WetBlanket

Hmm, mine is the Japanese version as well, and i use a 1.3m fluoro leader, so i really don't know how the line frayed, but it was very annoyed losing 5 fish on a hookset. And i know that it's not related to my knot because some of the lures i lost on a hookset i later cought drifting, and the breakage was far from any knots. Disappointed because otherwise this braid was excellent.

Looking to grab a few spools of the Duel Hardcore Super X8. Anyone used them?

How long has the UPGRADE X8 lasted for you? From mid last season to early this year, this braid was perfectly for me, then, around mid May, in a single day, i've had FIVE line breaks on a hookset in a single day. Lost tons of line and lures with it. It was so weird that i thought something was wrong with my guide inserts, but nope, the rod was perfect. Ever since this happened, i just don't use it anymore. Such a good caster, but super disappointed of the line snapping like that (it was a 25lb test one).

I keep coming back to 832. After testing a couple of braided lines from YGK since summer last year, they simply do not last the same way 832 does. Right now i wanna try a few braids from Hardcore, will see how they last.

It's the all around range, so it can handle everything outside of fishing in heavy veggies, chunking heavy glidebaits and BFS'ing. I personally stick to 20# because it's enough.

Really want to get the Studio Composite TRANSWORLD 7109-5 to pair with the Z2020 and soon the IMZ. But expeeeeeensive.

The Zillion HD is better than the Steez A and the Steez A II, and look how much cheaper that reel is. Bet you both Steez A sales nose dived so hard since the introduction of the HD.

Why not?

I don't get the point of ever replacing them, they don't break. Have had them on the first gen ryoga and the z2020 which i use for musky, and never has it cracked or anything.

Which is so sad. Crazy frames for Megabass to modify these days, and they ignore them all. But as i expected, when the company becomes very successful in NA and EU, they simply do not need to bother getting daiwa frames to sell under their name, it's much better to build your own rods and have a 100% profit going to them. Wish they began making their own reels from the ground up, but it's not happening.

Curious on how many of you have a setup to chunk large swimbaits and glidebaits. If you do, what do you use?

The Zillion HD is still sub $250 on amazon jp. This can't be beat for what you're getting. As for the cheaper ones, the 24 Tat 100 is sub $120 from the same place, and there's no way this can be beat by any brand. Both can be found for even noticeably cheaper on auctions, but that's not for everyone.

That's why Shimano and Daiwa are the only true reel companies.

Probably right, but i feel like somebody that is looking to buy flagship/high end gear, should be more knowledeable, especially nowadays.

I don't know who can afford to spend this much on a fishing reel. It's ridiculously more expensive than it is buying from Japan. Tacklewarehouse prices- $750 for a Steez A. What the hell??? $700 for the new Ryoga in 150 size. $800 for a Steez SV Light $800 for the 24 Steez SV TW $450 for the 21 Daiwa Zillion $500 for the Aldebaran BFS $500 for the 2018 Aldebaran MGL (mega ripoff for what you're getting) $540 for the Met DC $490 for the Metanium 150B These prices are out of this world. How can anybody not pruchase directly from Japan when they're this ridiculous?

I used to be so annoyed about those c-clips as well. Now, a small jeweler's screwdriver and it's easily removed. My suffering days are over. You can also do this inside a plastic bag if you're worried about the spring or the c-clip flying away.

Isn't that plastic piece sold on Aliexpress for like $5? It is disappointing that this can happen on SV spools. This issue is not a thing on mag v and mag z spools.

This is such a THEREELTEST thing to say.

Always was curious on why people care about the micro braking force that is always applied on magnetic braking systems even when the mag dial is set to 1. It's not like it's overbraking your spool, you ain't casting overhead with the braking setting set to 1. Not to mention that the exact same situation happens with DC reels, and who's complaining about them not casting far?

It's time to choose! Which of the two do you prefer, and why?

Atm 8, 20, 25, 30 and 65. All braid.

If you'll be ordering from Japan, the 5pc rods from Legit Design are good, and pretty strong. Been using a couple for a few years now.

Anything but the overprice garbage from Boca.

Oh good!!! Wonder if it's even possible to replace the battery when it doesn't hold the charge anymore, though.

I don't think i've been this excited to test a reel in over 15y, and that's simply because you can't even read anything on it, all the info on youtube is primarily from Japanese folks.