Was a Daiwa guy when I was younger. Gradually shifted to Shimano for about 10-12 years but in the past 3 years been going back to Daiwa. I replace all the T handles on my spinning reels with Gomex knob style handles. The Diawa BG, BG MQ, Saltist Back Bay, Saltist & Certate series do not have an anti reverse switch. The Daiwa Certate is one of the smoothest reels out of the box that I ever brought.
My go to is the Stradic FL… smooth as butter & durable. I also have the older Stradic FK which is over 5 years old & still very smooth & no issues. They last forever!
I'm an avid trout fisherman who targets big trout in Connecticut. I haven't fished with a Shimano reel since I was in my teens, and I have no reason to ever go back to Shimano. I own a diawa ballistic, a diawa kage, and a diawa tatula... The ballistic is the best spinning reel I've ever fished with. There isn't a more reliable reel out there! I fish hard folks, my reels get banged around, get dunked under water... You name it. I've never had a diawa fail on me yet... Far from the many Shimanos that failed me when younger. We all used to fish with Shimano...now my buddies and I all fish with diawa. Shimano anti reverse... Used to break all the time. Never once in my diawa
Well done! I tried the Tatula after only buying Stradic Ci4 previously. I returned it and bought the vandford and do not regret it. It’s worth paying a higher price!
Wow same here that dawia made the worst sounds when casting the 3 and 4000 was good but just sounds terrible got the shimano vanford 4000 and am so glad I did ...no comparison
I’ve been using the Daiwa Ballistic 3000 for 2 years it’s been an excellent spinning reel. Super smooth and durable so far Just picked up a Stradic FL for my medium light rod for finesse fishing- Havent had a chance to use it yet Thanks for the video review. Now I may have to get a Vanford
I currently own the stadic, vanford, and tatula. I do not own the ballistic. From my experience, I own the Stradic the longest and can say that it is probably my favorite spinning reel. I really enjoy the aluminum frame and it is bullet proof. With that being said, the tatula took about a week to feel not so stiff. The vanford is an amazing reel and the local shop I went to gave me a 3000 for 200. I enjoy the vanford, but I just enjoy the stradic due to the build material. The vanford feels as if it casts light lures the furthest. Great reels no matter which one you choose.
One thing to note, on the stradic FL the 2500 has felt drag washers and the 3000 has carbon. So, get the 3000. The 3000 also has slightly faster gear ratio.
@@Tallnerdyguy if you saltwater fish as well its a must imo. Ive burnt/melted a felt drag before landing a monster Jack. Switched all my 2500 to 3000 after that incident.
Don't know about US models but in Europe you don't get a taller or wider spool with a Stradic FL C3000 compared to regular 2500, all you get is deeper spool, (larger line capacity) and a T-shape crank knob. Too large for most freshwater fishing especially if you go braid. Even the regular 2500 holds more than enough of FC/mono for most freshwater fish in the L-MH class (not counting like muskie, carp, salmon, catfish, Gar)
Hello, the Vanford how is in saltwater cuz many people say it is just for sweetwater ? I got vanford 4000F and i Sanna use it in ocean whats why Please let me know ❤
Awesome video! We need a new one to compare saltist back bay/ saltist / saltist mq / bg mq/ stradic/ vanford. I’ve been buying the back bays for around 145 I wonder how that compares to the others
Nice to see another sneakhead that loves fishing, I'm in the market for a Vanford and you just sold me on it. Those great lake smallies have destroyed my old setup.
Just offering a slightly different perspective. I am a 100% land-based and salt water angler here in CA. I've been using the Stradic FK, FL, and soon FM in both 2500 and 4000 sizes targeting our local species. They don't get dunked but are splashed from time to time. After 4 years, with zero maintenance other than fresh water rinses after use, my FK 4000 workhorse is finally starting to get a little noisy/gritty but still very very good. Will try out the FM soon and expect no less performance and durability. Had a Ballistic LT 4000 (pre-MQ) for a few years which I used/compared side by side with the Stradic FK and it just didn't feel as solid. Lighter and maybe slightly smoother, but not as solid. It flexed more when fighting a bigger fish, and like you I didn't like the presence of the anti-reverse switch. But yes totally agree that we are blessed to have these high-quality spinners for under $200 if you look hard enough. haven't had a chance to try the Tatula or Vanford but for sure tempted. Like your content.
Apart from perhaps maintenance issues, I truly don't understand why you are against the antireverse features. I have a tatula and I love it. The reason I selected it was the antireverse feature when compared with the other reels at this price point. Everytime I get hung up, all I have to do is shift into the free spooling reverse mode and I can go deal with the problem to unhook my lure, back my canoe up, etc and it works perfectly. What am I missing? How do you deal with these problems without an antireverse feature? And yes, I'm over 70...
So I'm looking at getting either the stradic or vanford both in 3000. I'm looking to use it for black fish off the boat, fluke fishing off the beach and possibly salmon in upstate NY. In your opinion which you think is the best for my uses
I use to be a daiwa guy I got 2 tatualas, and kage. still have them. But I own 3 vanfords now.... the bale wire and it gives u the click to know the bale is set.
Love, love, love this particular video. With Tackle Advisors basically in semi retirement (with his new job), you are literally one of the few guys on TH-cam posting quality unbiased reviews of rods and reels. I'm tired of reviews where they don't provide any further insight other than the often used catchphrases "light", "sensitive", "smooth", "high-end." Tell me what's good and what's bad. What is its ideal use. Tell me how it stacks up against its competitors. Tell me whether its worth the price point. Keep up the good work. I have all four of those reels - despite the extra weight, my favorite is the Stradic FL, there's just something about the rigidity of the aluminum frame and slight bit of heft that makes turning the handle a joy.
