Zillion HD JDM vs US

[Cbump]

Two part post. 
 

Part one: I currently have a Team Lews Hyper Mag on my DX746. I use It for 50% casting 10+” t-rigs and 50% pitching creature t-rigs in tight quarters. I just sold the Lews because I want to go to all Daiwa. Original plan was to sell It and get another JDM Zillion SV. I’ll have 20lb fc on It though so I think more line capacity may be better for casting. What do you think of the Zillion HD for these techniques? 
 

Part Two: in checking digitaka and the daiwa.us website, the reels look significantly different. US version looks much nicer imo.  Besides looks (and price), does anyone know any other differences in the US vs JDM HD? 

 

[Wprich]

Disregard post was in reference to SV not HD lol

Edited August 15, 2022 by Wprich

[Revival]

Disregard…my post was ALSO in reference to the SV and not the HD. 

 

[Cbump]

8 hours ago, Revival said:

Knobs on the JDM are smaller.  JDM handles are silver and US handles are black.

 

 

Those knobs look nothing like the HD knobs. 

[Jrob78]

I believe the JDM HD hasn't made its way to the US yet. The reel you're finding at domestic retailers is the old version. A lot of people feel like it is a true HD reel while the newer version is basically a Zillion with a longer handle, metal drag star, 2 bearings in each knob and deeper spool.

 

I don't have any experience with the older version but people love it.  The new HD variant is my favorite of all the newer style Zillions, including the Silver Wolf but there isn't really anything HD about it that I can tell.

[Tatulatard]

The old one is big like a tatula 150 size.

[Cbump]

Just to clarify, 

this jdm model is the new one: 

 

and this is the old one on the daiwa website:

 

58 minutes ago, Jrob78 said:

I believe the JDM HD hasn't made its way to the US yet. The reel you're finding at domestic retailers is the old version. A lot of people feel like it is a true HD reel while the newer version is basically a Zillion with a longer handle, metal drag star, 2 bearings in each knob and deeper spool.

 

I don't have any experience with the older version but people love it.  The new HD variant is my favorite of all the newer style Zillions, including the Silver Wolf but there isn't really anything HD about it that I can tell.

 

I’m ok with It not being a true HD style reel because this will be for t-rigs only. I love my Zillion SV so if this is similar with bigger handle and spool, sounds perfect for what I’m looking for. 

[Bass Rutten]

There seems to be some confusion here. Are you referring to the new 22 zillion hd 1000 or the  18 zillion hd 1520? I think either would be up to the task, the 1000 is just a variant of the new g series zillion, same size body with bigger handle (among a few other differences). I own the 1520 and it's a bit chunkier than the standard zillion but still palmable but I have slightly larger than average hands, it also weighs over 8 ounces and holds a crap ton of line. I own the jdm zillion too (standard not hd) and it lives on my st croix legend elite for the sole purpose of casting and pitching creatures and jigs, I use 16lb fluoro and have no issues with line capacity. Brass tacks... I'd just go for the standard zillion either U.S. or jdm and see no real need for the 1520 hd for your purposes unless fishing real deep or bombing casts.

[Cbump]

I’m talking about the JDM 1000 HD compared to the HD on the US website. I think I got It figured out though. 

[Jrob78]

39 minutes ago, Cbump said:

Just to clarify, 

this jdm model is the new one: 

 

and this is the old one on the daiwa website:

 

 

I’m ok with It not being a true HD style reel because this will be for t-rigs only. I love my Zillion SV so if this is similar with bigger handle and spool, sounds perfect for what I’m looking for. 

Yes you are correct. I love the new 22 JDM HD version and it will be great for your needs.

[Cbump]

Perfect!

Was thinking about ordering some sunline fc sniper With It from digitaka. Any other lines I should consider? 

[FishTank]

11 hours ago, Cbump said:

Two part post. 
 

Part one: I currently have a Team Lews Hyper Mag on my DX746. I use It for 50% casting 10+” t-rigs and 50% pitching creature t-rigs in tight quarters. I just sold the Lews because I want to go to all Daiwa. Original plan was to sell It and get another JDM Zillion SV. I’ll have 20lb fc on It though so I think more line capacity may be better for casting. What do you think of the Zillion HD for these techniques? 
 

Part Two: in checking digitaka and the daiwa.us website, the reels look significantly different. US version looks much nicer imo.  Besides looks (and price), does anyone know any other differences in the US vs JDM HD? 

 

 

Just an observation,  why would you want an HD reel with more line capacity to cast in tight quarters?

 

I usually use a lighter, but strong reel (Steez SV or Metanium) so I can make small accurate pitches, flick or roll casts when I'm in tight places. I would also use a shorter rod under 7 foot long. Just in case, when I say tight places, I mean coves, tight spots around docks  and narrow water ways. 

 

When I think of the Zillion HD (which I don't have yet), I think of it as a reel I would use for topwater,  deep cranks, and swimbaits or even heavy casting jigs.

[Jrob78]

I've recently been adding 300m spools of the JDM Sniper with my reel orders. I honestly don't know if it's different than US Sniper but it's been great in my limited use.

[Cbump]

11 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

Just an observation,  why would you want an HD reel with more line capacity to cast in tight quarters?

 

I usually use a lighter, but strong reel (Steez SV or Metanium) so I can make small accurate pitches, flick or roll casts when I'm in tight places. I would also use a shorter rod under 7 foot long. Just in case, when I say tight places, I mean coves, tight spots around docks  and narrow water ways. 

 

When I think of the Zillion HD (which I don't have yet), I think of it as a reel I would use for topwater,  deep cranks, and swimbaits or even heavy casting jigs.

50% of my fishing will be bomb casting big worms offshore. Also It seems by this post the new jdm HD isn’t the traditional HD for the things you mentioned. Ideal reel to me is the Tat Elite P/F with more line capacity. This looks like It. Could be wrong. 

