I have owned plenty of great Daiwa casting reels in the past 30 years but just can’t seem to find comfort when palming Daiwa reels w/ the TW option….  Just has a strange feel/profile.  Anybody else feel this way?  I enjoy Daiwa reels as much as I do Shimano but this has currently changed my mind on Daiwa casting reels.  Is the TW technology here to stay for Daiwa?

The newer Daiwa reels with T-wing DO have that different "Wide at the front" feel than other brands, but it honestly has never bothered me. It's just different.

 

Given the fact that pretty much ALL Daiwa reels have the Twing now, except maybe the Fuego and maybe a couple others... I'd say it is here to stay, at least for the short term until they come up with something else to distinguish themselves.

I guess it just feels unfamiliar to me.  I’ve been through a Tatula 100 and 80 and sold them both.  They both performed as they should but just couldn’t agree on the ergonomics.  Unfortunately there is not a close Daiwa retailer to me so I bought these reels blindly.  I am curious on how the Zillion feels….

Just buy a pre twing reel like an old Zillion, Alphas, Steez or TD-Z.  

I stayed away from Daiwa after the OG Zillions disappeared. When it was clear Daiwa was going all in on the Twing I bought all Shimano. This year I’m back with Daiwa Zillions & 1 Coastal 200 Tatula. I like them quite well. If you don’t, just use Shimano. 

I think it’s one of those things you just have to get used to. If you can’t get used to it then stick with a different brand.

On 11/2/2025 at 3:48 PM, Flyfish-mt said:

I guess it just feels unfamiliar to me.  I’ve been through a Tatula 100 and 80 and sold them both.  They both performed as they should but just couldn’t agree on the ergonomics.  Unfortunately there is not a close Daiwa retailer to me so I bought these reels blindly.  I am curious on how the Zillion feels….

If you didn't like the new Tatula 100 or the 80,... You probably aren't going to like the Zillion.

 

They aren't exactly the same, but at least in my opinion,... If you don't like one, you probably won't like the other either. They aren't THAT different.

My long fingers palm Ryoga, so you can't always trust others.  

 

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

My long fingers palm Ryoga, so you can't always trust others.  

 

😆😉

 

not showin' off, just gettin' my cats whisker

I'm going to spool up the Tatula 80 w/ 12# XL and toss it on one my older Topwater Team Daiwa-S rods and force myself to use it!  I'm sure it's one of those things that you eventually get accustomed to. 

I guess I'm the weirdo who doesn't palm reels. Always 2 fingers in front of the trigger and 2 behind, grip never changes. Daiwa/Shimano makes no difference to me.

4 hours ago, Flyfish-mt said:

I'm going to spool up the Tatula 80 w/ 12# XL and toss it on one my older Topwater Team Daiwa-S rods and force myself to use it!  I'm sure it's one of those things that you eventually get accustomed to. 

Such a tiny reel.   Palms like a dream…. If dreams can be palmed 

Just reintroduced myself to my slx mgl, and it feels so awkward in my hand compared to any of my Daiwas, that crossbar thing in front is too high, my finger hits the pawl thing.

 

On 11/4/2025 at 10:08 AM, Peacedivision said:

I guess I'm the weirdo who doesn't palm reels. Always 2 fingers in front of the trigger and 2 behind, grip never changes. Daiwa/Shimano makes no difference to me.

Used to be me, then i felt so compelled to palm because "real anglers" do so I forced myself to get used to it.

 

Only i never got totally used to it and now 2x2 feels awkward too. But some reels absolutely make me feel so connected to the whole system when I palm them. Particularly the tat ct. Not sure why, but my medium hands much prefer that bigger reel over the tat 80 or tat elite.

On 11/4/2025 at 9:08 AM, Peacedivision said:

I guess I'm the weirdo who doesn't palm reels. Always 2 fingers in front of the trigger and 2 behind, grip never changes. Daiwa/Shimano makes no difference to me.

Me too.

On 11/4/2025 at 1:40 PM, MiceNReets said:

Such a tiny reel.   Palms like a dream…. If dreams can be palmed 

I have two of them;  one for 3/8 oz. shallow jerkbaits with 10# fluorocarbon,  one for 3/8 oz. poppers with 10# mono..  Lifgtweight and smooth.

Daiwa T Wing takes up about .300 more real estate then traditional level winds. Therefore the reel frame is wider to accommodate the T Wing. Therefore reels are not higher just wider. To narrow the T Wing frame the spool needs to be narrowed and impacts line capacity. 
We are talking bout the width of a wooden pencil wider, not a major factor considering Daiwa’s many improvements and casting controls. 
I have small hands and prefer Shimano BFS Alderman reels.

Each to his own madness.

Tom

i cannot ID which reel I am casting by girth.  I just cast and go.

 

maybe I dont fully palm the reel...dunno.  never looked down at my hands that often.  

