reel for Carolina rigs, jigs, etc

[TNReb]

I have a few in mind already … but if you could have any reel for long casts with jigs, 1/2oz Texas rigged creatures, and Carolina rigs… what would it be?

 

Ignore ratio/speed - let’s just talk models. 

[PBBrandon]

Zillion SV for anything and everything but big swimbaits. The Curado 200K is another reel I love specifically for big jigs and Carolina rigs as well.

[TNReb]

I have several of the Curado 200K. They’re just a tad bulkier than I would prefer, but I have used them for this purpose. 
 

The only Daiwa reels I’ve ever owned are the Tatula SV TW, and I hated them. They put a sour taste in my mouth with Daiwa, but I was curious to see if anyone recommended a Zillion or Steez. 

[Columbia Craw]

JDM Zillion HD

[FishTank]

I was going to say the new Zillion since I have been using it for Texas rigged plastic but I have also been using a Metanium all year long for jigs. Between the two for the purpose of jigs, I would go with the Metanium but the Zillion would also be great. 

[PBBrandon]

1 hour ago, TNReb said:

I have several of the Curado 200K. They’re just a tad bulkier than I would prefer, but I have used them for this purpose. 
 

The only Daiwa reels I’ve ever owned are the Tatula SV TW, and I hated them. They put a sour taste in my mouth with Daiwa, but I was curious to see if anyone recommended a Zillion or Steez. 

The Zillion blows the Tatula away. I personally like the Tatula SV but you can definitely feel a difference. Daiwa reels in general feel more like an “airy” smooth and Shimano reels a “buttery” smooth. The Zillion very much has a Shimano feel to it. I hope one day to have the funds to hold a Steez ?

[a1712]

Zillion HLC or Curado 150 MGL. Brian. 

[Jrob78]

Zillion HD would be my first choice and the Zillion SV would be my second, or the new Bantam if you want to go Shimano. The HD and Bantam are JDM only right now. 

[dodgeguy]

Lew's bb1 pro hands down. I'm assuming you want a little more line capacity.

[LonnieP]

JDM Zillion SV

[TNReb]

I am quite frustrated just trying to find the difference in Daiwa’s models. Zillion SV vs HD, Steez A vs SV TW… nothing on Daiwas website clearly explains why one might be chosen over another. 
 

What’s going to be the most solid feeling reel?  I don’t care about weight - I just want whatever feels most solid. 

[PhishLI]

11 minutes ago, TNReb said:

I just want whatever feels most solid. 

All 4 are super solid with fully bearing supported drive trains. No need for a SV reel with what you're looking to throw.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

3 minutes ago, TNReb said:

I am quite frustrated just trying to find the difference in Daiwa’s models. Zillion SV vs HD, Steez A vs SV TW… nothing on Daiwas website clearly explains why one might be chosen over another. 
 

What’s going to be the most solid feeling reel?  I don’t care about weight - I just want whatever feels most solid. 

I found it easier to just worry about comparing Zillions because many Steez models aren't in stock, don't translate well to Zillion models, and the new 22 Steez A II TW is about to drop in December according to Digitaka which is the reel I'd be looking at if I wanted a new Steez.

 

The overall better workhorse reel for throwing heavier baits, bigger line cap, larger handle/knobs, and if you could call it that "more solid" feeling reel b/t the Zillion SV TW and TW HD would be the TW HD.     I mean both reels are Jack of all trades in effect, they will throw everything but the kitchen sink, no fiddling with adjustments hardly, and almost impossible to backlash.   

 

High end Shimano and Daiwa reels have very different "solid feelings" imho.    Shimanos feel more "solid" to me, but I'm 90% Daiwa.       

[softwateronly]

I'm a fan of all metal reels in general, but especially love them for jigs/bottom contact.  A jdm met, bantam, zillion 1000, or zillion hd are going to be tough to beat in my opinion.  I'd also say they are the best bang for the buck regardless of technique.  My 3 jig rods next year will have a zillion 1000,  metanium, and bantam in order of light to heavy.  For me, there's a slight diawa advantage for skipping, and a slight disadvantage for braid to leader.

 

scott

[Big Hands]

I have a Tatula SV TW and used it quite a bit for Carolina rigs. I also have a Shimano SLX MGL 70 and once decided to try it for Carolina rigs and was surprised to find I could cast a 3/4 oz Carolina rig with the SLX MGL almost the same distance I was getting with a 1 oz Carolina rig on the . I have also found that I need to pay attention to the lubrication of the bearings more often than I think I should. 

 

I haven't tried a a Zillion, so I have no idea what they are capable of, but if I was getting another reel for Carolina rig fishing, I'd probably be looking at a Shimano MGL, and more specifically the Curado MGL's. 

