CaughtMeABiggun

Shimano 2023 SLX DC 70 Shimano Calcutta Conquest 30 SE Abu Garcia Zenon MG LTX Daiwa JDM Alphas SV Kastking MG12 These are good options that hit different price points.

Got a chance to use my Bates EDC reel this weekend. Here are my first impressions. The reel is small. Super palmable and feels good in the hand. The build quality is top notch. Glassy smooth and powerful. I have the 6.3:1 gear ratio model. Handles harder pulling crankbaits with ease. Mudhole tackle is the only place I could find that carried and had in stock the 6.3:1 gear ratio EDCs. Finicky to set up. If you set your spool tension based on the free fall speed of the lure the casting distance is reduced a lot. Best results is to adjust it to minimum or right to the point where there is no side to side play in the spool. The Digital Cast control is very sensitive and easy to over/under adjust. For the price the features and build quality can't be beat. It is not the farthest casting reel in its class. The Tatula X cast much further and so does the Kastking AL Ti. I would recommend it for throwing larger crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits. If you want an affordable DC reel buy a JDM 2023 Shimano SLX 70 DC. If you need a little larger reel than a 70 buy the Bates EDC.

Unless you abuse your equipment I would be surprised if you would ever need parts for either reel. That being said the frame is more sturdy on the Bantam due to the core design. I don't see line capacity being an issue on either reel. The Curado 200M or JDM Scorpion 200 MD would be your Shimano competitor to the Tatula 200. The Bantam is a step up the ladder in the reel hierarchy. The Curado/Scorpion do not have the core frame design but do have Aluminum frames. I only buy Shimano/Daiwa through Digitaka. I don't see getting parts for the Bantam as an issue since that reel is also sold here. You can get parts through Shimano's parts store. You can get JDM parts via JDM vendors. Just be advised there is no warranty on JDM reels here in the states. When you buy a Shimano or Daiwa the expectation is if you treat them right you don't need a warranty or parts. Plus when you are getting the reels at close to half price in some cases you're not out hat much difference if you have to replace a reel vs buying the 1st one at USDM prices.

I was able to get my AL Ti on the water and I have some honest first impressions. I wish everyone could throw this reel for a day. Not becuase its the best reel ever made or the Tatula is over or Shimano has a problem now.. This reel has a major flaw... It's a Kastking. If this reel had Lew's on it, it would be revolutionary. If it was an Abu Garcia it would a sensation. If it was a Shimano or Daiwa it would be a class leader and competition destroyer. It's a Kastking so before a hand gets laid on it, it's junk, won't last, over priced, and worst of all not cool to show to other fisherman in your bass club. If you did put hands on it for a day you would find out that it's light, very easy to set up, easy casting, powerful, and extremely smooth. It belongs in its price point and in some cases punches above it's weight. I'm not a Daiwa/Shimano hater or a Kastking schill. I buy all my reels with my own money. I will always praise good products. One thing I know is that the best products come from manufacturers trying to enter new segments of the market. It has to be as good if not better than the existing offerings by competitors. Even if you don't ever intend to give them a chance, you have to respect the fact that Kastking is taking a big risk. If they get this wrong it could have lasting negative effects on them. Having tried their recent high end options I have no problem saying they are getting it right. I could never be brand loyal for fear of missing out, but I have no problem giving any brand it's due when it is deserved. I'm more than happy to give more details of my recent experience with their reels for those legitimately interested in the brand.

Seriously don't buy a Tatula if it isn't the X. PERIOD. The X is absolutely phenomenal in every way for its price point. The Hyperdrive does eliminate some of the slop the non Hyperdrive reels have. It's not Micro Module good but its way better than it should be at 150 bucks and I would recommend it over the SLX XT every day of the week because it easily outcast my SLX XT. If you can catch it on sale for less than 150 buy 2. I was able to absolute bomb casts with it. It is way smoother than my older non Hyperdrive Tatula 100s. Its so good that I would say the next logical step up from this reel is the JDM Zillion. My thoughts the whole time I used it was Daiwa has just made all other Tatulas irrelevant. It's that good. I would honestly say unless your budget starts at 200 bucks or is less than 150 buy the Tatula X. If you only have 125 wait for when it is on sale. My reason for the title of this thread is that all Tatulas do not feature double support for the pinion gear. You have to go to the Zillion for that. Knowing that, look at the Tatula X specs vs the rest of the Tatula line and try and justify any of the other Tatulas. The X features the LC spool and not the SV but to me that is not a deal breaker at all. Plus the X has the old Tatula 100 or Steez A2 design for the frame. I'm sorry but I can't get past the new Tatula 100 frame. It looks like Marie from Everybody Loves Raymond sculpted it.

