Daiwa Vs. Shimano

[BigGame0892]

Love my Shimano Curado 200e7s and e5.  I have often thought about getting some Daiwas, but had one buddy who had a bad experience with multiple Zillions - even after professional service.  Still, I could see myself pulling the trigger on a Tatula CT.

[soflabasser]

Shimano

[Caliyak]

Shimano Curado is all you need. I have a Diawa reel and it's a great reel. So, go with either but stay away from Lews. LOL 

[BobP]

I've been mostly a Shimano guy. I like the durability of Shimano reels and still use several Curados that are more than 15 years old.  Recently, I tried a Daiwa Tatula and really like its performance, which I feel is fully equal to my Shimano and better in some respects.  Durability?  Have no idea but it seems solid and I think it will last just fine.  What do I like most about Daiwa?  You can usually find them at a considerable discount while Shimano has a long standing history of enforcing retail pricing by punishing dealers who don't tow the line.  So I feel you can get comparable features in a Daiwa reel at a better price than a Shimano.  Not that I can't afford anything I want to buy, but saving a few bucks is a nice plus.

[MittenMouth]

4 hours ago, BobP said:

You can usually find them at a considerable discount while Shimano has a long standing history of enforcing retail pricing by punishing dealers who don't tow the line. 

I wonder if this is why BPS is now basically a Shimano shop?  They really don't carry many Diawa reels these days when it comes to baitcasting.  If there is one thing I've learned about BPS it would be they really like their margin to stay high 

[Jrob78]

6 hours ago, BobP said:

I What do I like most about Daiwa?  You can usually find them at a considerable discount while Shimano has a long standing history of enforcing retail pricing by punishing dealers who don't tow the line.  So I feel you can get comparable features in a Daiwa reel at a better price than a Shimano.  

I think they all try to enforce MAP but it's got to be near impossible with Ebay and the like.  My last two non JDM Shimano reels were purchased at well below MSRP.  Don't pay retail for Daiwa or Shimano, or probably any other brand for that matter.

[The Big Bassman]

I am an avid LM and SM bass fisherman for the sport of it.  Anything over 15” is my game. I have had my whoppers as well with pics to prove it.  I like structure and vegetation fishing.  After reading all the opinions and owning only shimmano Stradic for all my fishing life, I was talked into purchasing the tatula by Diawa.  I have never learned to bait cast, wish I had, so I am only a spinning reel guy.  After 3 afternoons and evenings on a small lake, I became frustrated in the Diawa.  2 birds nests later I found out why.  The retrieve ratio is 2:1.  I use 15# braided line.  The reel did not load properly. Coils were all over the place and overlapping causing casting problems. I also was told buy a St. Croix 6’ 6” rod.  I have always used 7’ duckett because it has an extra guide in the first eye.  So I pulled out my stradic and checked it’s load.  Perfect coils.  I fished with it and had pinpoint accuracy with no tugs on rod. 25 bass later of a lot of near shore casting with the biggest being 20”.

 

i believe the point I am making is the following:

-if spinning, buy shimano

-spend the extra money and get a stradic product.  I bought the ci4+

-I use only duckett rods, medium or medium light rods, mine is the micro magic pro,I own 2

- load the spool with 10-15lb braided line

then go out and catch a boat load.

[Randy Price]

I have been a Shimano guy for a long time.  I recently bought a Fuego 2500 LT and haven't used it enough to form an opinion but so far it's ok.  I've used Stradic spinning reels for so many years I think I'm brainwashed to them.

[RB 77]

Both are what many consider the top two reel manufacturers in the world for fresh water baitcasters and spinning reels. I myself believe this as well. I am a Shimano guy, but would go with the Tatula over the Casitas in this case for the frame difference alone.