SV103 Opinions 2025
JGBassinAL reply :
I finally decided to try a Daiwa so I talked to Gary at the Tackle Trap about the SV 103. Of course, they are out of the 7.9:1 and they won't have one in stock till the later part of next week since he just ordered some today. It could be a sign to not stray from Shimano but I am really intrigued by this reel and am gonna give it a go. Have any of you had any water time with this reel? What are your thoughts? Thanks!
Hogsticker reply :
What are you wanting to use the reel for? Anything specific, or just all around use? Either way, this reel has you covered. I just used mine (also bought from Gary) for the 1st time this past Monday. I tossed 4.8 flick shake worms on a 1/8 oz wacky head, 1/4 oz poppers, 1/2 oz lipless cranks, and other misc. stuff. Daiwa took the best "workhorse" reel they ever made and made it even better with the addition of the SV spool. I kinda figured as much before purchasing mine. Super smooth and connected as with the original OG Zillion, aluminum frame and gear side plate so it feels super solid, plus the added versatility of the SV spool. Great reel. A little heavy, but should balance well on most rods over 7 foot, as most of the super light casting reels do not. If I had to summarize to a Shimano guy, imagine if they brought the Chronarch D series back with added versatility in terms of casting range. Not to mention this reel is a blast to skip with. The SV105 and SV 103 are the best things Daiwa has done in a very long time imo.
robster80 reply :
On 3/25/2016 at 2:37 PM, Hogsticker said:What are you wanting to use the reel for? Anything specific, or just all around use? Either way, this reel has you covered. I just used mine (also bought from Gary) for the 1st time this past Monday. I tossed 4.8 flick shake worms on a 1/8 oz wacky head, 1/4 oz poppers, 1/2 oz lipless cranks, and other misc. stuff. Daiwa took the best "workhorse" reel they ever made and made it even better with the addition of the SV spool. I kinda figured as much before purchasing mine. Super smooth and connected as with the original OG Zillion, aluminum frame and gear side plate so it feels super solid, plus the added versatility of the SV spool. Great reel. A little heavy, but should balance well on most rods over 7 foot, as most of the super light casting reels do not. If I had to summarize to a Shimano guy, imagine if they brought the Chronarch D series back with added versatility in terms of casting range. Not to mention this reel is a blast to skip with. The SV105 and SV 103 are the best things Daiwa has done in a very long time imo.
u dont work for daiwa do u lol. cuz readin all that has got me itching to buy one asap
new2BC4bass reply :
Flip side. Have the 105. Wasn't impressed, but want to be. Used it again Wednesday. Had to ride the spool more than usual at the beginning of the cast but spool seemed to slow down faster than normal towards the end of the cast. Yet set up as I had it, it still required a thumb as the lure hit the water. Managed to not use the thumb on one landing....resulting in a nice over-run. Have spool tension very light and brakes at 6....similar to how I was told the reel should be set in another thread. Had to remove several over-runs and backlashes. Tried throwing easy as also suggested. Reel is stock out of the box.
Being spring there is a fair amount of wind. However, my 50th Zillion and Primmus had no such problems. Didn't have to remove one over-run or backlash with either.
Normally I have a Curado 51E paired with the 6'10" MF ET Smallmouth rod I currently have the 105 on. That combo works very well. Going to put the 105 on another rod to see if there is any improvement. I really want to like this reel. Most people seem to be very impressed with it. I'd like to be.
JGBassinAL reply :
On 3/25/2016 at 2:37 PM, Hogsticker said:What are you wanting to use the reel for? Anything specific, or just all around use? Either way, this reel has you covered. I just used mine (also bought from Gary) for the 1st time this past Monday. I tossed 4.8 flick shake worms on a 1/8 oz wacky head, 1/4 oz poppers, 1/2 oz lipless cranks, and other misc. stuff. Daiwa took the best "workhorse" reel they ever made and made it even better with the addition of the SV spool. I kinda figured as much before purchasing mine. Super smooth and connected as with the original OG Zillion, aluminum frame and gear side plate so it feels super solid, plus the added versatility of the SV spool. Great reel. A little heavy, but should balance well on most rods over 7 foot, as most of the super light casting reels do not. If I had to summarize to a Shimano guy, imagine if they brought the Chronarch D series back with added versatility in terms of casting range. Not to mention this reel is a blast to skip with. The SV105 and SV 103 are the best things Daiwa has done in a very long time imo.
I was gonna use it for jigs but I picked up an Antares HG last night for a steal so I will probably put the 103 on my Texas rig or wobble head set up. If it casts light baits well then I will probably use it for Texas rigs since I throw 3/16 oz a lot.