I also am smitten with the FL. I have two of them now and always find excuses to toss them on rods. I have one on my Megbass Brigand all summer for dark sleeper & tube duty and it's perfect on that bigger/longer rod.
just picked up a Vanford 4000 and looking forward to using it inshore Florida. Great info and really good job comparing in an unbiased way. Appreciate your experience and just subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work!
I loved them 15 yrs. ago but the technology has come so far that they're Dinosaurs now. They don't have a good anti reverse but they did cast well. The 700 and 1300 size was my favorites back then along with my original white Stradic 2000.
Great video - I just received a Vanford and am impressed by the smoothness and weight for sure. My handle feels like there is too much play and after inspecting the long screw in the handle which connects to the reel body seems to be slightly loose and I can wiggle it. This then makes the whole handle feel like there is some play in it when connected to the reel. Does your reel have a similarly loose screw or if my handle perhaps defective? Thanks
I've not had this issue BUT Vanfords are mass produced and I'm sure some bad QC comes through now and then. Have you tried fixing it yourself or contacting Shimano warranty service?
For some of us amateurs who still get annoyed by play in the handle during the precious time spend fishing - could you please make a video of how to install bearings?…
I am an NYS Steelheader in search of a new reel. Was considering the Vanford, however, after watching this video I will grab a Stradic. It get cold and there is always something to bump; (ice, trees, rocks)!! Thank you for the information!
Without watching the video... Which I am about to... And owning several steez's and a one Metaniuim... And being absolutely a huge Daiwa fan boy ... The stradic fl far outpaces the tatula spinning reel at this price point. The kage is nice ... But I feel like I have to get to the Certate level for Daiwa to compete dollar for dollar
Stradic FL is a tough reel to beat at $200 but it's extra weight is very much something to consider. I have some rods that balance WAY better with the Tatula LT/Vanford.
The Shimano reels with the long stroke spool throw ANY bait further than the Daiwa, not just light baits. It's the line management system that is superior and I also think the design of the spool (specifically the top lip being angled) that is making some difference IMO. However, I do still love Daiwa reels - I own the BG, Exceler, Tatula and Exist. They are smooth.
When it comes to Daiwa and Shimano, I feel like we are comparing Toyota and Honda. Either way you go you'll get quality equipment so it's really about preference
I'm mostly a BC guy. True the anti-reverse cluch is a point of entry and potential issues. However its seems overstated, have had them on all my spinning reels thru decades of freshwater fishing and they have never failed... But I guess if one work em' differently anything will...
I always would cast further with stradic fl than with my certate lt 5000 , besides i don’t need to be worry about magseal thing any time i may carry deep service , over 20yrs never have a proplem with more than 16 reels from shimano , daiwa needs to adjust their comptition a bit harder ie 1- better lengthen spool 2- better lip spool angle 3- worm gear@slow osc 4-NO magseal gimmik
I have the tatula lt. I noticed my fg not seems to stick when casting, not always but it has happened a few times and caused knots. I switched the braid (both 20lb) and did it again. Have you noticed this at all?
@@PunchFishing They disappeared fast. There weren’t as many of them as the limited Tatula baitcasters which I think other than the handle stinks. Need performance upgrade or at least additional bearings.I just bought another Zillion as those are a much better reel.
The Ballistic technically will be "stronger" with that big single pice body and larger gear. I don't have any experience striper fishing though so I'm not the best person to answer that question.
As a guy who walks the bank and wades a river the FL is my go to I love the aluminum frame. Also I would bet the cost difference from 2500 to 3000 is you go from a felt drag to a carbon.
My Daiwa Ballistic is the best and most durable for inshore saltwater fishing and Stradic is for finesse flounder or speckled trout fishing. The Ballistic casts far enough for me. My Ballistic is my favorite.
Want to try out a Stradic FL. Have the tatula and love it except the deep spool and the handle. Need to get a replacement knob and shallow spool for it. 😂
@@PunchFishing Yeah, the gear ratio those chose surprised me but is only 5" less than the Vanford. Ballistic MQ has worked great for jighead swimbaits 1/8-1/2.
I’m really not interested in spinning reels but i was able to purchase a Shimano 2020 Metanium MG for $242! So…i was able to hit that magic price point! Now i just need to find a sub $250 rod to pair it with!
You obviously know a lot about both Daiwa and Shimano reels. I am looking for a lighter weight, somewhat smaller, maybe 2500 to 3000 size reel to go on my TFO trout panfish rod # TPS-701-1 Ultra Light. I was leaning towards the Tatula 2500 until I came across your excellent video here. Could I trouble you with your thoughts of a reel that would pair up with that rod?? Basically this is supposed to be a setup for trout fishing moderate sized water, rivers out in the western US. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!
Xship, xprotect, xshit didn’t work. If it did why do early hard used reel built in the early 2000 still work when modern xgimmick reels fail within 2 yrs of moderate fishing? I’m getting old so don’t fish as much but these reels don’t last very long, hard to get them to last a season
Unfortunately daiwa reels do not last, plain and simple. I owned 6 Exists, 3 certates, 3 ballistics, and 5 tatulas all at the same time. Within 6 months of owning all of them they developed some sort of issue, sloppiness in mechanics, anti reverse slipping, bail opening for no reason on hookset etc etc... The most disappointing was staring owning 6 exists with slipping anti reverses and bail malfunctions. For $800 reels that's inexcusable. For anybody on the fence unless you like playing reel tech DO NOT BUY Daiwa reels. If you want to spend your time fishing Shimano all day
@@robertmceuen3630 Considering how fast information spreads in the 21st century on platforms like TH-cam and Internet forums etc. and the fact these two companies compete in the same market space means they are both comparable. If one company (be it Daiwa or Shimano) was actually significantly worse than the other people would figure it out very quickly and the worse company would fail. It sounds like you’ve gotten very unlucky (or your talking about 20 year old reels) and you’ve fallen victim to fanboyism which is what companies want you to do. The truth is each company has reels that are better for certain applications and using the best from both is the way to go. Also Daiwa is way better, Shimano is crap and you just wasted 10 min reading this.
