SuperWetBlanket

Btw you can get the 2015 metanium dc in used condition for less than a brand new curado dc. Between the two, the choice couldn't be easier.

Probably a hot take, but to me they were never worth it. The reel has the worst DC module and the Curado line itself is🤢ever since they discontinued the E series. Considering the JPY, Curado DC is a ripoff lol.

Had the silver max that i got new for $20. Holding it in my hands, and spinning to handle was enough for me to put it on sale instantly. No thanks.

I would've grabbed the Alphas TW for $150 for cranks.

Actually never tried them. I hear people use them for bucktails and jerkbaits for musky, but i've always used fluoro and it does fine for everything.

You might also want to check the used market. A Daiwa TDZ or an OG Daiwa Alphas can be had for those prices, and they're excellent reel that will last forever.

Are you referring to flexible steel leaders, or the straight ones that keep their shape?

How small are we talking about? Of course it won't be good for a vision 110, but a slide swimmer 175 or even the 145, it works perfectly fine. The difference is that they sink faster on a pause, but its better to deal with that than having to deal with musky teeth.

No no no, this is not a knot made to go through guides. This is what you use to tie to a swivel or directly to a lure when using braid. For standard fluoro leaders to go through guides, i always use improved alberto. Kinda agree, $150 is way too expensive to just cast out there. That money can get you a nice handle and knobs assembly from studio composite, etc. And while i have a bunch of slide swimmers 175 that cost over $100 each on TW, i bought them all used, so i paid less than 50% than what they're sold for, so its not too bad.

This is the main one that i use when tying to a swivel of a fluoro leader

I use a 12" 80lb fluoro leader anywhere i know musky or pike could be a thing. Without it, my slide swimmer 175 would be gone. I bought two of these single strand titanium leaders. Both broke at the snap. Lost a musky with a wopper plopper 190 in its mouth because of it, and the second time it broke on the same spot during a cast. The lure was floating so i could at least retreive it. Both leaders were 50-60lb, i don't remember exactly, but they didn't last long at all. The titanium leaders that do last a long time, are the multi strand ones, but i can't seem to find them locally anymore.

At that price Tatula 100. A bit more ghetto option would be the standard SLX as well.

I'd stick to the two company that designs their reels, and have been doing so for decades. With the amazingly low yen, this is 10x as true now. As for the cosmetics of the Spro, it looks d**n ugly.

Plat is the store i order the most often from because of their repair parts you can order for reels. They let you choose shipping options. If you don't care about tracking, you can get the reel to your door through air small package for like $9. With tracking its like $15 or something.

So i was randomly checking the prices on the standard Alphas on Japanese sites, cuz you know, low JPY and all, and stumbled on this. PLAT has the Alphas Air SV TW 50% off, making this reel cost $141USD. Like what the hell are those prices😁Ordered an Aldebaran MGL 30 for $160 two days ago, and i don't even need one lol. If not, i would've grabbed this alphas air just to compare it with my custom Pixy.

Always braid with a fluoro leader.

If you can get to $150 the alphas is unbeatable. If you can get it to $200, the zillion is king. Forget the tatulas, slx's, curados and all of this shovelware. Yen is low, JDM reels feast is high.

90mm carbon handle from RCS/SLP/Studio Composite and a pair of Daiwa cork knobs is my fav combo. For larger reels like the Z2020, i use a 110mm carbon handle from studio composite and a pair of RCS power knobs.

Its thin. I know that the 10lb 832 is thicker than a 15lb X9.

I dunno, maybe in the US? But here in Canada, they were always a "side brand" you don't pay attention to unless you can't afford a daiwa/shimano. My very first baitcaster was a quantum accurist from 2003-2004, and even back then, i only got it over shimano and daiwa offerings is because they were less expensive. The difference is that Quantum was pretty big back then, lots of branding all over, and KVD certainly helped them stay in the spotlight. Now, i don't see them at all, its almost as bad as Plueger, a brand that made actual quality, expensive reels back in the early 2000's.

Simply apply a good amount of pressure when you spool your reel. Still, there are some braid that dig more than others, and one of them is the J-Braid from daiwa.

I tried that after seeing how poor the normal retreive is, but the bait spins on itself, it looks so bad.

Am i the only one who refuses to even think of getting the new steez because of its smaller spool? I want the compatibility of the dozens of 34mm spools made by Daiwa over the last 20+ years. I also believe that 34mm is perfect for an all around reel, and i personally don't want to see anything under.

Said it many times, the Berkley X9 is great. Sufix832 or Berkley X9 is all i use, and if both are the same price, i'd go with the X9 because its smoother and more silent on guides.

Well, comfort is very subjective. I like the frame, and you pretty much never see anybody complain about the Zillion frame, so i would certainly not consider it as an uncomfy frame. But of course, if you don't like it how it palms (i for example, can't stand the met2013 frame that's used on Metanium 2013, 2015 and 2016. Worse frame of any reels that i've owned), its an automatic no go. But still, removing comfort that is subjective, the build quality, smoothness and the longevity of those gears far surpasses the SLX/Curado. Since the Curado is a USDM reel, you can't get it for a good price either, so you're pretty much paying the same price than a Zillion, and a Zillion is a much higher end product, that also happens to be Made in Japan.