PhishLI

I ordered a spare spool assy. for my Tranx 400 and it came complete with the brake blocks and bearing installed. If you have any doubts simply call them before you order to confirm.

I've tossed baits on my buddy's 7'5" MH OB3 to get a feel for it and the chunky split cork grip. I'd rather have full cork, but I'm still ordering the 7'3" MF OB3 as soon as the TW sale kicks in. For whatever the reason is F&S near me doesn't stock that model. I've been happy enough with the 7'1" MF OB2, so if the new one is superior then it's all gravy.

Just an update: 6 weeks in. Daiwa wasn't fooling around here. If you like the feel of super solid reels then this one's a very nice option. There's nothing wrong with a Lexa-WN, but the Tat 300 is some next level stuff. A true beast. The T-wing is shown in it's best light here when using heavy line. Going further, it's the most solid feeling reel of the bunch across manufactures, IMO, and we have a pretty broad selection between my brother and myself. All of that said, it's my opinion that it's tough to go wrong today in a low profile 300 size reel above $200. The 13 Z3 is a surprisingly fantastic caster, and the Super Duty 300 has been great grinding in big bass baits. The Tranx is a slam dunk, and the new Curado 300 feels great too. Not everyone palms when they're swimbaiting, but if you do, then just choose what feels best in your hand, forget about picking nits, and enjoy yourself.

Can a boy love a reel he hasn't even dated? Oh yes, yes he can! Saving my pennies post haste. https://www.daiwa.com/jp/fishing/item/reel/bait_rl/zillion_sv_tw21/index.html

Well, you'll be in for a treat then. I'd recommend juicing up your spool tension a bit for the first few casts then backing it off gradually once the line has stretched a bit from a resistance bait. You'll probably be leaving it a little tighter than usual in the long run. Even if your thumb has multiple PHDs, it's a constant tension issue, it isn't a thumbing issue. If you're really fishing near or in freezing temps the line will try to jump off/fluff where it wouldn't at higher temps. It'll even happen after you've stopped the spool then released your thumb to let the bait sink. The coils closer to the arbor are sprung tighter and they want to release. If that happens it isn't a backlash and there aren't any locking loops, so back off your drag enough to pull the line out to tighten the coils down. If you try to simply pull line out with the spool disengaged using only thumb pressure the coils will continue to jump up. It can be maddening if you don't have a few tricks to deal with it, but its manageable if you do.

I found one of these yesterday sitting on the bank while walking in from a wade, then gave it the Mend-it treatment. I might try it on a heavier Megastrike stand up head. A Fat Ika 4" is shown on top and a Neko Fat below.

Clean the spot on the bait where the dots are going to be placed with alcohol then make sure it's dry. Press hard when applying dots.

The bearing under the spool tension knob is the pinion bearing and has no contact with the spool's shaft. You have one spool bearing in the non-handle side plate and one on the spool's shaft that's kept in place by the spool shaft pin.

My brother just got his Champion 908 yesterday, then dressed it with a Tranx 400. He's fishing for Jonah the bass. Extremely well balanced setup btw. Right at the reel nut.

They're identical. Measured from the top of the rod's handle to the top of the thumbar I got a shade over 1 1/4", but not quite 1 5/16". Don't quote me on the measurement though. It was late, arctic cold, and my 50 something-ish eyes without me spectacles with only the illumination of a floodlight over the garage...well, ya know. BTW, the Tat 300's thumbar, as shown left of the Curado 300 in the second pic, is a heavy 1/16" lower which is essentially a meaningless difference.

25# and 30# Big Game mono.

I don't think "beast" comes to mind when people hear "Tatula" anything, but the Tatula 300 is a beast. Such a solid feeling reel in every way. "Tank" comes to mind, and like I said earlier, if you're using heavy nylon line you'll be struck by how it just flows out as it's being pulled off the spool. It was a wow moment for me. It's certainly an unexpected plus and finally proves the utility of the T-wing line guide. If they build a Tatula 400 the way they built the 300 then I'm all in.

Probably nothing over 3.5 oz. -Not sure of the rod yet. It'll do a round robin tour on different sticks until I find a good marriage. As idiotic as this may sound, certain reels like certain rods better, IMO, and often not the rod I initially expected to drop it on. Sometimes magic happens. We'll see. I doubt I'll go above 20lb Big Bame, so that'll keep it off some of the heavier sticks. I don't like the way that line fights through the line guide of the Tranx 300 when going above 20lb. I'm more aware of this issue now having experienced 25 lb BG quietly glide through the Tatula 300's T-Wing. The T-Wing finally makes sense now. My brother has the Tranx 300 with him. If I see him this weekend I'll check that out for you, but I'm pretty sure they're going to be the same as they share the same frame, AFAIK.

Thanks. Besides somewhat different ergonomics it's a throw back design with a beefed up gear train. If it was silver you'd think it's a Tranx 300 from a step away. It's more or less an affordable version of that reel. If the Tranx 300 fits your hand well then this reel may do it for you.