For what its worth, I have 3 models of the Poison that I fished last season on and I would buy them all over again if I had to. They are super sensitive, crisp and you can really lay into them when setting the hook, they don't feel like you'll break them in half. I have the 6'10" Medium, the 7'3" MH and the 7'2" Heavy. Couldn't recommend them more highly.
I don't have the Adrena but I recently purchased the 6'9" Zodias med/Lt. and was NOT impressed. I didn't balance with my Vanford 2000 and even feels weird with my 2500. I was impressed with my Okuma 6'8" Med/Lt. Dead Eye custom at half the price. It was more balanced, sensitive and had nicer guides. And it looks cool too!
Excellent review.. I have a pair of 20 year old Stradic's that are finally getting ready to replace.. Probably get one Vanford ( for finesse ) and one Stradic.
yea I like nice reels aswell I have a spinfisher and a shimono sorrosomthing or other lol but just bought a new boat and grabbed some cheaper reels for the kids and wife to use. Apparently there good for the money 60 bucks penn pursuit 4. sealed bearings ht-100 drag yada yada. But so you could buy one 200 dollar reel or 3 of these, hit waterburger on your way home and still have some cash in your pocket lol. so every 2 years reel goes down open another so 6 years new reels every 2 years umm hard to beat. or 600 for 3 reels ??
Your reviews are the best Bri. I went all in on the tatulas when they first came out(7). I was miserable when the Sol and the old fuegos were discontinued and the tatulas came along and made life good again. Lol. Still have yet to try the vanford. Maybe eventually.
I’m 49 and backreel all the time. Love your vids but disagree on this being a negative. Use only ballistic 4000s and love them. I do agree that if it slips that is a negative but I’ve never had that problem.
Sixty and over for the back reeling. A lot of Mitchell 300's and Shakespeare 2062's out there. Daiwa and Shimano are the best. These companies push each other to refine their reels to a higher level. When you are ready to buy you just have to get your hands on the reels in your price range and make you choice. Most other reels are not made by the brand but by a third party. Shimano and Daiwa make their reels in the own factories. Good info in your video.
I wish they had a slower speed vanford 2500 size. I think the next spinner I buy will be JDM where they have more gear ratio options, are cheaper, and in stock. Also great review. I have 2 tatulas, 4 ballistics, and a couple vanfords and my experience are very similar to yours. The larger ballistics are great to balancing out heaver rods and double as salt water reels.
I don't buy the super cheap off brand spinning reels because I've tried one and the gears did fail. Buying a well known brand ( Daiwa, Shimano, Okuma, Mitchell, Abu Garcia, Pflueger etc.) should be safe. As far as how much I spend , my most expensive is the Daiwa BG 4500 which was around $139. Imo, I can't personally justify spending much more than that for a spinning reel. Getting either a Shimano or Daiwa is personal preference but remember that being a good fisherman comes with years of knowledge and not how much equipment you have or how much they cost. Like the old saying goes " it's the person behind the equipment".
One minor consideration. The daiwa bail don't click open. I know it's petty but for me its a big turn off. I traded ny 2 ballistics for stradics and never looked back
Something you missed on the Tatula... is the line lays on the spool...piles up line too much at the Top..some the bottom...diawa sends shims to fix this but dang Diawa...get your act together and do it at the factory
I like the new video Concepts you’ve been doing. I rarely use spinning, so I splurged and got a Shimano excense on a medium expride. Could use a few cheaper ones to give me a little variety.
I don't think you'd be unhappy with any of the reels in this video. If anything, it may make you sad that you paid so much for an Exsence! (I have 3 essence spinning reels myself)
@@PunchFishing so I never wanted to spend that much. But needed a spinning reel combo for a fishing trip in mid 2020, as you remember everything was sold out on tackle warehouse. The only spinning reels left were all the expensive high end models. So i bit the bullet and got the Exsence, and I’m super happy with it of course. But knew I over spent on something I don’t use enough to justify the price. But none the less happy to have it in my shimano collection.
@@PunchFishing I live in Texas, lots of power fishing for big bass, so bait casters are more used here. But can’t deny the success to be had on spinning. Or I like to use spinning when the bite is tough and try and finesse some just to get a few bites. I have stradic FL 1000’s on my crappie rods and love them. Love the direction of the videos lately, keep up the great work. You give some very informative info and I always learn something from each video.
@@PunchFishing I own 4 Vanfords in various sizes, a Tatula 1000, 2 Stradic FL's and 2 17'Exsence C3000MHG's and wouldn't trade my Exesence's for any of them. I got them for $325 on Ebay and they're in a class of their own compared to the reels you mentioned. They're stronger, light enough 7 Oz., cast great, smooth as silk and have saltwater protection.
Impressive review. Learned a lot. I want to see more Diawa vs Shimano in the baitcasting. Spoiler I’m a Shimano fanatic. But love to see the comparisons.
Your analysis is fantastic! I love the technical aspects you highlight in the comparisons. My extrapolation from your video was that with only a few exceptions, brand loyalty and product availability may play a larger role in which reel is purchased more than performance. Again, Expertly done! 👏🏿👏🏿🎣
I'd say that's an accurate statement with MOST fishing products north of 200$ between Daiwa and Shimano. You're really not getting a bad reel no matter what you purchase.
The jdm version of the ballistic are much nicer than the US versions, although they are like $30 more online. The daiwa drag is greatly superior to the vanford IMO, my vanfords are way too easy to over tighten.
Not one person has brought up the elephant in the room. The Shimano two piece handle that becomes sloppy over time. I own the Vanford and the Tatula. I like them both, hoping the Vanford doesn’t have the same probs as my older Shimanos.
