got a Daiwa Baitcaster after decades.

Hobious · October 03, 2022, 10:24:20 AM

my first ever baitcaster reel was a Magforce or something. Daiwa for sure. i was a kid and that reel did everything for me.

as an adult, i kinda built up a Shimano Arsenal with a smattering of Lews and Abu reels. i decided to try a Daiwa and ordered the Tatula SV TW. in a very "unlike me" thing, i didnt open the box for a few days. but eventually, i zip the box open. nice!! kinda flashy with the logo and everything. in another "unlike me" move, i read the tiny instructions. what? run the spool loose? okay. i am targeting using this for flip/pitch into cover so i went with 50lb braid. it held 50 yards with my backing, so if i hate it i can peel it off and try something else. i attached it to a rod and went outside..(after i put on pants). i try to remember to do a gentle practice cast to avoid the first backlash. i set the mag to 75% and let it rip. bzzzzz! the practice plug plunked in the middle of my neighbors driveway! what? again..plunk! i pitch the tiny plug halfway across the street. just talking S, i think i can skip this bad boy!! (prob not)

i am now watching weather and tides for the CA Delta. i got a new rod/reel to show the fish!!

oh, i played with a 14lb flouro leader, and not even a FG knot will slip thru that tiny slot for a line guide on the reel. straight braid it is!!! maybe with smaller braid, i can get it to work. hmmm..

Note* i attached it to my best rod. my only best rod :D

Mike Cork · October 03, 2022, 10:57:47 AM

I am a Shimano guy through and through. However, I bought a couple of the Tat SV TW and they are very nice reels, I just couldn't get used to the t-wing. The line jumps in and out, because I'm a line holder, this would feel like the tick of a light bight and drive me nuts LOL

Great reel, I'm certain you'll love it.

Hobious · October 03, 2022, 11:06:16 AM

Quote from: Mike Cork on October 03, 2022, 10:57:47 AM
I am a Shimano guy through and through. However, I bought a couple of the Tat SV TW and they are very nice reels, I just couldn't get used to the t-wing. The line jumps in and out, because I'm a line holder, this would feel like the tick of a light bight and drive me nuts LOL

Great reel, I'm certain you'll love it.

hahah..i also noted the line jumping because i am always fingering the line as well. i like to put tension on the line on the retrieve so i can keep it taut. i found myself spooling line on the left side of the spool a few times because i derailed the T thing.

loomisguy · October 04, 2022, 04:28:06 AM

The Tatula SV is a great reel, casts lighter baits really well and Daiwa quality. Not really meant to be a flipping reel though.

Hobious · October 04, 2022, 07:17:24 AM

maybe. but as a kayak fisherman, i dont have the luxury of carrying a lot of rods. i have room for six. with the exception of my punch rig, i need them to perform multiple duties. it is what it is.

the new reel pitches better than my Shimano MGL 150, another reel not totally suited to pitching. i considered the Daiwa Elite PF and the Lews SP Pro, but bowed out eventually for a reel i can spool with other line and put it to other uses.

right now i got a bug up my butt to skip a baitcaster and this reel might, just might get me there.

Princeton_Man · October 04, 2022, 08:55:37 AM

I've got quite a few Tatulas including SVs as well as quite few Lews including a Lews Pro SP. The SP is good, but I believe I like the SV just a little better. I'm not great at skipping with either one, but both have improved my skip success ratio.

Smallie_Stalker · October 04, 2022, 12:22:36 PM

I became a Daiwa guy (again) in 2019 and that SV spool is what did it for me. It is my favorite reel at this point.

I've owned reels from about every major brand and a few lesser knowns too. I still have and use others - ABU, Lew's, Dobyns, even an old Browning reel. But day in and day out I will reach for a rod with a TATULA SV TW on it if possible.

The only thing I don't like about (most) modern Daiwas is the T-Wing. I use straight braid and don't hold my line, but on certain models the T-Wing catches the skin on the edge of the finger I lay along the blank so on those models I have to adjust the way I palm the reel.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Bud Kennedy · October 04, 2022, 12:40:28 PM

All of my active reels are Daiwa SV 103 series. I have multiple gear ratios but have a very strong preference for the 7 gear. I don't like the 8s because they just don't feel as smooth as the 7s or 6s. My reels are all about 5 years old and don't plan on buying anything to replace them anythime soon. If I did most likely I would again go Daiwa. I would like to try their pitch and flip reel but am not willing to spend the money they are asking. I haven't looked on line for quite a while just to see if I could find something lightly used.

1ReelFanatik · October 06, 2022, 05:52:02 PM

I was very glad to see you put on pants before going out even though I doubt you live across the street from me.

Now you need to step out and buy one of the new Zillions. And, of course, an even better rod.

I start with an Expride and look up (price wise) from there.

I've got several Shimano reels, but my Daiwas outnumber them by a lot.

Hobious · October 26, 2022, 06:25:05 PM

I did get after fish with them. kind of.

I actually stopped fishing and practice skipping a bait in a quiet cove. I was doing really well on some attempts!! tiny tight skips. accuracy was not there, nor was distance. but I got the move down somewhat.

no bites on the reel/rod. but that will come. I did backlash a few times, but nothing was too difficult to cuss thru.

caddyjoe77 · November 04, 2022, 07:34:16 PM

one of my favorite reels of all time. There are several large threads about the OG SV 103 and the later SV TW.

skipping shouldnt be too much of a problem with it. brakes on about 6-8, jig or whatever you are skipping about a foot out and its basically a roll cast -- the key to it is not trying to put too much behind it. Thats what causes the reels centrifugal force to spin so fast and hence a birds nest.