Which reel should i get?

[HookingDreams]

Ok so i am looking to buy a new baitcaster, i have always bought Abu Garcia’s and now i am wanting a higher end model and want to get away from Abu Garcia because my last two reels i have bought stopped working and i kept them oiled. So my question here is what should i buy? i am deciding between a Shimano Curado K, a Lew’s BB1 (or some other lew’s), or a Diawa Tatula. Does anyone have any of these or possibly a couple of both? i am kinda on the Shimano or Lew’s side but I’m not sure.

[new2BC4bass]

 

Of those reels I have the Tatula.  My reels from the other companies are different models.  Hopefully someone that has used them all wll be along shortly to give you an answer.

[Choporoz]

Some love Daiwa.  Some love Shimano.  A few love both.  And some like Lews, too.

 

At your price point, you're certain to get a quality reel.  Take a little bit to study the brake systems - in these and in the reels you have experience with - you may get some idea of what you prefer.  Beyond that, you may not know until you try each.  Consider TW's trial program.

[LionHeart]

I own 3 Lews Tournament MB, and honestly have no complaints at all.  They cast great, are very smooth, and haven't given me a single problem.  You can find them on EBay for $109 which is a steal IMO.

 

The Tatula gets a lot of praise here and I have thought about trying one for my next reel.  Honestly, I'll probably get another MB though.  I know exactly what to expect from the Tournament MB, and it is all good.

[optimator]

I had a Tatula and didn't care for it. I have a Fuego CT that I can recommend without reservation. I have a Curado K on the way, hopefully today. I can give more of an opinion after I try it.  

[DINK WHISPERER]

Out of those I would pick the Daiwa. I wasn't impressed at all with the K. It felt heavy and uncomfortable to me. 

[sully420]

Whats wrong with your abu's?

[HookingDreams]

6 minutes ago, sully420 said:

Whats wrong with your abu's?

They get to where i can’t tune them anymore, and have a problem with the line keeper mechanism staying to one side.

i am surprised at all the diawa responses. Are they really that good?

[sully420]

Open them up an give them a cleaning then re grease them take pictures as you disassemble them to help you put them back together. You probally have gunk in your worm gear. Im an abu guy but diwa is probally the most recommended reel manufacturer on bass resource.

[HookingDreams]

6 minutes ago, sully420 said:

Open them up an give them a cleaning then re grease them take pictures as you disassemble them to help you put them back together. You probally have gunk in your worm gear. Im an abu guy but diwa is probally the most recommended reel manufacturer on bass resource.

i have tried but no real luck, and are diawas really that good? i would think lew’s or Shimano would be big here! i am new.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The lews are mechanically identical to abu fwiw. Not that either are inferior. Any reel needs to be cared for. Pick a reel that has the features, size and style that appeals to you and go fishing. 

[Tywithay]

I've used all three and I'd pick a Tatula CT or SV over the K and BB1. I think the Curado is smoother on the retrieve, but the Tatula beats it in pretty much every other performance aspect. The BB1 casts heavier lures further, but I didn't care for it much as an all around reel. It didn't feel as refined as the other two either.

[WRB]

27 minutes ago, HookingDreams said:

They get to where i can’t tune them anymore, and have a problem with the line keeper mechanism staying to one side.

i am surprised at all the diawa responses. Are they really that good?

That would be the level wind worm gear and pawl isn't clean or the pawl is damaged.

Do you have the round reels or low profile reels? 

Tom

[Lucas Cooper]

you can't go wrong with a curado or a tatula.

[HookingDreams]

45 minutes ago, WRB said:

That would be the level wind worm gear and pawl isn't clean or the pawl is damaged.

Do you have the round reels or low profile reels? 

Tom

Low profile

[WRB]

1 hour ago, HookingDreams said:

Low profile

You could have DVT service the reel professionally for $35 ,can't buy a new reel for that. I prefer Daiwa Tatula in the under $150 price range.

Tom

[Matt_3479]

I have a tatula sv and a Shimano Curado K. Both reals are fantastic reels for the money. I find the tatula a little more beginner/user friendly. Easy to use, casts great, easish to learn to skip on and feels great. The Curado k surprised me. I got talked into buying it as I was going to get another Daiwa and didn’t like the feel of it as much when just casting in the back yard (as we had too much ice and snow to get to a pond/lake). But now that the ice has melted and weather has been a touch better I’ve casted the Curado a few times now and it casts a mile, buttery smooth, feels great in the palm, and sold me on getting the Chronarch mgl too now over the zillion. Either way both are increadible, and I’ll highly recommend them to anyone.

[jeffo21]

I have recently been buying and using Lew's LFS and I just bought a Tournament MB.

 

[Stalking bass]

I would buy the diawa but thats personal prefrence. I have a lews but its the custom slp. One of the guys I fish with bought a curado k and sold it to buy a another tatula type R. I have two tatulas with the sv spool and they are my personal favorites. You cant go wrong with either the 100 or 103 models. The casting seems very controlled by the braking system. Just so smooth. Hope this helps

 

[LxVE Bassin]

Get the Tatula

[LonnieP]

Tatula 

[ratherbfishin1]

Lews tournament pro, hands down my favorite

[shovelmouth83]

lews or daiwa cant go wrong with either. daiwa has a magna that has the extra wide spooler that is great for light weight stuff

[Bluebasser86]

I sold almost all my newer Shimano reels and replaced them with Okuma, Pflueger, and Daiwa. I have plans to buy more Daiwas in the future as well. 

[Riazuli]

I just recently bought a Curado K and a tatula sv, but haven't used them yet.  I'll let you know in a week