Stay with one brand of reels? 2025

keltonz reply :

Folks, I am looking to purchase a fourth baitcasting reel, and am deciding between the Daiwa Tatula CT and Shimano Curado K. Obviously the Shimano is quite a bit more expensive, but I have extensive experience with Daiwa reels. Is there anything to be said for using one brand of reels to keep the "feel" between setups similar? So I don't have to do as much mental swapping when I pick up a different setup? Or is that a bogus concept?

NHBull reply :

You will get used to what ever you have, especially since the rods will had a different feel....that said, the shamano reels just fit my hand better

wet_dream reply :

I don’t think it matters unless you’re throwing the exact same lure, on the exact same rod, with the reels being the only difference. Only then will you have to be cognizant of which reel you’re throwing. But you probably already have the reel adjusted to throw that particular lure, so it shouldn’t be that much of an adjustment.

I will say I started with Daiwa’s before venturing into Shimano. Daiwa’s braking system was a little more forgiving for me to learn on and it took a little bit of time and a little more thumb once I picked up my first Shimano.

Catt reply :

On 2/8/2018 at 4:57 AM, keltonz said:

I have extensive experience with Daiwa reels.

Is there anything to be said for using one brand of reels to keep the "feel" between setups similar?

So I don't have to do as much mental swapping when I pick up a different setup?

I throw Texas Rigs & Jig-n-Craws more than anything and the setups are identical, since I fish em the same I like em to feel the same.

Angry John reply :

Brand between daiwa and shimano is preference. Line speed the combination of gear ratio and speed will take a mental adjustment if being used for the same technique.

aaronprovbass reply :

I would go with the Daiwa. I have the ct type r and a sv tws the sv is a sweet reel. I have a new citica back to Shimano for repairs. Drag failure

Fishinthefish reply :

I personally prefer Shimano reels. They just feel better in my hands, it's not a quality of the reel type thing so much as a personal preference for the way it feels. Respectively in their price range you can usually do a coinflip between Diawa and Shimano. The Antares being as good as the Steez, and so on and so forth down the list. It's all about what feels right and looks good imho.

BrackishBassin reply :

On 2/8/2018 at 7:19 AM, Fishinthefish said:

I personally prefer Shimano reels. They just feel better in my hands, it's not a quality of the reel type thing so much as a personal preference for the way it feels. Respectively in their price range you can usually do a coinflip between Diawa and Shimano. The Antares being as good as the Steez, and so on and so forth down the list. It's all about what feels right and looks good imho.

Legitimately asking here, not trying to start anything. What would be the comparison to a Tatula CT in the Shimano line up? I was looking at getting a reel before Christmas (finances didn’t allow it) and it seemed like the Shimanos at similar price points (had CTs I could have picked up for $89 shipped) didn’t have quite as good of reviews. I understand their higher end stuff is comparable, but what about the lower end? Thanks!

Fishinthefish reply :

Casitas or the Citica would be the similiar reels price point wise. The lower end I still believe they're mostly comparable though I have significantly less time fishing with the middle to average price points. From what I've read on the website most people prefer the Tatula CT over any reel below 150 dollars.

Poolshark reply :

I personally tend to stick with one brand and only one or two different models.

That doesn't work for everyone, but I personally like the fluidity between one setup to another. Also it helps me when I'm breaking them down for maintenance and stockpiling certain parts. It's just easier for me all around.

Most every reel I own is a curado/chronarch. My personal experience with both Diawa and shimano has been great. Those are two places I prefer to spend money. Solid reels that last.

NathanDLTH reply :

I've tried just about every brand out there or all the major ones. Lews, Abu, 1-Three, Daiwa, Shimano. The only other brand aside from Daiwa and Shimano that I like is Lews. Of those three Daiwa is my favorite and the one I own the most of.

Darren. reply :

For me, the real test is spinning reels, and for those I prefer Shimano. I've owned both brands in casting and spinning. But I do more spinning than casting. I can say on the casting side the I prefer the Shimano Chronarch over the Daiwas I've used.

Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :

I got both brands a few Shimanos and a few daiwas. They all serve different purposes. Some type of lures the magnetic brake system better than centrifugal system. For Shimano I like the compact size the most 50 and 70 size reel. For daiwa the best budget for lure 1/8oz or less cant beat SV105.

Further North reply :

All the leading brands are great, I have some of each.

Pick your reels based on what you want to do, their specs, what you like best...and what you can get the best deal on.

ratherbfishin1 reply :

I don’t know about those because I’ve heard they are pretty similar but I have mostly lews and tried Shimano and I could honestly feel the difference. At first it would take a couple casts to adjust to the feel of the shimano from the lews but it isn’t too bad now that I’ve had it for like 6 months. Just thought I would tell you that I personally feel a difference between lews and shimano but that may just be me. I have never even tried a Daiwa baitcaster because I am satisfied with lews but I think the next reel will get will be a lower end Daiwa like the tatula.

Raul reply :

One weekend I fish all Daiwas, the next all Shimanos, another I pull all my older than dirt Abus.

