Finally bought a better reel

[Ryan N]

I couldn't bear my Abu Garcia reel any longer. The drag is sticky, the reel is loud, and I could feel every tooth on the main gear.

I finally bought the Daiwa Tatula 24, this is the best money spent on my fishing hobby. Smooth as butter, not made to look like metal, and has that JDM quality control, just perfect out of the box!

[JackstrawIII]

Looking good. I believe the tatula line is the best value in the fishing world. Enjoy your first of many to come. 

[Eric 26]

4 minutes ago, JackstrawIII said:

Looking good. I believe the tatula line is the best value in the fishing world. Enjoy your first of many to come. 

[Bazoo]

Congratulations. What model reel did you replace?

[Ryan N]

3 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

Congratulations. What model reel did you replace?

Abu Garcia MaxX, it's sold as a combo. The rod didn't have any issues

[Bazoo]

Thanks for sharing. I haven't tried that model. I use a Black Max rod and reel. I use them separately though with another reel on the rod, and another rod under the reel.

[Ryan N]

10 hours ago, Bazoo said:

Thanks for sharing. I haven't tried that model. I use a Black Max rod and reel. I use them separately though with another reel on the rod, and another rod under the reel.

I had the Black Max and I loved that combo. I exchanged it for the MaxX because I needed a more stout rod and I was fooled by their marketing; Abu states the MaxX reels are a new iteration of the Black Max. It felt noticeably worse and performed worse too. Well, it's all water under the bridge, I got a Daiwa now 🙏

[ABU is overpriced]

As a non Abu fan, great upgrade😁

[Bazoo]

7 hours ago, Ryan N said:

I had the Black Max and I loved that combo. I exchanged it for the MaxX because I needed a more stout rod and I was fooled by their marketing; Abu states the MaxX reels are a new iteration of the Black Max. It felt noticeably worse and performed worse too. Well, it's all water under the bridge, I got a Daiwa now 🙏

Thanks for sharing. I like the Black Max reel on a Zebco rod I have, it makes a nice rig for casting lighter stuff. The Black Max rod, for me at least, serves for a medium/lightish all purpose rod. I can cast 1/4 ounce lures well with it.

[GRiver]

Congratulations @Ryan N on the new rig, my Dad was a die hard Daiwa fan, they served him well.

[Ryan N]

23 hours ago, ABU is overpriced said:

As a non Abu fan, great upgrade😁

I knew you would be here from the start 😂

16 hours ago, Bazoo said:

Thanks for sharing. I like the Black Max reel on a Zebco rod I have, it makes a nice rig for casting lighter stuff. The Black Max rod, for me at least, serves for a medium/lightish all purpose rod. I can cast 1/4 ounce lures well with it.

I find the spool on the black max to be a bit heavy for finesse but if it’s working for you that’s great 👍 

With summer bass fishing, i’ve been using the 1/10 ounce ned rig on the Daiwa and casts surprisingly far despite not being a BFS. Seriously loving this thing, so much so it’s in my bedroom instead of the garage 🫣

[Bazoo]

Yeah, I'm not going truly finesse, but I can cast as light as a weightless Zoom Finesse worm with the rig. The fiberglass zebco rod loads the tip well.

 

I used to throw a lunkerhunt pocket frog and a zoom lizard when the combo was together, with 10lb Big Game line. It was right at the limit.

 

Changing to the Zebco rod and then to 8lb line, I am right where I need to be. I put on a 1/4oz Beetle spin the other day and it was like throwing a brick.

[MediumMouthBass]

On 7/28/2024 at 7:34 AM, Ryan N said:

I had the Black Max and I loved that combo. I exchanged it for the MaxX because I needed a more stout rod and I was fooled by their marketing; Abu states the MaxX reels are a new iteration of the Black Max. It felt noticeably worse and performed worse too. Well, it's all water under the bridge, I got a Daiwa now 🙏

I too was in the same boat, the Max X is very disappointing....

I dont get how or why they ever even updated the Black Max, the thing was a budget fishing legend!

I had line keep getting stuck in the sides of mine, felt so cheap, and looked like i bought it from a knock off amazon app.

I still have 3 Black Max reels spooled up and ready to go if i ever need them, but like you my first real reel upgrade was a Tatula.

[GReb]

The old Black Max was a good real but I’ve heard several folks say the new refresh model is lacking. A shame. 
 

The Black Max rod never impressed me. If you are willing to upgrade to rod in that $100-150 range you’ll never regret it. Lot of killer options in that price range from Falcon, Ark, ALX, Daiwa, and more. 

[Bigbox99]

A $44 Lews Hank Parker M from Walmart would be a huge step up.  

[F14A-B]

On 7/28/2024 at 11:13 AM, ABU is overpriced said:

As a non Abu fan, great upgrade😁

Couldn’t agree more with you. 🤣

[MediumMouthBass]

4 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

A $44 Lews Hank Parker M from Walmart would be a huge step up.  

I hear alot of good reviews on them, ill have to pick one up someday to compare to the other legendary budget rod, the Aird X. $55

[zell_pop1]

I have an Aird Coastal rod I bought for my bank fishing for $50, probably the same blank as an x, it's definitely a good rod on the cheap.

[Flyfish-mt]

I bought a couple of the Tatula 100's a couple months back and they are very nice casting reels.  Time will tell on how well they hold up.

[ironbjorn]

Very nice.

 

Now, get that beauty off the Max X combo rod. 

[Ryan N]

4 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

Very nice.

 

Now, get that beauty off the Max X combo rod. 

I don't think the rod has much priority since it's just bendy stick. I have yet to feel a high-quality rod so I don't know what I'm missing here.

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, Ryan N said:

I don't think the rod has much priority since it's just bendy stick. I have yet to feel a high-quality rod so I don't know what I'm missing here.

Best to not find out what you are missing!!  

 

[ironbjorn]

6 hours ago, Ryan N said:

I don't think the rod has much priority since it's just bendy stick. I have yet to feel a high-quality rod so I don't know what I'm missing here.

Unless you're just learning to use a BC reel, the rod is generally considered more important. You will get far more hookups and better casting performance out of better rods. It's definitely not just a bendy stick. A rod can change your entire fishing game.

[Ryan N]

4 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

Unless you're just learning to use a BC reel, the rod is generally considered more important. You will get far more hookups and better casting performance out of better rods. It's definitely not just a bendy stick. A rod can change your entire fishing game.

Hookups in my opinion are skill-related. Setting the hook too weak, hard, early, or late I find are bigger factors to consider other than the rod. The only time the rod is a factor is if it breaks due to poor construction.

However, I am in the market for a new rod for different fishing styles, like super lights or stout surf fishing rods.

[ironbjorn]

1 hour ago, Ryan N said:

Hookups in my opinion are skill-related. Setting the hook too weak, hard, early, or late I find are bigger factors to consider other than the rod. The only time the rod is a factor is if it breaks due to poor construction.

However, I am in the market for a new rod for different fishing styles, like super lights or stout surf fishing rods.

It's about feel. But if you're the angler equivalent of a person who can't tell the difference between a $10 bottle of wine and a $100 bottle of wine, then yes, it's pretty much all the same. Sensitivity will only benefit those who can decipher it.