Hogsticker reply :
On 3/25/2016 at 8:13 PM, new2BC4bass said:Flip side. Have the 105. Wasn't impressed, but want to be. Used it again Wednesday. Had to ride the spool more than usual at the beginning of the cast but spool seemed to slow down faster than normal towards the end of the cast. Yet set up as I had it, it still required a thumb as the lure hit the water. Managed to not use the thumb on one landing....resulting in a nice over-run. Have spool tension very light and brakes at 6....similar to how I was told the reel should be set in another thread. Had to remove several over-runs and backlashes. Tried throwing easy as also suggested. Reel is stock out of the box.
Being spring there is a fair amount of wind. However, my 50th Zillion and Primmus had no such problems. Didn't have to remove one over-run or backlash with either.
Normally I have a Curado 51E paired with the 6'10" MF ET Smallmouth rod I currently have the 105 on. That combo works very well. Going to put the 105 on another rod to see if there is any improvement. I really want to like this reel. Most people seem to be very impressed with it. I'd like to be.
You're honestly the 1st person I've come across who's had any issues with the 105. I have yet to find a reel that requires zero thumb at splash down with exception of the Exsence DC at proper settings. What do you mean spool tension very light? By light do you mean loose? Loose as in side to side to play? If so, that's all wrong and it will indeed create some nests. I'd have to search for it, but there is a video regarding proper spool tension with SV reels. The guy in the video actually casts straight up in the air like a wild man and gets no backlash. The tension should be set so there is virtually no play, slightest movement at best. And yes, forceful casts are not needed with SV equipped reels. At any rate I have no problems with either reel and fine them to be rather swell.
On 3/25/2016 at 5:29 PM, robster80 said:u dont work for daiwa do u lol. cuz readin all that has got me itching to buy one asap
Negative. I have reservations about Daiwa guys buying Shimano reels and having expectations, as I do the opposite. We like what we like and get set in our ways. Doesn't just apply to fishing reels, but pretty much everything in life.
IDUTBass reply :
I picked up a 105 last year and it took some time to get the tension right and learn to cast without really forcing it. Just as Hogsticker said. After a few trips messing around with those, it's turned out to be a great reel and it will very rarely backlash. It does seem to have a bit of a learning curve, at least it did for me.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 3/25/2016 at 9:44 PM, Hogsticker said:You're honestly the 1st person I've come across who's had any issues with the 105. I have yet to find a reel that requires zero thumb at splash down with exception of the Exsence DC at proper settings. What do you mean spool tension very light? By light do you mean loose? Loose as in side to side to play? If so, that's all wrong and it will indeed create some nests. I'd have to search for it, but there is a video regarding proper spool tension with SV reels. The guy in the video actually casts straight up in the air like a wild man and gets no backlash. The tension should be set so there is virtually no play, slightest movement at best. And yes, forceful casts are not needed with SV equipped reels. At any rate I have no problems with either reel and fine them to be rather swell.
kickerfish1 had similar problems.
I believe one poster mentioned it took some time getting his SV dialed in. Shortly after getting into baitcast reels, a young guy who had been using them for 20 years (since early teens) told me to run spools with just enough tension to remove side-to-side play and keep spool filled for best distance. Some of my reels require more tension than that....for me to use efficiently. Meaning to avoid backlashes and over-runs.
I also recall someone posting to run spool tension very low for best results with the SV. Also not to cast hard. I've got a few Diawas and this is the only one causing me problems. There are a couple possible solutions to my problem mentioned in the link I gave.
AFAIK there are only 2 adjustments I can make...spool tension and brakes. I am sure I can come up with a setting that will eliminate my over-runs and backlashes....but...at what cost to distance? I'm not getting that much now.
I will try to find that video. Please post it if you find it. Thanks.
kickerfish1 reply :
Here is a link to the video with the upward cast. This the Steeze SV I believe so I am not sure how fair it is to the topic at hand other than it contains the letters "SV"
Good memory new2bc4bass. My first experience with the SV concept came from putting a SV spool in a custom Alphas reel. Blown away by the performance and ease of spooling the reel with a 1/4 oz casting plug I bought an Alphas SV 105. The reel was a bit finicky at first and lacked both performance and user friendliness. A friend said to oil a certain part in the reel and flush the bearings. I have used it since and it seems to be a night and day difference. Casted it a few times this spring into a pretty strong head wind and not a single over run. I believe the problem that may be causing some people fits is the inductor sticking.