Similar conditions here, but zero wind. Went Sunday 12am-3, then 4pm thru 7. We got spanked. A bazillion baitfish everywhere. Saw several killshots in the middle of the lake over weedbeds. They were keyed on suspended bait and wouldn't budge for anything else. Tried deadsticking jerks as a last resort, but no bueno.

Looks nice. Good old VBS, which would be oh so nice in a special edition Curado K 200. I can only dream. Anyway, It's a shade lighter than a Tranx 300. Neato old school knobs with the lines. We'll see how it goes.

I had random success with ploppers throwing them in open water for way too long. Even over grass beds. I skunked so badly with them that when I got my first bite I was so stoked that I jacked the fish so hard it flew over my head and landed in a tree behind me. He was just a squirt. I think he was ok? Anyway, once I started throwing them in spots where I was likely to lose them the game changed. WP 75 in perch has been one of my best presentations this season going back to February, but the catches nearly always come fished very close to snaggy spots.

I had the wife's Bday last night and stayed back, but my buds were spread out at 3 different lakes. Not a sniff for anyone, but these spots were stocked with trout last week. Stiff competition with real food in bulk under clear skies and a blaring moon is tough sledding.

I launch my yak in these. Pretty comfy too. Can't beat the $. https://www.amazon.com/Tingley-31151-General-Purpose-Boots/dp/B07B4SJCQB

Tom, With all due respect, sincerely, we're talking about fishing reels, not screw jacks or landing gear. Pre the current situation Lew's is well known for rock solid customer service in most cases. Quantum has a great warranty if you register the product. If I'd found build issues with anything I've bought up to this point I'd broadcast it. I haven't gotten a dud yet with either. I'll tell you this, my Curado K had major issues with little use, and Shimano rattled off a list of things to be fixed over the phone before I sent it in, so they were aware of it beforehand. My Tat SV's gears turned too poo even with having been greased several times. Below Shimano core solid Bantams and Metaniums, or Daiwa Steez variants, there's not a massive gulf in quality where affordable reels are concerned. There may be some ways to go in some cases, but it's not the junk you may think it is, especially over a certain price point. BTW, Quantum is Banax, not Doyo. Yes, I have a Banax tatoo.

Tom, Many USDM Shimanos and Daiwas are built in the industrial powerhouse nations of Thailand and Malayasia, but even Daiwa subs out four models to Doyo in that backwater called Korea.? It's true that I'd be reluctant to buy a reel from the Chairman Mao Reel Company, but known brand names put out pretty good stuff today for the most part past a certain price point regardless of where it's built. I've put my money where my mouth is, and coming out of the aerospace industry I know a thing or two about a thing or two. It's not the bad old days anymore.

I could've done better making my point: Since there are several braking schemes employed by Lew's one shouldn't generalize, but be specific. Describing one type, or having used just one, doesn't automatically correlate to the others. If someone owns a $100 LFS with MCS and hates it thus rejected Lew's on the whole, well...This happens, but there's more to the picture. Therefore it's hard for someone who hasn't tried them all to understand the differences, especially if they think a Lew's is just a Lew's because they're not. I'm with you on the frame issue. I've never recommended a plastic reel on this site and haven't in this thread.

It's possible that the TP LFS wouldn't be your fav either, but it's not necessarily because it comes from the same factory as ABU. Competition is tough and reel companies step up their game over time. Some of the latest P2 Lews reels like the TP LFS have a beefed up gear train. Also, it's hard to compare one Lews to the other. MCS,MSB, and ACB braking systems do not behave the same at all. It's not an apples to apples comparison. The TP LFS has a very free spool. Maybe even a bit touchy, but in a good way if your casting game is solid. I wouldn't call it a beginner's reel, but that's exactly why it's kind of special. It also has a very light spool, which accounts for it capability with lighter baits I don't own a Quantum BC that I don't like a lot. From the Icon to the Tour S3 they're great long casters and easy to adjust and great for ripping casts. I'll have a Vapor soon. Like the TP LFS it has a super light spool. I need to know what it's about. They all have quite beefy gear trains with points of support that Daiwa doesn't offer until the Zillion. I've put a bunch of time and stress on mine this year and they haven't shown any signs of fatigue. I doubt you'll get hurt if you stick with Quantum from the newest Accurist S3 on up. They all have the same basic build elements, and that's good. I own a big pile of Daiwas and Shimanos. You'd be fine with a SLX or a Tatula CT, but the reels listed above perform at a high level too. In some ways, the ways that matter, they may be better and just not as good, IMO.

If Lew's, ABU, or heaven forbid the company with a number for it's name had done it first I wonder how that would've gone over? Actually I don't have to wonder. Ya know? You know. Yes you do.?

Temps here will be 33 tonight, and tomorrow will hit 44 max, but I'm still going. Funny thing is I'm hitting the same lake as last year where the temps did nearly the same thing the night before. I ended up with two 2lb bass that I was sure were bluegill because of their fight. They were that lethargic. My brother got skunked, but he has a surprise weekend off, so if we can fish together we will regardless of the impending doom. The bright note is that a 8mph southern wind will be pushing against a bank with submerged bushes near deeper water. Long underwear, gloves, and chins up. We'll see.