Not about Who is Better: This HUGE Difference of Shimano vs Daiwa that No One is talking about

[@enonek2960]

I've been a Daiwa user for well over 20 yrs and, I've tried several other brands. However, while some of those other brands have had issues my Daiwa's have never let me down aesthetically or mechanically. Bottom line is, go with what gives you confidence. Great video!

[@AliKalu-l7f]

I had Shimano and still have for over 10 years - Alvio 6000, after that time I bought a second one and after dropping all my rods and reels into 6m depth at see and fishing it out finer still worked. Reel was about 65$. Shimano for price and quality are exceptional. But I am sick of all standard brands who charge a kidney. I just got QUANTUM today, a bit robust but great quality according to expert thorough analysis of all components.

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

Aside from “anti-reverse” issues. I definitely prefer Daiwa spinners over shimano. But the Daiwa’s anti reverse has gotten better over the past 5 years.

[@roadhouse8604]

I have literally dozens of top of the line Shimanos in both spinning and baitcasting, some dating back to the 90's. ALL are till in service. Sporadically, I'll try a top of the line Daiwa every once in awhile when they come out with new tech that sounds interesting. The majority of these reels are no longer functional. Daiwa manufacturing, tolerance, and components simply aren't to the level of Shimano, at least in the premium products. Never have been- yet they still charge the same premium price as Shimano.

[@CATCH_OUT25]

totally agree on this...

[@gregsmith7821]

30(ish) years of abuse (never even bothered to clean it, just let the rain give it a rinse) and my Shimano bait-runner feels the same as it did when new. Terrible compared with all the advances we get with modern reels.😂 In that regard, we don't need reels to last forever but it's nice to know they do.😘

[@laurieharper1526]

I'm a Shimano fan. I have about 20 of their reels. It's helpful for me to be able to use any spool on any reel (of the same size obviously). However, I acknowledge that Daiwa make fine reels, too. One area where I think Daiwa has the edge is in multipliers, especially for long casting from the shore. If I did that sort of fishing, I would buy Daiwa.

[@davidcloyd1296]

Wow, you’re a serious guy that I need to subscribe to. I bought a Calcutta 51 as a 92’ graduation present to myself and still fish it to this day, (I’ve replaced many parts & “super tuned” it). Having a quality reel is worth the money and creates life long customers.

[@TommyS3119]

I own both Shimano and Daiwa. I’m one that likes to crack them open and inspect and service myself. I believe Shimano uses better quality internal parts. The metals and designs are more robust than Daiwa. I notice I see way more plastics inside the Daiwas. Even the screws Daiwa uses are softer and lesser quality than what Shimano uses. In real world use, I find reliability between Shimano, and non mag seal Daiwas about the same. Shimano has a much better sealing system, using rubber gaskets rather than the silly, quirky mag seal. Also, as much as I like Daiwas monocoque designs, you need a special wrench to get inside, making them almost non serviceable by the owner. Thats a major PITA!!! I could go on and on, and of course this just my opinion, but for me, it’s mostly all Shimano moving forward.

[@BassniperEng]

Nailed it. Two of the major reasons I don't even think about getting Daiwa spinning reels.

[@azzadmohamad6293]

This i agree.. 👍🏼👌🏼

[@WORTHLESS_BACKSHOT_BABY]

Not too sure how you can say that shimano uses better interals when all their micro gear gear sets go buzzy in under a year of use, and if you're using it with high resistance baits, it only takes a few months before your reel is noisier and grindier than a pepper grinder.

[@watosmate8935]

That's ashame I can service my daiwai ltd without anything special but must be high end reels, even so don't think I can switch personally like the feel look of the reels of years of use

[@rivercityrambler7751]

Daiwa uses oversized gears. I love my 2500 Tatula LT MQ.

[@depalebe]

My first raise was in 1971. A skirted spinning reel that I still have. I would have to say at this point I have more Shimano reels than Daiwa. These two giants drive the fishing industry and I like the fact that they build their reels in their own factories. When it comes to the T-Wing take a look at Heddons 1960s Heritage and 1970s 3600 bait casting reels. The line guide was not uniform. They were round at the top and narrow below. The free spool on these reels worked by pushing the line guide forward. In this position the line would pass through the larger ring of the line guide. When retrieving the line guide returns to a upright position an the line passes through the thin portion of the line guide during the retrieve. While not a T you can see where Daiwa may have got inspiration for the T-Wing. Great video. You hit the Shimano Daiwa debate on the head. Thanks.

[@BassniperEng]

Wow! That's why I love reading through the comments, what a piece of history. I know Heddon as a lure company, never know they make (or had branded at least) reels. Just googled up the Heritage reels, fascinating is the only thing I can say about these early ground breaking designs. Now I need to get one to see for myself. Thanks for sharing!!

[@travy461]

Another great video! I just looked through my combos and, out of the 14 i have rigged up, theres an even split between daiwa and shimano reels. I agree with that final sentiment!

[@youtubesux6361]

It was years ago that i fell in love with the smooth functioning of Shimano. I love them ❤

[@gilbertthien6211]

Was tempted to purchase the Shimano Bantam MGL when it was first introduced but I waited and am so glad that I did. The Shimano Bantam 2022 is a huge improvement over its predecessor.

[@BassniperEng]

I have both gen, I like both. Like the newer dials. Both built solid solid tough. The 2018 model was my chatterbait workhorse. Got so many 5+ and still smooth like day one.

