Daiwa Steez A II Factory-Set Spool Tension is Bogus?

[KP Duty]

I look at the zero adjuster like I do default settings on my tv or phone.  A good start, but you can adjust to suite your needs.

[Larry Lunker]

1 hour ago, KP Duty said:

I look at the zero adjuster like I do default settings on my tv or phone.  A good start, but you can adjust to suite your needs.

that's what I'm saying..."thanks for the suggestion, but I'll take it from here" lol

[TheWitness33]

On 4/6/2024 at 1:46 PM, Bigbox99 said:

Spool tension is training wheels for fishing reels.  It's fine for beginners that are learning how to use a baitcast reel but like training wheels it is teaching you the wrong way and you will have to relearn how to do it properly at some point.   Training wheels teach you that leaning the bike is bad and that you should stay upright and perched on the saddle of the bike which is not how you should ride a bike.  Go to any single track on a mountain bike and you will be in for a world of hurt.  You'll learn real fast you need to lean the bike in turns and get rider and bike separation.

 

The same applies to the spool tension knob.  If you learn to cast with that thing smashing the ends of the spool shaft the line will be taunt between the bait and rod on the cast.  This will prevent the reel from spitting out enough slack line on the cast and will have baits want to pendulum swim back at you rather than fall vertically (hence the old adage "you can't get a vertical fall with a baitcaster")  This will also cause the rod tip to be loaded as the bait flies through the air and this can cause issues with inconsistent bait flight characteristics when switch between a reel with no spool tension and picking up one that does.  

I agree. When people are first learning (and i want to fish more than fix a reel) i teach them how to use the spool tension knob and add or remove weights. Myself, i keep the tension so there's VERY little play, enough that i know there's no extra friction and weights all the way off. I have the zero adjust in my 24 PX BF 70 and i ended up adjusting it to my liking. It's only zero adjust for someone who doesn't care to have a preference.

[woolleyfooley]

On 4/5/2024 at 1:21 PM, bulldog1935 said:

The only time you should need to adjust them is when swapping spools.  

Since spool widths are never the same, you open zero adjust first thing, and re-set it last.  

 

@bulldog1935 what is that hook keeper in the bottom picture? 

[bulldog1935]

G-Nius

https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/product/4215

 

 

[woolleyfooley]

59 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

G-Nius

https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/product/4215

 

 

Very cool! Does it get in the way at all while fishing? 

[bulldog1935]

Not even.  

 

It even works fine with reel covers.  

 

[new2BC4bass]

I'm surprised it happened to two reels in a row.  Less surprised if it only happened to one.  After all no company is perfect.  Given the number of Daiwas you have...I'd say you are one unlucky dude!  I have quite a few Daiwa reels, and have had a problem with only one new reel.  That was an SV105.  Didn't backlash as bad as what you are describing, but bad enough that I sent it to a professional.  Works great now.

 

Like most have already posted, I don't use the cast control.  Simply adjust brakes as needed.  Mine are set higher than many on here set theirs.  I'm not nearly as good as they are. 

 

[Eric 26]

@new2BC4bass Keep practicing and you’ll be as proficient as you need to be quicker than you think 😉 Also as @bulldog1935 has posted elsewhere “spinning reels are functional but casting reels are fun” I think I may have botched his phrase but it’s something that runs through my mind every time I use my casting reels even though my spinning gear catches more fish for me albeit bluegill not bass😃

[HawkeyeSmallie]

Well I treated myself to an extremely nice reel.

 

Bought a Steez SV TW from a Japan store. No way I was paying the American price.

 

Anyways, I didn't mess with the knob because I heard you didn't need to. I caught two really nice bass before I tried to make a longish cast.

 

In mid flight, before the bait even hit the water I had a terrible backlash that snapped the line and sent my jig flying in the air.

 

To say I was sad was an understatement. I watched a youtube video where a guy was making casts without putting his thumb on it and said it was dang near impossible to backlash.

 

I was throwing I would say a 3/8 oz bass jig with a trailer on it.

 

Not sure what I did wrong.

[LonnieP]

58 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

 

To say I was sad was an understatement. I watched a youtube video where a guy was making casts without putting his thumb on it and said it was dang near impossible to backlash.

 

 

He must have had his brakes turned all the way up. SV reels are harder to backlash, but they still need thumb control, especially right before the lure hits the water.

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Well I treated myself to an extremely nice reel.

 

Bought a Steez SV TW from a Japan store. No way I was paying the American price.

