JDM Tackle Question

[orangeblueprint]

Hey everyone, I've been talking with some people on here, other sites, and in person and I had a couple questions. First, I have read and heard that Asian Portal Fishing is a reliable site with fast shipping but just checking if anyone has experience with them. Also, I was wondering how the JDM 2020 Metanium compares to a U.S. Metanium MGL 150 B. I am looking because I just bought a Expride (and plan on buying more) and I want to run the same reel on the (2-3 rods). Lastly, would the JDM Metanium remain in circulation for a while to come as I would want to purchase some more later on and as I stated, want to have the same reel on the 2-3 Exprides. Really sorry if these are beginner questions I am quite new to Bass Fishing but I love the sport and spend all my free-time reading as much as I can.

 

Thanks,

Wil

[FishTank]

They are a good site to order from.  Just a few things to keep in mind, I believe they have a national holiday that starts this week and is about a week or so long.  They only ship a few times a week but otherwise once shipped it arrives quickly.  Their prices are good and they will answer questions as they can.  It seems like a big operation but from a few emails from them, they are actually a small set up. 

 

Also, I can't tell you about the new Met.  I have been looking to get a reel for either light weight stuff or a do it all reel.  Can't decide between the Met or the Aldebaran 30. 

[LCG]

Good site, super fast shipping. I would buy from them again. 

[bulldog1935]

Asian Portal website can be tedious to plod through and find their inventory - look for the yellow tags, those are items in stock.  

Their search function is terrible, certainly because of language barrier.  Find the reel style (baitcasting, spinning), find the manufacturer, and go through their listings by price-range looking for the yellow stock tags.    Newer listings show up on the early pages, and they may have odd inventory on deeper pages.  

 

The prices listed on their website are in US dollars, but they bill JPY instead from their internal inventory price, so your paypal invoice may be different from their website-listed dollar amount - this is because the listed amount is always fixed on the JPY conversion the day they listed the item on their website.  

My first purchase was a Vanquish, and I ended up paying 10% less than the price they had listed, making it an extraordinary buy.  I bought two Stradics from them for a relative song.  Most recently, I bought a Steez, and my invoice came in 5% higher - still a great deal, and their gratis FedEx on $100 order is always a great deal.  

 

I assembled one small order with them that totaled $110 in their listed prices, but didn't clear the free shipping requirement in that day's actual exchange rate, until I found one more small item to add.  Yes, I've bought 4 reels from them, and more than that in small parts and lines orders.  

 

Buying from Japan is most always a good deal when the dollar is more than 100 JPY, and Asian Portal discounts more than most vendors.  I've been shopping in Japan for 20 years, since you had to use a broker to overcome language and their domestic banking laws.  

 

Asian Portal communication is not great, but they are totally reliable, and I get shipping notification from my FedEx log-in.  FedEx is also the very best courier from Japan, flying non-stop from Sennan-Shi to Memphis.  

The current national holiday closes everything through May 5 - they'll be open next Thursday.  

 

[jbsoonerfan]

Check their site and their ebay store, sometimes prices will be different. I have probably ordered 20+ reels from hem in the last couple years and not one single issue.

[NOC 1]

3 hours ago, orangeblueprint said:

Hey everyone, I've been talking with some people on here, other sites, and in person and I had a couple questions. First, I have read and heard that Asian Portal Fishing is a reliable site with fast shipping but just checking if anyone has experience with them. Also, I was wondering how the JDM 2020 Metanium compares to a U.S. Metanium MGL 150 B. I am looking because I just bought a Expride (and plan on buying more) and I want to run the same reel on the (2-3 rods). Lastly, would the JDM Metanium remain in circulation for a while to come as I would want to purchase some more later on and as I stated, want to have the same reel on the 2-3 Exprides. Really sorry if these are beginner questions I am quite new to Bass Fishing but I love the sport and spend all my free-time reading as much as I can.

 

Thanks,

Wil

I deal with them all the time. As far as I can tell the 20 Met is the same reel as the 150B, though being JDM might have a little bit of shorter handle or grips that are a bit smaller. Neither case is any consequence to me as I prefer JDM reels anyway.

 

When I order from Asian Portal I get free shipping and it never takes more than 4 days to get to my door in the middle of the CONUS.

[Mjmj]

I ordered a Met from them. No problems. That being said, the Reel was horrible the first time out. I took the reel apart and cleaned and greased. Totally different Reel.  While I truly like this Reel, my new favorite is the Daiwa 21 Zillion. This Reel outperforms the Met all day long. I just ordered 2 more

[bulldog1935]

@Mjmj While gearing has always been Shimano's best thing, I'll have to agree Daiwa is ahead on spool and spindle design, and non-linear casting brake that doesn't need a chip.  

 

[JustJames]

I don’t have Met and was gonna order one, especially the USDM one. As far as differences, spool size JDM is 70 capacity while USDM is 150 capacity. USDM got bigger knob and of course a hefty price tag of 400 dollars while you can get JDM below 300. 
I end up with something else due to

1. narrow spool than usual.

2. If I want 90mm handle I have to get XG. I want HG.

3. Price tag

I really wish the Met would work out because this was a replacement reel for my Bantam. So far I happy with my decision, though.

