Daiwa Steez CT SV TW vs Shimano Met 70 DC

[michaelsrex]

 

 

I absolutely love my Steez CT SV reels for flipping, pitching, and light general casting. However, I recognize their limitations and avoid leaving them fully locked down, even though I’m the type of angler who flips 50lb silent braid on a 7’3” XH Expride. It’s the lightest, meanest, and baddest pitching combo I’ve ever used.

 

Over the past several years, I’ve moved away from most of my Shimanos with no intention of buying another anytime soon, especially anything based on the Metanium 2020 frame. My experience with the Metanium 2020 was disappointing, so I moved on. Now, I need another reel—ideally one that palms similarly to the Steez CT. The only Shimano I’m considering is the Metanium 70 DC, primarily because of Ben from The Hook Up Tackle, who claims it’s the best reel Shimano has ever made. However, Ben is a salesman, so he may just be hyping it up to sell reels.

 

Has anyone here tried both reels? What are the pros and cons?

 

Assumptions: both can be acquired at the same price.

 

I’m keeping my Steez CTs for skipping—they are, in my opinion, the best skipping reels on the planet. However, for pitching and other general casting techniques, I can get away with a 70-sized reel thanks to braid-to-leader setups. Yes, the Steez SV reels have great line capacity, but they feel slightly bigger than I’d like. If you’ve ever paired a Conquest 844C with a Steez CT and braid, you’ll know what I mean.

 

Metrics:

• Line Capacity:

• Steez CT SV: More?

• Metanium 70 DC: Less?

 

• Strength of Reel:

• Steez CT SV: Less?

• Metanium 70 DC: More?

• Casting Distance:

 

• Steez CT SV: Less?

• Metanium 70 DC: More? (Does it even matter if you spool both?)

 

 

[Bigbox99]

1 hour ago, michaelsrex said:

no intention of buying another anytime soon, especially anything based on the Metanium 2020 frame

I'm not super familiar with Shimanos but there appears to be only one Metanium frame in use across all the current mets.  The "size" number is actually a reference to line capacity and not frame size.  Sometimes a smaller number reel means a smaller reel but it just as often, if not more, means a shallower spool.  If you don't like the 2020 Metanium frame then you aren't going to like the Metanium DC.  If you want tiny then the Steez CT is great.  There is also the new 24 Steez which I think is pretty tiny.  To stay Shimano there is also the crazy tiny Conquest 30 which is so tiny you can do old timer line pinching thing while still palming the reel like a normal person. https://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimano24conquest31.html

[michaelsrex]

I thought the met 70 frame was smaller than the standard 150 met?

[Bigbox99]

25 minutes ago, michaelsrex said:

I thought the met 70 frame was smaller than the standard 150 met?

I don't have both reels side by side but they look the same to me.  Also the Shimano numbering system is a reference to line capacity 1st and foremost.  Sometime that means a reels is smaller (curado 200e vs curado 50e) but it just as often if not more means a shallower spool (curado 200k vs scorpion 150 MGL, Casitas 150 vs Casitas 100 MGL and Alde 50 vs Alde 30) 

 

This guy has both the 150 and the 70 and says that they are identical.  Also, just look at the size.

[T2DM]

I have both and the frame are the same size, line capacity is of course different. DC palm side plate is tiny bit wider but that's about it.

[ABU is overpriced]

Used the steez ct, incredible frame/reel. Met dc 70 still being delivered to me, so haven't had the chance of using it. But yes, all Mets made since 2020 are the same, and the only difference in size is the few mm bigger side plate on the met dc 70 and spool capacity.

[michaelsrex]

Dealbreaker for me. I didn’t realize the frame was the same. Thanks guys 

[UmairF]

Thinking of running this on a 6’10 M Expride B for my jerkbait setup with 10lb sniper fc. How do you guys think it feels compared to the previous gen metanium 100 dc? Always felt like it was a heavy reel.

 

Thanks,

Umair

[T2DM]

5 hours ago, UmairF said:

Thinking of running this on a 6’10 M Expride B for my jerkbait setup with 10lb sniper fc. How do you guys think it feels compared to the previous gen metanium 100 dc? Always felt like it was a heavy reel.

 

Thanks,

Umair

I like the combo so far. I don't have the previous gen Metanium DC 100 but but some of us here can assure you that the 70 DC should be smaller and lighter. It's the lightest Shimano DC to date.

 

[woolleyfooley]

Just curious, what don’t you like about the metanium frame?

[michaelsrex]

6 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

Just curious, what don’t you like about the metanium frame?