 

Anyways, I didn't mess with the knob because I heard you didn't need to. I caught two really nice bass before I tried to make a longish cast.

 

In mid flight, before the bait even hit the water I had a terrible backlash that snapped the line and sent my jig flying in the air.

 

To say I was sad was an understatement. I watched a youtube video where a guy was making casts without putting his thumb on it and said it was dang near impossible to backlash.

 

I was throwing I would say a 3/8 oz bass jig with a trailer on it.

 

Not sure what I did wrong.

Braid? 

 

Also, doesn't the new Steez SV come without any cast control mechanism (knob)?

 

 

[HawkeyeSmallie]

1 hour ago, LonnieP said:

He must have had his brakes turned all the way up. SV reels are harder to backlash, but they still need thumb control, especially right before the lure hits the water.

Well this happened before the lure even hit the water.

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

Braid? 

 

Also, doesn't the new Steez SV come without any cast control mechanism (knob)?

 

 

There’s a knob and a wrench for it.

[woolleyfooley]

43 minutes ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Well this happened before the lure even hit the water.

There’s a knob and a wrench for it.

I believe the wrench doesn’t actually adjust anything on the sv tw. It’s to remove the cap only iirc.

[Bigbox99]

19 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Well I treated myself to an extremely nice reel.

 

Bought a Steez SV TW from a Japan store. No way I was paying the American price.

 

Anyways, I didn't mess with the knob because I heard you didn't need to. I caught two really nice bass before I tried to make a longish cast.

 

In mid flight, before the bait even hit the water I had a terrible backlash that snapped the line and sent my jig flying in the air.

 

To say I was sad was an understatement. I watched a youtube video where a guy was making casts without putting his thumb on it and said it was dang near impossible to backlash.

 

I was throwing I would say a 3/8 oz bass jig with a trailer on it.

 

Not sure what I did wrong.

You had your brakes too low for that long cast.  Adjust the brake dial.  

[woolleyfooley]

On 10/8/2024 at 11:09 AM, Bigbox99 said:

You had your brakes too low for that long cast.  Adjust the brake dial.  

So what’s so different about the Daiwa brakes vs other reels like lews etc?

[ABU is overpriced]

I think that the only reason the zero adjuster (outside of marketing) was invented was because its much easier to produce than the older cast control caps they used to have, which were clicking and looked awesome. Nothing but a massive downgrade to me.

[waymont]

On 10/19/2024 at 7:01 PM, ABU is overpriced said:

I think that the only reason the zero adjuster (outside of marketing) was invented was because its much easier to produce than the older cast control caps they used to have, which were clicking and looked awesome. Nothing but a massive downgrade to me.

Not sure that's true. It's how the reel is designed. Every one of my Daiwa reels with it work perfectly and never have any issues at all, wind, no wind, casting hard or soft. 99 percent of the times I don't have to touch it. 2 Steez, 2 Steez A, 6 Zillions, 2 Tatulas.

[Bigbox99]

43 minutes ago, waymont said:

Not sure that's true. It's how the reel is designed. Every one of my Daiwa reels with it work perfectly and never have any issues at all, wind, no wind, casting hard or soft. 99 percent of the times I don't have to touch it. 2 Steez, 2 Steez A, 6 Zillions, 2 Tatulas.

That the same for every reel I own including reels over 20 years old.  You don't need to use that knob for anything more than eliminating side to side play unless something has gone wrong. I only have to use spool tension when I do something profoundly stupid like selecting a fast a free casting reel like a Shimano SVS and then spooling it with a slinky like 20# Sniper that requires lots of spool control at slow spool speeds to tame that the braking system cannot provide.  I also have some cheap magnetic reels I am trying out that I run a midge of spool tension as a set and forget to try and get a little more range on the magnetic dial since the brake are on the weaker side.

[ABU is overpriced]

13 hours ago, waymont said:

Not sure that's true. It's how the reel is designed. Every one of my Daiwa reels with it work perfectly and never have any issues at all, wind, no wind, casting hard or soft. 99 percent of the times I don't have to touch it. 2 Steez, 2 Steez A, 6 Zillions, 2 Tatulas.

I am not sure what this has anything to do with the cast control knob. My 2006 Steez with the OG cast control cap works flawlessly like something that came out in 2024. My 2004 Pixy with the older style non clicking cast control cap works as good as anything released in the last few years, and i even prefer it over the likes of the 21 zillion, which i am big fanboy off of. A clicking cap doesn't make the reel better or worse, its just much better looking because they're more detailed, have a bunch of different designs, and they click.