimano!.  Right now, I really like Mag Z and 3D systems and V has it's proper applications but it's more limited in scope...for me.  I've learned how to put these 3 systems to work for me for best results and am very happy with Daiwa for now.  

[Onvacation]

I fish Shimano spinning reels and have forever.  I've spent a lot of time with Shimano casting reels but just don't like the feel of them.  This might be due to my use of mainly Lews reels which feel nothing in my hand like the Shimano.  I have a couple of Tatula Rs and really like them quite a bit. 

[jsh32]

Thanks for the help everyone.

On ‎11‎/‎24‎/‎2016 at 1:30 AM, Alonerankin2 said:

At that price, not much. As was stated, pick a frame that fits your hand and the braking system you favor. If you need more assistance on braking systems, simply ask. Myself or others will be glad to help you.

Good luck.

What are the differences in the braking systems. I don't really know how they work or anything like that

[Jon G]

Like others have said find one which fits your hand and has a breaking system you like. Daiwa's have never palmed well with me and I have never cared much for their braking systems so I've always been a Shimano fan.

[The Bassman]

4 hours ago, jsh32 said:

Thanks for the help everyone.

What are the differences in the braking systems. I don't really know how they work or anything like that

 

You're  likely familiar with your Daiwa magnetic brakes by now.  I primarily fish Shimano which employs centrifugal braking.  My 2 cents towards this topic is this:  Given your price point and your satisfaction with your Tatula CT I would just stay in that platform.  Perhaps a different speed for other applications.  I know it might take the fun out of having something different but there's a real benefit to being familiar with your equipment.  The Tatula CT will cover all your needs.

[Mark888]

The tatula is the best reel in that price range in my opinion. Go into store and hold the reels and see. I help the casitas and tatula in hand and went with the tatula, its more of a personal preference thing. 

[clh121787]

On 11/23/2016 at 10:57 AM, fishnkamp said:

I have sold all of my Shimano Curado es and my 1 Chronarch 200E7 and replaced them with Daiwas. I own 1 Exceller and a mix of  tatula Type Rs and Cts. Here on the Chesapeake Bay tributaries and the Potomac river if you fish for bass and stripers you best be ready to tangle with big snakeheads and big blue cats. To date my biggest striper was 30 inches. My biggest cat was just over18 pounds. That took a while. These reels cast well, have great drags and are just workhorses.  One thing I really do not like is opening a reels sideplate to adjust a drag system. If you fish rough water you can understand why. Just my preference. 

U wanna sell the last one to me ?