Daiwa Kage

[KP Duty]

  The second gen (B medel) was just released....very sharp looking rods.  These feature SVF Nanoplus blanks, and I'm not sure how they fit in with the Tat Elites and Rebellion lines.  I do know I want the 6'10"M jerbait rod though 🙉.

 

[MediumMouthBass]

Check out the Kage B reel too, alone the rod and reel look out of place. Together it would be a really interesting colored looking combo for sure.

[webertime]

SVF, HVF, SVF Nano, x45... are construction methods.  Nothing on Daiwa's site(s) really gets into the type/tonnage of graphite or scrims etc. for their rods.  That's just an FYI when trying to figure out Daiwa blanks.

 

They're going to be prettier versions of the 2025 Tatula rods.  Retail a little higher gives local shops a bit more meat on the bone for them.

[KP Duty]

1 hour ago, webertime said:

SVF, HVF, SVF Nano, x45... are construction methods.  Nothing on Daiwa's site(s) really gets into the type/tonnage of graphite or scrims etc. for their rods.  That's just an FYI when trying to figure out Daiwa blanks.

 

They're going to be prettier versions of the 2025 Tatula rods.  Retail a little higher gives local shops a bit more meat on the bone for them.

Yeah...I had read that about Daiwas blanks.  You have to differentiate them somehow. New '25 Tat cork model lists an SVF blank minus the nano.  This Kage probably shares the Tat elite blank, but the Kage makes use of the sensor seat.    

[PBBrandon]

One thing I’ve noticed about the HVF vs SVF is the HVF blanks seem thicker. My Rebellion (HVF) and BLX (HVF nano plus) are a lot thicker than my various Tatula (SVF) and Tat Elite (SVF nano plus) rods. All perform great and I’m sure the Kage rods do as well

[MonsterZero]

1 hour ago, webertime said:

SVF, HVF, SVF Nano, x45... are construction methods.  Nothing on Daiwa's site(s) really gets into the type/tonnage of graphite or scrims etc. for their rods.  That's just an FYI when trying to figure out Daiwa blanks.

 

They're going to be prettier versions of the 2025 Tatula rods.  Retail a little higher gives local shops a bit more meat on the bone for them.

They are being marketed as having a JDM aesthetic on the domestic market to capitalize on the surge in interest in JDM tackle recently. Curious to see how it goes; I will almost never say no to new gear, but I think I have some other things ahead in line.

[KP Duty]

1 hour ago, MonsterZero said:

They are being marketed as having a JDM aesthetic on the domestic market to capitalize on the surge in interest in JDM tackle recently. Curious to see how it goes; I will almost never say no to new gear, but I think I have some other things ahead in line.

 

The reel seat is very reminiscent of the red seat on the old JDM orochii XX.   It looks nice, and I Iike the 3/8-3/4oz bait rating on the 610M...similar to the old Loomis spinnerbait rod.

[Jerryj33]

Just picked up the 6'10" MH Spinning rod for shakeyheads. Haven't fished it yet, but I love the finish and it feels great in hand. It's the most comfortable spinning reel seat I have put my hands on.

[thediscochef]

I'm very excited about the new Kage reel. It's basically my modded tatula CT:

-150SV spool 

-cork handles

-saltwater tolerant bearings

 

But with hyperdrive gears.

 

If I could design a reel, that's basically the exact reel I would make. I will *have* to have one when they're available. 

[Bigbox99]

8 hours ago, thediscochef said:

I'm very excited about the new Kage reel. It's basically my modded tatula CT:

-150SV spool 

-cork handles

-saltwater tolerant bearings

 

But with hyperdrive gears.

 

If I could design a reel, that's basically the exact reel I would make. I will *have* to have one when they're available. 

The Tatula HD 150 SV is based on the Tatula CT platform but with a 150 SV spool, huperdrive gears and an aluminum handle side plate.  The Kage is based on the 24 Tatula but with a 150 SV spool, huperdrive gears and an aluminum handle side plate.

 

Basically, if you want one that has all those features but palms like a Tatula CT then the Tatula HD 150 SV is the reel you want.

[thediscochef]

55 minutes ago, Bigbox99 said:

The Tatula HD 150 SV is based on the Tatula CT platform but with a 150 SV spool, huperdrive gears and an aluminum handle side plate.  The Kage is based on the 24 Tatula but with a 150 SV spool, huperdrive gears and an aluminum handle side plate.

 

Basically, if you want one that has all those features but palms like a Tatula CT then the Tatula HD 150 SV is the reel you want.

Yes the size of the CT is my biggest issue with it, I prefer the 100 frame.

[Bigbox99]

36 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Yes the size of the CT is my biggest issue with it, I prefer the 100 frame.

Then you'll like the Kage.

[Hogs_n_Logs]

On 2/15/2025 at 7:05 PM, MonsterZero said:

They are being marketed as having a JDM aesthetic on the domestic market to capitalize on the surge in interest in JDM tackle recently. Curious to see how it goes; I will almost never say no to new gear, but I think I have some other things ahead in line.

 

Was gonna say, these look remarkably similar to Shimanos scorpion line. 