Hogsticker reply :
Where's the link? Not seeing it. I this in the video he also mentions not filing the spool to max for optimal results.
tbone1993 reply :
One of the things holding me back on shallow spooled reels is the versatility. Can you use these shallow spools and still get a decent cast? I want to use one for jigs, both swimming and pitching.
Hogsticker reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 1:55 PM, tbone1993 said:One of the things holding me back on shallow spooled reels is the versatility. Can you use these shallow spools and still get a decent cast? I want to use one for jigs, both swimming and pitching.
110 yards of 12 lb test is quite a bit. If you can cast anything 300 feet you got skills. At any rate, this is plenty of line for any bass related scenario. I don't really consider it a shallow spool. 50 and 70 series Shimanos hold less.
tbone1993 reply :
On 3/26/2016 at 2:14 PM, Hogsticker said:110 yards of 12 lb test is quite a bit. If you can cast anything 300 feet you got skills. At any rate, this is plenty of line for any bass related scenario. I don't really consider it a shallow spool. 50 and 70 series Shimanos hold less.
Im think 15-20 invisx or that new flipping line. Possibly 50lb braid with a leader.
kickerfish1 reply :
desmobob reply :
Thanks for posting that video. I'll be using my new Alphas SV105 this afternoon, and will be thinking about the tips in the video.
Tight lines,
Bob
Hogsticker reply :
Right on. Thx for the vid!
new2BC4bass reply :
Okay. Saw that video. Spool tension is set as he suggested and brakes at 6 and using 10# Excalibur. Haven't tried Max brakes. Need to try kickerfish1's suggestions
desmobob reply :
I got to cast my Alphas SV105 a little bit today. I set the spool tension as suggested in the video [tight enough to eliminate any spool side-play, then back off a click (my spool tension knob doesn't have a clicker, so I backed it off about 1/16 turn)].
I have the reel on a Kistler 6' 9" KLX "Finesse Worm, Tube and Jig" MHF rod that's rated for lures 1/8-3/8 oz. I have the spool filled to capacity with 8 lb. test Yo-Zuri hybrid. I was throwing a Yamamoto twin-tailed Hula Grub on a 1/4 oz. swing-head jig. I started with the brake on about 7 of 10, and ended up at about 5 (estimated). Casting normal distances was effortless and the only overruns I experienced were when I hit a tree branch or when I happened to somehow move the rod quickly after the cast with my thumb off the spool and the reel not yet in gear. Short casts and pitching were as nice as I would hope for.
But, when I try to get a bit of extra distance, it really feels like the brakes are choking the cast. The braking is pretty aggressive and I'm wondering how the man in the video was doing some of his casting with the brake set at 10/10. Also, the spool bearings are pretty noisy. I'll order a set of replacements from Hawgtech.
I definitely like the reel and I have a feeling it will grow on me. Today, I realized just how effortless it is to make normal casts with it. It was the only bait caster I used today so I didn't get to compare it to other rigs head-to-head, which I'll certainly get to do in the future. The other rods I was casting today were light and ultralight spinning rods, so the SV105 had to be working pretty well for it to make casting feel effortless after throwing the light spinning tackle.
I guess I can say I'm impressed; just not overly. So far. :-)
Tight lines,
Bob
Hogsticker reply :
Bob - You pretty much touched on all the benefits of SV concept. Versatility in terms of range and ease. Nice easy stroke and accuracy. Long bomb casting is not a perk of SV concept. The braking is somewhat aggressive, and what's strange is it can vary from SV reel to reel. Some spools have weaker Springs and longer inductors than others. Some reels have stronger magnets than others as well. The SS SV is a perfect example of this. Type R and hlc spools are better for distance casting. The nice thing about SV reels is just about anyone can learn to skip with them. It's nice for me as I Wade a lot and get my plastics under over hangs and what not, and can change lure weights on the fly without switching gear.
Further North reply :
On 3/25/2016 at 9:44 PM, Hogsticker said:We like what we like and get set in our ways. Doesn't just apply to fishing reels, but pretty much everything in life.
If that's not the simple, unvarnished truth, I don't know what is.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Reel adjustments aren't universal that's why they're adjustable. The variables in Rod , bait , conditions Etc not to mention casting style are so plentiful you really need to experiment for yourself. A particular reel could be fantastic but just not for you.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 10:53 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:Reel adjustments aren't universal that's why they're adjustable. The variables in Rod , bait , conditions Etc not to mention casting style are so plentiful you really need to experiment for yourself. A particular reel could be fantastic but just not for you.
