JustJames

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? those lew’s narcissistic gonna hear you. I used to be Shimano fanboys, Most of my reels were Shimanos from most 50e series, to conquest, bantam and SLX with just a few Daiwas. I separated those Shimano as casting machines and Daiwa as smooth operation machines. The time went by and I’m getting older, I become to prefer more of smoothness than casting power. The only Shimanos I have left are these. I only plan to buy just one Shimano this year SLX DC XT (left) and if my wife allow 2023 Conquest BFS (left)

Congrats for giant slab.

I believe Daiwa introduced Tatula LT to North America market since Icast 2017 perfect timing to upgrade to complete with Vanford. I don’t see why Daiwa would price Tatula more than Vanford. Procyon MQ which is a class lower and usually use Zinc gear but same frame material Zion V and price at 179 MSRP. I expect Tatula would use same AL main gear as previous model.

Here is JDM specs. https://www.daiwa.com/jp/fishing/item/reel/spin_rl/tatula/index.html

You will be surprised if Shimano come up with free floating spool version sooner. I believe I saw KTF free floating spool for one of Shimano BFS. Shimano might add another reel to SLX line (SLX DC XT 70) to North America, since SLX seem to be big target group for Shimano.

I also use Both in place of each other like jig trailer, free rig the only difference for me is presentation faster on rage bugs and slow down on dbomb.

Not sure since it is not super cold down here but a little bit of cleaning old Lube or residue grease wouldn’t hurt. I normally just use cotton ball with a few dab of oil and rub around AR clutch. If you never clean this part before maybe carefully spray with some electronic cleaner (full tearing apart) before light oil treatment.

????? for real I only kept 10-20 last year. I didn’t spend a lot of time on them, though. There are more and more ppl targeting them year round, sometimes I see the whole family along the dock and they keep everything they catch.

Why filet, let eat them whole. Just kidding, I am Asian and normally we eat the fish whole. I, on the other hand, love filet and pan fry fish but never done it myself, store bought or at restaurants. I started learning how to filet fish when caught a lot of crappie and heard they are so good. I watched a bunch of how to from YouTube, bought a good filet knife. My first filet fish was hard as well as my last one. I think I spend at least 5-10 minutes to finish just one fish. I only filet less than 10 fish each year and as Asian I try to preserve the meat as much as I can.

Just another note, Curado DC and 200 K use the same mainshaft. If you know someone that can let you borrow any of these two.

There are two ways, first, a little risky by try Curado DC as you mentioned from any perspective it should fit. Shimano doesn’t change physical much between Curado and Scorpion DC, same frame, same drag setup. Second way is to order correct part from Plat Japan. This way you can be 100% sure it will fit. Depends which way is cheaper and faster and how much you wanna risk, another reason why order JDM not always the best. I’m not sure about Canada but Shimano let you return if you order the wrong part. https://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/optionparts/language/en/manufacturers/5/siries/38/page/2

First crappie of 2023. Seem like this year crappie getting smaller caught about 6, only 2 this size the rest 10-11”. I quit when a few guys tried to fish the same spot. I only fish for them just these couple months. Hopefully there are still some slab left for me ???.

If you are truly a beginner and really wanna learn how to catch those bass. I think it is way better to concentrate on Technique, how, when and where to catch them, than what reel can handle what weight better. I have seen you asked questions related to just high end gear from BFS all the way to 6-8oz swimbait and never get into detail of why when where to use utility the techniques. Most of the reel you mention can pretty much cover weight range unless specific reels for BFS or big swimbait. My reels can cast from 3/16 to 1 oz easily and effectively but that not really matter more than technique and where to fish them.

Just wanna add to what @Team9ninementioned. I don’t have experience with YGK but did try Defier sinking D-braid at 1.14 buoyancy rate. The D-braid is rated at 11lb or PE 0.8 but diameter is still smaller than 6lb windtamer. If you plan to get JDM braid line for bass, may be go with bigger line like 15-20lb or PE 1.5. Now sinking braid, sufix832 sink because of Gore per mentioned above and sink faster than 1.14 D-braid. I think YGK rated @1.4 or something. I use Sufix 832 for most of my reels from 6 to 30lb. compared with 6lb windtamer, 8lb PP, 8 and 10lb Sufix832.

I think @LCG might be able to help you there. I remembered selling a reel to Canadian fellow and he had me ship to a friend in US to be picked up. He told me Canada charge duty fee even used reel.