[@jimmypage279]

I started as a shimano fan boy years ago until I started working in a fishing store, in 2021, and Shimano was mostly sold out due to supply chain issues. By the end of 2022, 50% of my daily use reels were shimano and 50% were daiwa. That all changed last year when two of my tatulas and one of my zillions started to grind. I began to rapidly sell my daiwa reels until now where I probably have 80% shimano and 20% daiwa. The new absurd price increases on daiwa have killed my interest in the brand too. I honestly think Daiwa reels are now only built to feel out of box for 2-3 years like you said.

[@BassniperEng]

My Zillion is dedicated to throw jerkbait, hence no horsing fish out of heavy cover etc. So far so good. I don't dare to let it horse fish. Drag set pretty loose too~~they are like the opera tenors nowadays, compare to old timers like Del Monaco, delicate mosquito vs T-Rex lol

[@mastermouaable]

Still have all my Daiwa CT the 1st gen; it still working till this day. The only thing I did to the reel is put in oil.

[@matthewotis3594]

I've fished my coastal for over 5 years with no issues. Oil the bearings and grease the worm. No problems. My lexa is kicking a$$ still as well as my zillion. Old school zillion but it's fire. But my tranx and slx are still rocking so I love them both. Haven't bought 1 in 4 or 5 years though. Except my lexa tws. I want the tranx 300 but hate the lack of external adjustments. Why I have the tranx 200 and slx xt. But my lews reels and okuma komodo ss are just as good as my diawa and shimano reels. Like the feel of the diawas personally. My cousins curado shit the bed after a few weeks. Gears went out. Stripped out rather. And his s orpion is stiff and grindy. Guess they all make lemons. My lews tournament pro lost its bmdrag after 2 or r years so...my custom speed spool still rocks and have fished it longer? I do wish diawa would quit renaming their tech. Afterthe CT sv stuff nothing g has really changed. Doesn't need to but I hate marketing lies.

[@pickin4you]

All reels need lubed. That grinding are dry gears. Lube them and they will be as quiet as new. The problem I see in these comments are so many don’t service their reels as they should. I had a reel someone gave me and the man I was fishing with noticed the noise. I took it apart when I got home and cleaned and lubed everything. The next time out he assumes I bought a new reel as it was now dead silent. Don’t blame the reel for your neglect.

[@gooroochillafarnorthqld-Aus]

Mate, couldn’t agree with you more. While I must confess that I’m a Shimano diehard, you’ve nailed it .. maintain any quality brand reel along with the all important freshwater clean and dry after every fishing session and it should give you years of service …. tight lines to you from Cairns Aus.

[@philipfalco7304]

Accurate video! I've been fishing for 50yrs. and started out using both Shimano and Daiwa equally until the early 2000's when I first picked up the original Aero Stradic spinning reel and the Calais 100A bait caster and it's been almost exclusively Shimano ever since. I still have 6 Shimano reels that are 20 yrs. old and with little maintenance, as good as I purchased them. Daiwa ZERO!. I still have the above mentioned Original Aero Stradic, the Calais 100A, a 2002 Stella F.A. 2500, a 2004 Stradic Mgfa and 2 Chronarch MG bait casters. A couple year's back I started buying a few Daiwa's . I most recently purchased the JDM Zillion and really like the performance and ease of use but you're correct about the paint Job and I can't use it for anything heavy. I also purchased 3 of the 2018 Tatula LT and 1 Kage 2000 and like them but compared to the Stradic FL, 2018 and 22' Stella, 17 Exsence and my 19' and 23 Vanquish's, they're mostly relegated to secondary use for when I feel the need for the back-reeling feature. Love both companies for bringing us the best reels money can buy.

[@BassniperEng]

Thanks for sharing! My 21 Zillion is dedicated to jerkbait fishing, so no hard horsing fish out of heavy cover. I don't dare to do that with the JDM Zillion at all. I did use the 20 Tatula briefly for flipping the pads, it held OK. Those job belongs to Bantam lol

[@philipfalco7304]

@@BassniperEng I hear the Bantam is a beast for heavier baits and flipping but being older now I just can't handle the extra weight of the Bantam. After buying the 19' Antares I realized that I just couldn't throw it for any extended period of time. I use my 20' Met., 22 Met.Shallow and 23' Met. for most of my Bass fishing needs. I also have the Curado 70mgl and 2 of the 150mgl's which I like a lot. I use the Zillion for jerk baits, topwater and other lighter baits under 1/2 oz. but I find the 22' Met. similar to the Zillion and actually like the 22'Met. better.

[@BassniperEng]

Metanium platform is a workhorse indeed. I have four of them with different gear ratio, put different line on it, swapping the spool and I got a bunch of different gear ratio/line combo. I agree, Antares is heavy and the 19 is still on the large side. It was literally build like a tank lol

[@philipfalco7304]

@@BassniperEng Same here. I have the 2020 U.S. Met, the JDM 22 Met. Shallow and the 23 JDM Met. and I purchased a 2020 JDM Met. spare spool. All are interchangeable. I swap out spools with different lines also. Very convenient. I only have them in the HG and XG models. I prefer the HG and XG over the regular gear ratio's. To each their own.

[@daveschreck6784]

I found that Diawa's paint and durability after a year was distressing. Ive been using Shimano for 25+ years and have had no issues mechanically.

