Shimano Calais or Daiwa Zillion

[Carrington]

I am wondering which is better for a crankbait reel.  The shimano calais or the Daiwa Zillion.  i would get the lowest gear ratio in whichever i get.

[barroncooper]

I think that they're both pretty sweet reels. however i have no experience with either of them.  I'd love to have either one. but tell me this, what would either of them do that a curado e5 wouldn't do for less than half the price.  don't get me wrong like i said i'd love to have either one but they don't fit within my budget

[Carrington]

today i went and tested the reels and i must say the E5 felt very loose to me compared to the two in the topic title.  It felt as if the E5 was a cheaper made real so that is why im going with the more expensive reels because i feel you get what you pay for.

[Redsyn]

Just remember only the calais 100 has the HEG.

Also depends on which braking system do you prefer.

If you were to get the calais wouldn't the chronarch D5 be better? weights less then the 2 reels and has HEG. Priced right in between the two. I havn't used that reel but you should atleast take a look at it?

[Carrington]

i looked at it, and i didnt like the look of it, and tbh it felt balkyer then the other 2.  It basicaly didnt fit well in my hand

[uicdent11]

Did you try a Curado already on display or take one out of the box? I find the reels on display never feel right and always ask to take one out of the box and put on a rod off the shelf.

I have never thought the Curado E felt loose, but that is my opinion. The Chronarch D feels great in my hands so I guess we may be polar opposites. 

Never used either in your title so no help there. If I ever get a CB reel I would have to get the zillion because Shimano no longer carries a lefty in the new lineup. I'm holding out in the hope that they release one in the near future.  :-/

[Gone_Phishin]

If I ever get a CB reel I would have to get the zillion because Shimano no longer carries a lefty in the new lineup. I'm holding out in the hope that they release one in the near future. :-/

Shimano believes we were all wiped-out in the Great Southpaw Influenza.

As for the OP, the Calais is in a different league when compared to the Zillion.  The Shimano Calcutta TE, DC, and Conquest are worth a look too.

[Carrington]

the displays they had were brand new.  They had just gotten them in 2 or 3 days ago.  So it was basicaly a brand new real and on top of that the curado was one of the brands that was kept in the display case so kids could not come up and mess with it. 

[Carrington]

any more positives and negatives on the two reels in the title?

[skunked_again]

today i went and tested the reels and i must say the E5 felt very loose to me compared to the two in the topic title. It felt as if the E5 was a cheaper made real so that is why im going with the more expensive reels because i feel you get what you pay for.

what was loose? i hope the one i have beat to death and never serviced dont start to feel loose.....

BTW.....id get the Zillion.

[Carrington]

The i guess you call it the spool was lose in the body and the handle was slightly wobbling.

and why do you recommend the zillion over the calias

[uicdent11]

The spool would be loose because the spool tension knob was not tightened. The handle would be a different story. Shimano is "known" to have a little backplay in the handle, but I can hardly notice in the Curado or Chronarch.

[skunked_again]

The i guess you call it the spool was lose in the body and the handle was slightly wobbling.

and why do you recommend the zillion over the calias

i guess because ima Daiwa homer.

to be honest id take the Curado over both of the listed reels. the chances of anything being "loose" is slim to none. ive used mine as a heavy cranking reel since day one and its still tight as a drum. i dont see you getting your moneys worth out of a Zillion over a Curado.

JMO

[Carrington]

ya idk what was up with the handle, but i have my mind pretty deadset on the zillion or the calais

on top of that, i have always regreted when i did not get the best i could afford so this time im gonna try and save money in the long run and get the best i can afford.

[Carrington]

ahhh this is such a hard choice, ive heard alot of great comments about the curado but ive also heard some bad comments about it.  That is whats steering me away from the curado, but i need to get off for the night so ill check this thread tommarow.  Thanks for the help today guys.

[skunked_again]

ya idk what was up with the handle, but i have my mind pretty deadset on the zillion or the calais

on top of that, i have always regreted when i did not get the best i could afford so this time im gonna try and save money in the long run and get the best i can afford.

the Zillion is a fine reel. let us see your setup once you get it together.

[Redsyn]

The i guess you call it the spool was lose in the body and the handle was slightly wobbling.

and why do you recommend the zillion over the calias

The spool was loose because maybe the spool tension was on a loose setting?

[21farms]

i think the zillion crazy cranker is an outstanding reel. each time i fish it, i like it more and more. i have a couple of curado E5s too but i prefer the zillion...not exactly sure why. really smooth and casts well. the daiwa magnetic brakes are about the best i've encountered. i've fished the calais once (dunno which model it was) but i thought it was heavy and extremely smooth but no big deal.

[Choke Canyon Boy]

I dont think the Zillion even comes in a slower 5.4 etc retrieve I think they are all 7.1/1 but I may be wrong. The Daiwa Zillion is a super reel every bit as good as any Curado so if that is the one you want rest assured it is a high quality choice.

[lapieza]

The Calais is by far a better reel. You can get it around 275 on ebay in the 5:1 retrieve. Between the Curado E5 and Zillion cranking reel i would aldo choose the curado because of the price. Might want to consider the Revo Winch if you are mainly throwing DD22 or heavier cranks!

[Redlinerobert]

I had a Calais and sold it.  Besides the Steez, I have plenty of Zillion reels.  They simply feel much more solid to me.   I also prefer the longer stock handle on the Zillion. 

Id go for the 4.9 for what you are planning on using it for.

[Carrington]

this reel is going to be put on a g.loomis crankbait rod and the whole setup witll be fro throwing a range of crankbaits from super shallow to super deep.

[21farms]

I dont think the Zillion even comes in a slower 5.4 etc retrieve I think they are all 7.1/1 but I may be wrong.

the zillion crazy cranker is 4.9:1 and is rated at 22 inches per turn (IPT). the curado E5 is 5.0:1 and is rated at 21 IPT.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I would go with the Zillion, I've not fished the Calais or the Crazy Cranker but have an SHA and love it, I also use an E5 and love it but you sound set on the two.  For me it's a visual thing, I think Shimano is hit or miss for aesthetics and I don't like the Calais.  The price tag of the Calais is a bit much for me as well.

[Raul]

If you are left paw with Shimano you are scrwd, there ain 't no slow left paws in the Shimano line up, but there are left paws in the Daiwa line up. So if you want a cranking left paw reel it 's a no brainer ---> Zillion Crazy Cranker.