Good day!

As I’ve mentioned in other threads, I’ve been buying used off the auction for excellent deals.   Decided to surprise the brother in law with a reel to replace his old Okuma Komodo that has seen some days and lots of use.     It’s still going good but thought maybe he could use a refresh.     I had a few reels in mind to replace it with and was wondering what would be a good reel to receive as a gift.   He uses his Komodo on a MH I believe and has it spooled with 30lbs braid so he can do some frogging and t-rigs in some cover and anything else he wouldn’t use his spinning reel for.  
 

these are the reels I had in mind:

 

1. Shimano MGL/DC

2. Shimano 2018 Bantam MGL

3. Daiwa 2021 Zillion SV

4. Shimano 2020 Metanium MGL

 

 

out of those 4.   What would you want to receive as a gift and why?

 

edit:   He mostly fishes from shore and we do float tube fish at times so casting distance can be important. 

I just went through this and I went with a Zillion after conducting all my research.  But to be 100% honest, you won't go wrong with any of them!

Thinkin any of them would be good, but the zillion is the top pick, cause it's a zillion!!!

The Zillion is far superior to everything else there is at that price point, so it really is a no brainer. And i'd grab the Zillion HD, sexier gift🙂They can be had for sub $300cad on auctions.

It must be a trick question.  

 

Yeah.   I was leaning to the Zillion.   I have all reels and I prefer the bantam over them all with the zillion close second.  I have a zillion HD as well.    But I was curious what the general public would think is a better gift and it seems the zillion is on point.    Silly question of me to ask

7 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

Yeah.   I was leaning to the Zillion.   I have all reels and I prefer the bantam over them all with the zillion close second.  I have a zillion HD as well.    But I was curious what the general public would think is a better gift and it seems the zillion is on point.    Silly question of me to ask

The bantam would've been a better reel than even the zillion if it used Zillion gears and wasn't as heavy. The design and construction of the frame is perfect on that thing, but Shimano, as always, messing around with those gears, and for a reel that i'd like to use as an all arounder, its weight is just too much. A limited edition Magnesium bantam would be so nice.

1 minute ago, Micro Module Police said:

The bantam would've been a better reel than even the zillion if it used Zillion gears and wasn't as heavy. The design and construction of the frame is perfect on that thing, but Shimano, as always, messing around with those gears, and for a reel that i'd like to use as an all arounder, its weight is just too much. A limited edition Magnesium bantam would be so nice.

I don’t find the weight an issue on the bantam.  Maybe I’ve just used it in the right rods to balance right.   I have 4 and they’re all as smooth as my zillions and steez reels.   So maybe I got lucky with the micromodules for the time being?  

As a gift, I would give him the Bantam. Even though I might like the Zillion and Metanium better, the Bantam is a tank that will last and serve him well. I always compare it to a Shimano Calcutta but in a low profile. Great reel. 

11 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

I don’t find the weight an issue on the bantam.  Maybe I’ve just used it in the right rods to balance right.   I have 4 and they’re all as smooth as my zillions and steez reels.   So maybe I got lucky with the micromodules for the time being?  

Do you use them in the weeds or with lures that have a good amount of resistance? MM survives well if its not stressed. 

Just now, Micro Module Police said:

Do you use them in the weeds or with lures that have a good amount of resistance? MM survives well if its not stressed. 

I use them for everything.,   Bantam is my main heavy cover frog reel.   Took the reins back from my ‘22 zillion hd.    The other bantams are cranking, chatterbaits and t-rigs in all types of cover and no cover.    

13 minutes ago, FishTank said:

As a gift, I would give him the Bantam. Even though I might like the Zillion and Metanium better, the Bantam is a tank that will last and serve him well. I always compare it to a Shimano Calcutta but in low profile. Great reel. 

yeah true.    His Komodo must be at least 12 years if I recall if not older.   He got it when it first came out.    So I’m sure he’d enjoy another tank of a reel to last a lifetime.    

2 hours ago, Micro Module Police said:

Do you use them in the weeds or with lures that have a good amount of resistance? MM survives well if its not stressed. 

 

My Bantam is used for 6in Magdrafts, jigs, big topwater and big crankbaits, some deep. I have pulled stumps out (sort of exaggerating) with a P5 Super Destroyer. I caught five pounders in heavy cover and vegetation. I have pulled fish from 30 feet deep on crankbaits and I caught a 20+lb catfish on a 6in Magdraft. This reel still feels like new and the gears are, once again, perfect. 

Although I have no opinion or vote on this as I don’t own any of the above mentioned, I will say I would be thrilled to receive any of the above. 

Admittedly a fan of Daiwa although I own quite a few different brands.  Also a fan of the Zillion, but from what little I've read on the Komodo I'd say the Bantam might be more in line with what he's used to fishing with.  Nor do I think reel weight will be a problem as it's definitely lighter than the Komodo.

For me, it would have to be the Zillion as many others have said.

 

That being said, I really like my 2018 Bantam for it's heavy duty build feel. I know it weighs more, but I honestly don't notice it. 

 

I DO admit that the casting suffers a bit on the 2018 Bantam due to where the line be guide is in relation to the spool. I've heard the 2022 Bantams addressed that, but I don't have one to compare. 

 

I don't have the 2020 Metanium and I'm not a fan of the DC reels, so my order would be Zillion, Bantam, Met, Scorpion.

3 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

I've heard the 2022 Bantams addressed that

 

That's true. With narrow MGL 3 spool, it casts just as well as 20 Metaniums, one of the reasons that I'd recommend it over all the above reels, as a Daiwa fan.

Zillion

I gotta go Met.  Bantam is a tank the Zillion is great. Not sure on the Scorpion.

FM

On 1/4/2026 at 2:03 PM, Micro Module Police said:

The bantam would've been a better reel than even the zillion if it used Zillion gears and wasn't as heavy. The design and construction of the frame is perfect on that thing, but Shimano, as always, messing around with those gears, and for a reel that i'd like to use as an all arounder, its weight is just too much. A limited edition Magnesium bantam would be so nice.

 Its called a Metanium same three piece frame as the Bantam but in magnesium.

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 Its called a Metanium same three piece frame as the Bantam but in magnesium.

I have the 24 DC, and its my fav shimano ever. But still, Bantam is better built because the palming side plate is metal, which its plastic on the met dc.

53 minutes ago, Micro Module Police said:

I have the 24 DC, and its my fav shimano ever. But still, Bantam is better built because the palming side plate is metal, which its plastic on the met dc.

I was not talking about the met DC. I mentioned the 23 Metanium which is a magnesium core solid body per Shimano.

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

I was not talking about the met DC. I mentioned the 23 Metanium which is a magnesium core solid body per Shimano.

Its the same frame, minus the magnesium side plate instead of a plastic one on the DC. Still, the frame of the Bantam is comfier to me than the one on the Met. looks better, too.