Daiwa Fuego CT Bait Cast Reel - Still Best Bang For The Buck ?

[ChrisD46]

Even though the price has jumped up to $109 ($99 still at Academy) - I still consider this reel series to be the best bang for the buck in bait cast reels . Outside of a Lew's BB1 or the new 40 yard max line capacity Lew's specialty flipping reel - I really have no reason to look for new bait cast reel love (and that includes passing on the more expensive Tatula) ... Your thoughts for those who own the Daiwa Fuego CT ? 

[garroyo130]

Definitely a solid deal. Especially considering you can regularly get them for around or under $80 if you look around. 

[BobbyBudnick]

I like mine a lot. I upgraded it with hawgtech spool bearings and a tatula elite long cast spool. I like the Fuego because I can run long leaders with thick mono tied to my braid and don't have any problems passing thru the line guide. With my tatulas if I want to run a long leader, I top out at 12 pound mono or I have issues reeling thru the t-wing line guide.

[MN Fisher]

I have two Fuego CTs - a 6.3 which is my crankbait reel, and a 8.1 which is my flip/pitch/punch/frog reel. Both have been solid, dependable, and the MagForce-Z braking is a joy to use...almost as good as the dual-braking on my Patriarch.

 

For a $100 reel, I don't think you can do better.

[ironbjorn]

It's a good reel, but I like the Speed Spool a lot better. It casts farther and is infinitely more palmable than the tank known as the Fuego.

[Bassin_Harrison]

30 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

is infinitely more palmable than the tank known as the Fuego.

I second this.

36 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

the MagForce-Z braking is a joy to use...almost as good as the dual-braking on my Patriarch.

 

For a $100 reel, I don't think you can do better.

But I also x2 this. 
I still have a Fuego CT in my arsenal, it’s on my cranking rod. But I have smaller hands and I find it hard to palm for long. If you have bigger hands, I’d probably take it over the Speed Spool

[ironbjorn]

15 minutes ago, BigBass'n_Harrison said:

I second this.

But I also x2 this. 
I still have a Fuego CT in my arsenal, it’s on my cranking rod. But I have smaller hands and I find it hard to palm for long. If you have bigger hands, I’d probably take it over the Speed Spool

I have those Burger King hands too.

[redmeansdistortion]

The Fuego CT is still a great reel.  I'm honestly surprised Daiwa hasn't revised it to some degree since it has been on the market about 4 years thus far.  I have a 6.3 and 8.1 that are my general purpose reels.  

[MN Fisher]

26 minutes ago, BigBass'n_Harrison said:

But I also x2 this. 
I still have a Fuego CT in my arsenal, it’s on my cranking rod. But I have smaller hands and I find it hard to palm for long. If you have bigger hands, I’d probably take it over the Speed Spool

I don't palm my reels, so the physical size doesn't matter. I'm in the camp that says 'Rods have a handle - that's where the hand goes.'

 

But - whatever - if you're a palmer, go for it.

[HaydenS]

What about the SLX for $99?

[Bassin_Harrison]

56 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I don't palm my reels, so the physical size doesn't matter. I'm in the camp that says 'Rods have a handle - that's where the hand goes.'

 

But - whatever - if you're a palmer, go for it.

Thanks for the info? I was agreeing with you so I’m not sure what that added to the topic but more power to you. 

[BrianMDTX]

I have a Fuego CT 8.1:1 and a Tatula 100H 6.3:1. I like both reels, but if I had to name a preference, it’d be the Tatula. Seems to cast farther and very smooth retrieve. 
 

But the Fuego CT is still a great baitcaster. 

[Bigassbass]

Whenever someone says "bang for the bucks" it usually means cheap.  You should buy what reel you want to use that you want. One that  reels in fish smoothly, casts easily, brakes like a sports car and looks good.  Why would you want to waste money on Cheap when you can have best or finest! 

[Columbia Craw]

Bang for the buck can mean VALUE.  Getting performance, longevity, durability and serviceability at a lower cost than comparable constitutes value.  The Fuego CT is a great value reel .

