Daiwa Tatula Elite Long Cast Review

[fishballer06]

As some of you may know from my recent thread on here, you'll know that I recently purchased the new Daiwa Tatula Elite Long Cast reel. I've finally got some time in on the water with this reel to really be able to make an assessment of this reel.

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=149162.0

Backstory - I've own(ed) numerous Daiwa reels, but I've always primarily used them for flipping/pitching because I felt this was a category that Daiwa reels were superior at, and that my Shimano reels are better caster's. I've even own a Tatula HLC (hyper long cast) model that I use for frogging, but I was never keen on that reel because it wasn't the most comfortable in my hand. So whenever I heard that the new Tatula Elite was modeled off a Steez on the Tatula 100 frame and was tweaked for longer casting, my interest was piqued.

Feel - Every Tatula I have ever owned has not been the most comfortable in my hands, but this new smaller size Tatula is very comfortable in my hand. It's small and compact, but it feels very sturdy in the hand with the aluminum frame and sideplate. The clutch/thumb bar has a very positive feel, and the braking system is also a breeze to adjust. My one gripe with this reel is that the handle knobs are a little smaller than I prefer to use and I have ordered a replacement set of RCS cork knobs to replace them. The Zero Adjust spool tension knob is a little different than what I'm used to, but I've started getting used to it. It's still possible to adjust, but it's somewhat difficult to do.

On The Water - My first trip out with the reel. I spooled it up with 14lb Gamma Polyflex and mounted the reel on my Dobyns 736cb. I threw some spinnerbaits and buzzbaits with the reel. During this first outing with the reel, I kept getting overruns and backlashes every time I made a hard cast at full power. I wasn't sure if this was the reel, or the line I was using (since it was a little old). But I was very impressed at the distance I could get with this reel at 75% power. I was getting the same distance with this reel with less power, than I did with my Shimano's at full power.

So this weekend I went out again, only this time I re-spooled the reel with Suffix 832 braid in 40lb test. Immediately I could tell the reel was performing much better. It quickly became apparent that this reel doesn't like if you put full power into a cast. But once you get the settings dialed in, I was able to bomb a buzzbait significantly further than any other reel I owned when throwing at about 70-80% power. What blew me away was how quickly the line flies off this reel during the cast. I think this is how the reel is able to achieve such great distance. Every time I would push it and cast too hard, I would be rewarded with a backlash.

So there's definitely a sweet spot on the braking system and how much power to put behind your cast. What's nice is that I can make a soft cast and still get good distance. I can see this coming in handy on a long day whenever I'm tired, or for another angler who might be older or have a medical condition that hinders their casting.

I hooked into three fish this weekend and the drag performed great for me. It was silky smooth and gave me no worries at all. The reel remained smooth and I didn't experience any issues while fighting fish and the reel performed exactly how I would expect any quality Daiwa reel to perform.

Overall - I'm very impressed with this reel. I think I've still got some learning to do on how this reel performs, but I think I've got a good feel for it now. The distance with this reel is super impressive. So much so that I think I'll probably buy another in the 6:1 ratio to go alongside this one. If you're on the fence about this reel, I highly recommend buying one. And if you have any questions on the reel, I'll gladly try to answer them.

[Mike Cork]

Thank you for an awesome detailed review. I'm gonna have to check them out. I've always been a shimano guy but have played with a few tat's and love them as long as I'm not using them with something I might have my finger on the line... Definitely casting machines.

[gtrpickr]

Great review, I'm gonna get me a tatula one of these days

[Smallie_Stalker]

Thanks for the great review! 

I haven't had a chance to actually fish with my new Tat SV 103 but I have been able to make some practice casts and I get the same experience of not being able to throw hard with it without a backlash. I'm coming form mostly Abu Revos and I really have to put some wind up into them to get a long cast. Not so with the Tatula SV.

These new Daiwas are definitely something different.

[Lipripper]

Thanks for the great review.  I'm going to have to do some used reel shopping before Christmas. I only own one Bait Caster so I guess it's time to get another one this year.

[1ReelFanatik]

Very nice review.  I have more reels than I can use, but now I think I need another.   

I've read that Daiwas don't respond well to power casts.  How you are casting gives the best results.  The majority of my reels are Daiwas, but I couldn't say if this is true.  I seldom notice little things.  I probably am so used to casting them that I am not aware of how I cast a Daiwa compared to a Shimano.  Someday I will have to see if there is a difference in my casting style when using different reels.