My advice is to buy a Tatula CT on Ebay for $100 and see what you think.  You can probably recoup most of your money if you don't like it.  

 

After using all different brands of reels for years, I finally decided that I liked Daiwa and Shimano and didn't need any of the others.  I now only fish Daiwa and Shimano reels.  If I could only pick one it would be Daiwa but I really enjoy Shimano reels too.

Yes the T wing does work, and yes the T wing grooving has been addressed in both the Tatula 100 series ( both regular and Type Rs) and in the smaller sized CT reels ( again in all versions)  The difference in actual body size is not that much. I fish 1 Daiwa Exceler, 4 Tatula Type Rs and 2 Tat CTs.  I have bigger hands so I like the size of the regular 100 reel as well as the CT sized reels.  If you like the size of a Shimano Chronarch 200 series reels, and the Curados, then I think you would like the CT reels best.

The Type Rs have 1 more cr bearing than a regular series reel, a bit lighter spool and weigh just a little less.  I could not tell you much difference in real life.  If you are a tinkerer with reels, I am told that you can soup them up to throw lighter baits by replacing the spool bearings with ZR bearings and changing out the line guide bushings with bearings. I am told that by adding 2 more handle knobs bearings instead of the two bushings helps make it feel sweeter. Me I just pull the reel from the box and go fish.  I purchased my first Tatula and then sold off my Curados and Chronarchs.

Take a look at this video and it will explain a lot about the Magforce Z system which is the "magic" in these reels.  The SV is expected to be able to handle lighter weight baits and sip better.

 

Quote

Still trying to figure out when shimano went downhill? My stradic fk is probably the best spinning reel ever created. Ever.

 and it is one of the best ever. I am a die hard shimano fan, but I think a lot of people are turned off by the fact that currently, the stradic FK is the FIRST reel in the shimano lineup of spinning reels to have an alumninum frame. and its $200 US.

 

They are turning everything to composite material in the name of (likely) profit with the spin they put on it being durability and light weight.

 

that being said, I felt the new Ultegra and Nasci reels at the local fishing show the other day and was really impressed. Butter smooth. But at the price point, the Ultegra should have had a tapered bail wire like the Saros that it is replacing does. They are giving their customers less and charging the same or more.

 

Im on the fence myself. They are going forward in some ways ( butter smoothness even at the nasci level, so the Hagane gearing is actually a thing and not just a marketing gimick) but going backwards in others (no more aluminum frame until you get to the Stradic FK, no more oil ports anymore- which was a unique shimano feature that no one else had)

I'd agree with those above who said use both.  I have mostly Shimano 50 size reels and LOVE them.  But I also have a Daiwa Pixy and several in the Alphas family.  Sweet reels that I really enjoy using.  I considered getting a Tatula or Zillion, but the don't like the bigger frames.

 

Diehard Shimano user....heading to the darkside?

 

What, purchasing your first Daiwa ? 

 

It gets even darker pal, when you purchase your first Megabass. 

 

I purchased my first Daiwa many many moons ago. 

 

Thanks for all your opinions guys.  Guess I won't know until I get that first one.  If you all see a bunch of Shimano Curado Es posted on the flea market soon, you'll know what happened! ?

Jump in the Diawa pool already!

 

I own both, including a couple JDM models of each.  My T1016 is the farthest, most effortless, casting reel I own. My Cores are the smoothest in my collection.

 

I really enjoy the luxury of being able to choose between the two based on my mood.

 

Buy the Diawa and enjoy yourself!

 

After years of my Saharas, Curado, and Spirex reels I decided to buy a Tatula, Fuego, Revros, and Legelis. It was a good decision.  Don't get me wrong, I love Shimano.  But you know what,  using new reels of a bit different of design and function feels fresh and new. It's a nice change sometimes. I even throw in some pfluegers and quantums when I'm feeling swirly.  Fishing is fun. Fresh equipment is fun too.  

4 hours ago, Hulkster said:

 They are going forward in some ways ( butter smoothness even at the nasci level, so the Hagane gearing is actually a thing and not just a marketing gimick)

Actually "hagane" gearing just replaced the name "paladin" gearing, so it's nothing new. 

I have fished and owned all the major brands.  I still have an Abu on my swimbait set-up, otherwise I just sold my last non Daiwa.  For me it was throwing a 10+ year old TDZ and blowing a E Series and Speedspool out of the water with it's performance.  A reel with ten years of use, available for the same or less than most reels we talk about, just flat out smoking them.  "Maybe there's something to this Daiwa thing..."  So in the interest in uniformity for me I sold my Shimanos, Quantum and Lews and run OG Fuegos, Zillions, TDZ's, T3's and Aggrest/Exceler models.