Two things. First, it reminds me of the moment I converted to daiwa. I’d never owned a daiwa until I bought two met 20s and I had quite a few high end shimano casting reels. The Mets just weren’t reliable from a casting perspective as I felt my other shimanos were. They also didn’t have the it feeling. In the end, my steez CT’s and zillions do. Second, I do prefer the tiny steez frame for all things but still enjoy the zillion and 100ish frames. To me, since I like the small frame it doesn’t make much sense to have a larger frame with the smaller frame size capacity. I’d love a 70 sized frame with a 100 or even 150 daiwa (usually more like capacity) sized like capacity. If you find one that’s rock solid let me know. 

[T2DM]

18 and 22 Bantam are pretty small for a 150 size and rock solid but a little bit heavy. It's by far my favorite reel.

 

 

Maybe you should look into them Bate's Hundo reels, looks tiny in pictures compare to most bait caster out there, plus it should be pretty solid based on how it's made.

 

Images courtesy of @ghost

 

 

[Bigbox99]

You might be able to cut out the middle man (Bates) and buy direct from the manufacture.  They also offer a DC version of their low profile reel.

 

https://www.loongzefishing.com/dbc-a100.html

[Bigbox99]

Trika is also introducing a reel that is remarkably similar to the Bates Hundo.  I suspect it is also a Loognze.  The advantage of these reels is that they machined from bar stock instead of cast and this construction allows for a reel to me minuscule yet strong.  The aluminum is cast as an ingot and then rolled under pressure to press the alloy molecules together making a very dense and strong aluminum stock that can be machined into intricate shapes (such as tiny fishing reels) that would not be viable in a traditional casting molten aluminum alloy into a mold technique.  

 

https://www.tackletour.com/previewtrikat100reel.html

[woolleyfooley]

19 hours ago, michaelsrex said:

Two things. First, it reminds me of the moment I converted to daiwa. I’d never owned a daiwa until I bought two met 20s and I had quite a few high end shimano casting reels. The Mets just weren’t reliable from a casting perspective as I felt my other shimanos were. They also didn’t have the it feeling. In the end, my steez CT’s and zillions do. Second, I do prefer the tiny steez frame for all things but still enjoy the zillion and 100ish frames. To me, since I like the small frame it doesn’t make much sense to have a larger frame with the smaller frame size capacity. I’d love a 70 sized frame with a 100 or even 150 daiwa (usually more like capacity) sized like capacity. If you find one that’s rock solid let me know. 

So you feel the met frame is too big? I’ve never held one, but they do look quite long. Have you ever held the steez a/a2 or a steez with that frame? How do you like that?

[waymont]

On 12/19/2024 at 7:51 AM, michaelsrex said:

My experience with the Metanium 2020 was disappointing

I'm right there with you. I had four, two went rough in less than one season, the other two are doing ok.....Unless I have the spool tension up for a slow drop when setting up my reels for casting. Then the reel rough. They are all very sensitive when casting. I have two Steez A's and an A II. They get smoother the more I use them, and they have been WELL USED. Some how my Shimano Aldebaran MG7 reels are still smooth as day one. Who knows why I have problems with newer Shimanos? Had the same issues with my two Curado 70's.

[michaelsrex]

5 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

So you feel the met frame is too big? I’ve never held one, but they do look quite long. Have you ever held the steez a/a2 or a steez with that frame? How do you like that?

I’ve held the a2, it’s obviously bigger than my steez ct and similar in overall size as the met 20 but I do like the way it plams better than the met. The met isn’t awful but it not being the perfect frame on top of its casting issues and soulless feeling had me over it. 

[Bandersnatch]

Anybody loving the bates Hundo?

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

On 12/23/2024 at 12:26 AM, T2DM said:

18 and 22 Bantam are pretty small for a 150 size and rock solid but a little bit heavy. It's by far my favorite reel.

 

 

Maybe you should look into them Bate's Hundo reels, looks tiny in pictures compare to most bait caster out there, plus it should be pretty solid based on how it's made.

 

Images courtesy of @ghost

 

 

In looking at these pictures the gates imo strongly resembles the alphas ct sv tw  

[woolleyfooley]

On 12/23/2024 at 11:08 PM, michaelsrex said:

I’ve held the a2, it’s obviously bigger than my steez ct and similar in overall size as the met 20 but I do like the way it plams better than the met. The met isn’t awful but it not being the perfect frame on top of its casting issues and soulless feeling had me over it. 

Thanks! How much bigger do you think the steez a2 is compared to the ct? And I’m assuming the a2 is shorter than the met?