SuperWetBlanket

Was able to find a Curado 50E locally in barely used condition for a crazy good price, and i am really impressed by everything on it. It really doesn't have any flaws at all, everything, including the paintjob, looks and feels great. So i decided to google the original MSRP, and for a Made in Japan reel, these launched for $180. With inflation its probably a bit higher now, but still, this is a really good price for what you're getting. So it made me wonder, is it even a possibility for Shimano (or Daiwa for that matter) to release a Japan made baitcaster for the USDM, and be around the $180-200 range? Or is a Curado E-like in 2026 would be a Bantam, sold for $395?

The only negative that i could think of being right handed and casting with the right hand is that the handle side of a reel isn't always as good to cast as the palming side. On the 09 Conquest DC 100 for example, there's that thumb screw that will rub against your index finger on every cast, which is more annoying than what i want my reels to be.

Use what you're comfy with, everything else is fluff and not important. I am righty, and use a right hand retrieve reels only, which makes me swap hands, which is something i've never even thought of being bothersome until i saw some people saying how you're losing time switching hands. Ridiculous, unless chunking large heavy baits, i usually swap hands while the lure is still in the air, so there's no time wasted on anything.

Can you post high res pictures of them? Because i don't believe there are reels out there that are identical, and sold under the shimano name while being clones.

You won't find any.

I don't believe there is a single fake daiwa or shimano. When you read the AI answers, you need to visit links it gives you. Plenty of times it'll give you a link that has nothing to do with the question you've asked, and the source ends up being a random reddit post, or something stupid. Cloning reels to look as good as what Shimano and Daiwa releases is simply not worth it for those companies. Profit margins are minimal, better invest that time and resources into cloning Omega's & Rolex's, and swim in cash. Did some googling, and as i assumed, when AI tells you that there's plenty of conterfeit calcutta's for $50-150, its referring to those noname brands that "borrow" the shape of it, to make it look similarlish. Its nowhere near identical looking, so unless you have no idea how the real thing is supposed to look like, it's impossible to be fooled. This is what AI considers are a clone that is identical to the real thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iyYWX8EwCg

Zodias line is a noob trap. Has been saying this since like 2017. 300% not worth the asked price.

Never even used anything over 7.11.

Looks wise, reminds me of $34.97 baitcasters off of Ali, Temu and Amazon. Sorry😭

Nothing to complain on my part, the Z2020 is my main 200 reel, with the IMZ as a new addition. But for Daiwa, A Zillion 200 would've been a massive cashcow in NA and Japan, and they messed it up. Not too surprised, though, Daiwa skipped a 200 size Ryoga for two generations in a row, knowing d**n well how popular a 200 and 300 Conquests are.

That would be a smart thing to do when you've already covered the 200 size. Taking 5 years to expand zillions, and aim for the nichest size is not a smart decision at all.

The 21 Zillion isn't ugly, it's just the used silver paint is as dull as it gets. Why would you reuse the same paint five years in, on a completely new reel? Kinda crazy if you ask me. A 200 size Zillion would find more use globally than a 150 one. That's all there is to it.

Yea, well, the fish aren't the ones paying money lol.

Well, the 200 is perfect for Stripers as well, so there's that. What i am saying is that 100 size can handle pretty much everything 150 can, so the 150 size has much less reason to exist when compared to the 200 size. If this was a new frame, a new NON UGLY color, 200 size with brass gears, this would be the most talked reel in 2026. Instead, this will be released, be well received cuz you know, it's a zillion so of course it will be good, but it won't be doing massive numbers sales wise, and i am not seeing it being popular either.

Sure. You can always improve looks, and have completely skipped that department. And the Zillion is five years old, which is pretty old at this point. I would assume they'd improve the frame like they improved it with the 24 steez that was based on the zillion. Nothing was done, not even a different paint color. Its just another 36mm spool from daiwa, there's nothing impressive there.

Everything you've mention there can be easily done on something like a zillion HD, steez A or a Bantam. Or could simply go to a 200 size, and handle 1-3oz swimbaits, and light duty musky/pike better.

I know the steez tw has aluminum gears. The Steez A i believe has brass gears, don't remember for sure.

I feel like this reel is pointless. The 100 size can do everything other than chunking baits over ~2.5oz. This one ain't gonna be hot for anything over 2.5oz either, so why is a 150 size needed? Should have released a 200 size so there's an option for a higher end Tatula 200. Daiwa new announcement is boring, and so are Shimanos.

Never tried one myself, but what i've noticed is that there are no really good looking ones compare to what was in production half a decade plus ago.

Why won't it work? It works perfectly fine on the plastic parts on daiwa SV spools, i see no reason why it wouldn't work here.

Couple of drop of liquid superglue, and you wouldn't know a crack was even there.

Indeed, and before that, i was NEVER ever suggesting anybody to bother with a Tatula. Only since 2024 that this series of reels became worthy in my book. I know that they were already popular prior to 2024, but all the older Tat generations were getting noisy and grindy so quickly that i just couldn't take any of them seriously.

If we're talking about the new Tat 200, they're unbeatable at that size. Replace bushings by quality bearings, and it'll feel like a quality $350+ reel.

Seaguar R18 in 14lb. It's alright.

It is the reel that made the SLX and the Curado completely irrelevant. And one of its strongest pros it has is how long lasting the smoothness/silence is.