I have Shimanos and Daiwas. They're all good reels. The cheap ones start sounding geary after a hard season or two with the kids. But they still ultimately work fine. The expensive ones last decades. I don't know what you guys are doing to make a whole brand not last 10 casts. And make that statement while claiming to buy 5-10 of them. It sounds fishy to me. At the end of the day, I buy based on need, availability, and desire. They're all good and no one will go wrong with any of them.
I have fished them all as well, and you are spot on in your assessment. The "tank" description of the FL is spot on. I have purchased several FLs and done bearing upgrades and carbon fiber drag washer conversions, and they feel like a $400+ reel in your hands and the drag performance with carbon fiber drag washers is high high end. I have gone full JDM on my spinning reels, with my reel of choice being the Daiwa Caldia LT 3000 CXH and the 4000 CXH. These reels come with magseal, ABS II (precursor to long stroke spool) and with the bearing upgrades and drag washer upgrades, they fish like $500+ reels. The CXH models have a wider arbor (versus a narrow arbor) that greatly helps with line management, which is a finesse fisherman's dream when fishing with light lines, be it braid or florocarbon. I am also toying around with the new Daiwa Luvias LT 3000 CXH, this too is a JDM reel and it is SWEET!!!. The Luvias LT 3000 CXH has become my drop shot reel and the Caldia LTs are for all my other spinning rod applications (they FL tank like in performance). Great stuff Punch. Could talk spinning gear all night long.
I only use top of the line stuff saragosa and sustain and up. And Daiwa saltist, prorex, certate and up. Now I'm on a anti china thing, so I'm only getting either Japanese stuff and American made. Loomis st croix. Older USA made fenwicks all star and some older Berkley rods. Reels. I'm only buying accurate, avet, seigler and the high dollar Japanese daiwas and shimanos. Abu garcias made in Sweden too. As far as tackle, not buying anything made or assembled in mexicoor China, and to my surprise, there is plenty of good tackle made here. A lot of eagle claw terminal tackle is still made in USA, some hooks and barrel swivels. Gotta read the labels
I have been a shimano guy my entire life. That’s all I used for years and If I could still get the sustain FG that’s all I would use. That being said I picked up a few Abu Garcia revo STX and the revo MGX spinning reels which were in the $200 price point. They worked good for a few years but they all started to back reel on hook sets which ended in lost fish. I even had them fixed and any cold weather the reel was done. Other than that I liked them but couldn’t stand the back reeling. I’ve never had that problem once with any shimano reel that I own. Pretty hard to leave shimano with their track record. Great video and keep them coming!
Was a Daiwa guy when I was younger. Gradually shifted to Shimano for about 10-12 years but in the past 3 years been going back to Daiwa. I replace all the T handles on my spinning reels with Gomex knob style handles. The Diawa BG, BG MQ, Saltist Back Bay, Saltist & Certate series do not have an anti reverse switch. The Daiwa Certate is one of the smoothest reels out of the box that I ever brought.
Did they recently do away with it on the BG because my 2500 has it.
My go to is the Stradic FL… smooth as butter & durable. I also have the older Stradic FK which is over 5 years old & still very smooth & no issues. They last forever!
I was a big fan of the Stradic fk, I had a couple of them.
I still have my original 4 Stradics from 1992! Two were used 150 days per year for many many years. All run perfectly still.
Shimano long cast spool catss further and hold not line per relative spool size.
Dude, it's killing me. You are an absolute twin to one of my good buddies. Doppelganger. Tripping me out. Great video by the way.
I'm an avid trout fisherman who targets big trout in Connecticut. I haven't fished with a Shimano reel since I was in my teens, and I have no reason to ever go back to Shimano. I own a diawa ballistic, a diawa kage, and a diawa tatula... The ballistic is the best spinning reel I've ever fished with. There isn't a more reliable reel out there! I fish hard folks, my reels get banged around, get dunked under water... You name it. I've never had a diawa fail on me yet... Far from the many Shimanos that failed me when younger. We all used to fish with Shimano...now my buddies and I all fish with diawa. Shimano anti reverse... Used to break all the time. Never once in my diawa
Wrong. The spool on the 3000 shimano is the exact same size as a 2500 spool. It's just deeper and holds more line.
Well done! I tried the Tatula after only buying Stradic Ci4 previously. I returned it and bought the vandford and do not regret it. It’s worth paying a higher price!
Wow same here that dawia made the worst sounds when casting the 3 and 4000 was good but just sounds terrible got the shimano vanford 4000 and am so glad I did ...no comparison
I’ve been using the Daiwa Ballistic 3000 for 2 years it’s been an excellent spinning reel. Super smooth and durable so far
Just picked up a Stradic FL for my medium light rod for finesse fishing- Havent had a chance to use it yet
Thanks for the video review. Now I may have to get a Vanford
This is, from my perspective, one of your best vids. Very, very well done!
Glad you enjoyed it!
If you shim and bearing upgrade everything in a Stradic FL they are very close to a Stella. I love my Stella's but the Stradics are awesome.
Doesn't happen often, but I have had line get behind the rotor, and back reeling really helped on the tangle.
I currently own the stadic, vanford, and tatula. I do not own the ballistic. From my experience, I own the Stradic the longest and can say that it is probably my favorite spinning reel. I really enjoy the aluminum frame and it is bullet proof. With that being said, the tatula took about a week to feel not so stiff. The vanford is an amazing reel and the local shop I went to gave me a 3000 for 200. I enjoy the vanford, but I just enjoy the stradic due to the build material. The vanford feels as if it casts light lures the furthest. Great reels no matter which one you choose.
Finally a good comparison video that goes more in depth than, it’s shiny and light, or runs smooth
One thing to note, on the stradic FL the 2500 has felt drag washers and the 3000 has carbon. So, get the 3000. The 3000 also has slightly faster gear ratio.
Ugh I totally forgot about the washers being different. Thanks for the reminder.