[Jigfishn10]

I have 2 Fuego rods that I'm using for saltwater and I actually went a little cheaper that the Fuego baitcasters and have been using CC80H reels thinking that they'd get trashed in the saltwater conditions. Very impressed with these reels.

@ChrisD46, I can only imagine what those Fuego reels must fish like. Good luck man.

[diehardbassfishing]

5 hours ago, Bigassbass said:

Whenever someone says "bang for the bucks" it usually means cheap.

 

This doesn't apply to the Fuego reel.

[ironbjorn]

6 hours ago, Bigassbass said:

Whenever someone says "bang for the bucks" it usually means cheap.  You should buy what reel you want to use that you want. One that  reels in fish smoothly, casts easily, brakes like a sports car and looks good.  Why would you want to waste money on Cheap when you can have best or finest! 

The Fuego isn't a cheap reel, and most of us want a garage full of 6 figure cars and multi million dollar homes, but, ummm, people are generally limited. I'm glad you can buy exactly what you want. Most of us buy the best we can afford.

[papajoe222]

I actually prefer the Fuego over the Tatula.  I like it so much, I sold my Tatula and purchased another Fuego. The only time casting distance is important to me is when cranking. I upgraded the spool bearings and I feel I get a few extra yards since doing so. I do notice a difference between the two Fuegos. Although they are both smooth, the 6.3:1 is much smoother. The same observation applies to one of my Sols although they are all geared the same.

[Bluebasser86]

I really love the Fuego, but I even went down to the Daiwa CC80, 2 of them, for a couple lower end rods I use in my kayak when I'm just fun fishing. They were highly touted by Tactical Bassin, so I gave them a shot. They've been excellent so far, and don't have that cheap reel feel to them. 

[Jigfishn10]

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I really love the Fuego, but I even went down to the Daiwa CC80, 2 of them, for a couple lower end rods I use in my kayak when I'm just fun fishing. They were highly touted by Tactical Bassin, so I gave them a shot. They've been excellent so far, and don't have that cheap reel feel to them. 

They are really nice reels, aren’t they? I’m impressed so far.

[PhishLI]

On 7/25/2021 at 12:09 PM, redmeansdistortion said:

The Fuego CT is still a great reel.  I'm honestly surprised Daiwa hasn't revised it to some degree since it has been on the market about 4 years thus far.

Hopefully they'll leave well enough alone. Nothing to fix, IMO. Mine have never given me a lick of trouble, and it's rare that I don't have at least one in the mix, so many thousands of casts on both. Plenty of fish towed through thick weeds and pads. No sticky thumb bars, or other weirdness.

[the reel ess]

I can tell from the other replies this will be an unpopular opinion. I'm not very satisfied with the quality of my Fuego CT. It has been gear noisy since day 1. I've oiled it and it helped, but still makes noise when reeled. It's less than a year old. However, aside from sounding cheap it has held up to some big fish that took drag. All in all, I don't consider it that good of a deal. I would probably go for a Lew's before a Fuego next time. I have 3 Lew's Tournament MB reels that are getting pretty old and they all work like champs. Hell, even my Academy TAC-40 reel seems to be better of quality than my Fuego. But I can tell from customer ratings my experience is not typical.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

On 7/25/2021 at 12:42 PM, HaydenS said:

What about the SLX for $99?

Imo a toss up with the fuego. Both are better reels than Lews on paper. In use, personal preference is the tie breaker. 

[ErieCan]

On 7/25/2021 at 11:15 AM, MN Fisher said:

I have two Fuego CTs - a 6.3 which is my crankbait reel, and a 8.1 which is my flip/pitch/punch/frog reel. Both have been solid, dependable, and the MagForce-Z braking is a joy to use...almost as good as the dual-braking on my Patriarch.

 

Same! The 6.3 is on a Tatula glass rod and the 8.1 is on a Tatula flipping rod. I put a bigger handle on the 8.1 so I can winch the bass out of the thick pads easier. 

 

My other reels are all SV TW103s.  Can cast weightless flukes and toads a mile with those. 

[NoShoes]

I have two Fuegos and a tatula. I prefer the Fuegos by a long shot. I don’t like the t-wing and the gloss finish gets slippery. Looking to pick up a couple more Fuegos here soon