[@AKMALRXZ]

Yup,i agreed. daiwa paint is shit,especially their baitcaster reel. the only thing i love daiwa is their drag,they using carbontex instead dartanium like shimano baitcaster. if spinning reel,i love both of them shimano and daiwa.

[@IRemnantsI]

Great vid, every fanboy has 10+ years, 1000+ fish and 0 issues. I have only started baitcasting the last 3 years as they are rare in my area, choices where tatula 100 vs the SLX. I went with the tatula as the shimano wasnt available (a little sad after reading reviews). I knew about the oil issue and was prepaired, and its been running great even with a couple un-intentional muskies dragged in. I'd like to get a shimano but I had this run in with a diehard shimano fan that scoffed and ask "why not a shimano?" gave me the spiel, but I was still able to cast further than him consitantly. He left upset that his DC was not preforming but mind you we both didnt catch anything so who really won haha? To me comes down to the fishmen I've learned. I've gone through quite a few number of fishing vids and I have noticed the Shimanos would fail equally as much as a Diawa or any other, especially on heavy hook sets in non equipment focused or review vids, they never really bash the reels, just how it goes I guess. Ive been 50/50 for spinning reels the last 10+ years, and havent had any issues for both and I really enjoy my Vanford on the boat, but find my self walking the shore with my Ballistic MQ. I think a lot of people already know this issue with Daiwa and see them as the underdog really. Got a lot of fishing planned this year, maybe my tatula will finally explode mid cast or something haha, hopefully I am not just carrying 1rod1reel at the time...lol

[@GFWoodchuck]

Common sense right here.

[@SonomaOutdoorFun]

This is an awesomely fantastic video! I wish there was a video like this on reels that have not been compared to each other before. Namely the 8000 series spinning reels like the Shimano Baitrunner, Daiwa Free Swimmer, Daiwa Emcast Bite n Run, and the Penn Live Liner reels. Even Okuma has the Avenger Baitfeeder. I can't find any videos of someone comparing them side-by-side let alone a teardown and seeing the size and materiel of the gears, bearings, drag washers, and other hardware. Whoever can do that first would be the internet fishing guru. Nobody forgets the first and the best.

[@Voxguitarsrock]

Ive never owned any shimano reels . But every Daiwa ive bought going back almost 50 years are still in service and working fine. Cheers!

[@matthewotis3594]

They're both on top of the game for sure.

[@peterlawson8040]

Suuuuuuuure

[@michaelchoun747]

I prefer shimano , I probably own two daiwa the rest shimano

[@86hurak]

Try use Dawa in cold weather below 30f you will fill so good magsealed bearings

[@madtownangler]

Won't the line freeze anyways?

[@texasvet7241]

I’ve changed more Shimano Micro Module gears in my shop than any other brand. They just don’t seem to last very long at all before they get geary. I rarely come across a Daiwa with gear issues. That being said there are a lot more Shimano’s around here than Daiwa’s. Personally, after owing many Shimano reels I prefer Daiwa’s SV reels. No issues and the gears have stayed smooth.

[@thequixoticangler3364]

On reels, I favor Shimano for finesse and Daiwa for power. On rods, Daiwa up to $200 the Shimano except for the Rebellion. They're both the best of the best. It's really about the angler. You nailed it. Loved this video. My Daiwa Procaster 711 from 85 is still on a rod. They're that good. Got a Speedmaster spinner from 88 I always use.

[@vincentmok2873]

I do not know the content creator(s) of this channel personally, but if you watch this videos, he goes into great depths to tell you about fishing, how things work, and his thoughts on using products. He also has videos that shows you how fish behaves. This is a very good channel, and I agree wholeheartedly with what he says 99.9% of the time. That 0.1% is deducted, so you always have room to improve on your content.

[@BassniperEng]

Thanks for the kind words, and glad you like the content so far. Tight lines~~🐟

[@adzoutnabout888]

I have both brands. My spinning reels are Daiwa Certates. I noticed Shimano had more issue’s with wind knots until they copied Daiwas line laying pattern. Some of my Certates are well over 10 years old.

[@a.p.6149]

I also noticed significantly more wind knots with shimano spinnings and thin pe line

[@adzoutnabout888]

@@a.p.6149 line management is key with braided line and spinning reels. Once the bail arm is closed, it is essential to pull a few inches of line against the drag to settle the line load on the spool. I have had 3 wind knots in 10 years using this technique.

[@sausagefingers385]

is this because of shimano's worm shaft mechanism?

[@adzoutnabout888]

@@sausagefingers385 shimano improved their worm drive system , but they couldnt copy Daiwas patented system.

[@mercertevyn]

Great work. Awesome detail. Look forward to your next seminar!

[@KrisK-i4f]

I’ve got both , my oldest Diawas go back 50 years , the old silver seven surf reels they still work like a champ ,but seldom get used anymore because of the weight , I now mostly use the BG reels in the surf and have for years with no problems whatsoever. But I also use newer Shamano reels that never give me problems , only time will tell which is the superior reel , right now I love em both.

[@partner348]

I haven't bought a reel in 20 years. I bought Daiwa and Shimano during my buying years, but I don't have ANY Daiwa in my collection now. For no other reason than every one I ever had broke, and 20 plus years later all my Shimanos are still running.

