Daiwa Catalina TW 100P - A really good Dealeo on a top-shelf baitcasting reel, - but you gotta move FAST!

[buddha162]

Lep, excellent write up as usual, and as it happens I am also in the midst of exploring new JDM PE lines for 2020 (though mostly for freshwater).

The "jigging" PEs you speak of is of high interest to me. My standard J Braid x8 (NOT Grand, I hated that stuff) performs great for chuck and wind moving baits as well as 1/4oz+ jigs, esp at that price point, BUT...when I fish jerkbaits and topwaters, retrieves that call for twitching/jerking slack line (with floro and mono leaders), unless there is no wind --- which is exactly when you DON'T want to be fishing these baits --- the braid will pick up so much water and then "stick" to the surface. Your bait could be right in front of you but your line is sagging to the right or left...every jerk of the rod tip you're trying to lift the braid off the surface like fly line, imparting unwanted tension on your lure (esp with jerkbaits, where I want crisp darts from a perfectly still position). Very, very annoying, and ruins the presentation.

If those jigging braids truly don't absorb as much water, that could be a godsend for my applications.

The other lines I've been looking at are the sinking braids. The 2 I know about are the YGK SOUL SS112 and the SS140. The SS112 is woven with PE and Ester filaments, while the SS140 is PE woven around a fluorocarbon core. The latter sinks quicker, but is not as limp and soft as the ss112. In any case, when I'm bottom bouncing 1/32 - 1/16oz jigheads + plastic...again, in anything but the calmest of conditions, J braid gets very squirrelly, putting big bows in my line and I lose contact with the light jigs. Very frustrating esp when the bites are extremely subtle during cold water months.

Anyway, I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts on the Gosen line, as well as the Catalina TW in general. I'm looking at the 7.3 ratio myself, really wish they made a high 5 or low 6 ratio as I don't really have an application for the 4.9. It really is an incredible deal, I don't know how Gary at TT worked it out but I'm glad he did! It's basically a Zillion HD w/o magseal, from what I can tell...incredible buy at 189 bucks!

 

[Leprechaun]

Public Service Message - For anyone still "on the fence" about picking one of these up, better give it some "giddy-yap," as the right handed models are almost gone. . .

 

[Occh639]

Public Service Message - For anyone still "on the fence" about picking one of these up, better give it some "giddy-yap," as the right handed models are almost gone. . .

On your recommendation, I just ordered the Catalina and it will be my first LP baitcaster style reel. Thanks for your feedback/review.
BTW...I like you new aftermarket handle do you know if that company has a single power handle version.
Thanks again Pete

 

[Leprechaun]

There's no end to them on AliExpress and Ebay. Personally, I would NEVER use one on such a nice, compact, "work of art" reel. Completely unbalances it - and IMO would look like crap. But it won't be my reel, of course!

If you do still want one, look on AliExpress at this seller: Weihai Fishing Tackle Store Store - Amazing prodcuts with exclusive discounts on AliExpress and here too: EKFan Fishing Store - Amazing prodcuts with exclusive discounts on AliExpress

Most of the other sellers there will ship to you, but it'll be a looong wait.

Lep

 

[buddha162]

Public Service Message - For anyone still "on the fence" about picking one of these up, better give it some "giddy-yap," as the right handed models are almost gone. . .

I've got a 7.3 coming, had the guys at tackle trap spool up with YGK Upgrade X8 in 40lb...can't wait to use both the reel and test out the JDM line!

 

[Leprechaun]

Hey guys, when you spool up, MAKE SURE you put two turns of a quality black electrical tape, like Scotch #33 over the spool hub. This will close up those dopey ventilating holes and give your braid something to bite into, so it doesn’t slip on the spool under drag pressure from a biggie. I also put about 10’ of 15lb mono on it and Albright knot my braid to that. I do this on any small reel that will carry braid. Can never be too careful!

 

[buddha162]

Got one of the last 7.3s in, very solid reel. Clicky drag was a nice surprise...the handle knobs are perfect (much prefer these to the Revo Beast's).

The YGK Upgrade x8 in 40lb is thinner than Daiwa J Braid's 20lb. Even if you go by listed dia...one of these companies is way off base. Extremely tight weave, more wiry than J braid/Samurai but we'll see how it fares after wearing in.

