Shimano Vs Daiwa Baitcasters

[NHfroggin]

Which one is better? Good and bad points or why you do or dont like them.

Bassmaster6

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Here comes a WAR!!!! ;D

[Raul]

No war on this side, I have both brands, 45% of my reels are Daiwa, 45% are Shimano, I like them both.

Bad things about Shimano:

You may never notice it, they have a very slight handle backplay which interferes nothing in the reel 's performance, Daiwas don 't have that backplay.

Bad things about Daiwa:

The dry drag system and slightly weaker drags, if washers get contaminated with lubricant makes the drag pulsate under pressure; Shimano reels don 't have that problem beacuse of their wet drag system.

[foul hooked]

I fish both. Both are outstanding. You can't go wrong with either. I prefer the external brake adjustment on the Diawas on a windy day, but that is about it.

[Bud]

           You may never notice it, they have a very slight handle backplay which interferes nothing in the reel 's performance, Daiwas don 't have that backplay.                

I have played with several Daiwas and they have all had backlash.  That is one reason I don't like Daiwas.     I have never notice it with my SHIMANO.

Just say SHIMANO and be done with it.

[Raul]

           You may never notice it, they have a very slight handle backplay which interferes nothing in the reel 's performance, Daiwas don 't have that backplay.            

I have played with several Daiwas and they have all had backlash. That is one reason I don't like Daiwas. I have never notice it with my SHIMANO.

Just say SHIMANO and be done with it.

Well, all baitcasters backLASH ya know, backPLAY is because the antireverse in the Shimanos is not quite infinite, in Daiwas the antireverse is infinite that 's why they don 't have backPLAY in the handle.

[USA-Retired]

They both make great reels.  If you ask which is better, Shimano users will say Shimano, Daiwa Users will say Daiwa.  I use both and think both are excellent (who the heck is going to buy one brand and then say the other brand is better...hehe).  I personally think the mid priced Daiwas have a better spool spin than the Shimanos, however I've not noticed them casting any further than the Shimano.  I not sure one will backlash more than another.  I was used to reels with Mag control (my old Shimano Bantams were all mag control) so when I bought a new Shimano with the VBS, I was backlashing initially until I understood how the system works,  now it's fine.   I'd expect the same would be true with someone not familiar with the mag control.   Which one is better....well, what tastes better Grilled Steak or BBQ Ribs?   Now I'm hungry  

[Jimzee]

Here comes a WAR!!!! ;D

Good Call...........I'm gettin out while the gettin's good!!!! There is no way I'm answering this one. ;D ;D ;D

[KYbass1276]

I have both myself and I personally like them both.   I kinda feel that it's good to have a couple brands of rods and reels to compare to each other and to experiance something different from both brands.  I was at one time all shimano but I felt like trying something new and bought a Diawa Zillion and now I 'm glad I did because I have two favorite brands now.  I have also like most people experimented with St Croix and G loomis and I'm pleased with both all though I do like the loomis better,  I still think both are great.    It's all preferance  to each there own

[mike bat]

same here .... ive fished shimano for a long time .... always looking at diawa ,,, still buying shimano ,,,, then the zillion came out .... i baught 1 zillion to jig fish with and a cu 201 for a frog rod ..... well after compairing bolth reels ,,, the cu just felt bulky and big .... the cu sat high on the rod where the zillion sat low and felt much smaller ....  i took that cu back for another zillion .....now i have 2 ... but over all i like bolth shimano and diawa /// theres a diawa sol ive been eyein at the shop..... i just may have to get that too ... just for more compairisons .....LOL   ;D... no really i like bolth shimano and diawa ... bolth make a solid reel .... its really just what feels right to you ....

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I figured id jump in here............... ;D Garcia is best ;D

[TrickyVT1887]

Both are great high quality reels and can't go wrong with either one I fish with all Shimano mainly the older Curados but have nothing against Daiwa, I've fished shimano never had problems with them and had really good customer service with getting parts from them, so for me its alot about a good reel, good service, and brand loyalty. Although for the price the Advantage HST is one heck of a little reel i've used them a few times when fishing with one of my buddies, thats all he has is daiwa.

[roadwarrior]

Smooth, strong, silent and reliant.

I have been very happy with Shimano reels. I fished some other brands over the years, but now Shimano is all I have. Although I have given away several of my reels over time, as far as I know every one I have ever owned is still in use. What has surprised me the most is that even though the reels are perfect right out of the box, they seem to get better with age.