[@jpap967]

I'm mainly a Daiwa guy, but I have owned and used just about every shimano ever released. For up to $300, I believe Daiwa and Shimano are just about equals and the difference becomes just preference. But for the top tier reels above that price range, I'd much rather spend $600 on an Antares DC than a Steez SV.....Shimano flagship reels are just a cut above Daiwa's value wise and what you get for the money. That's why the only shimano reels I still have are my Antares A, Antares DC, Metanium MGL, and Metanium DC. Again, this is coming from a 95% daiwa reel owner

[@dsm5d723]

Daiwa engineering is usually more adventurous and experimental than Shimano. Not all of their innovations work flawlessly, but I prefer Daiwa on balance. However, Shimano has improved in the inshore saltwater spinning category I use the most. I point to the Whisker Tournament SS spinning reels. Before braided line existed, Daiwa made long stroke spool with worm gear oscillation that handles braid perfectly. To my knowledge, ALL other brands had to retool for braid, I don't know if the old Shimano Aero spinners work with braid.

[@njbass.]

Some early 2000 Stradics had binding issues that Shimano denied. At the time Bass Boards were beginning to take off around the country and many Stradic binding issues were being reported. However, individually, Shimano kept telling customers that their problem was isolated but the boards now enabled fisherman to see that it wasn’t. This pissed off a lot of loyal Shimano users. I sent in a Stradic that was 3-4 years old for yearly maintenance to Shimano in CA. Surprisingly they wound up sending me a newer version of the reel instead! No explanation from Shimano. However, soon I realized the one they sent me had a bail failure issue. The bail would close intermittently on casts and I lost a lot of tackle because of this issue. Shimano denied this problem and never figured it out even after I sent the reel back to them multiple times. Eventually i asked for a replacement. They finally agreed and allowed me to pay to upgrade to a newer model Sustain instead. However, the new Sustain I received was defective. The spool could not be secured to the shaft. Kenichi, master Shimano serviceman, was very angry and rude to me when I told him about the spool issue. I immediately sent it back to him and later received another Sustain that has worked flawlessly to this day. Kenichi later acknowledged the problem with the original Sustain but I received no apology for him blasting me on the phone when I calmly told him of the problem. His justification was that the failure rate on the Sustains was so low that it was reasonable for him not to believe me when I first reported the problem. I also purchased a Shimano Stella FB when they were released many years ago. The knob soon became very sticky while it was still under warranty. I sent it to Shimano for repair but they never fixed it. They said that suntan lotion and other oils might be interacting with the knob to produce the stickiness. How can your flagship 500 dollar spinning reel degrade if you use suntan lotion? Years later it was discovered that the Stella FB knobs would melt under normal use over time. It became a known issue. I tried to get a new handle from Shimano but they stopped making parts for it. Reel works perfectly otherwise.

[@BassniperEng]

The bails on Shimano spinning reels to this day still have a common angle at which they would not open fully, but will stay open until you cast with force. All the new gen spinning reels share the same common angle for the bails. I had experienced similar issue with 07 Stella FD "rubber" handle knob getting sticky, however I found it was covered with a layer of "mud" like whatever nasty sticky layer. Cleaned up with wiping alcohol and took it apart and oiled, all good till this day. 17 years still kicking smoothly and cranking up fish after fish. One thing about JDM mfg I heard many years ago was there was class A and class B products. I never confirmed it and I don't think any of them would ever admit even it exists. Their QC is very stringent. I have had brand new 10 Stella clicking noise and 14 Stella clicking noise. Exchanged and no issues after that. Daiwa for me is another story lol

[@TeamMaroonAdventures]

It’s all a money thing. I’ve fished for probably 45 years. I’ve used them all and as of now I choose Daiwa. I could be out in my Ranger boat, with all the electronics and all the latest gear and I know an old guy that will have his flat bottom boat with no electronics, old Zebco reels and a 1980s Abu Garcia bait caster and maybe a couple of open face rods and reels, and six out of 10 times outfish everybody in the tournament. It’s just the world we live in today. The latest and greatest sales! But, do we really need it? None of those guys back in the 70s and 80s when I was growing up watching those tournaments on TV, had any of it.

[@ptpatrickusmc]

This was well done. Great work!

[@BassniperEng]

Thanks a lot!

[@manifestgtr]

To me, it’s a matter of what you’re asking for in a reel. If you want supreme ergonomics and a more free-wheeling setup that benefits from a trained thumb, shimano is the clear “winner”. Their 70 sized curados/engetsus/etc and adelabran models are the most comfortable reels I’ve ever thrown. You can (and I have) throw those reels for 8 hours straight with no problem. That’s an often-overlooked attribute when people talk about reels. If you want to put your reel to work, Daiwas are better at that. Their braking is more conducive to heavy handed, even thumbless braking at times. Even though shimanos are technically “infinite” in their braking capabilities, Daiwas are just *better* if you’re more concerned with braking or you’re newer to baitcasting and fear the backlash. I also think the t-wing is a super interesting innovation if you don’t use leaders. The one thing that’s kept me from checking out more Daiwas is that I’ve been heavy braid to leader for the last five years or so.

