Diawa Reel

[WPCfishing]

Recently bought a JDM Steez, incredible reel. I want info on a couple reels for Jig, Frog and Toad fishing. Has to be JDM.. line will be 65# power pro for pitching as well as bomb casting. Would that be the Zillion or?

Obviously I don’t know their reels yet.

looking for quick advice so I can just buy them. I’ll learn the line up later on. 

[bulldog1935]

There are several Steez models, different spool diameters, Mg and Al frames, and you didn't tell us which.  

Zillion is Al frame, and you're giving up the worm shaft ball bearings, but you can add those later (and turn your Zillion into a Steez A).  

Great prices shopping JDM -  I believe Asian Portal still has Zillion stock and best price anywhere with free FedEx.  

 Steez CT has 30 mm diameter spool, Alphas has 32 mm dia., Steez Air is 28 mm dia.  The same size Zillion is a great follow up, e.g., Steez SV TW 1016 (or 1012) and Zillion SV TW 1000, both 34 mm dia, can swap spools.  

ps- if you improve your spool bearings, keep it quiet around here ...

[redmeansdistortion]

While Asian Portal typically has the best prices, the exchange rate is really, really good right now and better deals may be found elsewhere.  I recently purchased a Calcutta Conquest BFS for $375 from Digitaka, Asian Portal wanted $390 for the same reel.  When the exchange rate is up, then Asian Portal is definitely the place to go for the better deals.

[bulldog1935]

@redmeansdistortion

Certainly not to detract from your good hunting, but you might read this post about the logistics and Actual billed price at Asian Portal - their billed prices track exchange rate, as well, because they bill in JPY -  it just may not show in their listed USD price - that is, you may get billed less (or more) than their listed dollar price as the exchange rate fluctuates.  The listed dollar price doesn't track exchange rate - the billed price does.  

The trick anywhere is finding stock.  So if you find it, snag it.  

[Tennessee Boy]

I ordered a reel yesterday from Japanlureshop.com.  They were a few dollars cheaper than Asian Portal.  The exchange rate changes constantly so it may not be true today.

[WPCfishing]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

There are several Steez models, different spool diameters, Mg and Al frames, and you didn't tell us which.  

Zillion is Al frame, and you're giving up the worm shaft ball bearings, but you can add those later (and turn your Zillion into a Steez A).  

Great prices shopping JDM -  I believe Asian Portal still has Zillion stock and best price anywhere with free FedEx.  

 Steez CT has 30 mm diameter spool, Alphas has 32 mm dia., Steez Air is 28 mm dia.  The same size Zillion is a great follow up, e.g., Steez SV TW 1016 (or 1012) and Zillion SV TW 1000, both 34 mm dia, can swap spools.  

ps- if you improve your spool bearings, keep it quiet around here ...

Most important for me is casting distance, light weight, 20# drag, best gears. Is there a Steez that offers all?

 

[Junger]

I think most Steez’s have aluminum gears, and if you’re frogging brass gears may better suit you. There may be some Steez models that have brass gears or at minimum you can probably buy some to fit.

[PhishLI]

12 minutes ago, WPCfishing said:

Most important for me is casting distance,

Daiwa 21 Steez A TW HLC (Hyper Long Cast) 2021- 2021 NEW Model

 

STOCK

Steez A TW HLC is the modified Daiwa Steez A (aluminum alloy body model) with Hyper Long Cast (HLC) system. Steez A TW HLC is specifically designed to cast 14g 1/2oz or heavier up to 2oz Calolina rigs the longest, using long 7-8' rods. Due to the brake profile best suite the described usage, it is not the reel to cast light rigs like 1/8oz. Its spool is enlarged from 34mm to 36mm dia to cast longer. It has new Magforce Z Boost brake system, in which brake rotor will be popped-up by 2 steps by different spring rates. Rotor pops out by far at the beginning of strong cast, and then it retract to the middle position to emit the least brake force to control to cast the longest.

It features Hyper Armed Housing system, where the main frame, gear side cup and spool holder on the palming plate are made of sturdy aluminum alloy. G1 air craft grade extra strong duralumin spool accelerates quite fast and casts great distance. TWS T shaped level winder system let lines move more freely in casting to add about 5% more casting distance.

