JustJames

Skipping, yes the SV brake might help a little but still skill is better. I am not really into buying a reel just for skipping, even though I practiced with Magforce brake system. Nowadays in a good day I can skip with any Shimanos or Daiwas. As @PhishLImentiones yes Alphas come with Aluminum side plate yet lighter and smoother than SLX MGL. you also mentioned of clicking drag, if you go with alphas you can get either brass or aluminum gears from Zillion, thus make your alphas as cool as zillion, BUT at about the same cost of Zillion. Some might say I’m stupid, why not just get a zillion but to me reel size is more important and Alphas fit me like a glove. Either reel you go with, you won’t be disappointed that one thing I know for sure. And the results is super finesse reel for me, both size and the weight after swapping aluminum gear from Zillion.

Yes you may set Zillion platform as higher class, better tolerance (but not craftsmanship) than Alphas since the price set always higher. To me, I separated both platform as power house (zillion) and Finesse (Alphas). The way I fish I always prefer small finesse reel. I have own many Daiwa and use them along side Shimano, until these two Zillion and especially Alphas made me decide to abandon Shimano all at once. I’m not sure how other compare smoothness in the reels, but to me these two reels when retrieve I feel like nothing on the line and that what I call smoothness.

Yes that Daiwa Scandinavia website, if you look well on the bottom, you would see features it listed as Aluminum (hyper arm housing) Anyway to me though, old Daiwa Alphas SV 105 is smoother than both, my SS SV with Aluminum gear, huge magnesium frame is as smooth as Zillion SV TW and don’t have rattle sound from T-wings.

Are we talking about something like this, right? Just wanna make sure we are in the same page not just conclusion of spinning at fault. BTW thanks to you, I haven’t fish Dropshot for awhile. Just took the rig out a couple hours this evening, it wasn’t long for the first bite. I made the fish jump a couple times just to make sure I got line tangled ???. Next time I’m on kayak, I’ll use free rig which to me have similar effect as drop shot and I can still drag it like Texas rig.

Yes and unfortunately, weight on bottom would swing around when fish jump no matter what style of hook you use. If you can prevent the jump, play the fish slowly, or shorten tag end might help a little. Another way is to use bobber dropshot style so the hook would get closer to weight eliminate tag end spinning when fish jump.

I don’t have MGL but Curado 70 used to be my favorite. I had 4 altogether fishing from Ned Rig all the way to 1oz topwater and Frog. They both are about the same size and very comfortable to palm. Some how all 4 of my Curado become buzzing/geary feel when retrieve. I replaced all x-ship bearings but that didn’t help either. Once I tried alphas sv tw, I know right away this reel would replace Curado 70. Now I have 3 Alphas SV TW and only one Curado left. The performance wise, so far Alphas is still smooth both cast and retrieve. Distance wise Curado 70 win but Alphas is very comparable to SLX MGL both control and distance.

First of I never used 2022 Bantam but I sold old bantam MGL for JDM Zillion. To compare the two, I like Zillion better in term of smoothness and light weight. The bantam is better in term of beauty, performance and palm able comfort. The size of Zillion is a tad smaller but pretty wide and sit high on reel seat just like 200K. Aluminum gear should hold up just fine for all around use and I caught plenty of big bass with the reel. For something more abusive like frog, deep crankbait, punching weed, I would use brass gear. I have alternative for you though, if you enjoy the 70 MGL, you will much more enjoy the alphas sv tw than zillion. It can be used as all around reel better than Zillion with lighter line ~ 10-15lb FC or braid (line capacity 103 VS 105). It comes with brass gear (same gear as zillion USDM minus clicking drag). It is way cheaper. If you still want JDM Zillion you can order brass gear for ~ 60-70 bucks. I don’t

I’m in different route, Shimano SLX combo@ 129 at some place (T direct)still available. Go with MH 6’10” to be all around setup. Normally the reel is $99 still worth every penny.

Actually from my experience, you don’t really need back reeling with Daiwa ATD drag. The drag would let the line out easier (less drag) when fish start to run fast. Another reason I love Daiwa when crappie fishing. It help protect tearing paper thin mouth. One thing to warn you, Daiwa drag seem to be a little sticky when let it sit for awhile. You can either loosen drag when store or play with drag before fishing.

Just got used good one myself from our flemarket. After a good cleaning, bearings flushed the reel is very smooth. I don’t know what to use with it yet but my plan is to keep it as spares or use it when I’m in kayak/float tube. I was gonna get Tatula TW80 but with 12lb Copolymer, line capacity gonna be cumbersome.

I used to use orange shield ceramic bearing. I removed one shield and add drop of oil to reduce some noise. It help just a little end up not using them anymore. To be honest I don’t really see it help in casting distance for regular bass lure. If you still have to set brake or spool tension to cast, you don’t really need super free spin bearing.

