I am looking for a reel to put on a Kistler Helium for Chatterbait. This will primarily be used to fish out of the back of the boat closer to bank. As a result, I’m not worried about bomb casts. I’m more focused on accurate skipping and casting. I have concerns about the gears on the 103 and am afraid the spool is too small on the Alphas CT SV.  
 

are there any other glaring options I am forgetting? I thought about saving for the Steez A but am just afraid that I will lose out on skipping in tighter spaces. Is this a non-issue?

 

Forgot to mention... #30 braid. Non-negotiable ?

Curado DC is excellent for skipping.

I had multiple Tatula's in the CT body, which include the Zillion 1016, and SV103 TW, but I just didn't love the form factor. Both the Zillion and Tatula SV TW's were great casters, I think the only advantage of the Zillion was the spool interchangeability with other spools, but I don't think that justifies the price difference of ~$50. I now have several Alphas SV105's, but spool capacity is definitely a concern if I go with anything over 12lb fluoro/mono so most of them have braid. If you don't plan to bomb cast, then the Alphas CT SV might be ok for you. I love the form factor of the Alphas though.

 

I would go the 2020 Tatula SV TW, based on a better form factor than the CT's body, and because it will give you some flexibility if you decide to spool something heavier on it, and it's priced the lowest. 

 

 

31 minutes ago, Junger said:

I had multiple Tatula's in the CT body, which include the Zillion 1016, and SV103 TW, but I just didn't love the form factor. Both the Zillion and Tatula SV TW's were great casters, I think the only advantage of the Zillion was the spool interchangeability with other spools, but I don't think that justifies the price difference of ~$50. I now have several Alphas SV105's, but spool capacity is definitely a concern if I go with anything over 12lb fluoro/mono so most of them have braid. If you don't plan to bomb cast, then the Alphas CT SV might be ok for you. I love the form factor of the Alphas though.

 

I would go the 2020 Tatula SV TW, based on a better form factor than the CT's body, and because it will give you some flexibility if you decide to spool something heavier on it, and it's priced the lowest. 

 

 

 

Thanks For the feedback. Have you had any difficulty with the gears in your Tatula SV TW? That is my only hesitation at this point. 

The discontinued sv103 6:x if you can find one is an awesome bladed jig reel

1 hour ago, Midwest Big Bass said:

Thanks For the feedback. Have you had any difficulty with the gears in your Tatula SV TW? That is my only hesitation at this point. 

The only one I had an issue with was on a Tatula CT Type-R, but I fished it hard for frogging for the season and they became "geary". Daiwa replaced the gears for free after I sent in the form. I probably could have done a better job maintaining them if I regreased them mid-season.

 

I had no other issues with the Tatula 103, or Zillions 1016's for all my other presentations.

6 hours ago, Midwest Big Bass said:

 

Thanks For the feedback. Have you had any difficulty with the gears in your Tatula SV TW? That is my only hesitation at this point. 

What's the gear issue on the new SV's?

50 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

What's the gear issue on the new SV's?

It's more QC. It's the same gear set the 100 uses. Gears are coming far to dry as of late and causing more failures than normal. Large backlog of gearsets. 

25 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

It's more QC. It's the same gear set the 100 uses. Gears are coming far to dry as of late and causing more failures than normal. Large backlog of gearsets. 

All the new Daiwa's? Elite's as well? 

14 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

All the new Daiwa's? Elite's as well? 

Daiwa's in general are notorious for coming more dry than normal . I notice it more on entry level reels like the tatula. Not always the case, but happens more than it should. Odds are you'll be fine buying the reel.  Just make it a point to open it up when you first get it for precautionary measures. I'm just pointing out that I've tried to order gear sets for people's 100s stateside and there's a l2-6 month backlog. Despite what Daiwa or whoever says about this being "normal". it isn't. However, I've also said that this new tatula is also a JDM variant so parts/gears should be very easy to source through PLAT. PLAT has a massive inventory of parts that Daiwa hasn't had in years. I just got brand new JDREAM 7:9 gear sets from them this winter. Odds are you'll get the parts from PLAT cheaper/faster anyway. 

17 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

Daiwa's in general are notorious for coming more dry than normal . I notice it more on entry level reels like the tatula. Not always the case, but happens more than it should. Odds are you'll be fine buying the reel.  Just make it a point to open it up when you first get it for precautionary measures. I'm just pointing out that I've tried to order gear sets for people's 100s stateside and there's a l2-6 month backlog. Despite what Daiwa or whoever says about this being "normal". it isn't. However, I've also said that this new tatula is also a JDM variant so parts/gears should be very easy to source through PLAT. PLAT has a massive inventory of parts that Daiwa hasn't had in years. I just got brand new JDREAM 7:9 gear sets from them this winter. Odds are you'll get the parts from PLAT cheaper/faster anyway. 

I admit I'm not good with oiling/lubing my reels. I do basic stuff like the worm gear and stuff I can get to by just taking the side plates off and spools out. Taking the entire reel apart intimidates me.