Rod question.

[Quillback]

44 minutes ago, Royal Blue said:

The Tatula was another one I was looking at.  You like them that much more than the Lew's?

 

I fished a Tatula most of the day today Carolina rigging.  Casting distance is pretty impressive, I believe they are right in saying that the T-wing system helps distance.  Not one backlash all day.  Couple things I don't like is that the spool tension control is very tight and just doesn't have a well machined feel to it.   Drag is a little sketchy, not bad, certainly fishable, but not as smooth a drag as I would like.  But for a reel that you can usually find for less than $100, it's a good value IMO. 

I have the first version of the Tatula, some guys didn't like them as they thought they are a little big.  I am fine with the size, but the new version, the Tatula CT is a bit smaller, so I ma told.

Never have fished a Lews, so I can't make a comparison between the two, but a lot of guys really like their Lews.

[m&m]

Royal Blue, my question is what do you want to use it for? I started buying specific gear for certain types of fishing. Once you decide what you want it for (jigs, topwater, jerk bait, Ned rig, etc) then you can zero in on what's best for that application. I have a couple of gloomis rods that I really like. (1-jig & 1-jerk bait) but I have a couple of duckett micro guide ones for crank baits. And I love my st croix spinning rod for my Ned rig. Again I would suggest you decide what you will use it for and the you will make the right choice. Good luck. And kiss your wife for such a lovely gift. But remember to do something better for her birthday (>$300)

Mike

[Royal Blue]

I typically try to buy stuff that's good for all around use.  I've recently been buying more technique specific stuff though.  I have a couple of cranking setups and one that I only use for spinnerbaits, etc...

[likinmo]

Ive got both the tatulas and lews and for me its more about how the reel feels in my hand for comfort of fishing all day and smoothness.but ive got small hands(keep the jokes to yourself lol)....I will go with  LEWS everytime

[abkeenan]

Ditto on what M&M said. Specific rod and reel setups to fit the lure/presentation you plan on throwing make for a better day on the water. I have more setups than I need but fishing tackle is my vice. I am not necessarily brand loyal and have quite a few rods and reels of various manufacturers. Most of my setups are in the $200-300 as a combo price range.

Rods I own: Shimano, Daiwa, BPS, Dobyns, Falcon, Hammer, Duckett and Quantum.

Reels I own: Shimano, Daiwa, BPS, Pflueger and Lew's.

Of all the reel brands mentioned all have a place in my arsenal but some are just better than others. Daiwa is my favorite of all the reels that I own. Only other reel I have that I like as much is my old green Curado E7. The Lew's are good but just not as good as Tatula's IMO. Especially considering the $100 price point you can find them at Sportsman's Outfitters or other eBay retailers. I have a few of the regular Tatula's and one Type R. My brother just bought a few of the CT's which are a fraction smaller and negligibly lighter. Only a scale would notice the difference in weight IMO. The size of the reel doesn't make a difference to me as I have slightly larger than average hands but could see how it might make a difference palming for someone with small hands. I also have a Daiwa Fuego (not the new CT model) which is the same as a Tatula less the T-Wing system. Can get them for $75 new in the box on FleaBay and they are awesome reels as well. Unbeatable at that price IMO.

When it comes to rods I like my 7'3H Hammer the best. Just a nicely made rod, on a very light and sensitive blank that balances well with top notch components. Also comes with a good warranty and I hear the family in Mississippi that makes them are very fine people. Also, they can handle a lot of different baits and weights. It is just like my Falcon BuCoo's with just a nicer finish and components to it. I have a Cara, old BuCoo and a new BuCoo SR. All are awesome rods and for the $100 bucks you pay for them (BuCoo's not Cara). I think they are the finest rods at that price point. The Duckett Ghost that I have is maybe the most versatile rod I have out of the dozen or so rods I own. It's a 7'3 MH and I can throw just about anything on it from cranks to jigs to soft plastics to spinner baits. The rod itself isn't made all that well (cheap guides and they aren't perfectly aligned, some blanks are slightly warped toward the tip) but man it is just a great all around rod. It's a rod that is comfortable to fish all day and I can't say that about all the rods I own. 

It's hard to say what rod and reel set up would be good for you personally as everyone is different. But if it were me and you want an all around rod to throw a bunch of different baits I would get a 7' or 7'3 MH or H Hammer (their actions are a bit softer than other brands) paired with whatever ratio and model Tatula you want. That would put you right at $275. If you didn't want to go that route my plan B would be to get the the new Shimano Curado K ($180) and then get a Falcon BuCoo SR in the 7-7'3 MH models and again would put you in the ballpark for you budget. Plan C would be to get a Tatula ($100) and a BuCoo SR ($100) and spend the $75 on either more tackle or take your wife to dinner.

Maybe TMI there. Good luck with your purchase.

 

[Royal Blue]

Awesome.  You're echoing a lot of what I was thinking.  Thanks for the great input.

[Sore Thumbs]

I have Tatula Type R. I love this reel. I also love my Abu Garcia Rocket. 

[Royal Blue]

I ended up this time around going with a Lew's Tournament SLP Speed Spool in 6:8:1, and a Falcon Bucoo 7'3" in MH.  That flash sale that BPS was running today saved me $40 on the reel.  

[abkeenan]

1 hour ago, Sore Thumbs said:

I have Tatula Type R. I love this reel. I also love my Abu Garcia Rocket. 

I have the Type R on my Hammer. It's one sweet setup. Not only from a fishability standpoint but also SWEET looking with the matching black and red color scheme.

[Royal Blue]

Just now, abkeenan said:

I have the Type R on my Hammer. It's one sweet setup. Not only from a fishability standpoint but also SWEET looking with the matching black and red color scheme.

I think that I'll try a Hammer on the next go around.  At some point I'll cheat on Lew's, but I couldn't make myself do that yet.  After having that Quantum fall apart on me out of the box, I have a hard time straying from what I know.