[@1jimif]

I came to same conclusion years ago when I had 2 millionaire series Bait cast reels they were pretty and red, I had them about 3 years and they both failed when I used them for deep diving crank baits, it was like they became very hard to reel against any kind of resistance. The sad thing was they still looked like brand new. That said I am very tempted to try a Diawa Exist spinning reel. I still have a Shimano Sustain from the 80's (it may have been 90's) but at that time the Sustain was top of the line it has a double handle like a baitcasting reel. The list price was $550 I got it for 250 used from original owner the same year it came out. Back then $550 for a spinning reel was crazy money, but when it was offered to me for 250 I bought it. I have to say it was worth every penny because I am still using it 30 years later. Anyhow thanks for making this video I agree with your opinion but am still thinking about getting an Exist. I recently bought the Calcutta Conquest bfs and love it.....FishOn....Jim

[@BassniperEng]

Hi Jim, Thanks for sharing your experience. Love to hear the history. Where I grew up fishing, it was very hard to find any Shimano/Daiwa/Abu tackle. I remember the days drooling over the D.A.M. reels in the department store display while not being able to afford one. My solution was to study hard, place high at school, then my parents would eventually buy me a piece of tackle for reward, but still D.A.M. reel was never achievable. Can't imagine how much $550 could do back in the 90s. That was insane. Nothing wrong with Daiwa. Exist will absolutely make you happy. It comes with extra service if you are in Japan. Not sure if Daiwa honor this in your area but worth asking. BTW, in case you haven't heard, try Digitaka, Plat, JapanLureShop or JDM Tackle Heaven for Exist. I have no tie to any of them but just another way to get almost everything JDM (at a nice price with the exchange rate of course). Tight lines -- Jerry

[@davidcarley8566]

Daiwa Saltigas (Daiwa's most expensive saltwater spinning reels) had absolutely terrible paint for years. At least two generations of Saltiga, including all variants of the reel (Expedition, Dogfight, etc.), had paint that would flake off if you looked at it twice. They were still considered very good reels by some people, though. I think of Shimano as being a bit like Toyota - a bit boring, maybe, but mostly very reliable. I think of Daiwa as being a bit like Mitsubishi - a bit more interesting, more 'lively' maybe, but the company is perhaps less responsible & its products less reliable.

[@BassniperEng]

Flagship should definitely not facing these issues. And totally agree with the Mitsubishi analogy lol

[@Pierrepadda]

It was the best and most honest comparison I've ever seen. thanks . getting a little worried as I just bought 3 Daiwa 24 STEEZ SV TW100 that I want to try but have always fished with the best shimano fishing reels without any problems for many years.

[@BassniperEng]

The new Steez is a fine reel. I had it for 3 months so far, function-wise no problem so far, but please use the reel cover whenever you can. Mine got a giant scratch on the palm side...eye sore. That mirror finish is different from Shimano's real metal ( i.e. Antares).

[@nolanjones-pz1mv]

I promise you won’t be disappointed but how did it go ? Is it a good reel ?

[@nolanjones-pz1mv]

Funny because my shimano 150 is chipping away paint and backlashes way worse than my diawa 150 never had a bad backlash with my diawa it’s smoother cast father but it’s still a great reel

[@robertlivingston1634]

I've been using Shimano spinning reels for almost 40 years, about 8 years ago I bought several diawa line counters for trolling and haven't been disappointed with either.

[@Woefman911]

Well done video, i own both. For many years i was pro Shimano. Started dabling with Diawa starting with TD Sol bait caster. I never got hang if Sol so put it away. Like 10 years later the Sol still being my only Diawa, i read an old review and realized this real typically should not have more than 10lb test. I drug it out and presto became one my favorites. I then began buying more Diawa. Several red/black CT Type R, several Zillion, 1 tatula. Now i tend to use diawa more. I feel shimano casts further. But i rarley back lash with diawa.

[@MrSCOTTtheSCOT]

I have an 8010 xt-7 baitrunner bought in 1988 still works a dream i was 15 and used all my christmas money on it , its still in perfect nick , never had to replace anything in it or on it used in the sea for mackerel and freshwater, rinsed an oiled after every use , having never had to replace it , did shimano make it too good or are they just absolutely honourable to their commitment of high quality products. Sadly many daiwa reels i have had have suffered broken reel posts and bail arm and failed gearing systems , these are manufactured i think in a number of european plants . Daiwa aren't bad products but wear out quicker than shimano in my experience.

[@geektarded]

I’ve been using Daiwa reels for decades and they make the best paper weights hands down. I am a software developer and when I work from my boat, I use the Daiwas to keep my papers from blowing off the boat while I fish with my Shimanos. The extra weight snd the rough gearing really helps it hold the papers down.

[@BassniperEng]

LOL trigger warning for Daiwa fanboys lol love the WFB! Recently did that a couple times.

[@armjamal1]

hahahaha

[@KevinJohnson-ge5xs]

You made me go look. I have 4 Shimano, 3 Diawa, 2 Penn, and 1 Abu Garcia reel (not counting the fly reels). My favorite Shimano is a Royal Blue Glitter spinning reel.

[@kenglee88]

so true about daiwa.. 2 of my ballistic mq reel after the 2nd yr has started to grind.. making me regret why i didnt just buy the shimano instead.. lesseon learned.. but it was a great experience to try what the difference between the 2 well known brand in the fishing world

[@jasonflett3587]

I have used them all. Using akumo at present and love it. Hakai baitcaster is probably the best bass reel. For Aussie bass

[@KeikiChan]

As someone who has both Daiwa and Shimano, my Shimano reels have never failed me. It honestly is paying for your buck for the better reels. My Daiwa reels have failed me a couple of times and upon inspecting one of my previous ones that broke, the main screw gear made of pretty cheap metal, was snapped and cracked in multiple parts. My Shimanos I have owned for longer however, has lasted longer than the daiwas I have purchased nearly 2 years ago. Daiwa seems to have gotten really cheap recently unless you pay $250+ for the better quality ones, unless you want ones for the look. My Shimano reels last thru both fresh and salt water, lasting thru small fish as brim to big fish as stripers and bull reds. The Shimano Stradic 4000 is one of my longest lasting reels, and I have yet to try the newest version. The main daiwa i have tested is the Daiwa BG4000 black and gold series. I will be purchasing a Daiwa Saltist 4000 series and then Shimano Stradic 4000 FM eventually as a test between the two.

