Blaine Donders

Don’t discount the Quantum’s in that price range. Accurist, Energy, Vapor, or a Smoke if you can find a deal. I like the BP Johnny Morris Signature reels as well.

Daiwa Tatula Elite P/F Daiwa Coastal SV Duckett CWx100 All are 8 speed

Doyo is a Korean OEM that makes reels for several companies. Lew’s, BP, Abu Garcia, to name a couple. Spinning and baitcast reels are often sourced from different OEM’s as well.

Their reels are Doyo. If you like Lew’s, you will like these.

My brother has a Piscifun Alijoz that is really nice for $100. I wouldn’t discount it. I had a Lew’s Super Duty 300. It was good as well, I just use a 200 for the swim baits I use.

It’s for a soft plastic you have weed less rigged so you don’t have to continually push the hook through the bait to use the hook keeper. Just put the hook over the keeper and tighten the line. Let’s Yamamoto senkos last longer.

Website says one year free repair or replacement

I gave a Soleus to my brother. There was nothing wrong with it at all performance wise. I didn’t use it long enough to test durability. I would t put the refinement up there with Daiwa or Shimano, but comparable to a Doyo for sure. I could be wrong about the Banax thing. Website says from Korea. I just know it’s a close relative of the Soleus.

It appears to be made in the same factory as a Favorite Soleus to me. That’s not a bad thing. They look closest to a Banax to me, judging by the brakes. The handle is exactly the same as a Soleus.

I have 15 launches within 30 minutes of my house. That’s just the lakes, not the rivers. Our rivers are small. I can also be on the big water within the hour. My everyday lake is 8 minutes from me.

I like the rods. The reels? Not so much.

This is a good point about the “Zero Adjust”. Mine have all been too loose from the factory, so I have to adjust my new 100’s the same as my CT’s and SV’s. Supposed to be about .2mm free play, and they came with like a millimeter.

PLine Halo All Seaguar Sniper Top Knot Trilene 100% All have worked good for me. Really line Halo though.

Is a Mercedes worth it? I mean, an old Impala will get you where you are going. It’s a matter of value. The cost difference is absolutely worth it, but it may not be of value to the end user. The Mercedes is worth every penny it costs more than the Chevy, but does that money bring to the end user what they need when both get you to the destination? Only you can decide that. I like scotch, and can tell the difference between Johnny Walker black at $40 and green at $60. $250 blue vs green? I start getting lost. Same principle applies to most things. I have fished an Lew’s Xfinity spinning reel back to back with a Mach 2. I could determine zero difference at double the cost. Double+ that again to a Stradic and anyone can feel and see the difference. The point is that there are no fixed rules here and only the end user can decide if there is value in the $$ spent.

They SX and MP are basically the same reel. They are both Doyo, and use the exact same dual braking system. In my opinion, form factor and ergos are the only difference, besides $10 in price. I’ve owned both. There is nothing wrong with either. I preferred the paint job on the MP, and the SX pinches your index finger with the level wind, if you fish with your finger wrapped around the front of the reel. I like the hook keeper on the MP. For some reason, I preferred fishing the SX. Who knows. Overall, if you like the feel of a Revo, get the SX. If you like the Lew’s LFS body, get that. They will both work good. I also had the SLX XT. It was fine as well. Closer in size to the MP than the Revo. Only centrifugal brakes. Worked good as well. It didn’t warm to me though. Can’t explain why. I own the SLX , Scorpion 70, and Curado K. It was just boring. Didn’t cast any better than the Doyos, better paint job, just boring. Any of the three will do. All preference imho.

I gave up fast action for 1/2oz blades. Lost too many fish. I only use moderate fast for blades now, and go up and down M or MH based on size of bait.

I like metal framed reels. For $100 I really like the Johnny Morris Signature.

I have a couple of the KVD smokes. They weight a tiny bit more, but unless you hold one in each hand you don’t notice it. They also have less bearings, but dang if I really notice. The one thing I prefer on the regular Smoke S3 is the paint job. I prefer the feel of matte paint on the frame of the regular Smoke. If you like the normal S3, you will be fine with the KVD. Got one of my biggest of the season on my 2 pc I keep in my trunk with an 8 speed KVD Smoke. Small watershed next to a busy road. I stopped, tossed in a blue and black jig and he hit it hard!

I have owned both. I have zero use for a DC reel. In my sample size of one each, the Tatula was smoother and better casting for me. The SLX felt cheap in comparison, but did have better ergos. Like I said, sample size of one.

I have 8 Quantum bait cast reels, all newest generation, except my 200hd’s. All have been awesome. With the exception of the 200hd’s, fit and finish, and quality of some small parts are rough, but they cast and fish great. I’ll put the 200 HD’s against anything in their price range for fit and finish, feel, and performance. I have a Curado 200k and several Tatulas to compare it to. The irony there I suppose is that they are built on the last generation bodies. The same goes for the 4 spinning reels I have from them. They are great performers, just not as refined as some other offerings. They sure do work though!

I have a Favorite AP Bassin two piece I keep in my trunk. It’s heavy, but I do like how it fishes.

Tackle Warehouse on December 18th. It will be under $100 and free shipping.

Dobyns CL703C

Stewart Discount has Tatula 100 for $125 with free shipping.

I had the SLX XT and have a Tatula CT and 100. I sold the Shimano because the CT was better in every way except the ergos, and that’s a personal thing. I mean in smoothness and casting, they weren’t even close. The new Tatula 100 solves this. It’s not as compact as an SLX, but close enough that it feels great. I would find one on sale and not look back. The Doyo’s in this price range work good, just don’t prefer them compared to Daiwa. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know. I have Lew’s and BP at this price, and both work fine. Quantum for this price are gtg. The Accurist rocks for $99, and I really like it, but it’s not in the same league as a Daiwa in refinement or fit and finish, if that’s important to you. I say Tatula 100 for the win at $125. Just have to shop carefully!