 

[movetheboat]

I notice that most folks bucktailing fluke use a low profile baitcasting reel....but those using jigs for blackfish use a spinner....i mean a 10lb fluke or a 10lb blackfish will fight like heck......any insight to this?

so I did get one of these reels...very purty!! thank you!

 

[buddha162]

I notice that most folks bucktailing fluke use a low profile baitcasting reel....but those using jigs for blackfish use a spinner....i mean a 10lb fluke or a 10lb blackfish will fight like heck......any insight to this?

If you're flipping a light (sub 1oz down to 1/4oz) jig around a piece for tog, your jig will fall faster and straighter coming off a spinning reel spool vs a baitcaster, hence landing more precisely on your target. Heavier jigs don't make as much a difference, either spinning or casting will work well. Fluke jigging requires no accuracy, so either works well. Some find it easier to cast up current on a drift with spinning gear. That's my take on it anyway.

 

[Leprechaun]

On the money Buddha! One other thing, a revolving spool reel generates much more cranking torque than a similarly light spinning reel. That's why you can keep the rod tip low and crank in a decent fluke or blackfish, but have to "lift and reel down" on a biggie with a like-sized spinner.

This past Fall I had no issues cranking 6lb+ "jig-caught" blackfish to the boat with my Daiwa Pluton baitcaster/Proteus H combo. Further, this is why I chickened out of using my Evict 2000/Harrier outfit this Fall. I think the up and down rod movement used with spinning gear to bring up a good one can give the fish an opportunity to spit the weighted hook (jig), if you don't pay solid attention to not allowing any slack line whatsoever.

Having said that, next season I will challenge myself to use that spinning rig for tog "jigging."

 

[Occh639]

On the money Buddha! One other thing, a revolving spool reel generates much more cranking torque than a similarly light spinning reel. That's why you can keep the rod tip low and crank in a decent fluke or blackfish, but have to "lift and reel down" on a biggie with a like-sized spinner.

This past Fall I had no issues cranking 6lb+ "jig-caught" blackfish to the boat with my Daiwa Pluton baitcaster/Proteus H combo. Further, this is why I chickened out of using my Evict 2000/Harrier outfit this Fall. I think the up and down rod movement used with spinning gear to bring up a good one can give the fish an opportunity to spit the weighted hook (jig), if you don't pay solid attention to not allowing any slack line whatsoever.

Having said that, next season I will challenge myself to use that spinning rig for tog "jigging."

I received my new Catalina ,,,,this is a sweet little reel. I can’t believe how light it is!
Thanks Pete , I’m glad I took your advice.

PS...next season give the light spinning outfit an honest try for Tog, you may run the risk of possibly losing a big one but the fun factor is off the charts good. The season before last I caught my first DD Tog (10.4) in Rhode Is. on basically a freshwater rod ,St.Croix premier 8-14lb test 3/8-3/4 lure with a Daiwa Ballistic LT 3000. It was one of the best fights I have ever had with a fish . Later that season I was lucky enough to catch another 10 pounder but with a conventional rod and reel and it wasn’t even 1/2 the battle or fun like it was on the spinner. Thanks again Pete

 

[hartattack]

Have gone togging with my "stock 4.9" four times since November - it has performed flawlessly and has become my go-to for 8+bait. One thing to note is the very narrow line guide entry to the level-wind, forcing me to tie shorter top-shots so that the uni-to-uni connector knot does not get stuck entering the level-wind - not a problem. . . .

 

[Leprechaun]

Hi Hartattack - You bring up a good point. With many of the more progressive (I have come to really dislike that word - for reasons entirely outside the world of fishing!) rod manufacturers and custom builders now going to mini and micro guide trains on many of their most popular rod lines, it is probably time to take another look at what works and what doesn't in the realm of knot tying.

By now we are all pretty much aware of the WHY a micro guide train is superior - in the realm of sensitivity and overall rod lightening, if not in guide longevity. But it can really become an irritant for our formerly-great line/leader knots to be constantly hanging up in the tiny guides while reeling in. Or even worse - while making a hard cast. That can be catastrophic in a worst case guide snag.

The Double Uni, and especially the Albright and its more complex variant, the Alberto, all leave a tag end that tends to hang up in the new tiny tip tops or first few guides with regularity - so that's not really a good option. Not to me, anyway.

