Daiwa Steez A II Review

[UmairF]

Just ordered this reel and was looking to get some more user-info on it. Got it in the 6.3:1 gear ratio paired with a P5 Daemos mainly for chatterbaits.

Anyone got a review?

 

Thanks,

Umair

[FishTank]

I have two, the 6.3:1 and the 7.1:1 and I also have the Daemos. I use the 6.3 for deep diving crankbaits and the 7.1 for medium to heavy Texas Rigged plastic.  The 6.3 will be fine for chattebaits but the Daemos, to me, maxes out at a 3/8oz bladed jig and something like a Keitech trailer. You might be able to get away with a 1/2oz and a lighter trailer but it really starts to bend at the tip when you get near 3/4oz total weight. Fun rod though. You do have to hit them hard with it as it is pretty soft.  Enjoy.

[UmairF]

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

I have two, the 6.3:1 and the 7.1:1 and I also have the Daemos. I use the 6.3 for deep diving crankbaits and the 7.1 for medium to heavy Texas Rigged plastic.  The 6.3 will be fine for chattebaits but the Daemos, to me, maxes out at a 3/8oz bladed jig and something like a Keitech trailer. You might be able to get away with a 1/2oz and a lighter trailer but it really starts to bend at the tip when you get near 3/4oz total weight. Fun rod though. You do have to hit them hard with it as it is pretty soft.  Enjoy.

I mainly throw 3/8 oz chatterbaits 1/2 oz very rarely. Usually ripping through sparse grass. Sounds like the Daemos/Steez A II is gonna be my power-fishing bread and butter this spring!

 

What size line do you recommend? Still debating between braid and fluoro. Braid to leader would be a possibility too. I just end up retying a good amount with all the zebra mussels.

 

 

[FishTank]

10 minutes ago, UmairF said:

I mainly throw 3/8 oz chatterbaits 1/2 oz very rarely. Usually ripping through sparse grass. Sounds like the Daemos/Steez A II is gonna be my power-fishing bread and butter this spring!

 

What size line do you recommend? Still debating between braid and fluoro. Braid to leader would be a possibility too. I just end up retying a good amount with all the zebra mussels.

 

 

 

I like fluorocarbon for things like swim jigs and chatterbaits. Currently I am using 12lb and 14lb Sunline Sniper Invisible but have also used 12lb and 15lb Tatsu. Both work great. Another line I like is Seaguar R18 Fluro LTD. I have used 10 and 12lb. It's sort of like Tatsu. 

 

With that said, I would try FC first and if the Daemos doesn't have enough power to pull through the grass the way you like, I would go braid to leader. 

 

 

[Peacedivision]

I use an 8:1 for big a rigs and top hook/beast hook swimbaits on a dobyns 794.5ar. Reel is a peach, landed my biggest striper of 2024 back in April. I've honestly never thrown a "light" bait with it so I can't comment on that aspect but I have to assume it can throw a bladed jig.

[UmairF]

56 minutes ago, FishTank said:

 

I like fluorocarbon for things like swim jigs and chatterbaits. Currently I am using 12lb and 14lb Sunline Sniper Invisible but have also used 12lb and 15lb Tatsu. Both work great. Another line I like is Seaguar R18 Fluro LTD. I have used 10 and 12lb. It's sort of like Tatsu. 

 

With that said, I would try FC first and if the Daemos doesn't have enough power to pull through the grass the way you like, I would go braid to leader. 

 

 

Good idea. Was originally thinking 20lb fluoro but that’s gonna be too much. I think a happy medium to start with for me might be 16lb. I end up retying a good amount throughout the day so my leader ends up getting a little short. Plus P5 guides are a little tiny for my liking when it comes to leader knots. I only tie the FG but get a little worried sometimes. Will probably run 30-40lb samurai braid to a 14-16lb leader

 

 

[MiceNReets]

It’s a pretty good reel.  I have the 7 speed and I use it for all around everything really.  Using 16lbs R18 LTD on it.   Reel feels a lot like my ‘22 Zillion HD.    I do find that anything 1/2oz and up it really excels at.   Below 1/2oz I’m reaching for a different reel.  