Not that 99.95% of people actually need carbon drag washers. All pfleuger presidents come with felt and they will last for 10+ years without issue
@@Tallnerdyguy if you saltwater fish as well its a must imo. Ive burnt/melted a felt drag before landing a monster Jack. Switched all my 2500 to 3000 after that incident.
Why do these comparison always exclude the Pflueger and Garcia reels ?
To me, it's because Daiwa and Shimano are the best reel makers and everyone else is a distant 3rd.
Don't know about US models but in Europe you don't get a taller or wider spool with a Stradic FL C3000 compared to regular 2500, all you get is deeper spool, (larger line capacity) and a T-shape crank knob. Too large for most freshwater fishing especially if you go braid. Even the regular 2500 holds more than enough of FC/mono for most freshwater fish in the L-MH class (not counting like muskie, carp, salmon, catfish, Gar)
Hello, the Vanford how is in saltwater cuz many people say it is just for sweetwater ? I got vanford 4000F and i Sanna use it in ocean whats why Please let me know ❤
Awesome video! We need a new one to compare saltist back bay/ saltist / saltist mq / bg mq/ stradic/ vanford. I’ve been buying the back bays for around 145 I wonder how that compares to the others
Nice to see another sneakhead that loves fishing, I'm in the market for a Vanford and you just sold me on it. Those great lake smallies have destroyed my old setup.
How about size comparison of the spool...for example what is the same size of 5000stradic fl..to daiwa bg
Just offering a slightly different perspective. I am a 100% land-based and salt water angler here in CA. I've been using the Stradic FK, FL, and soon FM in both 2500 and 4000 sizes targeting our local species. They don't get dunked but are splashed from time to time. After 4 years, with zero maintenance other than fresh water rinses after use, my FK 4000 workhorse is finally starting to get a little noisy/gritty but still very very good. Will try out the FM soon and expect no less performance and durability. Had a Ballistic LT 4000 (pre-MQ) for a few years which I used/compared side by side with the Stradic FK and it just didn't feel as solid. Lighter and maybe slightly smoother, but not as solid. It flexed more when fighting a bigger fish, and like you I didn't like the presence of the anti-reverse switch. But yes totally agree that we are blessed to have these high-quality spinners for under $200 if you look hard enough. haven't had a chance to try the Tatula or Vanford but for sure tempted. Like your content.
Apart from perhaps maintenance issues, I truly don't understand why you are against the antireverse features. I have a tatula and I love it. The reason I selected it was the antireverse feature when compared with the other reels at this price point. Everytime I get hung up, all I have to do is shift into the free spooling reverse mode and I can go deal with the problem to unhook my lure, back my canoe up, etc and it works perfectly. What am I missing? How do you deal with these problems without an antireverse feature? And yes, I'm over 70...
I bought the Stradic and liked it initially.. then I hooked my PB largemouth and the drag wasn’t smooth enough and it broke me on a run. Heartbroken!
So I'm looking at getting either the stradic or vanford both in 3000. I'm looking to use it for black fish off the boat, fluke fishing off the beach and possibly salmon in upstate NY. In your opinion which you think is the best for my uses
I use to be a daiwa guy I got 2 tatualas, and kage. still have them. But I own 3 vanfords now.... the bale wire and it gives u the click to know the bale is set.
I love my 2007 abu garcia baitcaster. Still works today. Had it that long.
Love, love, love this particular video. With Tackle Advisors basically in semi retirement (with his new job), you are literally one of the few guys on TH-cam posting quality unbiased reviews of rods and reels. I'm tired of reviews where they don't provide any further insight other than the often used catchphrases "light", "sensitive", "smooth", "high-end." Tell me what's good and what's bad. What is its ideal use. Tell me how it stacks up against its competitors. Tell me whether its worth the price point. Keep up the good work. I have all four of those reels - despite the extra weight, my favorite is the Stradic FL, there's just something about the rigidity of the aluminum frame and slight bit of heft that makes turning the handle a joy.
I also am smitten with the FL. I have two of them now and always find excuses to toss them on rods. I have one on my Megbass Brigand all summer for dark sleeper & tube duty and it's perfect on that bigger/longer rod.
Alexander, i_fish has excellent reviews on spinning reels and rods. Victor does a lot of finesse technique’s. And great reel comparisons!
@@davidrauschenbach6871 he is great
just picked up a Vanford 4000 and looking forward to using it inshore Florida. Great info and really good job comparing in an unbiased way. Appreciate your experience and just subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work!
Awesome! Thank you for the support!
Beri saya saran untuk memilih daiwa tatula mq 1000 atau stradic fm 1000? Sangat bermanfaat.❤
Have you tried daiwas ss tournament reels? (Whisker) if so did you like them.?
I loved them 15 yrs. ago but the technology has come so far that they're Dinosaurs now. They don't have a good anti reverse but they did cast well. The 700 and 1300 size was my favorites back then along with my original white Stradic 2000.
Love my Vanford 5000. Have caught some good size fish on it, including Kings and Mahi Mahi. It is by far my favorite reel.
Great video - I just received a Vanford and am impressed by the smoothness and weight for sure. My handle feels like there is too much play and after inspecting the long screw in the handle which connects to the reel body seems to be slightly loose and I can wiggle it. This then makes the whole handle feel like there is some play in it when connected to the reel. Does your reel have a similarly loose screw or if my handle perhaps defective? Thanks
I've not had this issue BUT Vanfords are mass produced and I'm sure some bad QC comes through now and then. Have you tried fixing it yourself or contacting Shimano warranty service?
For some of us amateurs who still get annoyed by play in the handle during the precious time spend fishing - could you please make a video of how to install bearings?…
I am an NYS Steelheader in search of a new reel. Was considering the Vanford, however, after watching this video I will grab a Stradic. It get cold and there is always something to bump; (ice, trees, rocks)!! Thank you for the information!
