Abu Garcia RevoX or Daiwa Tatule 100H/CT which one?

[CDMTJager]

Looking to buy two new RIGHT hand retrieve baitcasting reels and would like to go up in over all quality VS what I have now. My absolutely can not go over budget is $130 per reel. My research has lead me to one of the two:

Abu Garcia Revo X Gen4 at $120

Daiwa Tatula CT 100H at $130

Would appreciate recommendations on which to buy and why you prefer one over the other. I currently own more than just a few Abu Garcia's (four older 4500's and two Max Pro's) and have zero complaints but I was quite impressed with the large number of sterling reviews the Daiwa Tatula CT reels I found. But I also read the Gen4 Revo X is also a great reel, many reviews claiming it is on par with the Tatula. The price difference is not a factor.

I am asking mostly because I have never owned a Daiwa reel before casting or spinning so I have no 1st hand experience with Daiwa reels.

My sons and I fish from the bank about 90% of the time and these reels would be for bass and walleye fishing.

 

[NorthernBasser]

I'd go Daiwa over Abu every time. I have never used that particular Abu but just from experience I've never been an Abu guy. You can also look at the Tatula 100 (not CT). The previous model is marked down if you can find them. I saw a right-hand/7.3 on Amazon for $130. 

[Bird]

Surprised your research didn't lead you to the Shimano SLX , fantastic reel for $100.

[FrnkNsteen]

Don't know what gear ratio you want and how you plan to use it, but American Legacy still has right hand 6.3:1 ratio SLX MGL 70 in stock, closing them out for $99.99.

 

That's a nice reel for that price and I'd take that before either of the ones you mentioned. Unfortunately that's the ONLY RH version they have left though.

[Bankbeater]

No problems at all with my three CT100H reels.  I've had one for six years, and the other two are three years old.

[MN Fisher]

Realize that there's very little difference between the Tatula CT and the Fuego CT...same frame, main gears, spool....just the T-Wing on the Tat-CT...so if you're on a budget...the Fuego CT should also be in the running.

 

Two Fuego CTs and a Tat-CT in my arsenal...all three are solid and dependable.

[CDMTJager]

Great thanks for the suggestions thus far.

I have a question.

What importance does the number of ball bearings play in the over all performance and durability of a baitcasting reels within the same price point? In other words does a a baitcasting reel with 7 or 8 bearings have any district or significant advantage over a reel with only 4-5 bearings?

 

I would think to a point, the more bearings a reel has the longer it should last and the smoother it should operate given there are a significantly larger number of bearings for the wear, friction and stress forces to be distributed among.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, FrnkNsteen said:

Don't know what gear ratio you want and how you plan to use it, but American Legacy still has right hand 6.3:1 ratio SLX MGL 70 in stock, closing them out for $99.99.

 

That's a nice reel for that price and I'd take that before either of the ones you mentioned. Unfortunately that's the ONLY RH version they have left though.

^^^^this^^^^If ALF is out of stock try the Japanese suppliers. 1st check the BR Flea Market forum👍

Tom

[MN Fisher]

45 minutes ago, CDMTJager said:

I would think to a point, the more bearings a reel has the longer it should last and the smoother it should operate given there are a significantly larger number of bearings for the wear, friction and stress forces to be distributed among.

Sometimes the bearing number has no relevance. Take the Fuego CT and Tatula CT for example. Tatula has 2 more bearings - but they're in the handle to make the knobs spin freer...not within the reel itself...so they don't really do anything.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

1 hour ago, CDMTJager said:

Great thanks for the suggestions thus far.

I have a question.

What importance does the number of ball bearings play in the over all performance and durability of a baitcasting reels within the same price point? In other words does a a baitcasting reel with 7 or 8 bearings have any district or significant advantage over a reel with only 4-5 bearings?

 

I would think to a point, the more bearings a reel has the longer it should last and the smoother it should operate given there are a significantly larger number of bearings for the wear, friction and stress forces to be distributed among.

