I was looking to buy another Curado 200 but decided to pull the trigger on a 24 Scorpion 200 MD from Japan Lure Shop.  Has anybody tried these out?  I assume it is very similar to the Curado.  This will be primarily used for saltwater inshore fishing (Snook, Redfish, Sea Trout) and possibly for some freshwater on occasions.  

While I’ve not owned an MD reel they are highly regarded for big bait fishermen for their power and torque. I’m sure it will be perfect for inshore fishing. 

Yes, I think it'll do well in this situation.  Now, which 40# braid do I spool it up with......

44 minutes ago, Flyfish-mt said:

Yes, I think it'll do well in this situation.  Now, which 40# braid do I spool it up with......

Just pick a braid… let’s not let this debate happen again.    There is a topic about this already from 3 days ago.     Pick what braid you feel comfortable with instead of getting 30 suggestions.   
 

31 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

Just pick a braid… let’s not let this debate happen again.    There is a topic about this already from 3 days ago.     Pick what braid you feel comfortable with instead of getting 30 suggestions.   
 

What he said..... but the right answer is suffix 832😄

3 hours ago, Str8BraidPowa said:

What he said..... but the right answer is suffix 832😄

No way man… hands down the best braid going for the past few years has been Berkley X5 or X9.    That Suffix 832 is old news now.   😝 

 

Yes, please do not reply with a braid recommendation!  I believe this topic has been covered way to often.  I’m either going with a J-Braid or 832.

1 hour ago, Flyfish-mt said:

Yes, please do not reply with a braid recommendation!  I believe this topic has been covered way to often.  I’m either going with a J-Braid or 832.

Might I suggest to you Berkley x9 to throw in the mix?  🥸

I've had a chance to play around w/ the Scorpion MD and it is a very well built reel.  I have always favored Shimano when it comes to baitcasters and went out on a limb and bought a couple Tatula 100's several months ago.  These were the first Daiwa baitcasting reels I've purchased since buying a Team Daiwa TD reel back in the early 90's.  Although the Scorpion was $30 more than the Tatulas, it seems to be a better built reel all the way around.  Stronger drag, metal star drag lever, thicker aluminum handle w/ nice eased edges, metal spool tension cap (Tatula=plastic), beefier knobs, etc. 

 

Maybe the Shimano SLX would be a better reel to compare against the Tatula?  Not sure if Shimano strip down these items mentioned above in the SLX line.... 

40 minutes ago, Flyfish-mt said:

I've had a chance to play around w/ the Scorpion MD and it is a very well built reel.  I have always favored Shimano when it comes to baitcasters and went out on a limb and bought a couple Tatula 100's several months ago.  These were the first Daiwa baitcasting reels I've purchased since buying a Team Daiwa TD reel back in the early 90's.  Although the Scorpion was $30 more than the Tatulas, it seems to be a better built reel all the way around.  Stronger drag, metal star drag lever, thicker aluminum handle w/ nice eased edges, metal spool tension cap (Tatula=plastic), beefier knobs, etc. 

 

Maybe the Shimano SLX would be a better reel to compare against the Tatula?  Not sure if Shimano strip down these items mentioned above in the SLX line.... 

Knobs, drag star material and spool tension cap are superficial.  Especially the spool tension since that should be set and forget on both reels.  They are nice touches and I do appreciate them on reels for niceness reasons.  With Daiwas these parts being metal are usually reserved for higher end reels since it doesn't actually do anything other than add nice tactile feel at the cost of weight.

 

As far as construction goes, the aluminum handle side plate and hyperdrive gears are the best "sturdy" features of the 24 Tatula.  I wish the Curado or Scorpion 200 had these and I say this as someone looking to get the Curado 200M this fall.  Not a fan of plastic handle side plates on reels I do a lot of cast and wind power fishing.  But yeah, capacity wise the 32mm 24 Tatula 100 is on the smaller size and more comparable to an SLX or Curado 150.  

When I bought the Tatlua's, I was under the impression that the "Hyperdrive" was not only an aluminum side plate but also a dual bearing supported pinion gear.  Turns out the Hyperdrive term for the Tatula must just mean that it only has an aluminum side plate, no dual supported pinion gear.  Whereas the Scorpion has a plastic sideplate but a dual bearing supported pinion gear.  Which is a better design?  Who knows as they are both very smooth reels.

 

 

12 minutes ago, Flyfish-mt said:

When I bought the Tatlua's, I was under the impression that the "Hyperdrive" was not only an aluminum side plate but also a dual bearing supported pinion gear.  Turns out the Hyperdrive term for the Tatula must just mean that it only has an aluminum side plate, no dual supported pinion gear.  Whereas the Scorpion has a plastic sideplate but a dual bearing supported pinion gear.  Which is a better design?  Who knows as they are both very smooth reels.

 

 

It's actually the gears they are referring to.  The aluminum side plate is part of their armed housed concept or what we used to call normal back in the day. 

27 minutes ago, Bigbox99 said:

It's actually the gears they are referring to.  The aluminum side plate is part of their armed housed concept or what we used to call normal back in the day. 

Lol, correct.  I have some of the old pearl white Chronarchs (100a) with the aluminum side plates and they are silky smooth.  I'm going to say smoother than both the new Scorpion and Tatula's that I just bought.....