[woolleyfooley]

4 hours ago, MiceNReets said:

It’s a pretty good reel.  I have the 7 speed and I use it for all around everything really.  Using 16lbs R18 LTD on it.   Reel feels a lot like my ‘22 Zillion HD.    I do find that anything 1/2oz and up it really excels at.   Below 1/2oz I’m reaching for a different reel.  

Interesting. Definitely not what I wanted to hear. I’ve read plenty of comments from various people saying the steez a2 can easily cast down to 1/4oz. Are you sure it’s not the rod making lighter stuff harder to cast?

[MiceNReets]

17 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Interesting. Definitely not what I wanted to hear. I’ve read plenty of comments from various people saying the steez a2 can easily cast down to 1/4oz. Are you sure it’s not the rod making lighter stuff harder to cast?

I’ve tried it on multiple rods.   Maybe it’s the 16lbs line but I found anything 1/2oz and up it would bomb the baits and below 1/2oz wasn’t cutting it for me so I never used it.  Hopefully not the case for you.   I’ve used it on medium power to heavy power rods.  Never found the “perfect” rod for it where I’d say it found a home for me.   YMMV… 

[iabass8]

42 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Interesting. Definitely not what I wanted to hear. I’ve read plenty of comments from various people saying the steez a2 can easily cast down to 1/4oz. Are you sure it’s not the rod making lighter stuff harder to cast?

I have 4 of the steez A 1 as well as a Steez A II. There's no difference in spool between the two. Difference is gears but I've put the USDM zillion set in my steez A's. These reel's excel at 1/4oz +. I have one dedicated to 1/4oz swim jigs that casts/skips with ease. 

[UmairF]

7 hours ago, Peacedivision said:

I use an 8:1 for big a rigs and top hook/beast hook swimbaits on a dobyns 794.5ar. Reel is a peach, landed my biggest striper of 2024 back in April. I've honestly never thrown a "light" bait with it so I can't comment on that aspect but I have to assume it can throw a bladed jig.

Funny you mention the 794.5 AR. Have it paired with a Lexa 300 and man do I dislike that reel! Planned on using it for glidebaits/swimbaits but it’s one CLUNKY piece of machinery.

 

After reading a couple responses, I might just sell the lexa and use the steez w/16lb fluoro for magdraft/slower swimbaits (when it’s not paired with my P5 Daemos) and my curado 150XG mgl w/50lb braid (when it’s not paired with my 7’3 XH Expride B.) to fluoro leader for glides. 

[woolleyfooley]

21 hours ago, iabass8 said:

I have 4 of the steez A 1 as well as a Steez A II. There's no difference in spool between the two. Difference is gears but I've put the USDM zillion set in my steez A's. These reel's excel at 1/4oz +. I have one dedicated to 1/4oz swim jigs that casts/skips with ease. 

See, that’s what I keep hearing. That makes me feel better.

 

I’d definitely be disappointed if a reel had trouble casting anything under 1/2oz. 

[UmairF]

2 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

See, that’s what I keep hearing. That makes me feel better.

 

I’d definitely be disappointed if a reel had trouble casting anything under 1/2oz. 

Especially after spending all that dough! 🤑

[FishTank]

On 1/18/2025 at 7:30 PM, woolleyfooley said:

Interesting. Definitely not what I wanted to hear. I’ve read plenty of comments from various people saying the steez a2 can easily cast down to 1/4oz. Are you sure it’s not the rod making lighter stuff harder to cast?

 

I've thrown everything from a 3/8oz crankbait to 1.5 oz swimbait with ones I have. Didn't have any issues. I think the rod would need to be correct for the application along with line. I wouldn't use it for stuff below 1/4oz.

 

 With that said, I think it's sweet spot is 1/2oz. It is a pretty versatile reel.

