Lew's Vs. Daiwa Tatula

[MNGeorge]

The set ups I use most often all have Lew's reels on them and I have no complaints with them. I'm looking at getting a Daiwa Tatula to try because of the T-Wing line guide feature. Has anyone fished both Lew's reels and Daiwa Tatula reels and if so, is the T-Wing everything the commercials make it out to be?

[bass raider]

I have fished both and saw no difference in cast ability between the T-wing and a conventional level wind. I owned a standard tatula and a $100 speed spool lfs at the same time and I was actually getting more distance out of the LFS. The Lews seemed much more straightforward and a lot easier to get dialed in. I never could get the tatula dialed in just right. Maybe I'm not sophisticated enough to handle a Daiwa properly.. Lol

[fishnkamp]

I have changed most of my reels over from Shimano Curados and Chronarchs and Bass Pro Extremes to Daiwas.

I apologize, but I have not used a Lews in over 4 years.

Having said that, I fish with 1 Exceler, 4 Tatula Type Rs and 2 Tatula CTs.  I am pretty sure I am familiar enough with these reels to trey to help you.

If you like really small reels then stay with your Lews reels.  A Lews Speed Spool LF is both small and weighs either 6.9 or 7.0 ounces.

 

There are two major Tatula bodies available. There is the original Tatula reels ( Tatula, and Tatula Type Rs)

These reels are the larger size and weigh either 7.9 or 7.6 ounces.  If you are using mostly Lews reels than more than likely they will feel heavy to you.

 

My suggestion is to look at the newer version called the Tatula CT- or Tatula compact which is a different body all together.  There are 3 versions of that reel. I use the standard Tatula CT and love them. In fact I love fishing with all of my Daiwas.   There are also a Tatula CT Type R and an anniversary version.   Personally, I see only one reason to run the Type Rs and that was to get a 8-1 left handed reel, which I wanted for frogging.  The CTs weigh 7.4 and 7.2 ounces.  I doubt you could tell if the reel weighs .2 or .4 ounces more.  Both of the Type Rs come in a left handed 8.1-1 gear ratio, they include a tiny bit lighter spool and instead of having only one corrosion resistant bearing, they change one regular bearing so the reel has 2 cr bearings. Now does that matter when you are casting and retrieving lures? Absolutely not!  I do believe in the MagForce Z brake system and the T wing also. Is it a major game changer. No.  Does it function as they advertise?  Yes.  

 

I am sorta confused by bass raider's comments that he had trouble dialing in a Tatula reel.  The Lews has a simple magnetic brake adjustment that works with the standard cast control knob.  No mystery there.  You simply back off the brakes, adjust the speed of the dropping lure till it just stops as it hits the ground and then adjust the magnetic brakes by turning the external dial.

 

With the MagForce Z it is a bit different. Back off the brakes using the external dial.  Next adjust the side play in the spool. You want to have the spool move just the tiniest bit side to side, like less than a 32th of an inch. I usually tighten the cast control knob till there is no side clearance then back off a bit till I just see the spool move side to side.  If you check the drop rate of the lure it will seem too fast compared to a traditional reel.  Now you can adjust the magnetic brake dial.  I suspect bass raider may not have tried that. You have to understand how MagForce Z works. It is very similar to other brand reels where they have dual braking.  The centrifugal brakes help avoid over runs during the beginning of the cast and the magnetics help more with the slowing of the spool as the lure hits the end of the cast.

With Magforce Z the centrifugal braking is not adjustable, it is set automatically by the movement of the drum that's attached to the spool. It is a balancing act between the weight of spring, the pawls and the speed of the spool.  Once I set the cast control I almost never need to reset it even as I change baits or weight of baits.

 

Here is a video that explains how the different Mag Force brake systems work.

 

[robster80]

Ive used both. Owned a couple Lews (super duty and tournament pro) as well as a Tatula and a Zillion.   I did not care for the Lews at all. Theyre a touch lighter but overall i much preferred the tatula. Easy to dial in. Casts great. I did sell it becuz it was a tad large for my puny hands but the newer CT Tatula palms a little better

[webertime]

I've owned both, the T-Wing made me more attractive and smell like Drakar Noir.  The Lews turned my car into a Daewoo...   Both are fine, the Daiwa is the only one I still own.

[kickerfish1]

Get the one that says Daiwa on it.

[runt4561]

I have had them both and like them both but the lews wins hands down. it will cast further and stay silky smooth longer than the tatula. the only thing the t wing was better for was skipping baits and I liked the handles better.