 

For line, I have been using 40-50 lb braid and 7 lb Daiwa Samurai fluoro leader. As much as I love the sensitivity of braid for C-rig fishing, I may try some 15 lb Big Game mono for the main line just to cut down on the times braid gets damaged and lets go in the structure/cover that I fish which happens more than I'd like sometimes (especially with tungsten sinkers) purely for economical reasons. I have lost as many as four or five tungsten 1 oz sinkers in a day and that starts to add up. I have found that I can get two 3/4 oz tungsten sinkers for around the same as I pay (at the local tackle store) for a single 1 oz tungsten sinker, which brings me back to why I now favor using my SLX MGL for Carolina rig fishing over my Tatula SV TW. Bomb casts seem to get me more bites as I can back off quite a ways from the fish and not possibly spook them.

[TNReb]

Thanks for the replies everyone. 

[FryDog62]

The two longest distance reels I have ever flung are a Daiwa Tatula Elite and Shimano Antares.  Distance is key when trying to get a Carolina Rig in the right position across a long submerged point or shoreline.  Gear ratio does matter when setting the hook at the end of a long cast to pick up line quickly and keep the fish pinned. I use 8.1:1. I got frustrated at times with even a 7.1:1 and 7.3:1. 

 

 

[scbassin]

This is the reel you want.

Designed for the power game, the Shimano Bantam MGL A Casting Reel is packed full of Shimano’s most advanced technologies and delivers unsurpassed power, precision, and performance. Built upon a one-piece aluminum CoreSolid Body that houses Shimano’s Infinity Drive and MicroModule gearing system, the Shimano Bantam MGL A Casting Reel provides a solid in-hand feel and unbelievable reeling force to supply power without resistance or hesitation.

Offering added versatility, the Shimano Bantam MGL A Casting Reel features an all new MGL Spool III with decreased startup inertia that enables anglers to cast further while providing the ability to use a variety of lure weights and presentations. Backed by an ultra powerful Cross Carbon Drag to yank fish out of the thick stuff, the Shimano Bantam MGL A Casting Reel raises the bar for power fishing reels.

[Revival]

On 11/24/2022 at 7:06 PM, TNReb said:
 

The only Daiwa reels I’ve ever owned are the Tatula SV TW, and I hated them. They put a sour taste in my mouth with Daiwa, but I was curious to see if anyone recommended a Zillion or Steez. 

Out of curiosity, what about the Tatula SV did you hate?  And did you have the 2017 or 2020 model?

[Woody B]

6 hours ago, Revival said:

Out of curiosity, what about the Tatula SV did you hate?  And did you have the 2017 or 2020 model?

  

I'm not TNReb.  I wonder if his answer will be the same as mine.

 

I don't "hate" my Tatula SV.  I hate the brake adjuster.   My palm rubs in and changes the setting occasionally.  I'm getting better, but occasionally I'll cast, it will go a short distance, I'll look down and the brakes will be on 16 or something.  

 

I also don't like the "wing" especially for bottom contact lures.  I pick up on the line with my index finger for extra "feel".   This picks the line up out of the slot into the wing section causing uneven winding.  I've been trying to push down on the line, instead of picking up when I want extra feel.

[Bigassbass]

Shimano upper end reels are fantastic, lower priced go with SLX.  Lew's pro higher end reels are easy to set up and throw far.  The resale on Lew's will never match Shimano.  I've owned a few Daiwas but always went back to Shimano.  

[TNReb]

9 hours ago, Revival said:

Out of curiosity, what about the Tatula SV did you hate?  And did you have the 2017 or 2020 model?

I had the 2020 model. I don’t want to offend anyone, or sound like a Shimano fan boy who is just bashing Daiwa.  There wasn’t anything specific about it - it just felt like a cheap reel. If someone had put a $75 price tag on it with some new manufacture’s logo I would have thought “seems about right”. 
 

[FryDog62]

24 minutes ago, TNReb said:

I had the 2020 model. I don’t want to offend anyone, or sound like a Shimano fan boy who is just bashing Daiwa.  There wasn’t anything specific about it - it just felt like a cheap reel. If someone had put a $75 price tag on it with some new manufacture’s logo I would have thought “seems about right”. 
 

Unless I'm skipping a lure I don't prefer the Tatula SV TW either. Once you switch to something like the Tatula Elite, you realize how much effortless distance you have been missing out on with the SV spool.  It has its place, but I only skip with a couple rods.  Elite casts easily 20-30% farther and I don't backlash it any more than I do the SV TW.  

[WRB]

TPut the $75 price tag on it in the Flea Market forum, solve your issue immediately ?

The only 3 things important for a long Casting jig/C-rig reel is smoothness and IPT and your budget. The rod and the operator does everything else.

Tom

[TNReb]

58 minutes ago, WRB said:

TPut the $75 price tag on it in the Flea Market forum, solve your issue immediately ?

The only 3 things important for a long Casting jig/C-rig reel is smoothness and IPT and your budget. The rod and the operator does everything else.

Tom

I sold it a long time ago! haha