[@SMC4117]

I have fished with both Shimano and Daiwa reels both in spinning and baitcast… Both brands are an excellent choice but I would most definitely choose Shimano….My Shimano’s have out lasted my Daiwa’s both in fresh and saltwater. I just retired a Shimano Sedona 2500 that I have been using in fresh and saltwater for over 25 years. It caught me numerous Largemouth bass, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass, Halibut, Croaker, Corvina, Corbina, Striper’s, Grouper, Snook, Surf Perch, Sand Bass, Calico Bass, Bay Bass, and a few other undesirable fish species… Unfortunately, I found a crack in one of the handle gears while servicing it… All that said, I have a brand new SS 2500 ready to put in work for the next 20+ years 🎣🤙🏻

[@BassniperEng]

Thanks for sharing the awesome experience. My oldest Shimano is a 2002 Ultegra, fished across the planet and still kicking. personally I think Shimano has way more expertise dealing with metal/alloy manufacture since they started as blacksmith lol Tight lines~

[@Ryoshi967]

I am no fanboy of any reel manufacturer. I regularly use Penn, Penn Internationals, Accurate, Duel, Avet, Miya Epoch and of course Shimano and Daiwa. I bought a Daiwa Saltiga Dogfight to try it out several years ago. I am disappointed in this reel. After a year, the gearing started to make noise and you could feel the grinding while reeling. Also, the paint came off in several places. I shelved that reel and only recently sent it back to Daiwa to fix it. Whereas, the high end Shimanos which are much older, has not exhibited any problems or cosmetic blemishes. My buddy also bought a Dogfight at the same time and his paint is also coming off. I fish from my boat so only salt spray hits the reels and upon return, they are sprayed with salt away and then washed with freshwater.

[@BassniperEng]

Daiwa's paint job has been weak since day one IMO. I used to do a lot of ocean rock fishing (the Japanese floater style), Daiwa's lever brake spinning reels were the same...after rinse if you don't dried them immediately, the paint will puff up and peel in a hurry...

[@thecluelessoutdoorsman916]

As an owner of both a throughly enjoy both. I do personally enjoy the drag on the Shimano over the daiwa but love the smoothness of the daiwa.

[@BennyBestt]

I bought a diawa gs9 for surf fishing 30 years ago, it still works like new, I run 30 pound mono for mulloway and it it always my first cast of any fishing trip

[@navalsealsnipersports1199]

This is the most honest review I’ve seen about both brands. Daiwa is fantastic when they get problems ironed out. It’s a red flag to see Daiwa’s mid range reels being test dummies. That being said, ironing those issues out before putting them on a steez for instance is a little bit reassuring for somebody like me who goes for the flagships. I realize not everybody can afford the flagships, and for that reason, I’d have to say Shimano is better for the mid tier budget. Between the Antares and the Steez, I personally prefer the Antares. Not to take away from the Steez being a phenomenal reel, the Antares really is just that good

[@BassniperEng]

Antares is also built like a tank lol Daiwa has improved a lot in recent years I have to give them that. Design flaw is a problem, manufacturing flaw is another one for Daiwa unfortunately. About couple months ago Daiwa had to recall a couple batches of 23 SS Air due to subpar material used in the braking parts...

[@ThroneOfDespair]

Have used both brands for decades..both make phenomenal reels.TDZ's, Scorpions, Antares,Metanuims,Alphas,Calcutta Conquests,Steez etc all get the job done. Couldn't choose one over the other...love em all.I stick with the JDM variants in the upper midrange to top tier ..can't go wrong tbh

[@kweeks10045]

I still have a first generation Shimano Stradic that has had a rough life and still works great. That being said,. I've had two Nasci's catastrophically fail within a year, and they were babied and only used as a fourth or fifth gear choice. I only have a couple of Daiwa's, but they have been flawless. I mostly run Penn gear, which at least is easy and cheap to maintain.

[@TomJones-tx7pb]

I once hooked into a fish with the beefiest halibut rod, reel, and line I could buy. It towed my 50' boat around effortlessly for 90 minutes, stripping 300 yds of line off whenever it decided to move and then my reel failed. It basically wore out the level wind gearing.

[@brianharrington5593]

You seem to be a very knowledgeable fishing reel person. Could I ask you to give a time line on when all the fishing reel major contributors (manufacturers) came into production. I understand Shimano evolved from Lew's reels originally, but don't know just when they started production. Lew's was quite a bit earlier I understand. The old Abu Garcia reel was very prevalent in the older times but weight wise were heavy.

