The_Natural

Actually, the 103, 105, and 100M were all available in the US. The 100M came out after the 103 and 105, and was primarily made as a pitching reel capable of holding a good amount of heavy line. It was only available in the US, hence the 'US Trail' marking on the top of the reel. The 100M has the original Magforce anti-backlash system versus the magforce V that comes on the 103 and 105. All TD-Z's roll off the same assembly line in Japan, with the 100M being the only model that was exclusively in the US. Bass Pro actually quite carrying the 100M almost a year before Daiwa discontinued TD-Z, but continued to carry the 103 and 105. I went to Cabelas and noticed that the 105 is already sold out...I'm sure due in great part to this forum ;D

Hmmm...I didn't get charged shipping. My order total both times was $399.98. Did you choose a shipping method other than ground? Other than that...I'm not sure why :-/

Welcome my brother...welcome .

Wow...yeah, those reels aren't even in the same league. Welcome to the majors!

I'm excited now, not only about the reels I have coming in, but for everyone else as well. How many of you haven't fished with a TD-Z before? Will this be your nicest reel? I own modified Alphas, Scorpions, Mg50's, Pixies, Zillions, and two TD-Z's (now 6 I guess ). The only reels I have that compare to the TD-Z's are my Pixies. I think some of you will be blown away by this reels performance. We will have to start another thread when everyone has theirs.

Sweet...I dig the cork grips.

Hehe...over 20 TD-Z's were ordered just from this thread ;D 8-)

Nice! Who does the paiting for you? Can they anodize as well? The guy I'm thinking of paints a lot of RC car bodies, and he is out of Tulsa, OK. If you want anodizing, I would just search google. I'm not sure how much it will cost me, but I imagine $20 or so a reel, considering they will be only one color each...no fancy airbrush work.

My reels are going to be sent off for a custom paint job before I even take them out of the box. I'm having 2 painted red, 2 painted yellow, and two painted metallic black; they will look identical to the TD-Z custom of 2004. I'm not trying to fool anyone; I just like a more colorful reel . Here are the colors I have chosen...

Any of these new sticks going to be getting a TD-Z, or are you sticking with Steez on Steez? I planned on putting Steez reels on my first two Steez rods, but I ended up buying two more Steez rods instead . I'm glad I did...all 4 will be sporting TD-Z's now .

BPS no longer has any TD-Z's...they were all pulled about 3 months ago. Cabelas didn't have any either until 2 days ago. Oh well, it was worth a shot. Other than weight, what are the major differences between the TD-Z and the Zillion? The TD-Z and Zillion share identical frame designs, but the TD-Z's frame is magnesium versus the Zillions aluminum frame. The TD-Z's aluminum/ceramic hybrid spool is also lighter than the Zillion's spool. The Zillion does have the Magforce Z backlash control versus the TD-Z's Magforce V. The TD-Z also has an 8 disc carbon drag, but has rumored to chatter a bit when wet (I haven't noticec this at all). Regardless; I was disappointed that they discontinued the TD-Z, and had been shopping for a brand new one to hit Ebay for under $300. I finally found one on Monday...two days before I disconvered Cabelas got a shipment in at $199.

The 103 holds more line; I believe it holds 120yds of 12lb line, whereas the 105 holds 100yds of 10lb. I ordered 103's for my C-rig and Pitchin'.

BPS no longer has any TD-Z's...they were all pulled about 3 months ago. Cabelas didn't have any either until 2 days ago.

I'm already eyeballing my next Steez rod; I got the same feeling when I bought my first Steez as I did with my first Loomis...I just kept shaking my head and smiling . I don't think there is anyone that will ever own one; it is either none or several 8-).

I'm going to let the Cat out of the bag now...I've got my 4 on order . Daiwa must have had a bunch of TD-Z's left over, and since Daiwa makes most of Cabelas house branded reels, I suppose that is why they chose Cabelas to liquidate a bunch of TD-Z's for them. When you order a reel, it says the shipping is prepaid from Japan. This is easily the best deal on a new reel I have ever seen. I just won a TD-Z on Ebay for $290, which I thought was a good deal in itself. Get one while they are still here...I imagine somebody will buy them out in the next day or so and just Ebay them. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0002945115658a&navCount=3&podId=0002945&parentId=cat20331&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat20331&catalogCode=7IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20331&hasJS=true

It is good, but I don't think it is worth the price. I'd go with Bass Pro's XPS fluoro, which can be purchased in 1000yd spools to save some cash.

I wrap my Loomis sticks, but my Steez rods obviously don't need it. The colored foregrip covers are made from special order extra-large diameter heat shrink tubing. Here are my Avid spinning rods.....

I've got my 893 paired with an mg50 spooled with 15lb fluoro. The 893 is a T-rigging machine; I use it for Senkos, lizards, worms, speed craws, tubes, ect. I call it my 'plastics' rod, and it will work very well for all weightless and T-rigged plastics 1/2oz and under. A 7'+, medium-heavy pitching rod seems to be a popular trend right now, and I think this is the best you can do.

You will like the XPS fluoro Avid...it's good stuff and lasts a long time. You are getting Toray without the price . When I run out of my current supply, I'm going to just start buying the 1000yd spools of XPS.

I definitely knew fluoro stretched just as much as mono...I noticed it the first time I fished castable fluoro. Fluoro was used as a leader for a long time before it was used as a main line. The fluoro leader material is indeed stiff and doesn't stretch very much, and hence where fluoro got the 'no stretch' badge. When manufacturers made fluoro suiteable for main line, they had to soften it significantly, and this in turn added stretch. I fish fluoro for sensitivity and invisibility. As far as the Red Line is concerned, at least Shakespeare has started put a correct graph on the Cajun Red Cast box, showing the line to start disappearing at around 9ft. Most anglers catch the majority of their fish in water less than 9ft I imagine, so I don't think the red benefits you at all other than being more visible above the water. I will say I'd rather fish red line than a clear-blue fluoroescent. Regardless, line is good enough now days that you can choose whatever brand you like, and if you retie often you should be fine with whatever line you choose. BTW...Seaguar makes the Cabelas 'No-Viz', and the Cabelas 'No-Viz Extra' is Seaguar Inviz-X. Toray makes the Bass Pro XPS fluorocarbon, and probably why it tested so high. I have tried the XPS, and it is indeed one of the best I have tried.

Mine came yesterday; 4 spools each of 12lb, 10lb, and 6lb. I'm set!

Daiichi 4x bleeding trebles, available at Cabelas in 100pks for $23.99, or $4.XX for a filler pack. I just buy the bulk packs to save money...it's quite a bargain. Also, the red anodized coating seems to last at least twice as long as other hooks. Strong and sticky!

Correct. Rootbeer soda is brown, and the color Rootbeer in the tackle world is more green than brown. I have no idea why

I have to say I'm a bit surprised at some of the responses, but I'm sure there isn't a brand out there that an angler hasn't had a bad experience with. When I think cheap, I think of Strike King. Their cranks are hands down the worst in the business, and their spinnerbaits use cheap components and horrible skirts. The only thing Strike King makes that is worth a darn are the bleeding tubes.

I own that rod, and it is one of my favorite rods. The extra length really aids in pitching lightweight plastics a long ways; it's amazing how much more distance I can get with that rod versus my 7'1" rods. It has a perfect tip, and backbone to spare. There isn't a plastic I don't love to throw with it. You won't be sorry.