My very first bait caster was the Daiwa Tatula CT  a couple years ago. Got a great deal on it at the BPS trade in event. That is what I used, to teach myself, how to use a bait caster. I don’t have any other Daiwa bait caster experiences but I absolutely love using that reel. I put it on my 7’1  St Croix Legend Bass Tournament rod. 

LBTC71MHF / 7'1" All-In

 

At the next trade-in event, I am considering getting another Daiwa bait casting reel. I am considering the Daiwa Elite b/c of casting distance reviews b/c of spool size or Daiwa Zillion depending on the price after trade in. I want to use something with a great braking system and something I can easily send off for simple maintenance every other year or so. I am better now with the bait caster so I feel comfortable getting an upgraded reel. 

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, FLYING HIGH said:

Tatula CT

I added a drag clicker and Salamandura SV tw150 spool. I find myself drawn to this reel equally as frequently as my Zillion. 

 

2 hours ago, FLYING HIGH said:

Daiwa Elite

Be good with your thumb

 

2 hours ago, FLYING HIGH said:

Zillion

Absolutely unbelievable in terms of controlled distance, will it get beat in a shoot out by some other top contenders? Absolutely. Will it cast with the least amount of fluff with an absolute butter smooth performance? No doubt 

 

Will a tatula sv tw 100 be almost as good for a fraction of the price? Seems like it will, because my tat100 is so close to the zillion in feel and comfort that I wish I had just gotten more when I found a good sale.

 

If I could find a discount on the 2025 tat sv 100 I'd snatch it up, basically only paying $150 to get a drag clicker of you go with a zillion. 

 

If you want a great reel that is on crazy sale and punches way above this price point the tat80 is on sale at Sheltons outdoors and clothing for $105

 

I came close to snap ordering a second one once I got it out and casted it around. If I didnt already have 5 reels that I leave at home because I can't fit 10 reels in the kayak I'd get another one in a heartbeat at that price. Its been really hard for me not to just get another one... I dont need another one right? I have no rods to even put it on... I shouldn't get it ... right? I mean... what if another reel breaks in a couple years... maybe I do...... no.no!

3 minutes ago, Banned User said:

I added a drag clicker and Salamandura SV tw150 spool. I find myself drawn to this reel equally as frequently as my Zillion. 

 

Be good with your thumb

 

Absolutely unbelievable in terms of controlled distance, will it get beat in a shoot out by some other top contenders? Absolutely. Will it cast with the least amount of fluff with an absolute butter smooth performance? No doubt 

 

Will a tatula sv tw 100 be almost as good for a fraction of the price? Seems like it will, because my tat100 is so close to the zillion in feel and comfort that I wish I had just gotten more when I found a good sale.

 

If I could find a discount on the 2025 tat sv 100 I'd snatch it up, basically only paying $150 to get a drag clicker of you go with a zillion. 

 

If you want a great reel that is on crazy sale and punches way above this price point the tat80 is on sale at Sheltons outdoors and clothing for $105

 

I came close to snap ordering a second one once I got it out and casted it around. If I didnt already have 5 reels that I leave at home because I can't fit 10 reels in the kayak I'd get another one in a heartbeat at that price. Its been really hard for me not to just get another one... I dont need another one right? I have no rods to even put it on... I shouldn't get it ... right? I mean... what if another reel breaks in a couple years... maybe I do...... no.no!

don’t be silly.  Get another one.   
 

Just now, MiceNReets said:

don’t be silly.  Get another one.   
 

I dont usually lol, I practically never type it because its just a lie... but in this case 

 

But please don't push me, I'm already so close to the edge I can hear Scott Stapp humming to himself behind me

4 minutes ago, Banned User said:

I dont usually lol, I practically never type it because its just a lie... but in this case 

 

But please don't push me, I'm already so close to the edge I can hear Scott Stapp humming to himself behind me

To me each reel I have feels a bit different, no one feeling exactly the same. My goal is to match it to its best suited technique with how the reel feels and palms in mind but most reels seem to fit for a lot different things. Sometimes I just get lucky and the rod and reel feel perfect together.  It doesn't matter if its Shimano or Daiwa. Each one has a purpose.  The only reel I have put in my hands as of late that really felt off was the new Lews Custom Pro. It looks cool but it felt weird to palm. Like it was too small to get my fingers positioned correctly.  I can't say that about the BB1 I have. It feels pretty good.  

Went out to cast the Tatula 80 and the little dude was screeching every cast!  Lubed up the bearing and it went away.  I then decided to crack it open and found the inners were bone dry!  It's almost as if the reel skipped the lube department in production.  I did a full lube including the main shaft bearing (Super Lube), drag washers, main & pinion gears w/ Shimano drag grease and oiled all the bearings.....  Much smoother than from the factory.

 

I put it on a Team Daiwa-X 6'6" Light action rod and tossed around a 1/8oz casting plug w/ great success.  This will be a nice little setup for the light stuff (Pop-R, Zara Puppy, 1/8oz spinnerbaits, etc).  Anyway, I like the reel and plan to use it more often in the future.