This only holds true to a point. Dual pinion and crank bearings, spool bearings of course and the AR. Total of 7. Next would be level wind bearings (2) the least important are the 4 handle bearings. 

[CDMTJager]

21 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

Don't know what gear ratio you want and how you plan to use it, but American Legacy still has right hand 6.3:1 ratio SLX MGL 70 in stock, closing them out for $99.99.

 

That's a nice reel for that price and I'd take that before either of the ones you mentioned. Unfortunately that's the ONLY RH version they have left though.

Would yo be so kind as to explain why you feel the Shimano SLX MGL is a superior reel to the Daiwa?

[FrnkNsteen]

Don't get me wrong,... I like both Daiwa and Shimano reels. For the $100 - $130 price, you are looking at a Daiwa Fuego ($100ish) or Tatula CT ($130ish), or Shimano SLX - SLX XT for the same price ranges.

 

In my opinion, the SLX MGL, normally priced at $150, is a special little reel. It's small and palms well. It is very smooth, the MGL spool allows for easy casting of lighter lures and it casts like a dream. I love it for things like jerkbaits, topwater poppers and weightless soft plastics. It also has the centrifugal braking that is adjustable from the outside.

 

I bought one to try it out and really liked it. I then thought if I liked it that much, the Curado 71 MGL must be even better, so I bought one of those. I honestly didn't see as much difference between the two (if any). I now have 3 more of the SLX and no more Curado 71 MGLs. Well,... Make that that 6 total because I actually have two more left hand SLX MGL in the mail that I just bought on closeout from ALF to replace other reels.

 

I like all the reels mentioned, but in my opinion, the SLX MGL at $99.99 is good enough that it is hard to pass up and surpasses the other $100 - $130 offerings from anyone.

[WRB]

^^^^this^^^^ the SLX MGL 70 will be replaced imo by the more expensive Curado MGL 70 in the Daiwa Tatula SV TW price point. You are saving over $100 for performance.

Tom

[Eric 26]

@CDMTJager As someone who owns both a Revo X winch gen 4 and the previous version of the Tatula CT (red) vs (blue) highlights its hands down the Tatula imho. The braking system on the Daiwa is absolutely superior, again in my opinion. But I’m going to tell you to not only listen to everyone who’s suggesting the SLX MGL but I’m going to offer another option which is buy JDM or Japanese Domestic Market. You can currently get a brand new 2024 Daiwa Tatula for $117.87 plus shipping which will keep you under cost and receive a free lure with the purchase or 2 if you purchase 2 reels. Plus being a 2024 they have all 3 gear ratios to choose from. This particular site is www.japanlureshop.com.

[FrnkNsteen]

9 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@CDMTJager As someone who owns both a Revo X winch gen 4 and the previous version of the Tatula CT (red) vs (blue) highlights its hands down the Tatula imho. The braking system on the Daiwa is absolutely superior, again in my opinion. But I’m going to tell you to not only listen to everyone who’s suggesting the SLX MGL but I’m going to offer another option which is buy JDM or Japanese Domestic Market. You can currently get a brand new 2024 Daiwa Tatula for $117.87 plus shipping which will keep you under cost and receive a free lure with the purchase or 2 if you purchase 2 reels. Plus being a 2024 they have all 3 gear ratios to choose from. This particular site is www.japanlureshop.com.

Eric offers another good option. That is the new Tatula 100 and is supposed to have same cut to the gearing as the Zillion, Alphas, and Tatula 80 that people have been bragging about the smoothness. I have not seen the new 100 in person yet, but will at the BPS spring classic sale next weekend.

 

Someone pointed out on a different thread that you can also find that JDM reel on Amazon if you search for the JDM description.

 

Do a search for 24 Tatula 100 TW and it comes up at prices ranging from $111 to $126 in RH depending on which gear ratio you like. 

 

In case anyone else is wondering,... LH prices range from $113 to $116.