FishDewd reply :

I like to diversify somewhat... I've owned a lot of different reels, and can't say I really have an overall favorite. I do have favorites for certain applications though, for sure. I've never owned any of the newer, high end Shimanos and Daiwas, etc, but I did have an older Calcutta my uncle gave me that I fixed, used for a bit, but ended up giving to a friend who was in a bad spot financially. I really don't miss it much, but it was a good reel. The main thing that interests me with reels is the mechanics of it all. At some point I get bored and decide to take one a part to see how it works, which is always an interesting adventure since every manufacturer is different. First reels I ever took a part and fixed/upgraded was some old, inherited Penn 209/309s that had seen better days. Drag was busted, all corroded up from years of neglect sitting in a badly insulated barn, broken worms, broken side plates, bad gear sleeves... the 209 is actually the reel I learned to baitcast on after I fixed it all up. The 209/309 are essentially reserved now for saltwater activities. The only thing I need to do to the 209 at some point is add a stainless gear sleeve to handle the drag upgrade I gave it, otherwise it's perfect and basically like new. I also have Abus, from C3s to a newer C4, a Lew's spinner (which btw was the smoothest $80 reel I tried in the store, including Shimano, when I bought it), Shakespears, Zebcos... I mean, they all have their place at some point.

CroakHunter reply :

I'm getting to the point where I have almost all daiwas with a Shimano and a lews mixed in. I can get the best bang for my buck with either the fuego, ct, or sv tws so that's why I have been replacing my older reels with these. I don't have a problem switching between brands because with my lews it is a low gear ratio cranking reel and the Shimano is on a frog rod. Two techniques that I don't use a whole lot or even throughout the whole year. Where as my jig, Texas rig, finesse jig, spinnerbait, carolina rig, and shakey head combos I do use all year. I would say get Another ct or even a fuego, not because it's a daiwa just because of the deal that can be had.

WRB reply :

If you are not sponsored to use a brand use whatever performs and feels right to you.

I select tackle based on performance, product customer service and balance with the rods being used for a specific presentation. I use both Daiwa and Shimano baitcasting reels today and Shimano spinning reels because they perform and feel right to me.

Tom

DINK WHISPERER reply :

Why limit yourself when there are so many great options on the market these days. I use to be brand loyal but like to try out different things now . . . . Even a Shimano!

Catt reply :

@keltonz I could be wrong but are you talking "ergonomics", feel in your hands not which company is better.

A Tatula CT isn't gonna feel like a Curado

Curado isn't gonna feel like a Citica neither will a Tatula feel like a Fuego

Comfortable is very important especially with bottom contact techniques.

Bankbeater reply :

I haven't fished with Daiwa reels in quite a few years. Most of the BC reels I have are Abu and Shimano reels, but I can't really tell how a reel feels until I get it on a rod and make a few casts with it.

Chance_Taker4 reply :

All my rods are Kistlers broken down between Mag 2, KLX and Helium 3, all my spinning reels are Stradics and all my casting reels are Abu Garcia. I use the same line brand with all my setups and for the most part all my hardbaits are from the same company. So I am one of those people that likes to keep ever category limited to one maybe two companies to keep confidence and feel.

Yudo1 reply :

Daiwa or shimano? IMO those are the best and the only reels I own. I have no problem switching between the braking systems.

junyer357 reply :

Im slowly switching all of mine to diawa tatulas of some kind. I have a tatula, a tw( and will be getting more), and several ct's. For me its all in having a similar feel in all my reels, in operation as well as physically. I also like that if i have a problem with one, i can use and dissect another to find the diffrence to fix the problem.

Reels im replacing are bps mostly and some lews, the lews im debating on to change or not still. I liked them well but love the tatula ct line, especially the tw's.

QUAKEnSHAKE reply :

Reel to reel models in Daiwa have different feels even among the SV series of reels. Their braking profiles differ to a degree with springs that are stiffer or inductor sizes that vary or spool sizes or magnet strength. A Tatula SV doesnt cast/feel the same as the SV105. A Tatula doesnt cast the same as the T3 magZ vs mag3D.

Shimano the same way a Curado E doesnt cast the same as the Curado I and the Curado K now has changed with the newest brake system.

So unless you stay current use all the same brand model versions their will be differences.

The best equalizer would be a highly trained thumb to lessen those changes between brands models.

Viper0463 reply :

On 2/8/2018 at 4:57 AM, keltonz said:

Folks, I am looking to purchase a fourth baitcasting reel, and am deciding between the Daiwa Tatula CT and Shimano Curado K. Obviously the Shimano is quite a bit more expensive, but I have extensive experience with Daiwa reels. Is there anything to be said for using one brand of reels to keep the "feel" between setups similar? So I don't have to do as much mental swapping when I pick up a different setup? Or is that a bogus concept?

I'm actually in the process of selling off all my non daiwa reels. I don't think that it's a mental swap thing. I just tried reels from a few manufacturers last year and have now decided to go with all daiwa casting reels. One thing that'll be nice is cleaning the reels will be almost like a assembly line lol. I'm going with tatula sv's it the best reel I've tried.

keltonz reply :

Just to close the loop, I went with the Tatula CT in 7.3. If I like it it might become my go-to!

4998

Stay with one brand of reels? 2025

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