 

[KP Duty]

3 minutes ago, Hogs_n_Logs said:

 

Was gonna say, these look remarkably similar to Shimanos scorpion line. 

 

A painted reel seat was all it took to get me shopping the models 🙉

[Hogs_n_Logs]

Just now, KP Duty said:

A painted reel seat was all it took to get me shopping the models 🙉

 

I have the 704R model. They are very nice , but have sometimes goofy specifications as they are designed to be "all-around" type rods for the Japanese market (ie guys that want a rod that can do both LMB as well as saltwater stuff like Japanese seabass or rockfish etc)

 

Excellent value as well, great blanks and top hardware, looks and feels like a 300-500USD rod, very cleary levels higher than the Zodias and Expride(which I also own/love). A tad heavy. I think the Megabass Levante is slightly better for the money, but those beat everyone in that category, although one thing I like about the scorpions is they use larger guide eyes.

 

Judging by just the pictures of the Daiwa Kage, I'm fairly certain the Shimano is miles ahead in terms of fit/finish but they appear to be competing in different price brackets(not accounting for exchange rate) so not a fair comparison. 

[Big Hands]

Daiwa has at least one "all-around" Tatula rod too. It's the 7'3" MH/F casting rod. They have a rod with the same specs in the original Kage line as well as the newer Kage line, but the new one is now called "multi-purpose" instead of "all-around". All nano plus and x-45, but different reel seats and the Kage's have Alconite guides instead of the Fazlite guides on the Tatula rods.

 

I own Tatula, Kage, Tatula Elite, Zodias, and Expride rods and find them to be priced about right for where they compare to each other, but I don't think the Zodias rods are noticeably better than a Tatula Elite, and TBH I am not really a fan of the hypalon grips on the Zodias. With the exception of the Expride (clearly a cut above), I think the rest are comparable enough that if I liked an action, grip or reel seat of one over another, I would own rods from any of these lines without reservation. For me, this is where I live in terms of value that I feel I can afford.

=============================================

I thought that the reason for the existence of the entire Kage line was that they were to only be sold in brick and mortar stores (i.e. no online sales of anything 'Kage') so they could have a line of gear that online sellers couldn't undercut them on price? It looks like they are being sold online now.

[MonsterZero]

2 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Daiwa has at least one "all-around" Tatula rod too. It's the 7'3" MH/F casting rod. They have a rod with the same specs in the original Kage line as well as the newer Kage line, but the new one is now called "multi-purpose" instead of "all-around". All nano plus and x-45, but different reel seats and the Kage's have Alconite guides instead of the Fazlite guides on the Tatula rods.

 

I own Tatula, Kage, Tatula Elite, Zodias, and Expride rods and find them to be priced about right for where they compare to each other, but I don't think the Zodias rods are noticeably better than a Tatula Elite, and TBH I am not really a fan of the hypalon grips on the Zodias. With the exception of the Expride (clearly a cut above), I think the rest are comparable enough that if I liked an action, grip or reel seat of one over another, I would own rods from any of these lines without reservation. For me, this is where I live in terms of value that I feel I can afford.

=============================================

I thought that the reason for the existence of the entire Kage line was that they were to only be sold in brick and mortar stores (i.e. no online sales of anything 'Kage') so they could have a line of gear that online sellers couldn't undercut them on price? It looks like they are being sold online now.

I could be misremembering, but I believe their goal was to only sell through independent companies, not big box/multinationals like Amazon and Walmart, not necessarily just brick and mortar shops. So Tackle Warehouse and such would still be included.

[thediscochef]

6 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

Then you'll like the Kage.

Yes I am aware, I own two on the 100 frame

[txchaser]

12 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Daiwa has at least one "all-around" Tatula rod too. It's the 7'3" MH/F casting rod. They have a rod with the same specs in the original Kage line as well as the newer Kage line, but the new one is now called "multi-purpose" instead of "all-around". All nano plus and x-45, but different reel seats and the Kage's have Alconite guides instead of the Fazlite guides on the Tatula rods.

 

I own Tatula, Kage, Tatula Elite, Zodias, and Expride rods and find them to be priced about right for where they compare to each other, but I don't think the Zodias rods are noticeably better than a Tatula Elite, and TBH I am not really a fan of the hypalon grips on the Zodias. With the exception of the Expride (clearly a cut above), I think the rest are comparable enough that if I liked an action, grip or reel seat of one over another, I would own rods from any of these lines without reservation. For me, this is where I live in terms of value that I feel I can afford.

=============================================

I thought that the reason for the existence of the entire Kage line was that they were to only be sold in brick and mortar stores (i.e. no online sales of anything 'Kage') so they could have a line of gear that online sellers couldn't undercut them on price? It looks like they are being sold online now.

IMO this is a great moving bait rod. Does fine with senkos, etc. If I could have just one action on a baitcaster (and a single rod) it'd be this unless I was getting up in Nitranium or Loomis MBR territory. 

[Bassnyak]

12 hours ago, MonsterZero said:

I could be misremembering, but I believe their goal was to only sell through independent companies, not big box/multinationals like Amazon and Walmart, not necessarily just brick and mortar shops. So Tackle Warehouse and such would still 

 The Kage reels on Tackle Warehouse say in-store only call for details.