So in order to retain my sanity, I have learned to tie the FG Knot reasonably quickly, and find that it absolutely flies through the guides, regardless of their size. In three seasons of use, I've never had one let go under pressure - and that includes pulling free from snags whilst togging over nasty bottom. Not a single time. Can't say that for any other similar-use knot I've tied.

My Daiwa Proteus SS H, Blackhole Charter Special and Jigging World Ghost Hunter 150g are all wrapped with a mini/micro guide train. The worst (best?) of them is that Proteus, by far. I truly love that particular rod's action and wide range of versatility. But holy smokes, are those guides tiny. And there's 13 of them on that stick! I tried any number of different leader to main line knots, and the best of them by far has been the FG. 100% perfecto. To be truthful, I doubt I'd be attempting to tie it on a rolling boat, though I think maybe I could. Luckily, its never failed me, so I've never actually had to try.

There are many videos on YouTube giving good insight into how to quickly and properly tie it, including some that use the "Reverse" method, using the leader to wind up onto the braid, instead of the opposite. There are even several I saw that included the use of a "Leader bobbin" to VERY quickly spin the line around the leader - which I will try this season, having purchased the bobbin on AliExpress. But just the "normal" 15-20-turn FG "weave" seems to be plenty strong, based on my own experience. It has become my go-to for this line/leader application.

 

[buddha162]

One tip re all Daiwa baitcasters that I learned from a friend...unlike Shimano (esp their micromodule gears), Daiwa reels will get smoother over time. I've experienced this from Feugo CTs to Zillions. After the gears wear in, strip off the old grease and reapply; for me it's after the first season of use.

I prefer a quiet and smooth rotation over free-spinning, so I use Shimano Drag Grease on all brass gears. Daiwa uses a lighter grease from the factory, I believe it's 555 though there's a newer "gear grease 104" from Daiwa now.

 

[Occh639]

One tip re all Daiwa baitcasters that I learned from a friend...unlike Shimano (esp their micromodule gears), Daiwa reels will get smoother over time. I've experienced this from Feugo CTs to Zillions. After the gears wear in, strip off the old grease and reapply; for me it's after the first season of use.

I prefer a quiet and smooth rotation over free-spinning, so I use Shimano Drag Grease on all brass gears. Daiwa uses a lighter grease from the factory, I believe it's 555 though there's a newer "gear grease 104" from Daiwa


Thanks for the tip Roger! Btw ...Did you like the Zillion ? I think Lep said the Catalina is the Japanese version of the Zillion. I just got mine and it seems super smooth and is definitely super light, I cannot wait for fluke season to use it . I like using a light spinning outfit for Tog but I might try the Catalina for some inshore black fishing as well .

 

[buddha162]

Thanks for the tip Roger! Btw ...Did you like the Zillion ? I think Lep said the Catalina is the Japanese version of the Zillion. I just got mine and it seems super smooth and is definitely super light, I cannot wait for fluke season to use it . I like using a light spinning outfit for Tog but I might try the Catalina for some inshore black fishing as well .

I have a couple Zillion SV TWS, and yes I picked up the Catalina in a 7.3 ratio off the tackle trap as well. I only used the Catalina once, it'll be my crossover small swimbait - fluke jigging reel, and I think it'll do very nicely for both applications. You can really tell that the Catalina is overbuilt for its size...the dual metal sideplates is very obvious under load. Also, I think the stock handle and knobs are perfect.

For w/e reason...Daiwa can't seem to make their baitcasters feel nearly as refined as Shimano does at various price points. The Curado K feels like a rolex compared to any Daiwa I've tried, including the flagship Steez A and SVs...Shimano really knows how to forge and cut gears. BUT, I much prefer Daiwa's magnetic braking over the centrifugal braking Shimano offers. It just feels more natural to me, and the SV reels are magic casting into the wind. I realize this is not something the average fluke jigger cares about...but I split my time in fresh and salt and casting/braking profiles are important to me.

 

[LowGear]

Lep,

May I ask where you were able to source that Gosen line from. I checked out the Link you gave, but when it translated it seemed to be the informational page and not one to purchase from.

 

[Leprechaun]

Hi LG - I got mine from Ebay. Put "GOSEN PE-line GOSEN X8BRAID 150m 20lb" into the search engine there and you'll find what you need.

 

[LowGear]

Thank you sir ordered!

 

[Leprechaun]

It was a 2.5 week delivery. Coming from Japan, not horrible. Ehh, not doing much fluking in the next three weeks anyways.