Yeah. I've come to throw hard almost every cast thanks to practicing more than fishing. Even when fishing in Florida with relation in a boat, many of my casts are long distance as the guy in control of the boat keeps it back quite a ways in most situations. Fishing locally I am often fishing in spots with a lot of pressure, so I am trying to reach out further in an effort to reach places not everyone else can reach. Seems this type of cast is NOT what you want to do with the SV.
DelcoSol reply :
I too had problems with my Alphas SV. What is really odd is that I had a Steez 103HA with an SV spool that was great and I had no issues with. The Alphas was not the same. I couldn't get it to calm down without turning the brakes very high and then distance suffered. Maybe I got a lemon? I ended up selling it and getting the Curado 70.
DogBone_384 reply :
On 3/25/2016 at 8:13 PM, new2BC4bass said:Flip side. Have the 105. Wasn't impressed, but want to be. Used it again Wednesday. Had to ride the spool more than usual at the beginning of the cast but spool seemed to slow down faster than normal towards the end of the cast. Yet set up as I had it, it still required a thumb as the lure hit the water. Managed to not use the thumb on one landing....resulting in a nice over-run. Have spool tension very light and brakes at 6....similar to how I was told the reel should be set in another thread. Had to remove several over-runs and backlashes. Tried throwing easy as also suggested. Reel is stock out of the box.
Being spring there is a fair amount of wind. However, my 50th Zillion and Primmus had no such problems. Didn't have to remove one over-run or backlash with either.
Normally I have a Curado 51E paired with the 6'10" MF ET Smallmouth rod I currently have the 105 on. That combo works very well. Going to put the 105 on another rod to see if there is any improvement. I really want to like this reel. Most people seem to be very impressed with it. I'd like to be.
I bought a 105 during TW’s big sale. I’ve had it out twice and experienced exactly what you posted. It’s spooled with 10# fluoro and sat on A 6’6” M/F Veritas and a 6’10” ML/F ***.
I might move the fluoro to another reel and try braid.
Like you, I really want to like this reel.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 10/8/2017 at 7:32 AM, DogBone_384 said:I bought a 105 during TW’s big sale. I’ve had it out twice and experienced exactly what you posted. It’s spooled with 10# fluoro and sat on A 6’6” M/F Veritas and a 6’10” ML/F ***.
I might move the fluoro to another reel and try braid.
Like you, I really want to like this reel.
I wound up sending the reel to Ian Shields. He did a clean/inspect/re-lube, a full tuning polish, installed ZPI SiC spool bearings, tuned spool inductor and added a worm shaft bearing and collar. The inductor tuning is suppose to make the spool a bit faster. Of the reels I mentioned to Ian, he said this reel would be the best to learn skipping. I put it on a 6'3" M-MF Elite Tech Smallmouth for that purpose. Had it out once. Casts much better. Didn't try skipping.
Embarrassed to say it hasn't been out since. I haven't been out much this year at all. Even on my yearly trip to Florida I only got out 3 times. As I remember, it no longer slows down so much in the middle of the cast. Nor was I having the overrun/backlash issues I had previously. Control is better. Distance is better although limited somewhat by the short rod. The plan is to use it for short casts and skipping. Figure to save the long distance skips (on a longer rod) for when I am good at it...should that ever happen. 
One reason for not having it out (besides not getting out much) is that I've added a few new and new-2-me reels and a couple rods so when I did get out I took the new gear. I also had no plans to skip so I left the 105 SV at home. I have recently added 2 more SV reels....a Tatula SV TW and SV103. I have had no problems with these reels. Both are being used straight from the box.
One of the new-2-me reels I picked up was the Exsence DC Hogsticker mentioned. Came with a wire-like feeling fluorocarbon spooled. As Hogsticker stated, with the right settings no thumb is needed anywhere in the cast. I didn't touch the spool control. It is set light enough that a lure drops like a rock, but has no side-to-side play. Set at SP. BB, F or Max there is no need for the thumb...except to release the spool. 
I don't remember if I was able to cast that way with the Daiwa Magforce 3D braking system, but it would be the closest other braking system I have to a thumb free cast like the DC....short of tightening spool tension and brakes to the point it would severely limit casting distance.
As for the SV 105, from my one time out with it after the tune, I feel that it will become a favorite now. Before I liked its looks and how it fit my hand. Now I also like how it casts. I feel it will only get better with more time spent using it. Good luck with yours.
DogBone_384 reply :
We’ve got a couple weeks left in Bass season up here, so I’ll play with it some more. I’ll likely send it to DVT over the winter for some TLC.
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