Senile Old Fart Review of Combo

[TWBryan]

I got myself a Daiwa Tatula 100hs for Christmas . For my birthday I ended up with two fishing rods,one is a 6'8" Fenwick Lunker Stik,the other rod is a 7' Daiwa Fuego rod. I finally got a chance to hobble out of the house yesterday and test the reel with the Daiwa rod.

I have to say the rod flummoxed me, it felt like I was casting with a 2x4,a rather long 2x4 at that. Yes I could cast with it,but not accurately,and was left with the lingering thought that I needed a hammer and nails..

Today I stuck the tatula on the fenwick rod and again hobbled out to the front yard. Desperation overcoming the fear of public embarrassment obviously. At once I noticed that this rod felt like a fishing rod,rather than lumber. I cast for several minutes,not very accurately mind you,but getting there. I decided this rod was something I can work with. So I packed away the Daiwa rod and am working out a way to hang up the fenwick/tatula combo,some way to make it easy to get to for (more) frequent practice.

While longer rods are more difficult for me to cast I can find no fault with the daiwa tatula reel,it performed reliably,and no matter how clumsy I was it did not backlash. In fact it casts so far I used up all the line on the reel. I cannot ask for better performance then that. The only oddity worth mention is I kept hearing and/or feeling a slight hiss, and I cannot be certain it was not just braid going through the guides.

My performance was that of a clumsy old goat who hasn't been fishing in years,and yes it showed. :D

Thanks For Looking!

[zippyduck]

I am glad you enjoyed the reel. Lots of rods today have a different feel than older rods. Many feel a lot stiffer which gives you more sensitivity. Once you get used to them it all makes sense.

[TWBryan]

Zippy, I love the reel,all my experience with baitcasters,up to this point,is with abu garcia round reels. I like them okay,but the tatula was something else,so easy to use. As to rods I am actually thinking of getting another tatula,eventually,and putting it on a 5' 6" pistol grip rod. Sometimes fishing the bank means close quarters.

[zippyduck]

I still have a 5'6" Lews pistol grip around here somewhere.

[TWBryan]

The 5' 6" rod I have I bought from Cabela's years ago,medium action, from "The Canadian series". It used to be my "go-to" and is the most accurate in casting that I own. It seems to me that people desire distance more than accuracy which I find puzzling. I have been watching on youtube the "underhand-pitch" type of casting which I think is the best bet for me to try on the new rod and reel rig.

[Mike Cork]

Thank you for the review It's these kind of posts that make UB great.

Lots of folks loving the Daiwa reels. 

With the public practicing, as long as you don't put a target out there, you made every cast perfectly 

[TWBryan]

Mike,thank you for your kind words. I wish I could get out and put the reel and rod to the test out fishing. Unfortunately hobbling out to the front yard is about my limit. I am physically disabled and caring for my mother who has dementia. It's hard for me to get away,and just about impossible to find "convenient" fishing where I live.

Still love the reel,would like another for my short rod.

I'm pretty sure by now the neighbor's think me quite mad for "fishing" in the front yard. :D 

[TWBryan]

One update-

I managed to get out in the front yard with the new fishing rig. I discovered to my dismay that I am too close to the ground to do the under-handed casting. Or not far enough away. I achieved the milestone of creating a backlash on the reel though. After that triumph of medicrity over technology, I re-set the reel controls and stuck to a side-cast and overhand cast. Surprisingly enough I am showing signs of improvement with both of those techniques. I can tell,I am sure though any witness might question my assertion.

[1ReelFanatik]

A couple things caught my attention in your post.  The biggest being you can cast all the line off.  You are now officially listed among my heroes.   

Which Fuego rod do you have?  What weight were you casting?

[TWBryan]

1ReelFanatik, I think I just put thick line on a small spool,but hooray for me anyway. The Fuego rod is 7' ,medium heavy. I was using a 3/8 oz sinker.