[@patsparks8731]

This was an excellent video with a wonderful comparison chart. I own (many models) of both brands and appreciate each…I’m drawn in by the high end JDM models. I can say I like both….but have my favs of each. I would say I lean slightly toward Shimano for many of the reasons you mentioned, but I do still love many of my Daiwa models. I have had paint job failures on Daiwa reels that were really frustrating considering they were flagship models at the time. I’m an Engineer as well so I appreciate fine design but reliability, proper testing and material compatibility should be a given. From a fellow tackle junkie I want to say “Thanks so much for the fine video”. 😊

[@BassniperEng]

Agree. What happens if testing was not exhaustive in the prototype stage? CrowdStrike LOL

[@darkhorsefive0]

Ford vs Chevy, Glock vs S&W, Shimano vs Daiwa… It will never end. What nobody is talking about is the fact that in a lot of cases, either option will outperform most users’ skill level, and the use they will see. My experience with this is more in the Glock vs S&W realm (Firearms Instructor), and I can’t count the times I’ve noticed that the ones who are the most vocal in the debate over pistol choice… can’t shoot well enough, and don’t shoot enough, to realize any benefits one might have over the other. The real shooters know, and talk about the differences, but can use both well. Also, they don’t tend to get involved in the brand debates. It’s a loose analogy, but I’ve heard people who fish maybe ten or twelve times a year talk about how they only use (insert brand here) because they are more durable and can stand up to the rigors of fishing. 🤣🤣🤣 I also know “shooters” that have never put more than 50 rounds through their carry gun and they talk about how their Glock is so rugged and durable. Anyway, Shimano rules. All others suck! 🤪

[@BassniperEng]

hahaha it is true. It's more of a personal affection than speaking toward the result of a rigorous test. After all, fishing is a hobby to most.

[@nativewildman9335]

I just bought a Daiwa spinning reel . I was going with Pflueger, but the last 2 I bought were making clicking sounds, and I could feel it in the rod. I have five Pfluegers that are amazing reels.

[@BassniperEng]

The Pfluegers made about 10 years ago were phenomenal. Have not tried any recent models.

[@nativewildman9335]

@BassniperEng definitely! The 2 that I have issues with is the President xt and the Supreme xt spinning. I was very disappointed. I have the Patriarch xt low-profile baitcaster, and it's phenomenal . Unfortunately, the high-end baitcasters from Pflueger are unavailable new. It's a shame because they blow everyone else out of the water in quality and price.

[@kevinlynch6799]

I prefer Shimano reels. They run smooth year after year and I fish hard. At sport shows, I always check out Diawa Reels. My “test” is to back off the drag and ease the side to side play of the spool. Now, spin the spool by hand and see how long it spins. They always spin for a shorter duration than similar Shimano reels. Second “test” for me is to just turn the handle and feel for friction. Reel Friction dulls the senses when you are focused on “feeling” exactly what your lure or jig is doing. I want the reel to be as smooth as possible. Thus far the Shimano Micro Modulus Gearing has been great but I am careful not to use those reels for tough freshwater or saltwater fish or oversized lures. Always thought Diawa’s T-Wing was a great idea and think Shimano should accept it. The only Diawa reel I had failed within the first year….30 years ago so I am sure they make awesome reels nowadays. Be well.

[@holgeruphoff5156]

Thanks for the video! I'm using both but prefer daiwa, not sure why never had problems with both. But a BIG advantage of Shimano in Germany is the availability of spares! It's easy to get every spare for older reels but just a few parts for daiwas.

[@BassniperEng]

That is interesting to know. I think I saw another comment from Sweden about the availability of parts for Shimano vs others. In the US Shimano parts are OK, reels older than 10 years might be a problem though.

[@Linesandhookers]

I've got about 15 shimano setups and never had an issue with any of them. Bought Daiwas BR baitcaster reel and it completely locked up and failed within a year. That was the first and last daiwa I'll buy.

[@OutofluckpikerMJK]

Fairly new to fishing, only fishing for pike but i have had both Daiwa/Shimano/Abu pike reels and Shimano and Abu is what i will use. Are selling my Daiwas. And Okumas. Abu could be ruled out but i want a magbrake reel, and i live 400m from the factory and also think Abus magbrake are better than magforce, it is a reason all other brands use the same magnetic brake. I see no positive of magforce, just more picky, and sensitive, which i dont want out of a mag brake, they should just do the work and go from overpowering to almost no brake.

[@alexejnemov]

I just serviced dads old Abumatic that I learned to cast with, that reel has been on countless of mountain fishing trips, I have my grandads Abu Garcia ambassadeur from the 1950's all works fine. For the last 5 years I have used the Shimano 17 Scorpion DC with upgraded bearings. I have the 21 Scorpion DC, but I really like the balance the 17 DC gives me on the rod, it weighs nothing.

[@TheGuitarRoom]

This is an absolutely fabulous video. Thank you!

[@zacjones6711]

I own both, for spinning reels, Shimano always. For bait caster though I prefer my Shimano, my Daiwa reels seem to be on a similar level. I still have and use Abu Garcia reels over 30 years old for live baiting. 40+ years of fishing will teach you that if you maintain your equipment and treat it well, most brands will serve you well. (PS: I own nearly every model you mentioned in the video, brings back many memories, thanks.)

[@fusionstar916]

Have over 30 reels with a healthy mix of both. Ive got a few other brands sprinkled in, but find myself going back to shimano or daiwa. Ive seen the frustration of my friends and family using other brands. Line twists, poor cast control, corrosion. You name it. The worst so far has been the early lews and 13 fishing reels, im sure they're better now but those early days were hilariously terrible.