[MNGeorge]

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen.

[lmbfisherman]

I go by their performance, quality, longevity, reliability and comfort.  Both Daiwa and Shimano are tried and true, many of us own reels that are 10-20 years old and still work as good as new from both companies.  I would recommend and agree with kickerfish1, go with the Daiwa.  I'm sure Lews are solid reels but they don't have the longevity (restart after Shimano) and comfort that  I like.  Shimano has all of those areas that I "prefer". 

 

[Scarborough817]

i have both the tatula 100 and the tatula type r as well as a lews speed spool tournament mg i am a huge diawa fan but i can say that i prefer the lews for long casting applications it is currently on my cranking stick because of that as well as the deep spool. the TWS on the tatula series is great i love it i use it for jigs, flipping, big worms, swimbaits, and my zillion tws for chatterbaits. overall i think comfort is going to be the main thing the lews fit in a smaller hand better my hands are a little larger so i dont have an issue with the tatula but it can be a lot to palm and hold

[XpressJeff]

I own both but have not fished them enough to make a decision. In fact the Tatula has not even had the boat cover off it yet.

 

I will report back in a couple days!

[S. Sass]

I did what your asking about. I bought a Tatula just to see if the T-wing was as advertised. My experience was it casts, by eye, no measurable distance different than my Lew's. If it did you would need a 12" ruler and some scientific experiment to calculate the inch difference. 

 

The things I didn't care for that the T-wing added was a clunk sound as it drops in place. The CT series may not do that I don't  have one of them. And if you have a habit of letting the line run across the top of your finger as it enters the reel you can cause the line to not stay in the slot where it winds back properly.

 

All that being said the Tatula isn't a bad reel but as stated it does feel different, and weights slightly more. Some find their rods need balance so much they watch the weight of a guide so that could be a issue to someone. 

 

Personally I use the Lew's but I wouldn't have a issue if I had all Tatulas it's a preference thing as both are proven products.

 

If your serious about a reel choice go hold one at BassPro or wherever and see if you at least like the thing before putting money down.

[yosef]

If you're interested in the t wing system , cable as partnered with daiwa and offer a cabelas reel with the system. Looked like it's worth a try 

[npl_texas]

I have both and I am in the process of switching all of my Lews (MB's and SS LFS) out for Daiwa Tatula's.  Right now I have two CT's and just sold my Zillion TWS.

 

The CT will bomb a weightless senko.  I'm really impressed with everything about the reel.  Super easy to dial in and very smooth.

[d-camarena]

^ let me know if you have any lews leftys for sale. Send em my way diawa lovers

[nameiztaken]

Tatula all day every day.

[Columbia Craw]

Your question is the T wing the big deal it's made out to be ?   I say no it's not. I own and still fish numerous Lews models and for good reason.  They perform well.  I also wanted to know if the T wing was something special and had the opportunity to acquire a Tatula 100 at a very good price.  The T wing was no big deal.  What the reel did provide was the benefits of the cast control system and the gear train and it's ability to provide a sense of being connected to low vibration moving baits.

 

It was those factors that piqued my interest in other Diawa models and I have since added  Tatula CT, CT-R, SSSV, OG Zillion, SV103, SV105 and an Original Fuego. With that said, if you try a T wing and that would be good thing, realize the other design aspects of the Diawa will probably show up as well.

[Airman4754]

Get the one that is the most comfortable to you. Performance wise they will both do whatever you need once you get used to them.

[npl_texas]

On 4/5/2017 at 9:55 AM, d-camarena said:

^ let me know if you have any lews leftys for sale. Send em my way diawa lovers

 

Sorry all righties

[Airman4754]

14 minutes ago, npl_texas said:

 

Sorry all righties

 

What do you have?

[npl_texas]

49 minutes ago, Mosster47 said:

 

What do you have?

2 tourney mb's and 1 speed spool lfs

[JigMaster4]

I have both, i agree that lews is better for long casting(such as my cranking setup) but Daiwa CT wins for plastics. The CT bombs a weightless senko!

[bh91]

Heard good things bout lews but from personal experience I would go with the daiwa..

 

 

 

 

 

the lews  I bought didn't work properly and it being my first low profile I didn't know how big of a difference $60 vs the 130$ baitcaster could be in durability and it working out the box properly

[Mark888]

Sold my lews after a week to buy another tatula, amazing reels. Im just not a huge fan of the feeling of the lews. 

[TX-Deluxe]

Tatula CT Type R makes me feel like a pro casting.