That's a fantastic choice for harsh conditions. You won't be let down by it.
Without watching the video... Which I am about to... And owning several steez's and a one Metaniuim... And being absolutely a huge Daiwa fan boy ... The stradic fl far outpaces the tatula spinning reel at this price point. The kage is nice ... But I feel like I have to get to the Certate level for Daiwa to compete dollar for dollar
Stradic FL is a tough reel to beat at $200 but it's extra weight is very much something to consider. I have some rods that balance WAY better with the Tatula LT/Vanford.
The Shimano reels with the long stroke spool throw ANY bait further than the Daiwa, not just light baits. It's the line management system that is superior and I also think the design of the spool (specifically the top lip being angled) that is making some difference IMO. However, I do still love Daiwa reels - I own the BG, Exceler, Tatula and Exist. They are smooth.
Totally agree the Tatula LT doesn’t cast worth a crap
When it comes to Daiwa and Shimano, I feel like we are comparing Toyota and Honda. Either way you go you'll get quality equipment so it's really about preference
Well said!
Which Shimano balances better on a B series 7' M expride?
8:25 I was screaming at screen "MAAAGGGGSEEEAAALEEEED!" hahahahaha
Will those bearings work on the smaller 1000 or 2000 Daiwa LT reels?
I’m going straight to the Exsence 4000MXG. I got one and I’m addicted. Lol
I'm mostly a BC guy. True the anti-reverse cluch is a point of entry and potential issues. However its seems overstated, have had them on all my spinning reels thru decades of freshwater fishing and they have never failed... But I guess if one work em' differently anything will...
The Vanford is my pick.
I always would cast further with stradic fl than with my certate lt 5000 , besides i don’t need to be worry about magseal thing any time i may carry deep service , over 20yrs never have a proplem with more than 16 reels from shimano , daiwa needs to adjust their comptition a bit harder ie
1- better lengthen spool
2- better lip spool angle
3- worm gear@slow osc
4-NO magseal gimmik
Can I put a 3000 spool on my 2500 Vanguard?
Yes
Yes you can. The only difference is the 3000 Size spool is deeper and has stronger drag washers. I own both.
I have the tatula lt. I noticed my fg not seems to stick when casting, not always but it has happened a few times and caused knots. I switched the braid (both 20lb) and did it again. Have you noticed this at all?
Why is your FG knot getting into your reel ?
I picked up a bunch of the Tatula lt limited spinning reels. Absolutely love them, no problems and look amazing.
I have one of the silver ones also! I wish I would have bought another one.
@@PunchFishing They disappeared fast. There weren’t as many of them as the limited Tatula baitcasters which I think other than the handle stinks. Need performance upgrade or at least additional bearings.I just bought another Zillion as those are a much better reel.
Been killing it with my Tatula for years. It's my oldie but goodie.
They are quite reliable.
Shimano Vanford or Daiwa Ballistic MQ for Cape Cod striped bass?
The Ballistic technically will be "stronger" with that big single pice body and larger gear. I don't have any experience striper fishing though so I'm not the best person to answer that question.
As a guy who walks the bank and wades a river the FL is my go to I love the aluminum frame. Also I would bet the cost difference from 2500 to 3000 is you go from a felt drag to a carbon.
Don’t know if he knows about that lol
What are your thoughts on the 2021 Shimano Ultegra FC?
I've never used the Ultra
It is an FL with one less bearing (handle) and a composite body. For 150ish its a very solid choice.
Why they made it blue I'll never guess
My Daiwa Ballistic is the best and most durable for inshore saltwater fishing and Stradic is for finesse flounder or speckled trout fishing. The Ballistic casts far enough for me. My Ballistic is my favorite.
No reel can top my ballistic!! Hands down the best reel ever!
Want to try out a Stradic FL. Have the tatula and love it except the deep spool and the handle. Need to get a replacement knob and shallow spool for it. 😂
I forgot to talk about the different spool options on the Tatula's.
Would you still take the Vanford over the new Ballistic MQ?
Both are good but I probably would go with the MQ if you don't mind the lower gear ratio.
@@PunchFishing Yeah, the gear ratio those chose surprised me but is only 5" less than the Vanford. Ballistic MQ has worked great for jighead swimbaits 1/8-1/2.
I’m really not interested in spinning reels but i was able to purchase a Shimano 2020 Metanium MG for $242! So…i was able to hit that magic price point! Now i just need to find a sub $250 rod to pair it with!
Good for you - this is about spinning reels so… enjoy your baitcaster buddy!
Gotta love that Jap Yen to US Dollar exchange rate, huh?
You obviously know a lot about both Daiwa and Shimano reels. I am looking for a lighter weight, somewhat smaller, maybe 2500 to 3000 size reel to go on my TFO trout panfish rod # TPS-701-1 Ultra Light. I was leaning towards the Tatula 2500 until I came across your excellent video here. Could I trouble you with your thoughts of a reel that would pair up with that rod?? Basically this is supposed to be a setup for trout fishing moderate sized water, rivers out in the western US. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!
Xship, xprotect, xshit didn’t work. If it did why do early hard used reel built in the early 2000 still work when modern xgimmick reels fail within 2 yrs of moderate fishing? I’m getting old so don’t fish as much but these reels don’t last very long, hard to get them to last a season
Hello Brian
Toughts about Zenaq blackart dragger ?
Literally have no idea what that is!
@@PunchFishing wow you supose to be a fisherman and teach others about top spinning brands and you don t know who is Zenaq in terms of spinning ? Lol
@@alinbriceag4021 Congrats on the douchiest comment. Gatekeeping much? Just say thanks for the video and move along.
