FrnkNsteen

If you are considering JDM,... I would throw the Alphas SV in the mix too, especially if you are thinking you want something for the lighter range of baits. I like my Alphas SV about as much as my Zillion,... In fact, I probably fish it more!

As @bulldog1935 said,... The issue is the backlash. I just looked up a kinetic energy calculator and a 1oz lure moving at 150 ft/sec equates to about 21lbs of kinetic energy. Jumping that speed up to 200ft/sec bumps that energy to about 38lbs. If you zing that bait out there and a backlash makes the line come to an immediate stop, that 14lb line, or the knot, isn't likely to stop that 1oz bait.

We were at the classic sale at the new Cincinnati store today. They were pretty sold out on the Pline Tactical and really only had 15lb and 20lb left. I opened a box and felt the tag end. It seemed a little stiff compared to Invisix. Decided to pass and bought some other line instead that was alao on sale. (Invisix and Suffix 832)

Well,... I'm living in Indiana now (originally from MN) and that pretty much describes most of the time on the main lakes around here. Ponds and smaller lakes and strip pits can offer more though. As Billy McDonald once said,... "I'm from Indiana and we only have about 7 or 8 fish,... We just take turns catching them!"

Really, the only difference between a Fuego and a Tatula CT is the line guide,... Round vs Twing

Trying to figure out why I would spend more to buy one of these over a Ballistic or a Shimano Vanford? Ive been EXTREMELY happy with both and don't think I see a need to bump price even more for another Tatula variant over Ballistic or Vanford?

I'm not overly brand loyal. I tend to like Daiwa and Shimano. But have a smatterings of other brands as well. In my opinion,... It is hard to beat the casting control Daiwa offers to beginners. Their Magforce braking offers very good casting control without having to worry too much about spool tension or thumbing it too much. Set it to max braking and start casting. With basic casting knowledge from watching a few youtube videos, you can be casting pretty quickly and then just loosen up the brake dial as you gain confidence to gain distance. If $120 is your budget, I would start with the Fuego or watch for sales on Tatula CT or closeout Tatula 100s

See I took it differently.... I took it as what is our favorite confortable ride. Not necessarily the hottest, or sportiest, or most expensive,... But the one you slip into for a comfortable ride.

I would have to say my favorites right now are a couple old TD Fuegos and TDZs. I just love how they disappear into your hand on the right rod. Don't understand why they went away from that body shape. I know some of it was the addition of the Twing, and having to widen the body to allow it to fit, but I personally think they tried to solve a problem that didn't exist. I like the old body up through the SV103. Classic!! Believe it or not,... Of recent reels,... The SLX MGL 70/71 ranks up there with me. I have higher dollar reels, but for the whole package compared to price..... That little reel punches WAY above it's pricepoint. Small, comfortable, smooth casting and reeling.... Nice little reel. Hope the new replacement SLX 70/71 didn't ruin it!!!

I use reel covers for my higher end reels and older reels I want to protect the finish (Daiwa TDZ, TD Fuego, and old Shimanos) and mesh rod socks on anything going in the boat. I agree with above that the downside of mesh socks is line guides popping through the mesh or hooks getting caught in them. I don't use the neoprene rod socks but seems like they would have to be much heavier. Basic reason I use them is to keep from getting lines tangled in the rod locker of the boat.

Is the hook rusting? I've left salted plastics 9n hooks befire and the hooks start to rust and turn the plastic orange.

Haven't seen anything on them. Anyone have a link they can share?

Eric offers another good option. That is the new Tatula 100 and is supposed to have same cut to the gearing as the Zillion, Alphas, and Tatula 80 that people have been bragging about the smoothness. I have not seen the new 100 in person yet, but will at the BPS spring classic sale next weekend. Someone pointed out on a different thread that you can also find that JDM reel on Amazon if you search for the JDM description. Do a search for 24 Tatula 100 TW and it comes up at prices ranging from $111 to $126 in RH depending on which gear ratio you like. In case anyone else is wondering,... LH prices range from $113 to $116.

I saw that and it made me curious. I've never tried the Pline Tactical... How is it? Worth trying?

Don't get me wrong,... I like both Daiwa and Shimano reels. For the $100 - $130 price, you are looking at a Daiwa Fuego ($100ish) or Tatula CT ($130ish), or Shimano SLX - SLX XT for the same price ranges. In my opinion, the SLX MGL, normally priced at $150, is a special little reel. It's small and palms well. It is very smooth, the MGL spool allows for easy casting of lighter lures and it casts like a dream. I love it for things like jerkbaits, topwater poppers and weightless soft plastics. It also has the centrifugal braking that is adjustable from the outside. I bought one to try it out and really liked it. I then thought if I liked it that much, the Curado 71 MGL must be even better, so I bought one of those. I honestly didn't see as much difference between the two (if any). I now have 3 more of the SLX and no more Curado 71 MGLs. Well,... Make that that 6 total because I actually have two more left hand SLX MGL in the mail that I just bought on closeout from ALF to replace other reels. I like all the reels mentioned, but in my opinion, the SLX MGL at $99.99 is good enough that it is hard to pass up and surpasses the other $100 - $130 offerings from anyone.

Don't even know how that would happen?! Weird!!

Can't tell you how many bites have come right after a "tick" on the line. Pretty common to get bites right after your bait toches off on something. I was fishing an OG Slim on a heavily flooded Rainy Lake a couple years ago so we were fishing up on the rocky islands and flooded trees. Felt the bait "tick" off a rock or branch, then the line loaded up. After a lengthy fight that told me it was more than the average smallie, a rather large muskie came up next to the boat with all but the back hook hanging out of his mouth. I'm guessing he was following the bait and nipped at it when it bounced off the cover. My advice is to pay special attention after those ticks and set the hook on any irregularity after. You'll get some hookups, and if you miss one, just say "OHHH! BIGGUN!!..... MONSTER!!!......That's what I see all the pro fisherman doing! 😁

I bought some Academy H2O Express bulk pack hooks for pretty reasonable price and haven't had any issues with them either. Don't remember the price, but I want to say a 25pk for like $5 or something like that. I don't know makes their H2O stuff, but it has usually been pretty decent.

Don't know what gear ratio you want and how you plan to use it, but American Legacy still has right hand 6.3:1 ratio SLX MGL 70 in stock, closing them out for $99.99. That's a nice reel for that price and I'd take that before either of the ones you mentioned. Unfortunately that's the ONLY RH version they have left though.

Yep... There's another company that lists items as sale or markdown because they knocked $.05 off the price just to get you to look at it. I'm sorry, but I don't consider saving a nickel to be a sake

I haven't been able to find anyone in the U.S. that carries them. Are there any, or all suppliers of that model outside US?

I don't think it makes a huge difference really,... At least not enough to justify the cost by itself. On the couple cases where I did it, my bearings were bad so I had to replace them anyway so I decided to upgrade. The biggest gain I noticed was more in smoothness of the cast, more so than any increase in casting distance. I agree that if it's just about more free-spin,... Unless you have all the braking turned off, it likely isn't needed.

I was actually typing the same thing.... I don't run ANY bearings dry. People say you can the ceramics dry, but I hate how noisy they are dry. I oil all of my bearings with a very small amount of quality oil (1 drop)

That's not a sale,... That's regular price. I hate it when companies list items in their flyers at regular price to make people think they are getting a special deal!

I've caught plenty of fish on the cheap walmart spinnerbaits that used to be $1 and sit in a box on the bottom shelf!