Daiwa Tatula Cast Control

[tander]

This is the first year for me to use the Daiwa Tatulas reels. Wondering what everyone does using the cast control knob. The instructions that come with it says the cast control is set to factory specs, this gives the spool a little play. I use to set up reels by engaging the reel and letting the lure slowly fall. I have been using the factory setting and doing fine with it but my wife has trouble using the reels set that way. I guess I could set up one with the old way of doing it and she would probably have no problem. So, how is everyone setting set up their Tatulas. BTW, my Tatulas are the 100's.

[newbiedmv]

I have one now. I'd never really used one until junger handed me one to use. It took about 10 minutes to learn. I was hitting areas 6 feet in diameter real fast then down to three into the wind.

I haven't learned how to side cast yet but I love the control that reel has when you set it up right.

The tension should be set so if you release it and you lure/bait hits the ground the reel should stop. The magnetic is generally set at 50% and I adjust mine depending on circumstances. Not getting far enough range reduce it. Getting a but of a bird nest on hard casts increase it. I'm still.learming that one.

[jimmyjoe]

   I bought a Tatula 150 awhile back. I totally ignored the factory blurbs, and just went out and experimented to see what worked best.

   That's what I'll do with any reel.         jj

[BigTimeBassin]

I set all my Daiwa reels the same way. 2 zillions, 2 Tatulas. From factory there’s a small amount of side to side play. I back the tension off another quarter turn. From there I don’t touch anything on the spool tension. Only adjust the the mag dial as needed. Sweet spot on the brake dial is between 6-8 depending on weight of the lure I’m throwing. 

[Hammer 4]

23 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   I bought a Tatula 150 awhile back. I totally ignored the factory blurbs, and just went out and experimented to see what worked best.

   That's what I'll do with any reel.         jj

I have the 100,  150, 200 and 300 size reels, and I do the same with all of them.

[T-Billy]

15 minutes ago, BigTimeBassin said:

I set all my Daiwa reels the same way. 2 zillions, 2 Tatulas. From factory there’s a small amount of side to side play. I back the tension off another quarter turn. From there I don’t touch anything on the spool tension. Only adjust the the mag dial as needed. Sweet spot on the brake dial is between 6-8 depending on weight of the lure I’m throwing. 

That's how I set all my casting reels. Back off the spool tension until there's a little play, and adjust the braking to suit the bait and conditions. Simple and effective.

[JustJames]

Yes if you need to adjust to your liking, just ignore that override zero adjustment from Daiwa. Even two reels same model might not have same adjustment come out of factory. 
But Daiwa think, and so do as other Daiwa users, that little to none tension is best performance for Magforce reel. A lot trend to use spool tension a little too much and then complain about casting distance. 
Now a lot not gonna agree with me here about how to set spool tension, but let me say it here and ymmv.

1. Lure fall slowly, this you will restrict the spool rotation across the whole range, thus extremely control and least distance. Most suit for beginner.

2. lure fall freely and stop when hit the ground, this is depend on weight of lure if you set with 1/2oz lure once you use the same reel with Senko, spool become too restricted, unless of course you change spool tension every time you change lure. Same concept if you set with lighter lure, but with heavier lure become too freely. You can easily stop spool with your eyes and thumb, once the lure fall down close to water surface ( add benefit of softer landing and accuracy). This setting is good if you using similar type lure and weight for same setup all the time and worry free, like jig or top water. **** weight and shape lure would effect free falling rate/stop***

3. now do you need spool tension?, this up to your thumb education, no shame to use either one or two methods above. You still don’t want too loose of tension to eliminate vibration of spool and would effect casting and control. 
How I set my (none zero adjustment) I set to as little side to side play as possible. If I started getting professional overrun (in wind or at night) I’ll add brake dial a click or two first before I touch spool tension. The reel with zero adjuster I leave it as is. I use same reel for every thing from Neko rig/wacky rig to 3/8-1/2 jig. I set to where I can cast lightest lure comfortable for that reel and never change because heavier lure you don’t really need much more control. Zillion (3/8oz), Pixy (1/8oz) Alphas 105 SV(1/4oz)

 

[walleyecrazy]

If you are fine with it, but your wife is having trouble I would suggest leaving it as is and just upping the brake dial when she uses it. I never really screw with the spool tension on any of my Daiwa’s with the “zero adjust”. Any ones without it I just take out most of the side to side play when I take it out of the box, and never touch it again

[new2BC4bass]

Cast control is set that way from the factory for a reason.  Most casting reels require some thumb control.  If you are the type that has to brag that your 0-20 brakes (or 0-10 on older reels) are all set at 3 or less, then you need to be pretty decent with your thumb.  Better than me that's for sure.

 

I'd suggest upping the brakes for your wife.  If max brakes aren't enough, then gradually tighten up on the cast control.  You get better distance with less cast control and more brakes then the reverse.  Make sure her casts are smooth.  A roll cast helps maintain smoothness.  Unlike most men, women don't normally try for the other side of the lake so that removes one problem for a so-so caster.  Trying for the other side of the lake (or county) often reduces smoothness.

 

Daiwa Magforce Z is not the same as a Shimano Centrifugal and I don't try to set them up the same although I do try to keep cast control to a minimum on any reel and use more brakes.  Cast control exerts the same amount of pressure throughout the whole cast.  Brakes don't.  Thus I use less cast control and more braking...even if it makes me look like like a loser to the guys here.

 

Most of my Magforce Z reels are set with 6-8 on the brakes.  I do have one or two that have been tuned that I can go a bit lower on.  A couple that are higher.  I've only got around 17 Daiwas with Magforce Z.  I don't have any of the new Tatulas (other than a 'blem' that I got that is unusable as it came).  Plenty of people on here with more experience with Magforce Z than me.  I don't get out nearly often enough anymore.  And I am trying to get into fly fishing. 

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

And I am trying to get into fly fishing. 

 

I always thought that a flyswatter worked best, but to each their own!  ??      jj

[new2BC4bass]

9 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

I always thought that a flyswatter worked best, but to each their own!  ??      jj

This year flies seem to be as scarce as fish around here.  Poor hunting for both. 

[Bankc]

I just experiment with it until I find a setting that works best.  Some lures it seems to work best fairly loose.  Others, it seems to work better if it's tightened down more like a regular baitcasting reel.  Like the brakes, you just kind of cast it out there, and decide if it needs more or less tension.  Eventually, you'll get used to it and can predict kind of where it needs to be based on the lure, the line, the wind, and how you're casting.  

[Boomstick]

On 8/29/2021 at 4:01 PM, tander said:

I use to set up reels by engaging the reel and letting the lure slowly fall.

That's the old way. It may apply with some current reels as well.

With the Daiwa reels, you basically adjust the cast control knob to the point where the reel just begins to click side to side when the button is pressed. Once you get that set, you pretty much don't have to touch it. The newer models are supposed to come setup this way from the factory, but if you choose to adjust it the same applies.

 

You can tweak the brakes to how you like it. I find for the most part, 8-10 is a fairly aggressive brake setting if you don't want to have to worry about thumbing the spool depending on the weight of the lure you're throwing and the rod you're using.