[woolleyfooley]

19 hours ago, FishTank said:

 

I've thrown everything from a 3/8oz crankbait to 1.5 oz swimbait with ones I have. Didn't have any issues. I think the rod would need to be correct for the application along with line. I wouldn't use it for stuff below 1/4oz.

 

 With that said, I think it's sweet spot is 1/2oz. It is a pretty versatile reel.

Good to hear! Iirc didn’t you tell me you threw weightless 5” senko on a steez a2? A 5 inch senko being 3/8oz, so that tracks with what most people say. 

[FishTank]

3 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Good to hear! Iirc didn’t you tell me you threw weightless 5” senko on a steez a2? A 5 inch senko being 3/8oz, so that tracks with what most people say. 

 

I threw a 5in Senko on it the last time I was able to fish. I was using it on an 843C NRX+.  It would cast just fine but I didn't catch a darn thing. 

[woolleyfooley]

On 1/20/2025 at 5:45 PM, FishTank said:

 

I threw a 5in Senko on it the last time I was able to fish. I was using it on an 843C NRX+.  It would cast just fine but I didn't catch a darn thing. 

Thanks! What line were you using?

[FishTank]

41 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thanks! What line were you using?

Its either 12lb or 14lb Sunline Invisible. 

[Gera]

I happen to do the same, I buy the item then I look around for reviews.. Its good to see I'm not the only one

 

[Bigbox99]

On 1/18/2025 at 7:15 PM, iabass8 said:

I have 4 of the steez A 1 as well as a Steez A II. There's no difference in spool between the two. Difference is gears but I've put the USDM zillion set in my steez A's. These reel's excel at 1/4oz +. I have one dedicated to 1/4oz swim jigs that casts/skips with ease. 

Can the Zillion gears be put into the 16 Steez SV TW?  

[twisted_metal]

The Steez A2 is my favorite reel by a wide margin. I have the 8.5, 7.1 and 6.3.  I also have Steez A1's zillions, TAT Elites, TAT SV's and a T3 (I can use that T3 SV spool in my Steez A2).  I swap out the Mag-Z boost spool with the SV for light crankbaits <3/8oz on my 6.3 (its that way now ready for finesse spring cranking).  The Mag-Z boost spool is great for anything >3/8oz. Great reel.

[woolleyfooley]

4 hours ago, twisted_metal said:

The Steez A2 is my favorite reel by a wide margin. I have the 8.5, 7.1 and 6.3.  I also have Steez A1's zillions, TAT Elites, TAT SV's and a T3 (I can use that T3 SV spool in my Steez A2).  I swap out the Mag-Z boost spool with the SV for light crankbaits <3/8oz on my 6.3 (its that way now ready for finesse spring cranking).  The Mag-Z boost spool is great for anything >3/8oz. Great reel.

So are you saying in your opinion the stock steez a2 can’t handle stuff under 3/8oz?

[UmairF]

22 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

So are you saying in your opinion the stock steez a2 can’t handle stuff under 3/8oz?

Based off what I’ve heard it’s a great chuck and wind reel for 3/8+oz baits. A lot of the time you’ll be adding a trailer on the back of your lure which increases it to the ideal weight everyone’s been saying

[woolleyfooley]

37 minutes ago, UmairF said:

Based off what I’ve heard it’s a great chuck and wind reel for 3/8+oz baits. A lot of the time you’ll be adding a trailer on the back of your lure which increases it to the ideal weight everyone’s been saying

And I’ve heard it’s great down to 1/4oz. I’d prefer to hear from people who have experience with this reel. 

[iabass8]

On 1/22/2025 at 12:55 PM, Bigbox99 said:

Can the Zillion gears be put into the 16 Steez SV TW?  

Technically yes. I put them in to see if they fit/work and they were fine. You also need the zillion G/Steez A drag stack. They're difference from the steez svtw. No on the water experience with it. Just tinkered last winter on the bench cleaning.