FishDewd

Okay, so some mixed info here on this thread.. let's start with the spool tension. I originally set it like I would by other reels- so that there's no over run when it hits the ground, but sounds like these reels like some side to side play. So I reset it so that there is some side to side play but not a whole lot. I backed it off a bit more today and while it did help a little I still see the spool dying way shorter than it should. So it's possible that what yall are saying about the mag brakes being stuck is possible. I've never messed with mag brakes but lemme see if they are noticably doing anything with side plate and I'll follow-up on that. My rods are probably not ideal, and I will be looking into better options. I am kind of wanting this reel for primarily crankbait and jig applications, and I saw a st. croix today with a mod-fast action that I think would fit the bill better. I say this because I put on a 3/4 blade bait and actually managed to clear the bank of my pond, so seems like maybe the poles just aren't loading right at that 1/4 to 1/2 oz mark. If anything I have 2 that overload at 1/2 oz and one that underloads. These are my primary rods... none of them particularly high end. So that itself may be an issue. I've never been one for long casting, but I know the reel should do better based on how it sounds from the launch. Will investigate brakes and update in a bit. Thanks! Edit: so my reel seems to have two magnetic rings. The outer rings has a set of gears that engages various levels. There is an inner ring, which is stationary, and an outer ring, which has a toggle gear that changes according to the level of magnetic engaged. I don't really see any evidence of malfunction there unless I am missing something.

I'm gonna back it off a little more... just didn't want it super loose. Was also thinking there might be a big ole wad of packing grease in the gears. I should probably take side plate off and check to be sure. That always causes issues anyway down the road.

So I've been doing regularly dry casting with my new Daiwa R CT-100HS and I'm noticing something about it that seems kinda buggy to me. I've gotten mostly used to the feel so I've been tying on heavier weights in order to see how it compares to some of my other reels for things like jig or moving hard lure applications. I can't honestly say I'm seeing any difference between casting a weighted float (as a bench mark), a 1/4 jig, 1/2 jig/lipless or a 3/4 jig/lipless in terms of distance. There's something not right somewhere. As long as I don't backlash on the beginning (like when I try to launch too hard), I don't even have to touch the spool, even during the landing, cause the spool literally fades out and dies at a certain point every time. Seems like most it does period is just about 30-35 yards, which I can accomplish with a simple side-roll type of cast without a whole bunch of effort. Seems like the farther I want it to go the shorter it actually goes. I even turned the mag brake to "0" and every setting in between "0" and "max", used several differently rated poles, to the same effect. Just seems off to me and I have no idea what's causing the spool to go from "Zzzzzzz" to absolutely nothing in a second. I have loosened the cast knob up enough so that the spool has a little side to side movement but maybe I need to back it off to an extreme? Only thing I can figure, just not sure how much is too much and don't want to risk damaging anything.

Yall were right about the loose spool! I backed off on the knob so the spool moved ever so slightly... it does cast a lot better. The one thing that's getting me is the mag brake is really effective, feel like it fades out a bit too quickly, so I spent some time playing with it this evening with a finesse jig tied on. Hard cast: setting 6. Lighter cast: 0-4. That seems to be butter for my casting style. It'll take some time to dial it in, but I'm loving this reel.

There's a ton of excellent options... go with what feels the best in whatever budget you've set and it's hard to go wrong.

Yes it's a Tatula R CT. To me it feels nice, I wouldn't want it to be any smaller I don't think.

I'm hardly an expert on this, but the Tatula R 100 HS I just got is really small and fits perfectly in my smaller hand. Is one reason I fell in love with it.

For the time being, I am using a rod I already had available. Tp1 Lews at 6'9" that I often use for catfishing. I plan to get something a little nicer soon, but one splurge event at a time lol. Not sure what I want yet, but reel seems like it'd be good for.... just about anything. I actually tested it's power/endurance yesterday by managing to hook into a good size winter catfish and brought that sucker in no problem. Reel is gonna be a beast on bass, I can't wait! Thanks! I've read that elsewhere too. Played with it a bit this evening out at my pond and managed to get the control knob down quite a bit without even setting the mag brake! Only backlashed it once, but it was minor and completely user timing error lol. I'll remember to loosen the knob more and set brakes higher next time. Yes it's pretty much even with the reel side plate. I love how it's designed. 2nd post saying I need to run it looser- noted! But yeah I noticed the dial on some other Tatulas they had- this recessed dial is another thing that sold me on it! Great tips all, thanks so much! Now to get a nice rod to pair it with lol. I hear the monkey calling...

I saved about $50 with rewards points so it's all good lol. I don't mind paying for good stuff anyway.