[bulldog1935]

@WPCfishing

 

Daiwa Zillion SV TW G will get you 34 mm dia Boost SV spool for good cast distance and Brass gears.  

 

 

[FishTank]

I have the Steez SV and the Steez CT but not the A.  I love the two I have but do not use them for frogs or heavy topwater.   The A would probably work best in the Steez lineup, especially the new HLC.  But with that said, my choice for a topwater reel would be the Shimano Bantam.  It's just better suited for the task. 

 

[bulldog1935]

Throwing out a different choice, while they still have stock.  

ZPI Alcance is a bench-raced-out Revo/Lew's mag brake, medium-depth 11-g spool (ZPI bearings), brass gears.  

If you're throwing less than 1/2 oz and don't need the SV start-up brake, this reel will probably out-cast everything else out there.  

  

 

[PhishLI]

5 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Daiwa Zillion SV TW G will get you 34 mm dia Boost SV spool for good cast distance and Brass gears.  

Check out the opinions on the nitpickity site about AL gears in the Steez line up. Very hard to find a negative one, and those guys can find a complaint about anything and everything.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@WPCfishing

 

Daiwa Zillion SV TW G will get you 34 mm dia Boost SV spool for good cast distance and Brass gears.  

 

 

JDM version uses AL main

[WPCfishing]

4 hours ago, FishTank said:

I have the Steez SV and the Steez CT but not the A.  I love the two I have but do not use them for frogs or heavy topwater.   The A would probably work best in the Steez lineup, especially the new HLC.  But with that said, my choice for a topwater reel would be the Shimano Bantam.  It's just better suited for the task. 

 

I have Two Bantams.. kinda heavy for me. I make a lot of casts. I’m 63 now so the weight matters.. old injuries! 
sucks! lol

[FishTank]

18 minutes ago, WPCfishing said:

I have Two Bantams.. kinda heavy for me. I make a lot of casts. I’m 63 now so the weight matters.. old injuries! 
sucks! lol

 

They are only 1 once heavier than the Steez A.  If a 7oz reel is causing some concerns,  I would start looking at lighter rods and lures as well.  I too have had shoulder issues, broken hands and forearms and a surgery or two on each so I get having lighter equipment.  In my experience,  the weight of lure and how you load the rod can be the most fatiguing.  Throwing a heavy topwater bait all day can wear down the old injuries.   

[Cgrinder]

Morethan PE?

 

I am "Daiwa Only" but I frog with Bantams so I'm not much help.

[NOC 1]

11 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@redmeansdistortion

Certainly not to detract from your good hunting, but you might read this post about the logistics and Actual billed price at Asian Portal - their billed prices track exchange rate, as well, because they bill in JPY -  it just may not show in their listed USD price - that is, you may get billed less (or more) than their listed dollar price as the exchange rate fluctuates.  The listed dollar price doesn't track exchange rate - the billed price does.  

The trick anywhere is finding stock.  So if you find it, snag it.  

I've bought from Asian Portal many times, but I always shop around and can't actually recall finding cheaper. And as often as not, like you say, I'm pleasantly surprised when the bill runs through it's a few bucks less than what I thought it would be due to the exchange rates.

10 hours ago, WPCfishing said:

Most important for me is casting distance, light weight, 20# drag, best gears. Is there a Steez that offers all?

 

You might have a problem with the #20 drag thing. Why do you need so much drag? I've caught 15-20 lb fish on reels that max out at about 8#.

[Deleted account]

On 7/8/2021 at 6:24 AM, bulldog1935 said:

ps- if you improve your spool bearings, keep it quiet around here ...

Fun killer.

Those Japanese JIZZ bearings sound interesting...

[bulldog1935]

@BassWhole!

to each their own cup of tea, um, or, whichever.  

IXA bearings (KTF) - my favorite for salt-resistant hybrid air bearings.  

What you gain with these bearings is your spool is faster out of the gate without overshoot, and that equals extra distance.  You get equivalent brake result using less brake, and that equals extra distance.  

Using these same bearings on Super Duty in 1/4 to 7/8 niche.  

Targeting 1/8 to 1/4 oz on this Zillion.

Of course a KTF wannabe with Ray's Studio spool.  

it holds 110 m PE#1.2, 27-lb X-braid, 

and casts to next year

 

it's purdy, too