13 fishing reels vs tatula vs other $150 reels

[Stevo_fishes]

Hey yall, last year someone here recommended I get my reels from a jdm website which led me to get around 5 reels last year from overseas. I got a shimano curado dc, Sahara, miravel, Daiwa tatula sv tw, and a daiwa tw 80. They’ve all been great and I use them regularly with absolutely no issues. Last month I picked up an abu Garcia vendetta for $20 and one of those falcon EVO’s for another $20. I’m kinda set on a jdm slx dc for the EVO unless someone can steer me elsewhere. However for the vendetta does anyone have reel suggestions around $150? Got to handle a 13 fishing inception G2 at the bass master classic and it felt super nice. I’m open to anything just wondering if anything stacks up to tatulas for the price. Thanks!

[DogBone_384]

20 hours ago, Stevo_fishes said:

Got to handle a 13 fishing inception G2 at the bass master classic and it felt super nice.

I own first and second generation Concept A, C, and E reels. The second gens are decent, cast well, but aren’t as smooth as my 1st gens, Diawa, Shimano, or Abu reels.

 

I recently needed a part for one of my Concept A’s. I emailed Rapala inquiring about the part. They replied that they couldn’t sell me just the part but I could mail the reel to an authorized dealer for cleaning/repair, starting @ $40.

 

My 13’s are good reels. I thought I’s share my experience with you.

 

Good luck picking out your reels.

 

[KP Duty]

I have 9 OG Concept Z's.  They are great.  The 2nd generation reels use a material similar to Shimano's Ci4+ for the frame material (except the A model- its aluminum).  I'd read the reviews on TW.  Most Folks love the C2, and I've seen them brand new on ebay for as little as $110.

[NorthernBasser]

3 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

I own fist and second generation Concept A, C, and E reels. The second gens are decent, cast well, but aren’t as smooth as my 1st gens, Diawa, Shimano, or Abu reels.

 

 

 

That first Concept C with the pearl finish and cork knobs...most under-rated reel ever. Mines still going strong after years of abuse. Wish I had bought more. 

[MediumMouthBass]

Since the Rapala buyout ive heard they offer 0 parts or replacement parts for 13 reels. It was somewhere here a month or two ago on a post made about a 13 Fishing reel. I can find Daiwa/Shimano parts right now on hundreds of websites, to the point i can build a complete reel just from them.

 

From that and the very mixed reviews on their reels (although its more so the newer ones) and their awful rod reviews, i would go with a tried and true Shimano, Daiwa, or even a Lews instead. Because i can actually find/get parts, plus the company that owns them backs their product, and is known for helping their customers.

 

On a personal note, 13 Fishing is my favorite hard bait brand of all time, i absolutely love their lures. From the topwaters-crankbaits-glidebaits-jerkbaits, the colors were phenomenal along with their actions and, as well as the little details like adding a molded piece of plastic into the box to keep the lure 100% secure. But i would never buy any of their rods or reels unless they were well over 70% off, because most of their modern stuff is junk. Especially the ones sold in big box stores that are heavily overpriced, they are very comparable to the Lews Mach Series.... And that IMO is the biggest dumpster fire in the fishing industry, all with a low price of $150-250😂 for a plastic reel

 

 

[ABU is overpriced]

I'd get a Tat and forget 13fishing exists😎

And i do agree that many of their lures are somehow amazing. I still don't understand why a lure such as the Jabber Jaw or the Magic Man looks this good. Did they send these lures to be made by Duo, or another Japanese company? We usually don't see this kind of detail from non japanese lures.

[Stevo_fishes]

10 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Since the Rapala buyout ive heard they offer 0 parts or replacement parts for 13 reels. It was somewhere here a month or two ago on a post made about a 13 Fishing reel. I can find Daiwa/Shimano parts right now on hundreds of websites, to the point i can build a complete reel just from them.

 

From that and the very mixed reviews on their reels (although its more so the newer ones) and their awful rod reviews, i would go with a tried and true Shimano, Daiwa, or even a Lews instead. Because i can actually find/get parts, plus the company that owns them backs their product, and is known for helping their customers.

 

On a personal note, 13 Fishing is my favorite hard bait brand of all time, i absolutely love their lures. From the topwaters-crankbaits-glidebaits-jerkbaits, the colors were phenomenal along with their actions and, as well as the little details like adding a molded piece of plastic into the box to keep the lure 100% secure. But i would never buy any of their rods or reels unless they were well over 70% off, because most of their modern stuff is junk. Especially the ones sold in big box stores that are heavily overpriced, they are very comparable to the Lews Mach Series.... And that IMO is the biggest dumpster fire in the fishing industry, all with a low price of $150-250😂 for a plastic reel

 

 

I got 3 lews Mach rods last year at the bass master classic for $100. I’ve used them all since I got them and honestly I love the Winn grips. 😂 

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, Stevo_fishes said:

I got 3 lews Mach rods last year at the bass master classic for $100. I’ve used them all since I got them and honestly I love the Winn grips. 😂 

The rods are fine, its the reels that are the issue. They are cheap plastic, and feel very awful (atleast everyone ive ever tried in store. That are overprice to the moon and back.

[NorthernBasser]

22 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

 

 

On a personal note, 13 Fishing is my favorite hard bait brand of all time, i absolutely love their lures. From the topwaters-crankbaits-glidebaits-jerkbaits, the colors were phenomenal along with their actions and, as well as the little details like adding a molded piece of plastic into the box to keep the lure 100% secure. 

 

 

 

It's an absolute shame Rapala/VMC decided to do away with their hard bait line. They were phenomenal. And they came with excellent hooks. They looked/fished like lures that cost twice as much. 

[little giant]

To the OP: of all the reels you got last year, pick the one you like/use the most and get that one!

[Stevo_fishes]

2 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

 

It's an absolute shame Rapala/VMC decided to do away with their hard bait line. They were phenomenal. And they came with excellent hooks. They looked/fished like lures that cost twice as much. 

I had no idea they got discountinued! When I was younger I couldn’t justify a 12 dollar jabber jaw but now they’re on sale for like $7 

[DogBone_384]

10 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Wish I had bought more. 

Me too.

[WRB]

In your price point Shimano SLX MGL 70 now SLX 70XG is excellent.

Tom

PS, sold my Daiwa Tat’s for the above reels! 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I was never overly impressed by the 13 Reels. Initially they were good quality but priced high on a feature for feature basis. 

[Stevo_fishes]

13 hours ago, WRB said:

In your price point Shimano SLX MGL 70 now SLX 70XG is excellent.

Tom

PS, sold my Daiwa Tat’s for the above reels! 

Good to know! So the 70xg is the same thing as the old mgl 70 ‘s?

[WRB]

5 minutes ago, Stevo_fishes said:

Good to know! So the 70xg is the same thing as the old mgl 70 ‘s?

Yes, I have both reels. I am sure someone will say they aren’t exactly the same but I can’t see any performance change.

Tom

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I really like the 13 rods I have, especially the Muse.  I've no experience with their casting reels, no one sells them around here.  The spinning reels are junk.  Their baits were really good, both hard plastic and soft baits.  I think Rapala had them discontinued to get rid of another competitor.  I think Rapala ruined one of the best customer service models ever, as far as their rods go.