Hey guys, I currently have a stadic fl 2500 hg that is in pretty good condition. I was in a Cabela’s store the other day and in comparison the tatula and vanford felt much smoother and easier to turn than the stradic. The rod I currently use is a 7’2 ml+ zodias for shakeyhead, drop shot, ned, wacky rig. Would it be a bad idea to switch to a vanford or the tatula mq? I know everyone here praises the stradic but is it going to be that much more durable? 
Glad to hear anyone’s thoughts. 
Thanks, 

Bryce

I use them both and like them both. I don't feel one is better. 

I don't know how old your Stradic is but it's a pretty reliable reel.  Maybe all it needs is a good cleanup and lube job.  

 

I have a Vanford on a Zodias ML 7'2'' and it's a great outfit.  The Vanford is 2 onces less and it shows, specially with finesse techiques.  

8 minutes ago, Reel said:

I don't know how old your Stradic is but it's a pretty reliable reel.  Maybe all it needs is a good cleanup and lube job.  

 

I have a Vanford on a Zodias ML 7'2'' and it's a great outfit.  The Vanford is 2 onces less and it shows, specially with finesse techiques.  

Well I was actually comparing it to a new fm in the store. But mine is the fl which is from 2019 I think. What size vanford do you have? The c3000hg is only 210 shipped from digitaka 

I have a 1000, a 2000, a 2500, a 3000 and a 4000.  That's a great price.

I have both Shimanos and love both.  You are talking about two different lines of reels though.  The Stradic is in the power family and the Vanford is in the finesse family of reels.  Both serve different purposes.  For your listed techniques, the Vanford is hard to beat.

7 minutes ago, Reel said:

I have a 1000, a 2000, a 2500, a 3000 and a 4000.  That's a great price.

Which one balances on the zodias 7’2 tho?

I feel like the rear grip is pretty light. 

The vanford is lighter and the rotational inertia is less which means it is easier to start the bail moving and it will stop on its own faster.  That said, I find the 3000 size vanford too light for a 7'2" rod.  I prefer a little heavier reel for a spinning outfit so I have 3000 size stradics on everything.

Just now, Brycecover said:

Which one balances on the zodias 7’2 tho?

I feel like the rear grip is pretty light. 

My dad runs the 4k vanford on his 7' zodias and that is balanced well.  A 3k stradic on a 7'2" PA balances also.  

21 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

The vanford is lighter and the rotational inertia is less which means it is easier to start the bail moving and it will stop on its own faster.  That said, I find the 3000 size vanford too light for a 7'2" rod.  I prefer a little heavier reel for a spinning outfit so I have 3000 size stradics on everything.

My dad runs the 4k vanford on his 7' zodias and that is balanced well.  A 3k stradic on a 7'2" PA balances also.  

Hm. What do you think a 3000 vanford would balance on then? A shorter rod? It wouldn’t really make sense if they made them too light to balance any rods. 4000 is definitely a little big. 

9 minutes ago, Brycecover said:

Hm. What do you think a 3000 vanford would balance on then? A shorter rod? It wouldn’t really make sense if they made them too light to balance any rods. 4000 is definitely a little big. 

I have a Vanford 2500 on a 6'10" drop shot rod and a Vanford 3000 on a 9'6" steelhead rod.  They both balance beautifully.

Balance is something very personnal.  I don't like NEUTRAL.  For Drop Shot and Ned I want tip down.  For Shakey and Waky, I want tip up.  

I have a 3000 Vanford on an Edge 7’ ml. Love it!

I also have a 2500 Vanford on a GLoomis IMX 6’6” light. Love it!

 

Two similar but different setups doing different duties.

 

 

edit: just noticed this is my 1,000th post!

Simply add a butt weight cap to balance the rod in lieu of getting a bigger clumsy reel.

Tom

I have a couple of 1st generation Vanfords and Tatula LT's that are 3 or 4 years old.  All four get a lot of use and still feel new.

 

I'm sure you'll be more than happy either way.

@Brycecover like noted above, balance is personal.  I hate a tip heavy rod balance, especially on a spinning rod.  For me, a 3k stradic on a high quality rod out to 7’2” or so is good.  I won’t be much heavier and I don’t mind a 3k stradic on a 6’9” rod either so I harmonized my own uses there so that all my rods feel the same and I can interchange spools as needed.  

I have a St Croix Legend Elite 6’11” mxf with a 1st gen 2500 Vanford. Light as a feather, good balance. A St Croix 7’1” Premier mlf with solid handle Daiwa Tatula 2500 (non MQ) and also a joy to fish with. Have a St Croix 7’1” MF Split handle (Bass Pro exclusive) that needs at least 8 oz reel on it. I have a 1st gen Shimano Nasci 3000 on it and balances good.

I have a Tatula and the 1st edition Vanford.  They are all great reels.  The only reason I'll be getting another Tatula over the winter and not a Vanford is that it doesn't have an anti-reverse button.  

20 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

@Brycecover like noted above, balance is personal.  I hate a tip heavy rod balance, especially on a spinning rod.  For me, a 3k stradic on a high quality rod out to 7’2” or so is good.  I won’t be much heavier and I don’t mind a 3k stradic on a 6’9” rod either so I harmonized my own uses there so that all my rods feel the same and I can interchange spools as needed.  

I agree. I hate a tip heavy spinning reel in most instances. Small cranks or jerk baits might be the exception because I tend to run them tip down.

 

For example,... I have a couple Phoenix Feather spinning rods that are very light. My issue with them is the handle and butt of those rods are SO light that a light reel doesn't balance right and they always feel tip heavy. 

 

I put a paiir of Stradic 2500 reels on them because the heavier Stradics balance the setup better than the Tatula or Vanford I tried on there. I like them now because they balance much better.

 

I guess I'd rather have a slightly heavier rig that is balanced than just a lighter weight rig overall.

@FrnkNsteen- My rods all have the monocoque graphite rear grip which is also very light.

There is a mass and wind-inertia difference between Stradic and Vanford.  

 

Vanford uses the lightened rotor from Vanquish.  

Otherwise, Stradic and Vanford drives are identical, and I can't tell the inertia difference between Stradic and Vanquish unless I'm comparing them side by side, and the difference is subtle.  (Vanquish has Mg body and spool, titanium bail, and more BB).  

I use them both, and wouldn't replace Stradic - could consider adding another reel for the different qualities, lighter finesse lures, etc..  

In the long run, I think Twin Power will out-last them both, but the more the merrier.  

Agreed it’s very much a personal feel thing.  I had a ci4 Stradic, sold it and just replaced it with a Stradic FM.  Also I  have a Stradic FL.   I like that bit more weight and solid feel of the Stradics.  I’m used to my old white stradics I grew up fishing and they always had a bit of solid heft to them.  So Stradic FM & FL just feel natural to me.  
 

Ci4 was predecessor to vanford and was an awesome reel. I just couldn’t ever love that feeling of nothing in your hand.   I can see why lots do love the vanford / ci4 though.  
 

stradic FL is not heavy by historical standards either.  I find it’s just enough weight to balance with my tip up slightly which I prefer for finesse and bottom contact. 
 

id try having your Stradic serviced, both my FM & FL are butter.  

I've got the FL and the Vanford FA 2500. Biggest difference to me is the weight aside from that very similar experiences and I don't know that one feels much smoother over the other. If that's the case with yours it may be trying some basic reel maintenance on it if you haven't already to see if that helps. Aside from that I like them both and use the Vanford for lighter lures.