Unfortunately daiwa reels do not last, plain and simple. I owned 6 Exists, 3 certates, 3 ballistics, and 5 tatulas all at the same time. Within 6 months of owning all of them they developed some sort of issue, sloppiness in mechanics, anti reverse slipping, bail opening for no reason on hookset etc etc... The most disappointing was staring owning 6 exists with slipping anti reverses and bail malfunctions. For $800 reels that's inexcusable. For anybody on the fence unless you like playing reel tech DO NOT BUY Daiwa reels. If you want to spend your time fishing Shimano all day
Wash your reels after use.. been using daiwa for 20years..
I had the same issue with shimano and switched to diawa 3 years ago not knew issue since!
I went through 3 shimano stellas in 7 months but my daiwas have had no issues and I’ve owned certain daiwa models for 10 years
Every Daiwa I've ever owned has broke. Every Shimano has been perfect.
@@robertmceuen3630 Considering how fast information spreads in the 21st century on platforms like TH-cam and Internet forums etc. and the fact these two companies compete in the same market space means they are both comparable. If one company (be it Daiwa or Shimano) was actually significantly worse than the other people would figure it out very quickly and the worse company would fail. It sounds like you’ve gotten very unlucky (or your talking about 20 year old reels) and you’ve fallen victim to fanboyism which is what companies want you to do. The truth is each company has reels that are better for certain applications and using the best from both is the way to go. Also Daiwa is way better, Shimano is crap and you just wasted 10 min reading this.
What is your thoughts on the Poison Adrena rod? Is it worth the price?
For what its worth, I have 3 models of the Poison that I fished last season on and I would buy them all over again if I had to. They are super sensitive, crisp and you can really lay into them when setting the hook, they don't feel like you'll break them in half. I have the 6'10" Medium, the 7'3" MH and the 7'2" Heavy. Couldn't recommend them more highly.
I don't have the Adrena but I recently purchased the 6'9" Zodias med/Lt. and was NOT impressed. I didn't balance with my Vanford 2000 and even feels weird with my 2500. I was impressed with my Okuma 6'8" Med/Lt. Dead Eye custom at half the price. It was more balanced, sensitive and had nicer guides. And it looks cool too!
Have a stradic 3000 on the way to go on arroccie whipsnake also on the way.
Don't have any of these reels but man I love my saltist backbay... gonna try a shimano next
Excellent review.. I have a pair of 20 year old Stradic's that are finally getting ready to replace.. Probably get one Vanford ( for finesse ) and one Stradic.
yea I like nice reels aswell I have a spinfisher and a shimono sorrosomthing or other lol but just bought a new boat and grabbed some cheaper reels for the kids and wife to use. Apparently there good for the money 60 bucks penn pursuit 4. sealed bearings ht-100 drag yada yada. But so you could buy one 200 dollar reel or 3 of these, hit waterburger on your way home and still have some cash in your pocket lol. so every 2 years reel goes down open another so 6 years new reels every 2 years umm hard to beat. or 600 for 3 reels ??
Awesome unbiased review. Made my decision on a new reel.
Glad I could help
Which one do I get if I’m vaccinated?
Kastking
Anyone, because you get a lifetime warranty!🤣
Your reviews are the best Bri.
I went all in on the tatulas when they first came out(7). I was miserable when the Sol and the old fuegos were discontinued and the tatulas came along and made life good again. Lol. Still have yet to try the vanford. Maybe eventually.
Thanks for watching!
I’m 49 and backreel all the time. Love your vids but disagree on this being a negative. Use only ballistic 4000s and love them. I do agree that if it slips that is a negative but I’ve never had that problem.
omg you're also into sneakers? I LOVE THIS CHANEL EVEN MORE
Hah, yes.. sadly I am.
Sixty and over for the back reeling. A lot of Mitchell 300's and Shakespeare 2062's out there. Daiwa and Shimano are the best. These companies push each other to refine their reels to a higher level. When you are ready to buy you just have to get your hands on the reels in your price range and make you choice. Most other reels are not made by the brand but by a third party. Shimano and Daiwa make their reels in the own factories. Good info in your video.
I love my Vanford. Its really hard to beat imo.
how do these compare to the Kage?
Kage is the same reel as the Tatula LT except for some cosmetic changes and a couple additional bearings.
Great question.
I wish they had a slower speed vanford 2500 size. I think the next spinner I buy will be JDM where they have more gear ratio options, are cheaper, and in stock. Also great review. I have 2 tatulas, 4 ballistics, and a couple vanfords and my experience are very similar to yours. The larger ballistics are great to balancing out heaver rods and double as salt water reels.
Totally agree
I don't buy the super cheap off brand spinning reels because I've tried one and the gears did fail. Buying a well known brand ( Daiwa, Shimano, Okuma, Mitchell, Abu Garcia, Pflueger etc.) should be safe. As far as how much I spend , my most expensive is the Daiwa BG 4500 which was around $139. Imo, I can't personally justify spending much more than that for a spinning reel. Getting either a Shimano or Daiwa is personal preference but remember that being a good fisherman comes with years of knowledge and not how much equipment you have or how much they cost. Like the old saying goes " it's the person behind the equipment".
I will take a BG MQ way over any of the 4 reels you reviewed here. The new Ballistic MQ should have been in this video also
Nobody has the Ballistic MQ yet.
One minor consideration. The daiwa bail don't click open. I know it's petty but for me its a big turn off. I traded ny 2 ballistics for stradics and never looked back
Is there a huge difference 70.00 vris 250.00
Depends on which $70 reel you're considering.
YES! I was excited for this one
Something you missed on the Tatula... is the line lays on the spool...piles up line too much at the Top..some the bottom...diawa sends shims to fix this but dang Diawa...get your act together and do it at the factory
I like the new video Concepts you’ve been doing. I rarely use spinning, so I splurged and got a Shimano excense on a medium expride. Could use a few cheaper ones to give me a little variety.