Hey all. First of all I wanna offer a greeting since I've been away for so long! A lot has happened... computer going kaput... new job... point is I'm making decent money now and I've been splurging here and there as budgeting allows. I took the plunge today and got my first diawa reel. Likely not the best choice but I went by Cabela's today and found one I just really liked that felt really right to me... sure you know how that is... anyway... $179.99 out the door minus a rewards card I had on hand. Oh my goodness Jesus! I'm gonna really enjoy this reel... Tatula Ct-R 100 HS-L. It's not too often I spool up a brand new baitcaster, set it to where I think will be "close" and hurl it across the yard 4 times in a row with 0 backlash. I did just that with this reel! I ended up fishing with it on my pond mostly just messing around... going for catfish since bass arent in there... the bite was slow, so eventually I decided to just start bombing it to see what it'd do. All it had was a 1/4 oz bank weight and an empty hook, and I was nearly touching the opposite bank from the floating dock I have. About 35 yards to the bank... so around 30 yards, which is great for me. I don't usually cast that far without much trouble , and that was with mag brake set at 2 with a rmodestly set cast control knob. I'm excited to see what this baby will do with a 1/2 oz jig attached to it. I'm really impressed. Reel is super smooth, good amount of drag, small enough for my hand to cusp up comfortably, and seems to be built really well... think my next purchase will be a better rod to better suit this bad boy a bit better I can't wait for spring bass fishing... still warm here but due to work I've done 0 bass fishing since late October. So this reel at least alleviated a slight itch, if that makes sense... at the same time I think it kindled a fire!

So.... many.... bass....

If the line is breaking above the knot, it's not your line but your line. It is possible to have an issue with brand new line. If the knot is breaking, then generally it's cause the line is crossing (x) across the other pass in the eyelet, which can cause digging which results in failure that way. I'd check for that happening. Usually this happens when you are making the loop in the line around the hook/swivel to sit above the knot. That could be it. Leave some air above the swivel/hook eye after you make the overhand loop in the line. Also make sure it is sitting below the OH knot in the loop itself. As far as tightening after you pass the loop under- I've never had luck tightening all at once, I don't even see how that'd work since there are two unique parts to be tightened. I snug the tag line down first- snug, not cinch fully! Then do the same with the mainline. Then cinch down both individually, then both at once. Has always worked for me, I've never broken a palomar. And yes, make sure the lines are moistened first.

I caught my first bass on a spinnerbait a few months back in clear condition water on a blue bird sky with no wind. I was really just messing around, tossing a 3/16 booyah pond magic craw imitator out from the bank at a a 45* on a light action spinning rod and twitching the tip with reeling it in to imitate that choppy water motion. On cast 3-4, whatever, when I was bringing it back to me from the right side, I felt a solid hit a few feet off the bank as I was about to lift it out of the water and set it- got a decent little squeaker and it was one of the best bass I've ever caught. Now at least I know they work, but that's been the only one so far I've gotten on it.

The silver carp are tasty.... if they want them gone, do a good ole catch and cook!

But 25,000 * 4 =100,000! I'm just jerking your crankbait... wait that sounds so wrong. o.O

What about wood, tree roots, overhangs, etc? That's more the conditions I have here.

Fair enough! Not sure I could pull that off though lol.

I never tried them, but have wanted to. Just afraid they'll get caught up too much and will be harder to detect a bite on.

And how often has that actually worked? Cause most of my hook sticks have required some force to dislodge. Sticks ain't gonna do it.

Don't ya mean "once you get old"? Yeah... cheap shot. I'm sorry. Lol

For the record, I meant I don't lip them with a treble in their mouth. Or any fish wtih a treble in their mouth for that matter! I've been mildly stabbed from thrashing more than a few times, never past the barb, but enough times to learn my lesson.

If I was gonna run crankbaits and discovered I didn't have pliers... I'd be cutting the crankbait off and tying something non-treble on! I don't ever lip a bass or grab a treble hook bare handed. Nope. Seen too many people get stabbed that way.

I trick shotted one a while back at pond with a crankbait... casted it out and soon as I turned the handle I felt a thump amd swept-set it. I caught the bass through the dorsal fin and in the cheek. No idea how that happened. Another weird one happened to me a few weeks back in my own pond. I was thinning out bullheads and managed to hook one through the under jaw area then into the first gill plate. Took a minute to remove. No idea how that happened.

I've caught exactly one bass flipping, and it also happened to be my first and so far only jig catch. Was bank beating and tossing it into exposed weeds and laydowns along the bank cause it was the only source of shade in the lake. Basically I was bouncing it slowly along the bottom. Bounced it once, twice, three times, let it sit... fourth time I felt something hit it, THUNK! Felt like that too. I knew it wasn't debris and set it straight up- got a fishy. But he was barely bigger than the jig lol.

Fall? This isn't quite my exact location and doesn't show heat indexes, but this is pretty much now it's been here: https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/usa/houston/historic No fall for me!