Anyone else not a fan of the Tatula TWS?

[optimator]

I finally got out with my new Tatula today. It's smooth and casts beautifully. But since I started with baitcasters about 35 years ago I run the line over my index finger on my left hand. It still works, but it doesn't spool the line evenly. I know, first world problems 

[fishnkamp]

You learned how to best use technology that is 35 years old. Now you do not like modern technology.  No problem return to 35 year old technology and sell your modern gear to someone who enjoys modern equipment. Problem solved.

Personally I really enjoy fishing with all 8 of my Daiwas, 7 of them are tatulas with TWS. Never have a problem with them. Before long I will have a total of 14 as I am replacing my rels one by one.

[Boogey Man]

Do you mean the T wing specifically or the level wind in general?

[optimator]

That's what I'm doing. I'll sell the reel and get another Fuego. They work for me. I'm keeping the G Loomis IMX-PRO that it's on though 

[desmobob]

11 minutes ago, optimator said:

I finally got out with my new Tatula today. It's smooth and casts beautifully. But since I started with baitcasters about 35 years ago I run the line over my index finger on my left hand. It still works, but it doesn't spool the line evenly. I know, first world problems 

I have three or four older Tatulas that I enjoy very much.  I've never heard anyone mention your issue but I can see now where it would be a major one for someone who runs the line over a finger.  I thought a lot of folks did that...

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[optimator]

Just now, Boogey Man said:

Do you mean the T wing specifically or the level wind in general?

The t wing. I've been using baitcasters for a long time. 

[Boogey Man]

I actually don't either. It's hilarious we want a big wide line guide but think a dozen micro guides are awesome ?

[optimator]

8 minutes ago, Boogey Man said:

I actually don't either. It's hilarious we want a big wide line guide but think a dozen micro guides are awesome ?

So true 

[Riazuli]

The guide is only wide on the cast, and it goes down when you reel it in, but I guess you're saying you're lifting it in to the top part of the T when running it over your index finger.  Try not running it over your index finger...or try running it under your finger or pinching it lightly and pulling down instead of up.  Or, put tension on the rod when spooling... Unless you're saying you do this on a retrieve after every cast, which is kind of excessive in my opinion.  Just got my SV TW the other day and can't wait to pair it up with a rod (still deciding).  The reel seems smooth and you can tell it's a fine piece of equipment.  As for the issue you're mentioning, if you put too much tension in some way on any baitcaster, it won't spool evenly. I've got a 20 year old baitcaster that will do the same thing if I hold the line too tight while I'm spooling, so age and tech isn't the issue - it's the user that needs to adjust, or change equipment like you have. 

[puddlepuncher]

Great thing about Daiwa and Shimano reels is you can always sell them for close to what you bought them for, they hold their value..especially if you didn't pay full retail.

 

I can understand your problem, I hate where the side plate release button is on the Curado and the Metanium.  Minor issue, otherwise love them but it really bothers the heck out of me.  

[Riazuli]

20 minutes ago, Maverick said:

Great thing about Daiwa and Shimano reels is you can always sell them for close to what you bought them for, they hold their value..especially if you didn't pay full retail.

 

I can understand your problem, I hate where the side plate release button is on the Curado and the Metanium.  Minor issue, otherwise love them but it really bothers the heck out of me.  

Yeah, just about everything has it nuances and no reel is going to be perfect for everyone.  Part of my enjoyment is trying out different reels and seeing that each has it's strengths and weaknesses... I like tech and the T wing concept is pretty amazing, but where you gain somewhere, you may have to trade off elsewhere at times.  I'm sure daiwa figured most of their T wing users wouldn't run line over their finger when reeling in... As for the metanium, I just tried mine today for the first time on the water... That thing is going to spoil me, I can tell.  I kinda wish the met plate stayed on like the Curado K's as I don't want to lose it if it happens to fall out of my hand while kayak fishing... I likely won't be changing internal settings much that way, and if I do, it's near the deck! Small complaints for an otherwise amazing reel. 

[puddlepuncher]

The key when taking of the Met side plate is to hold onto the plate and use your thumb to push the spool to the side, but yeah it makes me nervous.  My issue is the way I hold the rod and reel when casting heavier lures makes me rub against the release switch.  I've actually popped the Curado I open during a cast and it was the most horrible sound you've ever heard.  I really don't want to do that to my Mets.  The Chronarch has the best design regarding this.

 

Since this thread is about line guides on reels, the tapered line guide on the Met should be on all Shimano reels IMO.  Doesn't benefit casting but it sure makes rigging up a whole bunch easier.  

[KP Duty]

Your line is on your finger during the cast?  Im trying to see this. I used to keep my  line on my finger while fishing jigs/worms, but I quit back in '01 after buyinging my first Loomis mix.  Didn't need to anymore I thought, and if I could prevent inbreeding plunge cxx kn MH figure again...even better.

  

[The Bassman]

3 hours ago, Maverick said:

The key when taking of the Met side plate is to hold onto the plate and use your thumb to push the spool to the side, but yeah it makes me nervous.  My issue is the way I hold the rod and reel when casting heavier lures makes me rub against the release switch.  I've actually popped the Curado I open during a cast and it was the most horrible sound you've ever heard.  I really don't want to do that to my Mets.  The Chronarch has the best design regarding this.

 

Since this thread is about line guides on reels, the tapered line guide on the Met should be on all Shimano reels IMO.  Doesn't benefit casting but it sure makes rigging up a whole bunch easier.  

