Core 50Mg7 Or Steez 103Sha

[promax200]

Money aside, posse-affiliation aside. No "well, Daiwa this" or "well, Shimano that". Just reel vs. reel opinion. Same weight, same gear ratio. Which are YOU pitching light jigs with?

[BassmanDan]

The Steez...it's my favorite reel. The price was hard to swallow, but it was worth it performance-wise. It also fits my hand better than any other reel, and that makes a difference. Can't lose with either one though.

[Fat-G]

Steez, hands down.

[bassinbrian]

I have both and love both of them. Either excel at light lures but how light we talking? 1/4 oz, 1/16, etc? If your talking all light lures I would maybe go more of a" fineese " reel like a pixy, etc. . Money aside, Steez wins without a doubt. Its much more refined and its a pitching machine. Its kind of a unfair to compare both equally. Daiwas flagship reel to shimanos higher end reel. One thing to think about is Shimano has more of a set it and forget it breaking system and daiwa takes a little more adjusting. Also the 103 takes a more of a trained thumb but once you get it down, you'll wish you had more!!! I'm stuck in traffic and doing this on my phone. Hope it makes sense!

[Raul]

I´m a Shimano man, I became a Shimano/Daiwa fan when I sold my brand new spankin´ Calais 100A and purchased a TDZ103H, so Core vs Steez ---> Steez hands down ( coming from a Shimano man )

[Bassn Blvd]

Might I suggest ABU, Pinnacle, Flooooger?

Haha, had to do it.

[Packard]

Money aside the Steez. But value wise the Core.

[Hooligan]

Personally, I prefer the Core. I like the design and the way it fits my hands better. I also like the spool and bearings.

[philsoreel]

Middle of the road gear, I'm open to whatever feels the best in comfort and quality. I own Shimanos, Daiwas, Abus, and PFluegers. However, when it comes to the higher end market it's Shimano. Nothing wrong with the Steezy, except the price, but it just wasn't for me. The Core wins hands down.

Plus, if you send it to DVT for a servicing/cleaning and Carbontex drag washers it becomes a whole new animal. Long distance casting becomes effortless. Literally, it's like a different reel after he gets finished with it. The drag is crazy smooth to.

[jeb2]

I own a Core 50 with Orange Seal bearings and a tuned Steez 103HA. The steez is more finicky, as brianbassin mentions. You don't just give it a click or a little more spool tension when casting into any kind of wind. You have to work on it a bit more to get it dialed. But it's a fun reel to fish. Casts very well and just has a great feel. Just very refined.

The Core is really nothing special outside of its size and weight. Not that it's a bad reel or anything, just not as much "fun" as the Steez to fish, at least IMO. It gets the job done, and is cheaper. I'll not be getting rid of it anytime soon or anything.

Both of the above reels are on NRX rods, and have the same line on them, 12# Invisix. I got another NRX the other day and bought another Steez to go on it instead of another Core. So it's worth the extra to me, FWIW.