I don't think you'd be unhappy with any of the reels in this video. If anything, it may make you sad that you paid so much for an Exsence! (I have 3 essence spinning reels myself)
@@PunchFishing so I never wanted to spend that much. But needed a spinning reel combo for a fishing trip in mid 2020, as you remember everything was sold out on tackle warehouse. The only spinning reels left were all the expensive high end models. So i bit the bullet and got the Exsence, and I’m super happy with it of course. But knew I over spent on something I don’t use enough to justify the price. But none the less happy to have it in my shimano collection.
@@PunchFishing I live in Texas, lots of power fishing for big bass, so bait casters are more used here. But can’t deny the success to be had on spinning. Or I like to use spinning when the bite is tough and try and finesse some just to get a few bites. I have stradic FL 1000’s on my crappie rods and love them. Love the direction of the videos lately, keep up the great work. You give some very informative info and I always learn something from each video.
@@PunchFishing I own 4 Vanfords in various sizes, a Tatula 1000, 2 Stradic FL's and 2 17'Exsence C3000MHG's and wouldn't trade my Exesence's for any of them. I got them for $325 on Ebay and they're in a class of their own compared to the reels you mentioned. They're stronger, light enough 7 Oz., cast great, smooth as silk and have saltwater protection.
Impressive review. Learned a lot. I want to see more Diawa vs Shimano in the baitcasting. Spoiler I’m a Shimano fanatic. But love to see the comparisons.
Still using a Sol and Fuego TD 3000...like butter.
All around size? 2500 or 3000?
I like the 3000's personally, I think they outcast the 2500's by a small margin.
Love this video!! Can you do a Shimano vs Daiwa baitcaster version? 🤔
Yes definitely
Nice comparison’s and review. Shimano’s Complex XR 2500 or 2000 is a fantastic option!
Just bought 2 fl’s yet to fish em
Your analysis is fantastic! I love the technical aspects you highlight in the comparisons. My extrapolation from your video was that with only a few exceptions, brand loyalty and product availability may play a larger role in which reel is purchased more than performance. Again, Expertly done! 👏🏿👏🏿🎣
I'd say that's an accurate statement with MOST fishing products north of 200$ between Daiwa and Shimano. You're really not getting a bad reel no matter what you purchase.
yeah seems he is a little biased toward Diawa.
The jdm version of the ballistic are much nicer than the US versions, although they are like $30 more online. The daiwa drag is greatly superior to the vanford IMO, my vanfords are way too easy to over tighten.
Not one person has brought up the elephant in the room. The Shimano two piece handle that becomes sloppy over time. I own the Vanford and the Tatula. I like them both, hoping the Vanford doesn’t have the same probs as my older Shimanos.
The single piece handle on the new Shimano's was a needed change. For sure!
Great review and thanks! I might add that the Daiwa reela are Chinese made and the Shimano are not. A deciding factor for me.
okie!
Honestly the 2021 $165 Shimano ultegra is a much better spinning reel than the tatula lt spinning reel.
I have Shimanos and Daiwas. They're all good reels. The cheap ones start sounding geary after a hard season or two with the kids. But they still ultimately work fine. The expensive ones last decades. I don't know what you guys are doing to make a whole brand not last 10 casts. And make that statement while claiming to buy 5-10 of them. It sounds fishy to me. At the end of the day, I buy based on need, availability, and desire. They're all good and no one will go wrong with any of them.
I have fished them all as well, and you are spot on in your assessment. The "tank" description of the FL is spot on. I have purchased several FLs and done bearing upgrades and carbon fiber drag washer conversions, and they feel like a $400+ reel in your hands and the drag performance with carbon fiber drag washers is high high end. I have gone full JDM on my spinning reels, with my reel of choice being the Daiwa Caldia LT 3000 CXH and the 4000 CXH. These reels come with magseal, ABS II (precursor to long stroke spool) and with the bearing upgrades and drag washer upgrades, they fish like $500+ reels. The CXH models have a wider arbor (versus a narrow arbor) that greatly helps with line management, which is a finesse fisherman's dream when fishing with light lines, be it braid or florocarbon. I am also toying around with the new Daiwa Luvias LT 3000 CXH, this too is a JDM reel and it is SWEET!!!. The Luvias LT 3000 CXH has become my drop shot reel and the Caldia LTs are for all my other spinning rod applications (they FL tank like in performance). Great stuff Punch. Could talk spinning gear all night long.
Hard to beat the Tatula LT at $170 on eBay.
Agree! For sub $200 it's the best on the market.
I only use top of the line stuff saragosa and sustain and up. And Daiwa saltist, prorex, certate and up. Now I'm on a anti china thing, so I'm only getting either Japanese stuff and American made. Loomis st croix. Older USA made fenwicks all star and some older Berkley rods. Reels. I'm only buying accurate, avet, seigler and the high dollar Japanese daiwas and shimanos. Abu garcias made in Sweden too. As far as tackle, not buying anything made or assembled in mexicoor China, and to my surprise, there is plenty of good tackle made here. A lot of eagle claw terminal tackle is still made in USA, some hooks and barrel swivels. Gotta read the labels
very good and informative video
Glad you liked it
So useful! Thank you!
I use back reeling when I whip a lure out of a tree and accidentally reel line from my rod tip around my spool. Anyone else?
I dont like daiwa's mq body. It looks good but you cant take it apart and service it if something happens
I have been a shimano guy my entire life. That’s all I used for years and If I could still get the sustain FG that’s all I would use. That being said I picked up a few Abu Garcia revo STX and the revo MGX spinning reels which were in the $200 price point. They worked good for a few years but they all started to back reel on hook sets which ended in lost fish. I even had them fixed and any cold weather the reel was done. Other than that I liked them but couldn’t stand the back reeling. I’ve never had that problem once with any shimano reel that I own. Pretty hard to leave shimano with their track record. Great video and keep them coming!
I got the mgx reel during winter sale at tackle advisors and oh man it is an amazing reel. At full price? Tough