WetBlanket

OG Alphas absolutely does have a metal handle side plate. Almost every single model of the OG alphas does. The only plastic handle side plate is from one of the more recent ones made, such as the Alphas SV 105 or the alphas air stream custom. Just like the Pixy, Daiwa wouldn't have used plastic on their quality reels from the early 2000s.

Do you use them in the weeds or with lures that have a good amount of resistance? MM survives well if its not stressed.

The bantam would've been a better reel than even the zillion if it used Zillion gears and wasn't as heavy. The design and construction of the frame is perfect on that thing, but Shimano, as always, messing around with those gears, and for a reel that i'd like to use as an all arounder, its weight is just too much. A limited edition Magnesium bantam would be so nice.

The Zillion is far superior to everything else there is at that price point, so it really is a no brainer. And i'd grab the Zillion HD, sexier gift🙂They can be had for sub $300cad on auctions.

Missed a new old stock yellow pixy a couple of days ago from a japanese auction, and still triggered🤢

Generally speaking, are you still interested in buying older models released between the 2000s and say 2015, or are you mostly sticking to the newer stuff?

Have had a bunch of DC reels, and currently have two, the 24 Met DC and the 2009 Calcutta DC 100. I predicted in 2024 that Daiwa will release a DC reel in 2026 that doesn't need any charging like the IMZ. Will see if it happens this year or next, but it's coming 300%.

At the cost they're sold in NA, i'd say it isn't just a big brain play, but the only play there is lol.

Pretty much how i got the aldebaran mgl 30. Didn't like how hollow the reel felt (felt like a d**n toy), so just sold it at a profit.

I wasn't searching for the 2020 met, but for this price, i might as well get one myself. I look at my local stores, and they're sold for $700cad before taxes. The difference in price simply couldn't be any bigger.

I'd check the new gekkabijin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sxdUx-_kcw&t=590s

My view will change when another company comes by, and begins offering quality reels that aren't made in a country with poor quality control. Some people don't care where their reel is made, i do. If Porsche decides to create fishing reels with the design of their cars, and they're all made in Germany, i'd be the first one in the line, and if they're as good as the big two, it'll be a company i'll support. But all those BassPro brands, they're simply nowhere near as good as Shimano and Daiwa, so why would i bother? I am not against other brands. What i am against is inferior products, which all of those other brands are.

Not a problem. I discovered JDM in 2013-2014, and bought my first reel directly from Japan (ebay) in 2015. Ever since, i didn't buy a single rod or reel locally. Massive waste of money, and a warranty is never needed with reels.

What do you mean "in their mind"? That's factual information. If other brands offered anything on par or better, they wouldn't be a side dish. And there's a big difference of Shimano/Daiwa, and brand loyalists in other markets such as cars, watches, etc. Those other markets have high competition of a lot of different brands that offer top quality, while in fishing, those side brands don't even design their reels for the most part, let alone being able to manufacture them. So what exactly are you supposed to expect from that? Nothing. Not expecting this to change for the next 20 years either. Side Dish Brands like 13fishing, Ark, etc will rise, go under, and be forgotten, while Shimano/Daiwa ain't going anywhere, and are only improving *for the most part* with every generation.

Why buy a dedicated reel for a travel rod? I have a bunch of travel rods in 4-5pc, and i just use whatever reel i own and like on them. No reason not to.

You can't be both, a shimano and a daiwa fanboy. That's like mixing water and oil.

Sure, i live in the best bubble on the market. Why would i move out of it, and get into inferior products? I don't have time nor money to waste on that.

Good decision. On my end, i wouldn't even be considering them when shimano and daiwa performs as well as they do.

It's crazy how expensive they're selling these now. I remember they were like ~$75canadian when first released. You know it doesn't cost them anything to make em in China, so the profits margins must be sweet.

Zero experience with them, but at least they aren't ugly reels.

Generally speaking, the shape of the reel. Fat front, with a thin back is not comfy at all to me. But the biggest issue for jerkbaits was the palming side plate. The portion belows digs into the palm when jerking all day with it.

Trust me, i have tried, and made my own spacers, telling myself this is the reason. I was so annoyed for two seasons in a row, using my pixy for smallies and walleye, and you kept feeling the d**n tick once every handle turn. I then bought the collar that is on your amo spool from Plat, and the tick is completely gone. That red collar from the PX68 Finesse Special spool is a mess. Even with the original bearing, two out of the three spools i had, had the tick. It genuinely made me go insnane, i even bought a new gear set thinking it was that. So for anyone using that collar, watch out.

That's all i use for a long time. In case you get the daiwa tick when using this spool, its the red bearing retainer that is on these spools. Took me ages to find the issue, but out of three of these i've had, two had the tick, but only with that retainer.

More expensive reels won't catch you more fish, but when the bit is dead, they're much more fun to use than a $100 reel. That is the only reason to invest into high end.

Yea, i had the magnesium version. I was referring to the newest Steez, though. The 2016 steez isn't for me, the front is way too fat, and not too comfy to palm. I also hated it for jerkbaits. They're not bad reels at all, but with the release of the new Tatutal, they're are far inferior in everything (maybe cast a few feet further, but who is gonna notice that). So the Tatula is the reason, which isn't only superior, but also can be had for noticeably cheaper.