I recently aquired a TD Sol.

First impressions:

It's small. I was thinking it was going to end up on my CR 721 rod becouse it was so small. I liked the compact feel of the reel. I liked the fact it felt like my old Bantam reel in regards to the handle not sticking out far, which doesn't make the reel feel tippy like the BPS Bionic I got, or a lot of the other reels I checked out at the store. The balance on my MBR 785C rod is outstanding. It felt like I forgot to put the reel on.

First outing:

I spooled the reel with Yo-Zuri hybid, 12lb rated, clear line. I tested it on my MBR 785C IMX rod. I first tested the setup with 2 cranks, a Rapala Husky jerk, and a Rapala deep down Husky jerk. First cast I forgot to set the cast control to the lure, and made a minor mess. I then corrected the mishap and proceeded to fish. The reel is awesome. No backlash, no need to feather the spool with your thumb. Casting distance was good. The cast control/braking system is easy to use, and small changes make a difference. I then set up a SwimSenko with a bullit weight. Again casting was easy to dial in and no backlash issues.

Pro's:

Good weight and balance. Casting and braking are top notch. Smooooooth. Nice compact size. Dead on anti-backlash system. I had no issues with the smaller spool, but I could see it might be a problem for long term use where you are cutting a lot of damaged line off in a day or weekend of use. The drag is nice and smooth too.

Con's:

The handle, IMO, is a cheesy POS. It's a handle I would expect to find on a reel that came in a bubble package hanging on a hook for $30. Really disappointed in the handle. I would liked to have seen it come with a metal Ti coated line guide. I'm not sure I want to spool up braid on this reel.

I don't think you need to worry about that reel holding up with braid on it.  The handle can be upgraded with a TD-Z handle from Daiwa. ($39.95)  Your line guide is coated, no worries there.   8-)

I don't think you need to worry about that reel holding up with braid on it.  The handle can be upgraded with a TD-Z handle from Daiwa. ($39.95)  Your line guide is coated, no worries there.   8-)

I agree that a handle upgrade is in order.   The TD-Z handle is a perfect fit, but I recall paying more than $40.00

I also had the drag upgraded to carbontex.

Abec 5 ceramic spool bearings completed the upgrade package.

It's a different reel.  The handle has no play and is bearing supported so combined with the new spool bearings, casting distance has dramatically and the retrieve's are so smooth, effortless, and quiet, yet still maintaing that "Daiwa feel".  There are no more backlashes even with very light lures, and the "there's just something about it that I love " factor has gone off the charts.

I like it better now than my TD_Z's.

Seriously though.  The handle swap made a dramatic difference.

good luck and have fun.

avid

I like mine too.  I had it upgraded similar to Avid's but I find the stock handle is just fine.

Dan

Hmm...

I wonder why Shimano reels are made so differently?

They seem good-to-go right out of the box.

:

Hmm...

I wonder why Shimano reels are made so differently?

They seem good-to-go right out of the box.

:

Cute,

but you can get a bunch of upgrades for any Shimano reel,

but then again if you put lipstick on a pig,

It's still a pig......

Hmm...

I wonder why Shimano reels are made so differently?

They seem good-to-go right out of the box.

:

Cute,

but you can get a bunch of upgrades for any Shimano reel,

but then again if you put lipstick on a pig,

It's still a pig......

Ouch!  

I should stay out of "family" discussions.  ;D ;D ;D

I like mine too.  I had it upgraded similar to Avid's but I find the stock handle is just fine.

Dan

Good for you Dan.  

My reel handle was fine except for one annoying thing.

The grips did not fit snugly so there was play in them that bothered me.

The upgrade solved this and provided enhanced smoothness as a bonus.

Hmm...

I wonder why Shimano reels are made so differently?

They seem good-to-go right out of the box.

:

Cute,

but you can get a bunch of upgrades for any Shimano reel,

but then again if you put lipstick on a pig,

It's still a pig......

Ouch!  

I should stay out of "family" discussions.  ;D ;D ;D

Please don't.

I love being able to rag on guys who can take it without crying.

Of course, if you should say something to ME.............

Well just so you know that I will be  

and you will feel horrible

heheheheheheheheheh  

Hmm...

I wonder why Shimano reels are made so differently?

They seem good-to-go right out of the box.

:

Oh yeah, you just reminded me, that I left out of my reveiw, how much better the anti-reverse is compared to some other Japanese reels on the market.

Regarding:  I wonder why Shimano reels are made so differently?  

They seem good-to-go right out of the box.

Attaboy RW, I was just coming to question why a $200 + reel needs a bunch of upgrades and you nailed it.

Although, I do have reels I like better than Shimanos, that feel and perform as well as or better than.  For example, IMHO the Daiwa/Cabelas Capricorn/Prodigy spinning reels beat the Stradics.  I took my  son's Stradics apart for cleaning/lubing last year and they sure look cheap on the inside, are hard to disassemble and reassemble, are no smoother, quieter, and have no better drag than the D/C C/P's, and my perference is for a handle that fits the hand better than that clunky chunk on the Stradic.  And they are significantly less expensive.

The Sol doesn 't "need" any upgrades, the Citica, Curado and Chronarch Mg also have a stamped metal handle.

The Sol looks better with a TDZ handle but that doesn 't mean it "needs" it.

If that were the case the Curado and Chronarch Mg also "need" a cold forged handle.