10 hours ago, Davidhorowitzski said:

After years of my Saharas, Curado, and Spirex reels I decided to buy a Tatula, Fuego, Revros, and Legelis. It was a good decision.  Don't get me wrong, I love Shimano.  But you know what,  using new reels of a bit different of design and function feels fresh and new. It's a nice change sometimes. I even throw in some pfluegers and quantums when I'm feeling swirly.  Fishing is fun. Fresh equipment is fun too.  

 Was wondering what your opinion was on the Fuego--saw where you said you purchased one and I now see Daiwa is putting out a Fuego CT which looks interesting. Trying to get some reviews on the Fuego and Fuego CT     Thanks

I don't have the budget for either's high end stuff, but I love both the Curado and Tatula. The thing that I like more with Shimano is that I can understand all their models. I feel like a need a Rosetta Stone to tell the difference between on the models and spool types. 

I switched from all Shimano to all Daiwa last year. Miss a couple of the reels like the Chronarch Es and the Scorpions but other than that I have some new reels I love. There's nothing wrong with owning a couple from both brands either. However in tourney situations I don't need but prefer uniformity going from rod to rod through out the day. Enthusiast aside, when all the reels on the deck behave exactly the same and all have virtually the same settings it makes things simpler. 

I'm about to do the same. I love my Shimano reels - got so many Curados & Citicas that I've lost count. 

 

But I'm about to pull the trigger on a Tatula CT. Handled one at Bass Pro other day & it felt great. Just wanna try something different. 

 

With the reel trade in & the 2 gift cards I got for Christmas, I should be able to get the Tatula & a few baits without spending any cash. ?

20 hours ago, BigGame0892 said:

That's what I hear too.  In regards to skipping, I'm trying to figure out how a lighter spool makes it easier to skip?  Seems like that's more of a braking issue.

This video sold me on the SV, and since I like the Tatulas I am going with the Tat SV.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoZ0ghlhMrk

The SV tat will definitely be interesting I just don't like how wide Tatulas are compared to other reels. I think Diawa makes a great reel I just like the ergonomics of others better. You can't go wrong with either brand imo if it feels good in hand to you go with it!

keep on moving until you find lews. Shimano and lews are the only two reels I will buy now. I had a daiwa tatula and it is a good reel but it did not last like the lews or shimanos I have. Lews BB1 and super duty and Shimano Citica, Curado or Chronarch.

Honestly i cant tell a difference in quality between diawa and shimano. 

I suspect some people jump to the diawa bandwagon because of the flashy paint jobs and performance themed names on the reel. Im old school, i like green or gray reels and brown rods. I guess shimano fits my bill better

On 2/21/2017 at 3:06 PM, J Francho said:

 

There's a darker side....centrepinning.  Look it up.  Even the spin fishers look down on us, lol.

Power Lining for salmon is the absolute worst thing I've ever seen in fishing to this day. If someone can beat that I would be shocked/sad. 

10 hours ago, kadas said:

 Was wondering what your opinion was on the Fuego--saw where you said you purchased one and I now see Daiwa is putting out a Fuego CT which looks interesting. Trying to get some reviews on the Fuego and Fuego CT     Thanks

 So far I really like the Fuego bait casters.  I got one with a pretty quick gear ratio that I use for mostly plastic some plastic swim baits on the lighter side.   I have it spelled up with 10 pound florou and  casting distance and smoothness are impeccable.  Don't get me wrong you won't mistake this for a Steez Quality reel but for the price I think it's a good purchase.  Feels nice in my palm.  Mines the normal sized one, which is as small as I'd prefer.  I don't really see any advantage in making this any smaller than it already is.  But that's just a personal comfort issue and nothing against the Reels.     If you ask me if I would buy it again I would tell you yes I would.   

I have a Shimano Curado and a Diawa Tatula with the T wing.   The T wing doesn't impress me. In fact for some reason it likes to catch my leader knot if I'm running a long leader.  I never had that problem with the Curado.  It is also very noisy when casting.  It's a good reel, don't get me wrong, but I'll take the Curado over it any day.

Every time I think of buying a Daiwa reel, I buy another Shimano Metanium.  I think both brands are well made.  I'm in love with the new Shimano Metanium MGL.  

Last year, I tried more med and high end reals than I can remember, and kept coming back to the Ci4.  There is just something about it that works for me.

i don't think there's a bad rod or reel nowdays.  it comes down more to ergonomics than performance anymore.  if it's comfortable for you to fish with, then it's good.  the internet has changed so much with these companies because they know if they put out junk, the whole world will know about it in about 10 minutes.

12 hours ago, MittenMouth said:

Power Lining for salmon is the absolute worst thing I've ever seen in fishing to this day. If someone can beat that I would be shocked/sad. 

 

Never heard of it?  Do you mean snagging?