Current "best" Daiwa Swimbait Reel?

[txchaser]

I'm in the market for a proper swimbait reel, and it'll be a Daiwa since that's what I'm used to on everything else. It looks like the Lexa line has expanded a lot, and there's some new non-lexas out, and the Tatula 300 seems to not exactly be a Tatula. And I'm also fine buying JDM after my A+ experience with the Zillion HD. 

 

Any advice? 

 

[PhishLI]

Tat 300. Very solid feeling reel. You'll like it.

 

[WRB]

If you/are looking for a low profile swimbait reel consider Shimano Tranx 300-400 series.

I like Daiwa Tatula reels, Shimano makes a better swimbait reel.

Tom

[PhishLI]

2 minutes ago, WRB said:

I like Daiwa Tatula reels, Shimano makes a better swimbait reel.

Real question: Have you fished with one? It's called a Tatula, but it really isn't in the traditional sense. It's built more like a higher end Daiwa. Like a tank. Opinions..I have both the Tranx 300 and 400. I prefer the Tat 300, especially with heavy plastic main line.

[Hammer 4]

I have the Diawa 300 tatula. My previous swimbait reel was a Shimano Curado 301 E 7, and it was great. IMHO the tatula is just as good. I throw up to 3 1/2 oz baits with 20 lb mono on mine. The only thing I did to my 300 was buff the spool ends for better casting.

[garroyo130]

The "Proper" swimbait reel of dedicated swimbait fishermen still seems to be the calcutta. I'm new to swimbait fishing but only advice i can give is to get a reel in your hands and match it to the swimbait size you'll be throwing. I was originally set on a Curado 300 until I put it on my rod. I realized the Tat 200 was more than enough for my needs (< 2 oz). 

[Cbump]

Biggest swimbait I’ll ever throw is a 7” plastic with 10/0 beast hook. Not sure the weight but it’s not a monster. My setup doubles for a-rig as well. I use the Tatula 150p. 
I wouldn’t hesitate getting the 300 if I threw bigger baits though. 

[suzuki2903]

I use a jdm Catalina tw and have zero regrets

[Bluebasser86]

I have a Curado 300E and Tatula 300. I prefer the Tatula by a pretty good bit. I've taken good care of the Curado and it's still a workhorse with lots of life left in it, but the Tatula is such a sweet reel. It outcast it, it's smoother and more connected feeling, just feels better all around. 

[Big Swimbait]

[Revival]

I have the Tatula 200 for smaller swimbaits and love it.  If I went bigger, I would get the Tatula 300.

[softwateronly]

I'm in the Tat 300 group, love that reel.

 

scott

[txchaser]

On 7/13/2022 at 9:39 AM, Cbump said:

Biggest swimbait I’ll ever throw is a 7” plastic with 10/0 beast hook. Not sure the weight but it’s not a monster. My setup doubles for a-rig as well. I use the Tatula 150p. 
I wouldn’t hesitate getting the 300 if I threw bigger baits though. 

I've been throwing 2oz (all-in) swimbaits and a-rigs on a tat150 and it has been just fine on line cap and sturdiness.

 

But I got a slide swimmer 250, and I'm also starting to throw 8" soft swimbaits, and some heavy-wire heavy-weight a-rigs both of which are getting in the 'no this is actually big' zone. It means my rods aren't going to cut it either.

 

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. While I'm here, I've been wondering - can the magnets really even slow down these big baits, or no so you might as well crank the magnets up to 15 or so to reduce the chance of a bad backlash? 

 

I would have bet $1 coming into this that the lexa would get much more mention than the 300.

[Tatulatard]

The big daiwas have some strong magnets.  Even a tat 200 can slow a big bait well.

[RDB]

I am a Diawa fan as well but for swimbaits the size you are getting into, I would use a 300-400 Tranx…your HD can handle medium sized swimbaits.  Good news is it won’t cost that much more than your Slide Swimmer ?.  If you stick with Diawa, I agree with the 300.

[Hammer 4]

What I found was throwing 7" glide baits and the 8" hudd with the Tatula 200 is the reel kinda struggled a bit. When I switched to the 300 Tatula, casting was much easier and resulted in better distance.

The 200 works fine for baits like the 6" hudd, and baits in the 2 to 2 1/2 oz range.

[ska4fun]

Daiwa Ryoga, Millionaire and derivatives like the baywater special.

