I don't think I ever shared this here but there is a reel that was designed for hard rock fish that makes for a pretty good bass fishing frog reel.  It has the power handle and knobs from the Tatula Flip and Pitch along with a distance tuned Magforce Z spool and a high speed level wind to prevent braid dig in.  It also has an aluminum handle side plate like the Tatula Elites.  You could almost think of it as a Tatula Elite PE special.  They're $200 shipped which puts them in JDM Zillion territory but maybe you might find it worthwhile as a braid reel.

 

https://www.daiwa.com/jp/product/v89jbs2

I have one.  Nice reel. 

Seems like a perfect frog reel if you aren't going to cough up for the zillion HD. 

 

Advertising makes it sound like an excellent choice.  Too bad it is so fugly.

10 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Advertising makes it sound like an excellent choice.  Too bad it is so fugly.

That red might look good with the new red Kage premium rods.

It looks like simply a tatula 100 variant with a bigger handle and faster level wind, which is unnecessary with the larger braids used for frogging. With the ‘23 tat 100 available for under $120 plus the cost for an aftermarket handle, I feel you’d have a more suitable frogging reel for still less money considering you’d get the hyperdrive gearing as well. Mine has been stellar this year throwing frogs and c-rigs and a few other heavy duty applications, it’s likely daiwas most under appreciated and best value reel. 

9 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

 

It looks like simply a tatula 100 variant with a bigger handle and faster level wind, which is unnecessary with the larger braids used for frogging. With the ‘23 tat 100 available for under $120 plus the cost for an aftermarket handle, I feel you’d have a more suitable frogging reel for still less money considering you’d get the hyperdrive gearing as well. Mine has been stellar this year throwing frogs and c-rigs and a few other heavy duty applications, it’s likely daiwas most under appreciated and best value reel. 

You get a distance tuned spool too but yeah the $180 isn't great especially for a last gen Tatula without hyperdrive gears.  They were $125 at one point on plat.  I'm waiting for a clearance sale to pick one up and use 40 pound braid on the red Kage frog rod for frogs, toads and magdraft free styles.

 I’m speaking of the new 2023 tat 100 (which I got brand new for $115) which now does have the hyperdrive gearing, and metal side plate too (hyper armed housing), after a year of use is still nearly as smooth as my jdm zillion.

54 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

 I’m speaking of the new 2023 tat 100 (which I got brand new for $115) which now does have the hyperdrive gearing, and metal side plate too (hyper armed housing), after a year of use is still nearly as smooth as my jdm zillion.

Yeah, that's the current Tatula and the reel the HRF should be compared to.  The HRF's negatives is that it is not based on the current tatula and is instead based on the last gen Tatula like the old Coastal 100 and Tatula Elites (it's a 2020 reel).  The positives are the distance tuned spool, high speed level wind and large handle and knobs.  $180 seems a bit much in 2024 for a 2020 reel but it's also in line with the Aliexpress Tatula Elite prices.  

The newer tatula seems to be distance tuned as well as it bombs noticably better with less effort than the previous gen tat, I can send a c-rig a friggin country mile. I heard through the grapevine that the lighter spool upgrade was just implementing the same spool used in the tat elite which makes sense as it fits it and uses the same frame. I plan on getting a spare tat elite spool for testing soon to see for myself.

1 hour ago, Bass Rutten said:

The newer tatula seems to be distance tuned as well as it bombs noticably better with less effort than the previous gen tat, I can send a c-rig a friggin country mile. I heard through the grapevine that the lighter spool upgrade was just implementing the same spool used in the tat elite which makes sense as it fits it and uses the same frame. I plan on getting a spare tat elite spool for testing soon to see for myself.

Definitely let me know your finding here or on TT.  I also have a Tatula Elite spool that needs a home.

I'd grab the zillion hd and be done with it.

What makes a reel good for frogs?

5 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

What makes a reel good for frogs?

Long casting, good with braided line (fast level wind preferred to prevent dig in), big power handle for winching in fish through the slop and a drag that can lock down.

On 12/19/2024 at 10:17 AM, MiceNReets said:

I have one.  Nice reel. 

x2

 

On 12/20/2024 at 3:34 PM, Bigbox99 said:

Definitely let me know your finding here or on TT.  I also have a Tatula Elite spool that needs a home.

Well after some time comparing the stock and elite spool in the 24 tat100 (with 12lb yozuri hybrid) I can say they are same in capacity but definitely behave differently. Weight wise they are very close with the elite weighing slightly more by about .2gm, but the biggest difference is the inductor spring which in the elite spool is stiffer making it noticeably faster and longer casting. A downside is more difficult skipping requiring pumping up the brakes considerably, and my guess is that with fluoro it may become very wild, but I found with the yzh it made for more distance than I'll ever need and long easy pitches, which is around 90% of how I fish. Nice to have choices at the swap of a spool, like having  two reels in one