Curado 200M or Tatula 80?

[PBBrandon]

I’m a bit torn right now. I. Have a little over 50 bucks in Omnia credits burning a hole in my wallet and there are a couple of promos right now. I’ve narrowed it down to 2 options:

 

Option 1, I get a Tatula 80 for $108 before tax, and a free Daiwa/Aftco hoodie

 

Option 2, I get a Curado 200M for $98 before tax, but it’s a lefty and all of my reels are righty’s. It would likely go on my flipping stick.

 

What route would you take? Thanks!

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, PBBrandon said:

Option 1, I get a Tatula 80 for $108 before tax, and a free Daiwa/Aftco hoodie

 

I sent in 2 forms with money for hoodies years ago, never got any hoodies😌

But thats my 1 person experience.

 

Both are nice reels, and for the price you can get for either are a steal.

If you want something more for finesse/lighter baits the Tatula 80 is the way to go. Its very popular on reddit for guys who want an out of the box reel to fish finesse stuff, even more popular on there for BFS spool swaps. Heard alot about how it casts very good for distance since its a deeper spool than the 70.

But the Curado M is the only reel that can do that and the opposite. Now i doubt it will cast lighter stuff as well as the Tatula, but from the reviews it can bomb cast frogs and other lighter baits, and with a line change you can flip with it all you want.

This reel reminds me alot of the last gen SLX MGL 70, but on steroids. Able to cast lighter lures, and then also be good at casting swimbaits, glidebaits, and A rigs? Atleast thats what ive heard.

 

Personally if i wanted both reels i would buy the Curado M from Omnia for $98, and then get the Tatula 80 from Japan for $127. This may or may not be an option for you depending on funds and if you have analysis paralysis like most of us tackle addicts do.

[NorthernBasser]

If size of the reel matters to you, the Tat 80 is a much smaller frame and palms way better. It's also an ounce lighter, As MediumMouthBass said, it'll definitely cast lighter lures, but it definitely will work for flippin'/pitchin'.

[Big Hands]

2 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I sent in 2 forms with money for hoodies years ago, never got any hoodies😌

But thats my 1 person experience.

 

Interesting. I sent one in a couple years ago, and it took about a week for them to get me a shirt mailed out. Excellent quality shirt too, one of my favorites.

[ABU is overpriced]

Why would you get a lefty if you're a righty? But even then, the new tats are far superior to slxs and curados.

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, ABU is overpriced said:

the new tats are far superior to slxs and curados.

Can you elaborate further on this? I have noticed a downward trend in reviews on the new SLX XT A and SLX 70 (mainly parts breaking, replacements breaking too, along with the reels being meh (not good, not bad, just alright), and personally the new colors are not good. Its very sad since the SLX XT and SLX MGL 70 previous gen are 2 of my top 5 favorites, and many others favorites too.

 

Are you talking more so about quality between the 2 brands? Or just that Shimanos arent worth it anymore in the higher end models. Since its been known for awhile the lesser cost SLX XT and SLX MGL 70 were the best bang for the buck in their whole lineup. And anything after that offered the same or slightly greater performance as the cheaper SLX's that was either the same price as a Zillion, or much more expensive than a Zillion. Which for the masses is the best reel?

[ABU is overpriced]

2 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Can you elaborate further on this? I have noticed a downward trend in reviews on the new SLX XT A and SLX 70 (mainly parts breaking, replacements breaking too, along with the reels being meh (not good, not bad, just alright), and personally the new colors are not good. Its very sad since the SLX XT and SLX MGL 70 previous gen are 2 of my top 5 favorites, and many others favorites too.

 

Are you talking more so about quality between the 2 brands? Or just that Shimanos arent worth it anymore in the higher end models. Since its been known for awhile the lesser cost SLX XT and SLX MGL 70 were the best bang for the buck in their whole lineup. And anything after that offered the same or slightly greater performance as the cheaper SLX's that was either the same price as a Zillion, or much more expensive than a Zillion. Which for the masses is the best reel?

The Tat 80 palms better than both, but most importantly, when you have load on your line, the reel feel more solid. More solid as in tighter built/assembled. And no, Shimano is absolutely worth it when we're talking about their higher end stuff (can't stand their micro module, but it is what it is), they're also tightly assembled, and feel great under load. Its just their cheapo/entry level Shimano that i feel like Daiwa is now crushing them.

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, ABU is overpriced said:

Its just their cheapo/entry level Shimano that i feel like Daiwa is now crushing them.

I was a bit mistaken, by higher end i meant more so in the Curado range since they are $200+ and to me thats higher end. (But are the really higher end Shimanos worth it over a Zillion today? Really dont know much about Shimanos past the SLX/Curados)

I remember many guys talking about how the last gen SLX XT and MGL 70 were so good the equivalent Curados werent worth the extra. Some guys even said they had both and preferred the SLX's.

 

I agree with you completely about the part i quoted though, my SLX, SLX XT, and SLX MGL 70 i love.

The SLX A i got is nice but it feels more like its on par with my LFS, not that theres anything wrong with the LFS. Its another nice budget reel, but it leaves alot to be desired and feels kind of cheap.

And from what ive read about the new SLX XT A and SLX 70 it seems they took great reels, tried to turn them into something new, changed the colors to something odd and added the silent tune that i cant think of anyone who would actually care about that and somehow reduced quality control along the way. I love my Daiwas and Shimanos evenly, but i was going to go all in and buy a bunch of the new XT A's and SLX 70's.... Now im thinking about just getting some different Daiwas instead.... Because the new reels they are releasing actually look good. And the reviews match that.

[F14A-B]

So are you gonna force yourself to do a lefty reel? I mean it’s your choice, I can’t speak on the Curado with MD, I use Metanium reels and Bantams. I’ve recently bought 2 Daiwa Zillion 1000HD reels in 7 speed and I like them a great deal. Since you’re asking I’m voting for the Tatula. What I know about it has been solid, people seem to like the 80 size. 

[PBBrandon]

Yeah the only thing I’d be okay going lefty on would be a flipping setup since it would be beneficial in some ways. I’m probably gonna go ahead and get the Tat 80. The bait monkey is trying to get me to buy another Alphas or try a Met but I won’t get a free hoodie with those lol and it’s double the price

[Brian11719]

I'd wait. Doesn't seem like either option is really what you are looking for and unless those credits expire no reason to rush. Definitely wouldn't pick up a left handed reel if I used right handed casting reels. Also wouldn't settle just for the sake of buying something and indulging in some retail therapy...maybe go buy something cheap out of the clearance bin at academy instead and wait this one out until omnia has something you are really excited about and don't even need to question buying...that time will come sooner or later and in terms of getting good deals on gear I'm beginning to feel like not being in a hurry is one of the best things you can do.

[KP Duty]

Both great.  Tat 80 has definitely been trending since its release and would probably be more fun to play around with.