[Cbump]

Circling back to this because I went out the other day and threw just a tad bigger swimbait than I’m used to (but want to start throwing) and my 150p struggled. Had It on 20 on the brakes and still backlashed if I tried to get some distance on my cast. I’m now moving that reel to my deep crank rod and going to get a 300. 

[Tail Slap]

18 Zillion TW HD 1520 Magforce

21 Tatula TW 300 Magforce

21 Lexa TW 300 Magforce

Luna TD 253/300 Magforce Z

18 RYOGA 1520 Magforce Z

 

If you are looking for a workhorse that will stay smooth even with heavy use but do not care about every high tech hyper digi this and that I would look at the Luna 253 or 300.  The best comparison is the old Calcultta TE.  Compare to the new micro gears these plain bronze gears will be smoother after a yr of hard use that the current Calcutta Conquest. At least in my experience and few others that have had both (musky and SW anglers.) The same has been stated comparing the TE to the Conquest.  The micros are smooth but those tiny teeth are not as tough as the standard teeth of the old TE.

 

If you want a lo pro the Lexa or Tatula TW 300 versions.  Tge Lexa will have all crbb bearings loaded with grease for SW.  If you want smoothest running they will need to be flushed and oiled.  The Tatula also have the newest hyperdigi cut gear mesh vs the digi in the Lexa.  They both have the same SS pinion dual bearing support and the brass main gear.  They both run the fix inductor spool of the base magforce brake spool which works well with big wind resistant swimbaits.

 

If you want a premium round baitcaster the Ryoga it's the same 1520 36mm size spool as the 18 Zillion TW HD but its magforce Z vs fixed inductor magforce.  Personally there is a few design construction I wish were different on the ryoga especially for the $$$.

[FrnkNsteen]

I like the couple Lexa reels I have

[FrnkNsteen]

On 7/19/2022 at 12:01 PM, Cbump said:

Circling back to this because I went out the other day and threw just a tad bigger swimbait than I’m used to (but want to start throwing) and my 150p struggled. Had It on 20 on the brakes and still backlashed if I tried to get some distance on my cast. I’m now moving that reel to my deep crank rod and going to get a 300. 

Ok,.. I'm not a swimbait fisherman, so I can't speak from direct experience (Other than throwing heavier Muskie lures), but,....

 

What's coming to mind is wondering what your reel has to do with basklashing when you go to heavier baits? The brakes of the reel do not have to slow the bigger bait as much as they have to slow the spool from over-running the lure after the slingshot effect of loading your rod during the cast.

 

If going to heavier lures is causing you to backlash, you might need to go to a heavier rod that is more matched/balanced to the heavier lures you are throwing. I would suggest trying your current reel on a heavier rod to test, then decide what you want you new setup to be.

 

I agree that heavier lures can be hard on smaller reels and shorten their lifespan,... So agree you may want a bigger reel. Just trying to save you from buying the new reel and having the same issue because you're overloading your current rod.

[Cbump]

3 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

Ok,.. I'm not a swimbait fisherman, so I can't speak from direct experience (Other than throwing heavier Muskie lures), but,....

 

What's coming to mind is wondering what your reel has to do with basklashing when you go to heavier baits? The brakes of the reel do not have to slow the bigger bait as much as they have to slow the spool from over-running the lure after the slingshot effect of loading your rod during the cast.

 

If going to heavier lures is causing you to backlash, you might need to go to a heavier rod that is more matched/balanced to the heavier lures you are throwing. I would suggest trying your current reel on a heavier rod to test, then decide what you want you new setup to be.

 

I agree that heavier lures can be hard on smaller reels and shorten their lifespan,... So agree you may want a bigger reel. Just trying to save you from buying the new reel and having the same issue because you're overloading your current rod.

 

All I know is, when I go to a big bait, unless I’m lightly lobbing It which isn’t good distance, even on 20 setting, the spool over runs. This was a probably 3oz bait. Maybe 2.5. No problems casting smaller. The rod is a dobyns Fury 795sb. Rated 1-5 oz. 

[FrnkNsteen]

Well,... Then maybe the rod is a little over-rated and whipping the smaller reel spool a bit more than it can take. Curious if a larger spool in a bigger reel may not rotate as fast, therefore backlashing less.

 

Let us know if a bigger reel helps!!

[Cbump]

How is the Catalina BJ and Calcutta F?