Quantum Smoke.. the old HPT's.  Ten year old reels better than 5 year old Zillions

Steez ct sv tw 

2 hours ago, WRB-2.0 said:

Is it winter already?

Tom

LoL.   I wish!  It’s too damm hot outside

 

wife said I have too many reels and combos and I should get rid of a lot.   Of course I won’t but I was just thinking hypothetically if I did, which reel would I pick.    
 

I was thinking my Antares 70 and that’s simply because I probably would never buy another again.  Only because of the price.    Well… and it’s function as well.  Can’t deny how smooth and refined it is.  
 

But the most reels I own that are the same are the 2018 bantams.   Have 4. 😕

For price and reliability and availability. I’ll take a Shimano slx xt all day every day. 

Daiwa SV103, aka the TD-Zillion with a 34mm spool.  I'd choose it over the new Zillion.

Of my current reels, it’s my Curado 150mgl. That’s the “best” reel I have. It’s my most used and my most dialed in. 

3 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

Daiwa SV103, aka the TD-Zillion with a 34mm spool.  I'd choose it over the new Zillion.

Ok, I’ve got two of those as well. Maybe one of them instead of the Curado 

44 minutes ago, Smirak said:

Of my current reels, it’s my Curado 150mgl. That’s the “best” reel I have. It’s my most used and my most dialed in. 

Ok, I’ve got two of those as well. Maybe one of them instead of the Curado 

 

A 34mm spool Daiwa reel could be so much more versatile than any single Shimano reel.  We have 1025 spools, 1016, 1012, BFS, Mag-V, Mag-Z, SV, SV Boost... and tons of aftermarket spools. For all the 34mm spool platforms, IMO SV103 is the toughest and most durable. 

Of my current reels it'd be a BPS Pro Qualifier 2. If it was any reel, it'd be the BPS Johnny Morris Platinum.

I’d be fine with any MGL 150 or zillion SV

Hard choice. My gut tells me my curado 71 mgl because it's my favorite to fish with. But, I guess I would realistically choose my bantam mgl for one all around reel. 

Daiwa Steez A with a suite of aftermarket spools would cover the gamut in bass lures from BFS up to 2ozs. Precision build. Disappears in hand. Connected feeling, and with Daiwa's smartest and wicked-cool looking brake-dial-side-plate design.

 

 

For me,... Right now it would be a tight race between my Bantam MGL and an older TD SV103 I have. Both are comfortable, smooth, and cast great! Hard to choose between those two.

 

Lagging right behind is a Shimano 201E7 I have on a Spinnerbait rig. That thing is smooth as butter and casts great. Currently have it on a Levante Diablo Spec R and looks and performs great.

If we are going to add spools into the equation, then Daiwa SV103, tuned Zillion 50th Anniversary, or one of my old Steez reels.  Possibly a Coastal.  Haven't used it or the Zillion SV TW G enough to form an opinion.  Not a fan of the G's finish.

 

Other 'favorites': Curado 201E7, older Exsence DC, Bantam MGL, Primmus HS Xi, Patriarch XT, TD-Z 105H, and TD Fuego to name a few.  

One to last..  Shimano Calcutta Conquest.  An indestructible tank that's a pleasure to fish.  It will out live me.

 

One to enjoy.... Shimano Core 101. Always will be my favorite. 

All of my casting reels are wither Curado or Citica...from this era...

 

If I had to chose one, it would be the Citica. 

 

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

One to last..  Shimano Calcutta Conquest.  An indestructible tank that's a pleasure to fish.  It will out live me.

 

One to enjoy.... Shimano Core 101. Always will be my favorite. 

I've not had the opportunity to pick up a Core reel yet, but I do have a Scorpion Metanium MG7 I picked up used.

 

I believe it is the JDM step-sister to the Core. I have it on a Dobyns Champion XP 734 throwing Buzzbaits and I REALLY like it too.

 

Too hard to narrow down to just one reel!!!

Bantam MGL probably. I prefer to frog, punch, or drag a football when I can, and the Bantam feels better there.

 

The Zillion is plenty good though. I would *almost* prefer the 2016 Zillion. I have two and they're hard to put down, despite the ergonomics being a lot better on the new one. 

14 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I do only have one reel ~ well mostly

A-Jay

 

Just got a Bantam in the mail yesterday.   

Probably a Zillion SV, Zillion HD or Megabass IP/Zillion J Dream.  I have to be able to skip a weightless 5" senko and cast multi oz swimbaits on one reel.  I own those 3 and they all can do it.    

The zillion of course. Have a bunch of 34mm spools with different lines on it, and can cover everything between 2g and 1.5oz.

If I had to narrow it down to just one of the current reels, it’d probably be a 30 size Revo X, with 12 lb braid and  fluoro leader in 6, 8, and 12lb.

8 minutes ago, ABU is overpriced said:

The zillion of course. Have a bunch of 34mm spools with different lines on it, and can cover everything between 2g and 1.5oz.

Why not Shimano? Gears to “buzzy”?

55 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

Why not Shimano? Gears to “buzzy”?

Good. Everyone knows my love toward their gear sets. The second my 24 met dc or the 23 antares dc md goes buzzy mode, a storm will rise, and i don't think anybody is ready for it.

Would have to be the Exist although not sure which gearing... I'd be happy with any of them.