Daiwa reels?

[promax200]

Okay.  I'm seriously considering taking the plunge on my next upgrade and buying some Daiwa reels.  I'm a Quantum guy right now.  So, Daiwa guys, tell me what I need to know.  Especially guys who have used both brands.  I'm looking for objectivity, here.  Opinions are cool and all, but I'm just looking for the facts.  Which reels are good.  Which reels are better.  I already know that the TD-type frame doesn't feel good in my hands, so that sorta rules out the Zillion.  What say you guys?

[Raul]

If the TD type frame doesn 't feel good then don 't buy Daiwa, the only non TD typish frame in Daiwa reels is the Sol frame or the Steez frame.

[Mr SwimJig]

If the TD type frame doesn 't feel good then don 't buy Daiwa, the only non TD typish frame in Daiwa reels is the Sol frame or the Steez frame.

X2, if you do not like the feel of the TD style frames then look elsewhere.

SJ

[WanderLust]

If you don't like the frame... you'll never like the reel.

If you're looking for an upgrade and like Quatum maybe check out the Smoke.

When I think of high end BC reels I think of Shimano, Daiwa and Abu. I would take a hard look at each of their offerings in the range I would like to spend.

All have fans and haters so just pick what you like.

[promax200]

Thats kinda my attitude toward it, Wander. 

Having never used the Daiwa products on the water, I was hoping to get some pros & cons on the popular models.  Especially compared to, say, my Quantum Tours.

[WanderLust]

Thats kinda my attitude toward it, Wander.

Having never used the Daiwa products on the water, I was hoping to get some pros & cons on the popular models. Especially compared to, say, my Quantum Tours.

How the frame feels in your hand is huge... That feel is one of the only reasons I selected another Curado over an STX or Premeir.

I have fished the Exceler, Zillion and Advantage. In the +$170 range the Advantage is the only reel I would buy; its review on Tackletour is a good read as well. If the Zillion was lower priced it would be in the running.

You can demo the reel from TW...

http://www.***.com/demoselect.html?productlist=TDACAD&page=demoprogram

[Raul]

If the TD frame doesn 't feel good then forget even more about the Advantage, it 's even wider so probably will feel  worse, however WL has given a great advice, since you can demo the reel from TW why not try it ? you have nothing to loose.

[dulouz]

Please fill me in, what is a TD frame?

[Mr SwimJig]

It is the frame that most of the Daiwa reels are built on, the Zillion probably being the most well known

SJ

[Raul]

Please fill me in, what is a TD frame?

Daiwa like Shimano make use of a platform on which it builds a bunch of reels and where the difference between one model and another is basically added features and/or different component material. For example Shimano used the same platform to build: Citica, Curado, Curado SF, Chronarch, Chronarch SF and Chronarch Mg, so they were basically the same ( size, demensions, ergonomics, etc ), the differences were in the added components.

In the case of Daiwa the platform was the TDZ on which the TDZ, TD Zillion, Fuego, TDX ( JDM ) are built, some models can have some variation of the platform but about the same size, shape, dimensions and ergonomics so they are "ish".

The catch is: if that platform doesn 't "feel right" ( doesn 't fit like a glove ) most of the reels built on that platform are simply not for you. It 's like having a pebble in the shoe.

[promax200]

OK, what about the Alphas-framed reels, like the Sol? 

Or, the Steez?

[J Francho]

While it looks similar to the TD-Z/Fuego, the Zillion is unique, in both dimension and mechanically. The TD-A is a big boy, but very durable.

The Sol/Alphas are tiny, when compared to other brands. They also don't hold a ton of line, and are slow - 25 IPT? I love them, though.

Another to consider is the Aggrest.  Very nicely made reel with a totally different form than any of the other Daiwas.

[Raul]

OK, what about the Alphas-framed reels, like the Sol?

Or, the Steez?

The ergonomics are different, so my question here is, TDish frames don 't feel good for you but how they don 't feel good how/where ? too large ? too wide ? too tall ? I know it can be difficult to describe but try to give us an idea so we can help you out.

For example, let 's talk about the old TDX/TDS, I had one TDX, used it 3 times before selling it, it didn 't feel right ( ya know what I mean ) I know why it didn 't feel right, it was a low pro but not quite "low", more like if a round and a low matched, and the offspring was the TDX/TDS, not as high as a round but not really low and because of the height it didn 't feel right.

The Sol/Alphas and Steez have different ergonomics, the dimensions ( height, width, length ) and shape are not TDish  so for me they are good because I have small hands ( even though the TDZ feels right ). The TDA is TDish ( but not THAT MUCH ), I 've fished with one and the length is ok, the height is ok but the width is not ok for me.

[coolhandlala]

I would for sure try an alphas/sol.  I tried a sol a couple years ago and they are the best feeling reel for me... it is all personal opinion so just try some and see what fits good.  I have 3 alphas and 2 sols and they are very compfortable for and entire day of fishing... I would maybe try the e50 if you are looking for a reel with a smallish profile.  I have med size hands but prefer and very small reel so to me you can't beat the alphas or sol.  When it come to quality I haven't used a reel that feels better than my alphas.

[Fat-G]

Just get a couple Curados...

[alienfishermen]

OK my two cent's  :

I get the, does not feel that good to me thing.

But in the store the core 100 did not feel good in my hand to me either

then I got one in a trade and on a rod the thing is money .

I now have 2 and looking to add more, I also got a core 50mg7 thinking it too would feel great , again not on the rod for me  :'(

I also have 4 zillions, because their great in my hand fishing

dido on the steez ( by the way I have one for sale here on the form) Fuego also good, sol too, also the new smoke.

Try'em on a rod if you can and even better fishing, other little thing come to light like how good they cast do you like the braking system, ect

YMMV

[rezbass]

I have fished with Daiwas since the td hi/pi frames came out in teh early 90's.  They are a much lower profile than the  newer TDX/ TDS (not the greenish ones).  The Tierra frame and Advantage frames are lower and wider than the tdx frames. I like all of them not only for feel, but performance and durability.  I have a few TD1 Hi and TD2 Hi that are still going strong after 15+ years with a little upkeep here and there.   Great reels in my oipinion.  I have not used a Quantum, so I have no input on comparisons of the brands.