Help me decide - Daiwa Steez 100HA or 103HA

[Micropterus salmoides]

I've narrowed down my choice for an all-around jig and texas rig reel to the Steez 100HA or 103HA. If I'm throwing jigs I'm primarily using 3/8-1/2 oz and occasionally 3/4 oz. When using texas rigs it's typically 3/16-1/2 oz. I may also use the reel for Carolina Rigs with 3/4 oz weights. With weights ranging 3/16-1/2 oz I typically use an underhand roll cast. Heavier weights, i.e. 3/4 oz, I tend to use a normal cast. Carolina rigs definitely require a normal cast. I probably only pitch about 10-20% of the time with 3/16-3/8 oz weights.

[Raul]

It 's not only a matter of spool capacity but also a matter of braking system, Mag Z even though some say does a more efficient braking job than Mag V are not for the same thing. Mag Z excells braking for heavier weights than Mag V, come around with light baits Mag V does a better job. Reason why in U shape spool Daiwa reels ( Fuego, Viento, Steez 100H ) you find either Magforce Z or the simple Magforce ( like TD BBS ), they are meant for casting over 1/4 oz baits while more finesse type reels have V shape spool and Mag Z.

For what you want the Steez 100H/HL it will do a better job than the 103. Only catch, the 100H/HL is a JDM, the 103H/HL can be found JDM or DM ( 103HA ), in other words, there 's no 100HA.

[flechero]

Raul,  

What a great reply.  I learned a few things there.

[Raul]

At your service.  

[Redlinerobert]

Raul definitely knnows his stuff.  

I agree 100%.  100H.

[d.hark]

It 's not only a matter of spool capacity but also a matter of braking system, Mag Z even though some say does a more efficient braking job than Mag V are not for the same thing. Mag Z excells braking for heavier weights than Mag V, come around with light baits Mag V does a better job. Reason why in U shape spool Daiwa reels ( Fuego, Viento, Steez 100H ) you find either Magforce Z or the simple Magforce ( like TD BBS ), they are meant for casting over 1/4 oz baits while more finesse type reels have V shape spool and Mag Z.

For what you want the Steez 100H/HL it will do a better job than the 103. Only catch, the 100H/HL is a JDM, the 103H/HL can be found JDM or DM ( 103HA ), in other words, there 's no 100HA.

So the 103ha has the Mag V system and the newer 100ha has the Mag Z system? Is there a big difference in the 2? Is it just about what weight lures you are throwing?

[Micropterus salmoides]

I'm confused. I thought there was a Steez 100HA for the U.S. market. Here's info I found on the Daiwa site.

http://www.daiwa.com/About/steez_bc_release.aspx

http://www.daiwa.com/Reel/detail.aspx?ID=192

[Redlinerobert]

For the US market it's called the 100HA.  JDM it's caled 100H.  Same reel.

[Raul]

So the 103ha has the Mag V system and the newer 100ha has the Mag Z system?

Yup, the 100 is a U spool reel with Mag Z.

Is there a big difference in the 2? Is it just about what weight lures you are throwing?

The difference is that Mag V reels ( more finesse oriented ) have a greater tendency to overrun with heavier lures, the spool spins quite fast and it 's harder to control on the lower brake settings.

Is it just about what weight lures you are throwing ?

Some are going to say: "I can cast very well with my Fuego ( Mag Z ) " ok, then start lowering the weight of your lure and ....oops, it don 't cast too good a 4 inch weightless grub or if it can cast it then the distance and control is poor, try casting the same with a Sol or a TDZ ( Mag V ) and you will see the difference in distance and control.

But it 's not all about the weight of the lures you cast but also the line you put in, Daiwa U spools are deeper and meant for heavier lines while V spool reels are meant for lighter lines. It 's not about line capacity, it 's about line diameter.

Different tools for different applications.

My friend Edgar learned it the hard way, he saw me casting light baits

with my TDZ105H, asked me if he could lend him the reel for a few casts, no problem, handed him the setup and he was pleased after some casts. Then asked me about the price of the reel, told him and the grin dissapeared. A couple of weeks later we met and went fishing, he was eager to break in his brand new Fuego, everything was fine until he started trying to cast what I was casting ( a weightless trickworm ). He just couldn 't do it the way I did. I tried with the Fuego to achieve the same results I was getting with the TDZ and it wasn 't that easy to maintain the control, to obtain the same distance with the same easiness. :-?

Been checking about the availability of the 100 H and it looks like Daiwa finally decided to bring that version to the domestic market recently.

[d.hark]

Alright so If I understand this corrctly it goes like this

103HA = V spool, Mag V system, better for lighter lines and lures

100Ha = U spool and Mag Z system, better for heavier lines and lures

Is that right?

What do you consider appropriate lines and lure weight for each then? Cause You origanally recomended the 100 and it seems what the OP wants it for are fairly light (or what I would consider light) lures. But wouldnt the 103HA be better suited for that according to what you just said?