10 minutes ago, Jrob78 said:

I've recently been adding 300m spools of the JDM Sniper with my reel orders. I honestly don't know if it's different than US Sniper but it's been great in my limited use.

Nice. That’s what I was going to get. 

[Bass Rutten]

Just a thought, the tatula 200 is another reel you might consider if on a budget, it's similar in size to the 1520. I use it on a small swimbait rod and it'll bomb lures into the next county and has just as much line capacity, you could buy two for the money of one ziliion.

[FishTank]

12 minutes ago, Cbump said:

50% of my fishing will be bomb casting big worms offshore. Also It seems by this post the new jdm HD isn’t the traditional HD for the things you mentioned. Ideal reel to me is the Tat Elite P/F with more line capacity. This looks like It. Could be wrong. 

Nice. That’s what I was going to get. 

 

Got it. The Zillion HD sounds like it makes sense then. On paper it looks like you would get the best of both worlds.  A smaller  platform, more line capacity and a larger power handle. My only thing would be the larger spool and the brake system.  Daiwa's HD reels have been known for handling bigger baits well but not small to regular (check out the reviews on the Steez HD). If the braking system to me can handle a Senko and a 1/8oz bullet weight like the regular Zillion then this would make for an awesome reel. 

[Jrob78]

4 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

Got it. The Zillion HD sounds like it makes sense then. On paper it looks like you would get the best of both worlds.  A smaller  platform, more line capacity and a larger power handle. My only thing would be the larger spool and the brake system.  Daiwa's HD reels have been known for handling bigger baits well but not small to regular (check out the reviews on the Steez HD). If the braking system to me can handle a Senko and a 1/8oz bullet weight like the regular Zillion then this would make for an awesome reel. 

My HD is on a rod that primarily sees Senkos, Flukes, Ikas and similarly weighted baits with 12lb fluoro. It handles them really well. 

[Cbump]

My regular zillion sv is on my fluke, senko rod. 
 

This one will see no smaller than 3/8 oz tungsten +hook and plastic. Majority of the time will be 1/2oz tungsten. 

 

 

 

Side note: Any must have bait orders from digitaka while I’m ordering reel and line?

[TNBankFishing]

1 hour ago, Cbump said:

My regular zillion sv is on my fluke, senko rod. 
 

This one will see no smaller than 3/8 oz tungsten +hook and plastic. Majority of the time will be 1/2oz tungsten. 

 

 

 

Side note: Any must have bait orders from digitaka while I’m ordering reel and line?

New hard baits and some JDM Dolive colors. They might have some Blitz left in stock and those are definitely worth snatching up. Honestly I could build a $300 dollar cart easy from Digitaka just in baits. 

[Cbump]

It’s done. Although I don’t think PayPal exchange rates matches what was shown on digitaka. Still a good deal though. 
 

Zillion HD

300m fc sniper

150m defier armilo 

 

Digitaka price $350

PayPal price $386

?‍♂️

 

1 minute ago, TNBankFishing said:

New hard baits and some JDM Dolive colors. They might have some Blitz left in stock and those are definitely worth snatching up. Honestly I could build a $300 dollar cart easy from Digitaka just in baits. 

Dang It. 3 minutes too late. Next time for sure

[FishTank]

23 hours ago, FishTank said:

 

Got it. The Zillion HD sounds like it makes sense then. On paper it looks like you would get the best of both worlds.  A smaller  platform, more line capacity and a larger power handle. My only thing would be the larger spool and the brake system.  Daiwa's HD reels have been known for handling bigger baits well but not small to regular (check out the reviews on the Steez HD). If the braking system to me can handle a Senko and a 1/8oz bullet weight like the regular Zillion then this would make for an awesome reel. 

 

I need to fix something I said above... 

 

I mentioned a Steez HD but I meant the HCL.  My fault.  It would have driven me crazy if I didn't take care of this.

[Tatulatard]

On 8/15/2022 at 9:56 AM, Cbump said:

Just to clarify, 

this jdm model is the new one: 

 

and this is the old one on the daiwa website:

 

 

I’m ok with It not being a true HD style reel because this will be for t-rigs only. I love my Zillion SV so if this is similar with bigger handle and spool, sounds perfect for what I’m looking for. 

Yep.  Both have the same handle too but look how small the the new one looks compared to the handle.  That's how huge the old one is.

On 8/16/2022 at 10:24 AM, FishTank said:

 

I need to fix something I said above... 

 

I mentioned a Steez HD but I meant the HCL.  My fault.  It would have driven me crazy if I didn't take care of this.

Pretty sure this new HD has strong brakes.  I don't see it being compared to the steez hlc.  People that have them say they have to run the brake dial lower than you do with a normal zillion.  That's definitely not how the steez hlc is described.

[zpelletier]

On 8/15/2022 at 1:42 PM, Cbump said:

Digitaka price $350

PayPal price $386

Did you try to contact PayPal about this? It’s not a crazy difference but I’d still be upset

[Cbump]

23 minutes ago, zpelletier said:

Did you try to contact PayPal about this? It’s not a crazy difference but I’d still be upset

I didn’t but I read this recently in another forum:

”Bummer about japanlureshop is they only allow paypal (in my experience) and paypal had their own exchange rate that added approx 3% to the cost. Digitaka does not do that (straight through with credit card for the going exchange rate).”

   
 

 

So It appears that’s what happened. On digitaka I used the PayPal options because It was quicker to just click that than to manually enter the card number. I know now not to do that. 

More than 3% though. 

[zpelletier]

Crazy that PayPal has their own exchange rate, shouldn’t that be something that’s standard? 
 

Either way, that zillion hd looks beautiful