For you guys that fish both Shimano and Daiwa baitcasters...

[Bankbeater]

Over the past couple of years I have used both Shimanos and Daiwas.  I think it's more of a personal preference thing.  I've been using a curado for bottom contact baits, and a tatula for moving baits.  Both good reels.

[TcRoc]

Just have to pop back in and say my HLC is my best distance reel.. this is with MY rigs/reels... my best Shimano is a Curado Dc .. so sure a higher quality Shimano may dice my HLC ... But I don’t have a higher quality Shimano.. my HLC is my favorite in my reels so far... my Elite comes in second ..  obviously speaking on behalf on my budget.. I don’t spend more than $250 on a reel......well haven’t yet.

[TcRoc]

7 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Is that the old TD Zillion HLC or one of the newer HLCs?  Thr original is a legend.

It’s just the Tatula HLC 

 

[Boomstick]

@TcRoc I didn't even know they made a Tatula HLC, don't ever recall seeing it on Daiwa's website or anything. If I knew about that, I may own one.

 

Hows the distance compare to the Tatula Elite?

[TcRoc]

34 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

34 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

@TcRoc I didn't even know they made a Tatula HLC, don't ever recall seeing it on Daiwa's website or anything. If I knew about that, I may own one.

 

Hows the distance compare to the Tatula Elite?

More out of the HLC... not by far but smoother and gets to that distance with more ease.

 

just sent u a message as well

[FishTank]

I only have one Daiwa at this time and it's a Steez SV TWS but I have a dozen Shimano's.   If you compare it to my Antares 70A, it's almost apple and oranges.  Both reels are special in their own way.  I use each for just about whatever.  The Steez is smooth and more practical but the Antares is extremely smooth and cast further.   Both have a lot of power when it counts.    

 

For me, the only thing that Shimano reels do better than Daiwa (and only by a slight margin) is crankbait fishing.  This is just a personal feel of the reels of themselves.  Shimano's just seem smoother when cranked all day long.  

[WRB]

Casting distance between Daiwa and Shimano reels is equal everything being equal.

Daiwa you can back off the Mag to 0 and Shimano remove weights and rely on your casting skills.

Daiwa original TD Fuego or TD HiA 105  I used could cast over 50 yards using  3/8 jig into the wind. My partner used Shimano Core and couldn’t cast a 3/4 oz jig as far, but I could equal distance with both reels under the same conditions. I believe the reels are equal in my hands. My current Tatula R100’s are not as good casting longer distance but 50 yards isn’t any issue using 7/16 oz jigs with 12 lb FC and that is as far as I care to cast.

Take your pick, for me it was 8:1 ratio that made my choice.

Tom 

 

[TimTheGearNerd]

I have a strange mix of Daiwa and Shimano. My reels include 

Casting,
Daiwa 1016 T3 

Daiwa t3 SV 

Daiwa tatula first gen

Daiwa TD-Zillion

Shimano Chronarch MGL

 

Spinning

Shimano ultegra

Shimano stradic CI4+
 

I think the the Daiwa casting reels are a little easier to backlash and doesn’t “feel” like it casts as far as the Chronarch. I’m slowly buying more Shimano casting reels.  
 

I keep buying Shimano spinning reels but I can’t say I’m impressed. Going forward I’d rather try Daiwa spinning reels. 

 

 

[JustJames]

9 hours ago, Tim Hu said:

I keep buying Shimano spinning reels but I can’t say I’m impressed. Going forward I’d rather try Daiwa spinning reels. 

 

 

You should give Daiwa spinning especially any in LT series a try. The Daiwa is way smoother and best bang for the bucks. Compare at any price point up to $200 reels, Daiwa win hand down.

I am a shimano fanboys after I tried Legalis LT I bought 4 more Daiwas from Exceler LT all the way to Ballistic FW.

[king fisher]

I have both, and for 40 years, would never even think of owning a Diawa.  Now I'm 50 /50.  My opinion is Shimano still has the best high end reels both spinning and casting, but Diawa is by far the best in the $150 and under range, both spinning and casting.

[Michigander]

A lot of comments on casting distance but what about pitching? Which is going to pitch a 1/2-3/4oz (with trailer) jig better? A Curado or Tatula?

[GTN-NY]

14 minutes ago, Michigander said:

A lot of comments on casting distance but what about pitching? Which is going to pitch a 1/2-3/4oz (with trailer) jig better? A Curado or Tatula?

Good question. I pitch more than cast. I even pitch dropshot rigs

[Michigander]

21 minutes ago, GTN said:

Good question. I pitch more than cast. I even pitch dropshot rigs

Me too. So much vegetation around that most of my day is pitching to targets not bombing casts out. I barely even throw anything with a treble hook anymore.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 12/12/2020 at 11:58 AM, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

You should give Daiwa spinning especially any in LT series a try. The Daiwa is way smoother and best bang for the bucks. Compare at any price point up to $200 reels, Daiwa win hand down.