If we are talking MGL rotor, you will have to compare with at least ballistic FW (JDM) with Zaion Air Rotor. This ballistic is really smooth and very low inertia. I can tell the difference with my eyes close. If low inertia help, for me it helps some especially when jigging for panfish or shaking worm for bass, it easier for me to reel to set hook. The Vanford with MGL and counter balance rotor, vibration almost none exists when spin handle real fast where as Tatula and ballistic still show some sign.

If it used reels I would say someone didn’t install key washer right. It supposed too look like () but brand new and multiple reels from Shimano???? You mentioned you sold Curado so I assume you know what you are talking about. If you bought from local, replacement might be easier, if you buy online, you can check key washer first before get into a hassle of return/refund by taking off handle and star drag.

@A-Jaycan tell you all about it. Yes it is limited edition that I want one too???

Brand new and multiple reels doing the same thing? Braid line?

You might not miss anything after all. The Daiwa MQ require special tool to remove the plate (cost 30-50 bucks) and most from aftermarket DIY. I was gonna buy one of the MQ and found out some of the tool only fit one model but not another. I’m not sure which one BG and Luvias FC? I told myself to wait longer until MQ become normal.

I agree he made the right decision but might not be the right timing. A lot of newer Daiwa reel have gone to MQ body (no switch) bigger gear and more rigid frame. The ballistic LT is one and Caldia series in Europe (lower class than Tatula) also got one last year as well as Kage LT. If he really need the reel right now it is not a bad buy but if he can wait a few more month we might see some change.

It is gonna be hard to properly skin hook Elaztech stuff. You can but have more chance of hook point get deeper into plastic more than fish mouth. I use o-ring bait peg to keep hook point align on the top of plastic. If you want more weedless you can cut slot for hook point to be able to hide it. Now I’m not sure how effective because I only use this just a few time and caught a few fish. I have that type of ewg Ned rig for Zman but have not had a chance to try it yet. I still find the regular open hook mushrooms head work the best. Bait Pegs (100 Pack) - Rubber pegs for Pegging Soft Plastic Fishing Lures to Hooks, jigs, chatterbaits, etc

I’m not worry much about it, if I feel strike but not hook up I blame those small bass. If it get hook up but hook come undone I blame the stretchy line or casting too far.???

From using both of the reels Vanford 2000 VS Tatula/Kage LT 2000, if I have to buy another reel, I would go with Tatula LT. Only downside is Tatula LT has been in the market for quite sometime and might due to new version soon. The price wise Tatula win hand down. Features wise, I think both are comparable. 6.3oz, smooth operation and smooth drag. What Vanford has that Tatula doesn’t have? MGL spool, which help lower inertia the most but to me Daiwa still very comparable. Long stroke spool, both Vanford and Tatula spool are about the same diameter and stroke. The only negative I have with Tatula is anti reverse switch (might be positive for some), because I don’t back reel and to have switch meaning to have weak spot for water to get in. Tatula offer no protection compare to Shimano with X Protect. BTW Vanford drag sound louder and somewhat nicer than Tatula.

What kind of hook are we talking here? Sound like ewg or reg worm hook? For Zman if I wanna fish anything like Texas rig or dropshot, I use roboworm rebarb hook. For Ned rig with Zman much room head and if I’m gonna use superglue I just crimped down that bait keeper.

Your Fuego is considered higher end reel with magnesium frame and free floating spool not the cheap newer Fuego model. Here review of OG Fuego, sorry I cannot be a lot of help since my favorite is Alphas platforms not Zillion. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewdaiwafuego.html

I’m talking about C2500 even though they are using the same body as 1000 but the larger spool requires different bail arm, not sure about Shimano. And yes I swap spool between 1000/2000 all the time.

You are right the 1000 is 40mm where as my C2000 is 43m a tad larger diameter. Not sure about Shimano but my Daiwa C2500 is 45mm if I remember correctly make it harder to just swap spool since bail arm might interfere.

I switched from Bantam to Zillion and been very happy. Only one regret is I should have get the right hand instead of lefties. The Zillion is a tad wider and sit taller on reel seat so it is not as comfortable as bantam/Met. Metanium I was considered this reel before Zillion. If you like pure distance and smaller reel Metanium is the way to go. If you like to tinker with your reel and want more control Zillion all the way. To me Zillion win hand down in control and smoothness over Shimano. So far I got 3 spools for Zillion, stock spool with 15lb FC, Ray’s shallow for 15lb braid, Amo long cast spool for 10lb Copolymer. It is pretty cheap to get different spool for Zillion make it more versatile than Met.