This is a question to all those Daiwa Tatula owners/supporters and anybody else whom feels like adding their 2 cents.

If you had to choose a baitcasting reel other than the Tatula within the same price range, what would it be and why?

A used or heavily discounted Curado E or I. You can regularly find the Tatula for $100 and there's not a new reel in that price range that compares.

The Diawa Tatula.

I had a lews tournament mg, retails around 130 I think. I liked it, but I like the tatula better. If you don't want the tatula because it's big and awkward the lews are much smaller reels

I'd go with the Cabela's Prodigy.  I'd wait until it's on sale if possible and get it even cheaper.

Something from lews or shimano

There must be a bunch of Curado G´s ready to be clearanced, and FYI, the Curado G is not the POS everybody says it is; I have it and it´s a fine reel, but don´t take my word for it, ask DVT what do they think about the reel.

It might depend on what rod you put it on as well, all things equal, probably a New Tat.. However, keep a eye out on the Fishing Flea Market here, I have recently seen a few, very good deals on several shimano reels. Shimano has better ergos than the tat, the tat might be bothersome for you. Ideally if you have access to this equipment it would be worth a drive to see, touch, feel kinda thing.

Well guys,

The reason I ask which reel to get other than the tautula is because my father really likes it and we want to get different rod and reel set-ups this off season so we can compare next year when fishing.

Curado

Chronarch

Speed Spool

Lexa

I like the looks and feel of the Lew's speed spools I've felt but never used one.  I would agree with the above about Shimanos.  My brother has a couple Curados that he has used for a long time and swears by.  I hear great things about those BPS reels around the same price range as well.  If you want different setups, one get a regular Tatula and the other a Type R

 

Jonathan

The Curado G or if you can catch a sale at Gander Mountain the new Curado I

Honestly, I'd by a Lew's. The lowest model can be had for $80... I picked up two lightly used for $40 each. But they're are models from that lowest price, all the way too $200+. But the best $/feature is probably the LFS for $100. I would say that's comparable. Or the Tournament MB, which ways in at 6.7 ounces, and has extreme castability.

Shimano Curado, Shimano Citica, *** ***, Lew's Tournament MG, BPS PQ