[NOC 1]

10 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I don’t have Met and was gonna order one, especially the USDM one. As far as differences, spool size JDM is 70 capacity while USDM is 150 capacity. USDM got bigger knob and of course a hefty price tag of 400 dollars while you can get JDM below 300. 
I end up with something else due to

1. narrow spool than usual.

2. If I want 90mm handle I have to get XG. I want HG.

3. Price tag

I really wish the Met would work out because this was a replacement reel for my Bantam. So far I happy with my decision, though.

I don't have the US version but I do have the JDM version and the spec sheet from the USDM reel and while the JDM is a compact reel it doesn't seem like a 70 size to me. The US version specs say it will take 110 yd. of 12lb and the JDM is listed as 100 meters of 12lb. that is only around 23 inches difference, not what I would expect when comparing a 150 to a 70....They weigh the same and the JDM (I have the 6:1 version) measures 83.59mm between the shaft centers on the handle.

[orangeblueprint]

14 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

I don't have the US version but I do have the JDM version and the spec sheet from the USDM reel and while the JDM is a compact reel it doesn't seem like a 70 size to me. The US version specs say it will take 110 yd. of 12lb and the JDM is listed as 100 meters of 12lb. that is only around 23 inches difference, not what I would expect when comparing a 150 to a 70....They weigh the same and the JDM (I have the 6:1 version) measures 83.59mm between the shaft centers on the handle.

Yeah I believe the JDM is a size 100 spool and the U.S. is a 150.

[mrpao]

Also handles are a cheap up grade.

I change the handles out on just about all my reels.

I wish they made a metanium in a 5 gear ratio. I would get rid of my bantams.

[NOC 1]

3 hours ago, orangeblueprint said:

Yeah I believe the JDM is a size 100 spool and the U.S. is a 150.

Is there only going to be a 2 ft. difference in capacity between a 100 and 150 sized reel?

I have a 150 Scorpion and it is spec'ed at 130 Yd. of 12 lb. I suspect that both the USDM and the JDM are both 100 sized reels since they hold the same amount of line (100 yd). I don't have the USDM to compare so I can't prove it. I'm just reading the specs from the USDM but it appears to be the same reel the only difference being that the line cap. is listed in metric on one and English on the other. They weigh the same which I would find odd if they are different sized reels. But the USDM one IS called a 150 in the name, so I don't know.

[Mjmj]

On 5/1/2021 at 7:29 AM, bulldog1935 said:

@Mjmj While gearing has always been Shimano's best thing, 

Wait till you get a chance to try the new Zillion. It's as smooth (maybe smoother)  than my met

[bulldog1935]

@Mjmj actually, I have a new Steez and it's beyond silky.  

[JustJames]

Yeah 100 size spool vs 150, I mixed up with 2016 metanium. 
Here is the video show differences on both and review.

 

[newapti5]

Amazon.co.jp is also a good place to shop around for reels. Sometimes it could be even cheaper than Asian Portal, for example, the new Alphas SV TW.   I just ordered a displayed model of Chronarch Ci4+ from them on last Wednesday, got it on Friday. It's a pretty much brand new reel for just $150,  shipping included. 

[Gnarwhal]

Thanks for the Amazon.co.jp suggestion.  I'll add it to my JDM list.

 

Does anyone know when the lefty 21 Scorpion DC reels are going to be released?  It looks like sometime this month.

[newapti5]

30 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Can you buy direct from them or do you have to go through a 3rd party importer like Buyee?  

 

I buy directly from them. You just need to register a new Amazon.co.jp account, and choose your location and currency type accordingly. Then it will list out which items can or cannot be shipped to you, as well as the shipping cost. 

 

Most of the used or "displayed" items cannot be shipped to US, at least that seems to be my experience, but sometimes you find some gems that can. Just beware of the third party sellers. Many of them don't have enough ratings. 

1 hour ago, Gnarwhal said:

Thanks for the Amazon.co.jp suggestion.  I'll add it to my JDM list.

 

Does anyone know when the lefty 21 Scorpion DC reels are going to be released?  It looks like sometime this month.

 

You're welcome! And the new Scorpion DC is already released on Amazon.co.jp.    I am not interested, but I saw them there. 

[newapti5]

19 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Or those 3rd party shippers can have expensive fees.  I bought my $250 Orochi xx EMTF gen 1 JDM through Buyee off Amazon.co.jp for the red painted reel seat and red thread wrap.  Just a different look than the USDM model.  Buyee hit me with $250 in fees and shipping once it hit their warehouse and I either payed or got hit with storage fees.  I payed and that's how I got my $500 red Orochi xx EMTF.  

 

 

Gee...  Well, at least it looks great!

 

Usually Amazon.co.jp charges shipping at about 14~18 bucks, and that's the you-can-get-it-this-week kind of fast shipping method. You can also combine shipping together, as long as the shippers are Amazon.  

 

One thing I haven't figure out about Amazon.co.jp is that sometimes they factor the shipping cost into the selling price. Say a reel is selling for $200 plus $18 shipping. When I go to checkout, the price will be lowered to ~$182, plus the $18 shipping.  It's like giving me free shipping. There may be a price threshold to get free shipping as we do here in US, but I just couldn't find any information about that on Amazon.co.jp.