Check reel test guy for both reel in comparison. If you are looking into DC reel, Shimano just came out with 2022 SLX DC XT 70 also only available JDM. The price difference is about 30-50 bucks. If you plan to use 12-15lb mono line and this is your first DC reel, the 150 might fit you. If you are going with 70 size reel (8-12lb) I recommend spend a little bit more on 2022 version. The SLX DC XT will get you a longer way before you wanna upgrade again, lighter weight at 6.8oz, overall smaller profile and I-Dc5 will get you more control from beginner all the way to advance type user. compared Curado 70i, 200i and SLX DC XT 70

Lookup for senior discount start at age of 65 which I’m not yet meet. I might have to pay for saltwater stamp this year too.?

If you never use a reel of this type may be a good time to send the reel in for professional service. Loud when cast can be a few things but majority will be spool bearings need some oil. The Cardiff use un-shielded bearing so they are easy to dry out. Take a look at this video skip to 30 minute mark to see where the bearing are. Opinion for the reel, Cardiff is a workhorse reel and can compare with big brother Calcutta. The 300 size should be good for heavy lure and heavy line20-30lb. If for bass we are looking at big 2-8oz swimbait. It can also handle good size catfish or inshore duty only one problem is no line out alarm for bait and wait type fishing. I have 200 size for medium 2-3oz swimbait and topwater for bass. It is more than 20 years old reel and still in service.

It is kind of brat but I’d say I’m there where I wanna retire. It is actually not my #1 pick (Somewhere in FL without hurricanes) but I think I’ll be happily living here the rest of my life. Canyon Lake SoCal, 3-400 acres private lake 24-7 year round access with a few of DD bass reported to be caught every years, up to 2-3 lb crappies, good palm size bluegill and plenty of big channel catfish. Once I’m tired of fishing or too cold there is an 18 hole beautiful senior friendly golf course for me to kill time. Also very important, plenty of community clubs where my wife can join and get her occupied and leave me alone.

Don’t forget yo-zuri snap bean for shallow and Rapala countdown 01/03 for deeper. For shallow crank, like snap bean and bisty minnow, a small split shot weight 8” in front can get it down there.

I use 4 and 6lb for crappie and bluegill, 8and 12 for bass. This type line you either hate it or love it. All you get is just plain distance and super light weight line (no water absorption) but the negative might turn a lot downs. No shock strength, absolutely no abrasion resistance whatsoever and very bad in even slight wind, frayed easily and harder to tie connections knot. Why I use this line, CASTING DISTANCE, the line is super buoyancy and can make light jig head sink slower (stay in strike zone longer. The line float thus easy for line watching. The line have no weight even when wet, easier for me to concentrate on the tip movement when slow jigging. Even the line float but can cut thru water very well to improve sensitivity when swimming small jig head (my assumption is, no water absorption, flat profile and thinner than hair help for this segment)

I really wanna see the proof of this and I don’t even believe 100% you posted from your experience. I still have first string 4lb and can compare to any of your 6lb line that you claim smaller. The first sting is the first line get me into Izorline. Yea, it stretch just line any mono line but still softer than xxx and platinum, and hybrid. Don’t even make me compare to XT or CXX.

4lb izorline is about the same diameter as good 6lb FC which rate at .008 (from feel and vision). Never tried CXX except 10lb which a little bit larger and stiffer than 10lb Izorline. I think Turner’s carry both line in stock. You plan to use as mainline or leader? Stream trout or stocked lake trout? I switch to super line (Nanofil Nanobraid) as mainline for mainly distance.

Happened to me in two occasions. First time, came back from graveyard work, tired and sleepy but still managed to stop at the lake for fishing. After about an hour or so, just a light cast and the setup slipped out of my hand. I watched them slowly sink and thought to myself should I went after it. Finally jumped down holding the fence and use my feet to kick them up. Second time after hooking new bait, my finger got all oily, cast to spot and bass hit the lure and run off right away. I set the hook but the whole spinning slipped out of my oily fingers. I took long seconds to dump everything out of my pants pockets. Jumped in the lake and grabbed the rod, the fish was gone as well as my iPhone XR which was in my back pocket that I forgot about it. I got the phone back after sitting about 12’ at the bottom overnight with underwater drone.

PM me if you want true experience of both reels (only 2000 size). I own both and fish a little more than a year. I can share you my thinking of pros and cons.