And I thought that I was the only one who had trouble feeding line through the guide, especially braid that's fuzzed a little on the end.

[JustJames]

7 hours ago, optimator said:

I finally got out with my new Tatula today. It's smooth and casts beautifully. But since I started with baitcasters about 35 years ago I run the line over my index finger on my left hand. It still works, but it doesn't spool the line evenly. I know, first world problems 

I used to run line over my index finger but not a lot any more. Modern rod this day is pretty sensitive you can feel most of the bite thru your rod. I alway have part of my hand touching rod blank.

To run line over my finger all I have to do is use my index finger wrap around nose of the reel no lifting of any kind. That why I prefer small reel like curado 70, 50e or tatula CT. In another word, I don't have problem with my CT type R

4 hours ago, Maverick said:

 

Since this thread is about line guides on reels, the tapered line guide on the Met should be on all Shimano reels IMO.  Doesn't benefit casting but it sure makes rigging up a whole bunch easier.  

Great mind think alike, since I start using aldebaran with tapered line guide, I start thinking of upgrade al my shimano reels. Too bad the tapered line guide alone would cost 56 dollars.

[Deleted account]

4 hours ago, The Bassman said:

And I thought that I was the only one who had trouble feeding line through the guide, especially braid that's fuzzed a little on the end.

It's an old guy thing, It used to take me like 10 seconds, now I have to stare at each guide. GET OFF MY LAWN!

[optimator]

Like I said, first world problems!  I started bass fishing back in the late 70's. I picked up holding my reel this way off an old Rick Clunn or Bill Dance video. It's just ingrained muscle memory now. I started this way to help with the inferior rod technology back then, and now if I hold a reel a different way it just feels weird. 

 

[The Bassman]

4 hours ago, reason said:

It's an old guy thing, It used to take me like 10 seconds, now I have to stare at each guide. GET OFF MY LAWN!

To quote Fred G. Sanford;  "Who you calling old?"

[fishwizzard]

10 hours ago, optimator said:

 

 

I have never found a rod and reel combo where I could get a comfortable grip like that.  If the line is all the way to the left I can get my finger on it and it really does make feeling hits a lot faster.  

[Riazuli]

15 hours ago, The Bassman said:

And I thought that I was the only one who had trouble feeding line through the guide, especially braid that's fuzzed a little on the end.

gotta wet that fuzz!

[The Bassman]

6 minutes ago, Riazuli said:

gotta wet that fuzz!

I run it through my lips more times than a granny threading a sewing needle.

[puddlepuncher]

16 hours ago, The Bassman said:

And I thought that I was the only one who had trouble feeding line through the guide, especially braid that's fuzzed a little on the end.

 

I have just as much trouble getting mono though because of the slight curling.  I don't understand it as I don't need reading glasses...maybe I do?  On a side note I got a set of Browning pliers with a tungsten cutter that cuts braid better than anything so clean.  You must like torturing yourself threading fuzzed braid through everything, then trying to tie a knot at the end.  This is how I ditched leaders in favor of straight braid.

 

14 hours ago, JustJames said:

Great mind think alike, since I start using aldebaran with tapered line guide, I start thinking of upgrade al my shimano reels. Too bad the tapered line guide alone would cost 56 dollars.

That's crazy there must be a better price on that.  I've been checking out brass gears for the Mets and they are only $48 on TT and includes carbontex drag too.  Figures.

 

@optimator  Good luck figuring this out, that's certainly a unique way of holding a reel.  I've been trying to replicate this for about 5 minutes.  I have a similar philosophy towards rods, the main factor in what I buy is the shape of the grips and how comfortable it fits my hand.

 

 

[JustJames]

13 hours ago, optimator said:

Like I said, first world problems!  I started bass fishing back in the late 70's. I picked up holding my reel this way off an old Rick Clunn or Bill Dance video. It's just ingrained muscle memory now. I started this way to help with the inferior rod technology back then, and now if I hold a reel a different way it just feels weird. 

 

That is how I hold my rod/reel too but only when I first cast it out and lift the rod at 90 degree to feel the fall bite. After that I just use the tip in my index finger touching rod bank, don't have to change position at all. 

[optimator]

49 minutes ago, Maverick said:

 

I have just as much trouble getting mono though because of the slight curling.  I don't understand it as I don't need reading glasses...maybe I do?  On a side note I got a set of Browning pliers with a tungsten cutter that cuts braid better than anything so clean.  You must like torturing yourself threading fuzzed braid through everything, then trying to tie a knot at the end.  This is how I ditched leaders in favor of straight braid.

 

That's crazy there must be a better price on that.  I've been checking out brass gears for the Mets and they are only $48 on TT and includes carbontex drag too.  Figures.

 

@optimator  Good luck figuring this out, that's certainly a unique way of holding a reel.  I've been trying to replicate this for about 5 minutes.  I have a similar philosophy towards rods, the main factor in what I buy is the shape of the grips and how comfortable it fits my hand.

 

 

Nothing to figure out really. I have a Fuego coming tomorrow. I'll probably order a Curado as well. ?

[WRB]

Rods had foregrips until the early 2000's, now you see the short foregrip version coming back in favor over the bare nut designs. Reason is it's difficult to always palm the reel, it's easier to hold the rod with 2 fingers and run the line over the index finger and under the thumb. Raising the line up to the top of the level wind guide with your index finger is the problem because of they way you palm the reel. 

Tom