Shimano vs Daiwa Flagship

[David Dionne]

So I’ve got the latest Steez and Antares.  Historically Ive always preferred Daiwa...but the winner, imo, is the Antares.  Hands down.  I don’t know if they’ll make a DC version of the Antares 70 but this reel is absolutely breathtaking...and considerably cheaper, from some retailers than ever before.  I’m a lefty so I got mine off amazon for about 500.  Still expensive, no doubt...but wow is this thing stellar.  Granted it’s the first Antares I’ve tried, but I’d trade my Steez for another one any day.

[Tywithay]

I've always considered the Calais/Antares to be the best built and best preforming baitcaster, in any given generation. It's an absolute marvel. It just suffers from being overweight. With the trend towards lighter reels and rods, it's tough to put an 8oz reel on a sub-4oz flagship rod. They're also a pain to maintain. The tolerances are so tight, even one little grain of sand can wreak havoc. 

[FrankN209]

19 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

I would use the Antares for distance and moving baits and the Steez for jig and plastics picking apart cover on a bottom contact rod for the control of the SV spool.  My plan is actually to go somewhere in the middle and get a 2019 Morethan PE TW in bronze 8:1.  Steez platform but with an aluminum frame and side plate.  Not a fan of magnesium frame and sideplates.  

How would you compare the Morethan to the 16' Steez SV TW? 

[Manifestgtr]

I’m a Shimano guy through and through but I consider the Steez to be the better “flagship” model. It’s just lighter, more versatile and to be honest, more practical. The Antares A is actually the first model I’ve had any interested in. It’s the first one that made me feel like I could use on a regular basis.

 

As far as pure, fishermen’s reels, I actually consider the Metanium to be the Shimano flagship. The Antares has always come across as being more of a showpiece  reel to me 

[FishTank]

I have the JDM Left Handed version of the Antares 70A, two of the Antares 16's and the Daiwa Steez SV TWS.  Out those four reels I tend to like the 70 the best but the Steez is probably the best overall reel as far as practicality goes.  

 

Which do I think will last the longest> the Antares and it some how keeps getting better with use

 

Which one casts the furthest> the Antares.  I can empty the spool

 

Which one handles adverse conditions (wind, cold, etc.)> close to a tie but the Steez

 

Which one is the smoothes> the Antares

 

Which is the lightest> the Steez by a bunch

 

Which one palms better> tie

 

Which reel is easier to work on> the Antares but both are complex

 

Which one handles light baits the best> slight edge to the Steez but both are great

 

Which one has the fastest spool (if it matters to you)> the Antares

 

Which one has the smoothest drag> the Antares but the clicking drag is weird

 

Which reel pitches better>  the Steez

 

Overall the Antares 70 is different from any reel I have fished.  The quality is outstanding and is nothing like the older Antares 16'.  I don't know if I would call it a game changer but it sort fixes the small things bugged me about the older versions.