[Micropterus salmoides]

dhark,

I contacted Daiwa and was told that 1/4 oz and heavier with line sizes greater than 12lb go with the 100HA. Anything lighter than 1/4 oz and lines less than 12lb go with the 103HA. That seems to be the consensus on fishing forums that I've come across.

[d.hark]

dhark,

I contacted Daiwa and was told that 1/4 oz and heavier with line sizes greater than 12lb go with the 100HA. Anything lighter than 1/4 oz and lines less than 12lb go with the 103HA. That seems to be the consensus on fishing forums that I've come across.

Thanks Micro. I dont know why they just cant put that info in the specs for it. Cause I couldnt find anything that would suggest that!! The only thing that I couold distinguish bewtween the 2 were that the 100 held 14/120. 16/100 and the  103 held 12/120, 14/100. So even though Daiwa told you 12lb and under on the 103 it suggests it can do 14/100. A little misleading if you ask me.  Wouldnt it be alot easier to say what weight lures each individual reels throw best, instead of line capacity?. Cause I just got a 103HA and dont know if I will throw that light a stuff with it :-[

[Raul]

Alright so If I understand this corrctly it goes like this

103HA = V spool, Mag V system, better for lighter lines and lures

100Ha = U spool and Mag Z system, better for heavier lines and lures

Is that right?

What do you consider appropriate lines and lure weight for each then? Cause You origanally recomended the 100 and it seems what the OP wants it for are fairly light (or what I would consider light) lures. But wouldnt the 103HA be better suited for that according to what you just said?

Look at Microp 's post:

1. -If I'm throwing jigs I'm primarily using 3/8-1/2 oz and occasionally 3/4 oz

2.- When using texas rigs it's typically 3/16-1/2 oz

3.- I may also use the reel for Carolina Rigs with 3/4 oz weights.

4.-  probably only pitch about 10-20% of the time with 3/16-3/8 oz weights.

All of the weights he mentions are over 1/4 oz, "light" is 1/4 oz or less. That 's why I recommended the 100H/HL.

It 's not only what I 've read, it 's also personal experience. One does better one thing the other one does better the other.

[Raul]

Dhark I see you mention having a 103, spool it with 10lb test and have fun with it casting 1/4 and less baits into the next zip code without much effort, it 's meant for that.

[d.hark]

Dhark I see you mention having a 103, spool it with 10lb test and have fun with it casting 1/4 and less baits into the next zip code without much effort, it 's meant for that.

Thanks Raul I dont typically use anything lighter than 1/4- 3/8 which is why I am a little disappointed that it really doesnt make mention of that anywhere where I found info on the Steez's. I consider light 1/2 or lighter which is what I thought Micro was gonna use with the exception of the 3/4 jig or weight?? I will surely give it a try when it warms up up here in Ma. So what kinds of lures do you suggest and how about a rod to go with it Also when you guys are talking about line, do you mean line diameter or strength ?

[Micropterus salmoides]

So what kinds of lures do you suggest and how about a rod to go with it Also when you guys are talking about line, do you mean line diameter or strength ?

With the 103HA, I'd suggest lighter jigs and texas rigs, Senkos, flukes, weightless worms, maybe small crankbaits. If you do a lot of pitching with lighter lures the 103HA is ideal. The 100HA is better suited for 1/4 oz+ lures and long casts, but will still pitch well with lures 1/4 oz and greater, which is why I want a 100HA. For me it is more versatile. For a rod I'd suggest anything lightweight and sensitive from 6 1/2-7ft. I use G Loomis GLX for jigging and worming and IMX for horizonal lures. St Croix Legend Elite or Legend Tournament, Dobyns and Powell also would be nice. I won't go into specifics since you haven't listed a budget for a rod. As far as line, I was referring to line strength.

If you typically don't use anything lighter than 1/4-3/8 oz and also use heavier line I'd suggest returning it if you can and exchanging it with a 100HA. Or check various forums to see if someone would be willing to make a trade with you. Good luck.

[d.hark]

Budget isnt that much of an issue just dont want to spend anymore than I need. I was looking at the G loomis BSR 852 or the BCR 852, both seem to fit the reels needs according to you guys. Where does the mossyback series stand in comparison to the IMX or GLX models? Right now I am fishing St Croix Avids and these are by far the best rods I have ever used. Is a mossyback a big step up? Is the GLX that much more noticable than the mossyback? Or if you guys have any othe suggestions in the $300 and under LMK

[Chad.]

Im pretty sure mossyback is a mix between imx and gl3

[Raul]

Is the GLX that much more noticable than the mossyback?

Some are going to say yes, others are going to say no ( like me ) I can 't feel that much of a difference between a GLX and an IMX that justifies me from shelling another 100 dollars more. I would shell the 100 dollars in another thing but not stepping up from an IMX to a GLX. Others are gifted and can notice the difference and justify the 100 extra dollars.

[d.hark]

Hey Raul can you swap each others spools or tune each other to make em cast heavier or lighter lures depending on which model you are trying to change?