Last year I had ReelMech service two CTE200GT. One is my striper reel and has had significant use, the other was virtually brand new. I asked if he could tell which was which? He told me no, there was no sign of wear on either reel. I suspect I will be fishing these same reels for awhile.

[shimanogloomis man]

iv fished with both and im still a shimano fan but diawa is 2nd on my list but either way u cant go wrong

[Guest DavidGreen]

After 6 months training at each facility, and, 22 years of being into the guts of both manufacturers reels.

I would have to say that they both make very high quality reels.

Tight Lines!!!

[Bud]

Raul

The trade school were I went and Lockheed Martin teaches that  the terms  backLASH and backPLAY is the  same when used in machine work.  The meaning could have change for this has been many years ago when I went to trade school.

[Bass1]

Wich ones better. Good and bad points or why you do or dont like them.

Bassmaster6

It will be hard to answer this because both companies have many baitcast reel models/brands (from low-end, mid-range up to high end models) and I doubt if any of us have used and fished all of them.  If we are to narrow it down to certain models and compare them, then some of us might have first hand experience in using these models.

I have baitcast reels from both companies in the $200 price range (both 2006 models, low profile) and if I were to compare these two, I will say that the shimano has plus points in the following:

1) easier and longer casts - probably because of the magnumlite spool

2) less backlash (in my experience) - probably because of the VBS, although the higher-end Daiwas might have an advantage over their shimano counterparts in this category because of the new Mag-Z brake system

3) smoother drag - dartainium drag

4) lighter (non-MG models)

The Daiwa will have plus points in the following:

1) versatility on adjusting brake system - external knob

2) more precise micro-click adjustments on drag system

As I said, if you go up or down the different price ranges, you will have different plus points on both companies.  How about comparing the models in the $400 price range?  Say, a Calais versus a Steez (although one is Mg).  Anyone?  I don't have both so can't comment :'(.  Or probably some other models which are worth comparing.

The most accurate answer to your original question could probably come from reelmech as he has probably serviced most models (in a variety of price ranges) of both companies.

JMHO.  

[aggiebassin]

i fish shimanos, and love them.  but daiwas are super reels too.

the main reason i fish shimanos is my dad fished them, and has two of the old bantams that are i would say 20+ years old and still goin strong.

so when i bought my first quality reel.....it was a shimano.  i really didn't know much about daiwas or any other brand for that matter or it might have been a different story.

but of all my shimanos....7 of them.  none have ever given me any problems so i see no reason to buy another brand.

but all in all i don't think you can make a wrong choice between the two.  go to the store and hold a few see which feels the best.

[Raul]

BM6, I had a Calais 100 ( notice the past tense ), don 't have the Steez but I have TDZs, both reels are something fantastic, both reels are equal ( they have different feel ) in all performance departments  except in one, the weight, that 's where the TDZ beats the Calais hands down. If you have never fished with sub 6.5 oz reel I 'll tell you it 's another world.

[Craw]

I like both brands. My dad is a shimano man. He fishes all Calcuttas(smooth as silk). I personally own 2 Curado 100Ds, and they are super little reels. My Daiwa reels are TD-X 103HSDFs, and Team Daiwa Advantages. To say which is better, Daiwa or Shimano, is really comparing apples to oranges. Both companies make darn good products, along with some that are not so good. I can honestly recommend each reel that I've mentioned though.

[dodgeguy]

i used to fish shimano.they are great reels.i fish pflueger now.if i was going to buy a different brand i'd get a diawa zillion.

[lubina]

My experience with Shimanos.....long, long time ago I owned a Curado, long enough to realize that I have to take the reel in pieces apart in order to change the spool control settings. More recently I made the mistake of buying an Scorpion 1001, it has a handle that is even uncomfortable for my children and after 3-4 uses I have to sent it to Japan for 3 months for a warranty service repair.

It is my fault since I knew how to spell Daiwa   ;D

[.ghoti.]

Quote "Which one is better?"

Yep.

[Shadcranker]

I think Diawa is catching up. Their quality really seemed to lag behind Shimano in the late 90's and early 00's.

I own probably 15 Shimano baitcasters and love them (mostly old and new Curados). They cast great, and they are absolute work-horses.

I bought a Viento a year or so ago (same price as the new Curado), and I recently sold it. It was a nice reel, but I couldn't seem to get the casting distance as I get from the Curado, and I just decided to stick with what I like best.

That said, as with any brand, it's a personal preference.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

Shimano and Daiwa make very nice gear and you can't really go wrong unless you spend too much money expecting the gear to make you a better fisherman.