I am a shimano fanboys after I tried Legalis LT I bought 4 more Daiwas from Exceler LT all the way to Ballistic FW.

YEP...The budget Diawa LTs are better reels as far weight and precision goes from 50$-200$.  Once you get over 200$ its down to preference.  The Daiwas fish different then the Shimanos IMO.  I like the Daiwas for lighter baits especially the smaller ones with the short handle.  I like the way Shimanos feel for throwing JBs and shad raps.  I want to say that Shimanos feel more refined and the Daiwas feel more rigid, but thats not true because I've beat the hell out of FKs and Fuegos in salt and sand for years and neither of them have failed.  

I havent had enough time or experience with Daiwas higher end casting reels to make a comparison.  I will say that the 20 Met and Bantam are game changers with the frame designs.  The 1 piece frame Daiwa spinners have been as impressive being lighter, more resistant to water and debris intrusion as well allowing for larger main gears to be used.  Both companies clearly had some kind of agreement Shimano would debut the 1 piece casting frame and Daiwa would debut the 1 piece spinning frame.  I could be wrong and it could just be a coincidence but I don't think its likely.  It will be interesting to see if Shimano will develop 1 piece frames on future spinners and if Daiwa will develop 1 peice casting reels.

[Sphynx]

I own I think 3 Daiwa reels, 2 Regal LT spinning reels for trout and panfish, and a Tatula Elite Long Cast, I have to agree with folks here saying that the brakes on the Tatula are far more customizable than the system Shimano uses, but I find the handle and grips to be less comfortable in my hands than the Shimano offerings.

 

Since we have gotten to Shimano, I own 1 Curado DC, 1 Tranx 200A, 1 Curado MGL, a Stradic FL in the 2500 size, and 4 Curado K's, so it's safe to say I like these platforms,  I find they are ergonomically more suited to my mitts, and I do value the extra distance from them as a guy who mostly fishes from the bank, the brakes do give a bit more fuss than the Daiwa's, but I am not going to tell you it's night and day, maybe 3 or 4 more backlash casts in a hundred than the Daiwa, always because of user error too, but it can be annoying if you blow one up in a feeding window.

 

All in all, pick up one of each company and see if one is noticeably better in your hands than the other, if not, buy whichever one is on sale, I would overall not mind a bit if I woke up tomorrow and found out my reels all changed names, both lines are excellent. 

[TBAG]

I have one Daiwa Tatula and about 13-15 Shimanos (Curado K, Chronarch MGL, SLX, etc.)

 

I have no issues with my Daiwa but much prefer Shimano.

[J Francho]

On 12/3/2020 at 8:35 PM, cjam93 said:

If you fish both of these brands, is there specific times that one brand or model from the brand stands out to you and makes you reach for that brand over the other?

Not really.  I fish several other brands as well.

[roadwarrior]

My Diawa is a Alpha saddled on a dedicated jerkbait rod.

The rest are Shimano.

 

[Sir Shamsalot]

I have a large mixture of Daiwas and Shimanos. I prefer my Daiwas for short range work and Shimanos for long range. Though that did change some with the Tatula Elite. The Elite casts just as far as my Curado DC's but less than my K's, but weights noticeably less. The Elites also handled straight FC much better. So I have replaced most of my K's with Elites.

 

Currently, I've been doing alot of comparison shopping for a new reel for a H/F. I keep looking at the Bantam and I keep wondering "Why?" It weights the same as a Curado DC and more than a K. The K can outcast the other two. The DC is close... close to set and forget. I get the Bantam feels stronger, but all 3 equally brake drag at 12.2lbs ( tested ) which makes feeling meaningless to me. Yet, I keep looking at the Bantam. 

 

I looked at the Steez SV TW. Unfortunately, I looked at the price tag. I did find what looks to be a killer deal on them, but I'm thinking it's light weight will throw the H/F rig out of balance. 

 

Then I came to the 2020 Metanium. I like hearing about improved sensitivity through the reel. I was pretty much set to buy one until I read about line management issues with braid in several reviews. Now, it wouldn't be the first time someone put less than 30lbs braid on a reel and had issues. Maybe someone can put my mind at ease about that. This reel also reminds me of the Ardent Apex Flippin Reel with its narrow spool and over sized line guide. The Apex is known to have line management headaches but is a fav of Flippin/Pitching set.

 

Now, I feel about sold on the 2021 Zillion. If it can close quarter like an SV TWS and then cast like an Elite ( rumors have it outcasting a K... again RUMORS ) without making adjustments while weighting in the 6oz range, that's pretty d**n impressive. I really want to see this. 

 

I have decided to pull the trigger on an Aldebaran for my jerkbait rod.