I was able to get out on the water with my new Abu Garcia Zenon MG LTX. I wanted to share a couple of take aways and my initial impressions. 1st thing, DO NOT BUY THIS REEL AT MSRP. This reel is currently on sale from multiple vendors. I took advantage of the sale and if I would have paid full price it would be going back. With that out of the way, tbis reel is my designated shad rap reel. It absolutely will bomb a shad rap even into the wind. I was able to catch a few fish on it and it performed flawlessly. My gripe is that it is not that smooth. My Dad's first impression with it was it reels like hay baler. Part of that feel comes from the ceramic bearings. I have a SearSir M1 with ceramic bearings that cost 50 bucks and is smoother. I would be gracious enough to say it's 100 dollar reel smooth and not 500 dollar reel smooth. It also uses cheap plastic for the thumb bar and the side plate does not stay attached when you need to remove the spool. Compared to my Steez and Antares it looks and feels like a Piscifun Alloy M. The Alloy M is a great reel for 60 bucks but would be called trash at 500. For what is lacks in smoothness it makes up in casting ability. I would say that the sale price is more in line with the performance this reel offers. Only because it casts that good. It really casts that good..

The Calcutta BFS uses FTP brakes while the 30 uses the same brakes as the 100. The 30 and 100 use the same gear set , but the 30 allows you to throw lighter lures due to the much shallower spool. I bought mine to serve like the old Calcutta 50b reels used too. If you want to be able to throw pretty much everything but really light BFS stuff I would recommend the 30. Also the 100 spool works in the 30 so you can literally run two different spools in the same reel. You could technically have one reel that will throw everything that most anglers will ever throw. You can go from throwing small shad raps and other small treble hook lures to throwing larger Jigs and 5 inch Magadrafts with the same reel. Plus the color of the reel is beautiful.

I haven't checked out the new Certate. Most of the brands now have manufacturing in China. It is disappointing to see that such high priced reel is not being made in Japan. Not because Chinese factories can't make great products, but because there is just something an little extra about the Japanese made reels. I have always felt like the Japanese made Shimano's and Daiwa's have a little more love baked into them. I think there is a a sense of national pride by the people in a country making their own product. That goes for the CDM reels and at one-time the Sweedish ones too.

From what I have heard the BPS Spinning reels mentioned are Daiwas. I totally agree to look that these reels before buying the Fuego or the Nasci.

JDM Zillion all the way. Still made in Japan. Enough said.

You might want to consider the JDM Calcutta 30 SE. Kinda threads the needle between finesse and bigger baits.

100 percent spot on. Kastking took the budget route to get into the market and are now working on becoming a legit brand known for making budget options along with higher end models to compete with the biggest names in the sport. You have to respect that. You see this with all kinds of companies. Samsung and Kia/Hyundai quickly come to mind when thinking about companies that took the same approach. I feel like if you want to bash any product you need to put your money where your mouth is. Or at least be honest and state that you don't own the product, but just giving your opinion based on whatever got you to that point. I've never owned a Cadence reel. It might be ok. I'm not going to call it trash because its not expensive. Honestly I would love to hear peoples experience with them.

@treble hook if you haven't purchased a reel yet, let me give you some truly unbiased options. The JDM Zillion is a great reel. It is made Japan while the Tatulas and USDM Zillion are made in Thailand. If you don't think it makes a difference, pick a Tatula up and shake it. The JDM Shimano SLX DC XT is a great option in the same price range. Also if you want to order a reel and it not be coming from overseas look at the Bates EDC. The Kastking AL Ti is getting a lot of love from people who are willing to try it. Unfortunately too much Kastking hate out there. The Curado MGL 150 is also a great choice. If I were you the list would go as follows. JDM Zillion Curado MGL 150 Bates EDC Kastking AL Ti And one honorable mention that is stupid good for the price especially If you can find one for 100 bucks now is the Okuma Hakai. Started as a 180 dollar reel. But is slowly being put on sale and clearance now. Been out for a couple of years. I have no problem saying for the money the Hakai is the best casting, lightest, easiest to setup, smoothest baitcaster on the market. I have 4 of them and My 12 year old son throws one. Only reel that I have that will bomb cast and I don't have to touch the spool.

There is one thing that is guaranteed about brand loyalty. If any company has enough of it they will make lesser product knowing their main customer base won't look elsewhere. Doesn't mean bad product, but it means it doesn't have to be as good as the competition.

🤣 it wasn't until I got my Antares. I immediately realized that there is not another reel that I could buy that could beat that reel in any way. If you have one you know what I mean. If you don't have one I hope you someday do. There is a jewel quality to that reel that is really indescribable. It's the only reel that my jaw dropped on the first cast and stayed dropped through the retireve. The best way I can describe it is that my Steez is a Seiko, my Zillion is a Citizen, and my Antares is a Rolex. And that is no exaggeration. If I do buy a reel now it is more about a curiosity but it has to be something really worth checking out. That's a lot photos, but here is a taste.