[@BassniperEng]

By early Less I guess you are referring to the "reborn" Lews about a decade ago? The BB-1 era of Lews was IMO something else. Still works like a champ (built by Shimano though lol)

[@dean4696]

I feel like I picked up on the same sentiment about 7ish years ago, but my speculations about their strategy and implementation was a bit different, at least in the American market. I think Daiwa has raced to push a little performance into the massive low-middle price points of the market, perhaps with a willingness to cut corners in order to do so. If you looked at their US offerings in the first half of the 2010s, it's pretty boring. It felt like you had to pony up for a Stradic to get something that actually started to feel nice. I think Daiwa changed that in 2016 with a BG that felt very nice for a seemingly impossible price. Shimano released a Nasci in 2016 that was rock solid, but I think it took them till the 21 iteration of the Nasci to punch back with more than just the value of durability.

[@chriswkbrd]

Very interesting perspective. I fish both and I like both, but I'll definitely be more wary of any new tech by Daiwa in the future.

[@crashdsnowman1]

I tend to use Shimano reels but use both Shimano and Diawa 100-$200 rods depending on the features offered, power/action/length. Tough to beat the Exprides but in the $150 range Diawas rods seem to be finished better...look like a more expensive rod.

[@PeterCPRail8748]

For me, I swear by Shimano baitcasters reels, especially the SLX line and Caradoes as I am a budget oriented guy. For spinning reels for the price, the Diawa Fuago, Regal, and Revlt are the best spinning reels I have used for under 100 Canadian. Both companies have there strengths and weaknesses but I do find them the very best 2 brands for reels in the industry. Nothing comes close to performance and longevity.

[@joemomma5592]

Great video! Well thought out, and some great insight that I agree with wholeheartedly. I have recently started purchasing some higher end equipment from both companies, and did tons of research before doing so. I myself came to a lot of the same conclusions. Haven’t purchased a Diawa since. They make great reals don’t get me wrong, just don’t think they are designed with longevity in mind.

[@madtownangler]

It all depends upon the handle for me If I can bump the handle and it spins off and falls on the ground then I won't buy it I once lost a handle and a guy ran up to me and gave it back. This was on the way to where I was fishing so it was on a sidewalk. Right now except for a couple reels all I own is Shimano. I owned a Diawa reel almost thirty years ago and it was pretty good. This problem of course is on just spinning reels.

[@blackdogproductions2044]

what a fantastic video! I"ve owned both. Still using my Shimano Baitrunners circa 2002. My diawa reels are dead. Forgot which model I had . It was back in about 2005 I went all Diawa with my inshore lightweight spinning gear. They wall ended up with the same issue. The reels stopped locking and would reel backwards. No way to stop this. Extremely annoying. About 8 years ago I went all in on Quantum reels. Bought 5 smoke reels. Best reels I've ever used or owned period. All of them still running great. Also bought a large Quantum Boca around the same time. This reel is bomb proof. Use it for catching 25-40lb fish and it crushes them while functioning smoothly. Currently Quantum is at the top of my list. I don't pay attention though and know that everything changes constantly. Shimono Baitrunners are big bulky and old school but these things have ridden on my boat for two decades getting splashed with saltwater and they still function perfect. Can't justify upgrading. They cost $119 back when they were new. My greatest reel success story.

[@logicalrationalfishing7481]

I use both and find them VERY close. Sometimes Shimano has the winner, sometimes Daiwa does. I think Daiwa is very wrong to have their new spinning reels below the Certate using zinc gears. I also just got a JDM Stradic FM that was ticking so bad I had to send it back. Then I ordered a Conquest Shallow Edition and the brake dial was greased, allowing it to spin only and not adjust the brakes. Easy fix but still a defect. I own a Millionaire CT though that is a flawless monster, one of the smoothest and best reels I have ever owned.

[@mrfilamfishing]

Daiwa guy but own Shimano gear. I say they're about the same in quality in their own respective way. Everyone else is below them like Lews, Abu Garcia, and so on. I have some stuff I don't like about Shimano and some stuff I don't like about Daiwa. But I stick with Daiwa because I'm familiar with their tech in rods and reels, as well as the different tiers of quality and price point. You really can't go wrong with either one. Biggest thing is go out there and fish.

[@edpelkey7798]

Anonymous great video! Your comments resonate with me. I have used both brands, but I’m a Shimano guy for baitcasting, spinning and BFS. I have been using Chronarch reels and others for ever. I send them out to be serviced every season. I have never had an issue with any for at 10 years. I recently found Digitaka and begin to order from them. Thank you for the great detailed information!

[@teeanahera8949]

This video was not anonymous. Not sure what you thought you wrote there.

[@Dmitro_70]

Thanks for the new interesting video. Personally, I don't buy new models right away. I'm waiting for the reviews to appear at the end of the season and it will all be clear what problems have arisen. Regarding that Daiwa reel, you showed everything correctly about the quality of the coating; my friends had similar ones. I personally didn’t have such problems with Shimano, four models of different years of production, starting with the old Kurado 201E.

[@BassniperEng]

Curado E the infamous green reels? I forgot about it! Shimano do have green reels (and dark red JDM scorpions ~ totally forgot). I'm with you on the new models, when it comes to cars trucks. Even Toyota might have issues on their 1st year new models. Reels...I fell for the new fashion trap ever since I started doing KZbin lol

[@Dmitro_70]

@@BassniperEng Yes, you are right, this is a green Curado 201E. I bought it new, unused, about two years ago. But I don't use it yet. I use Metanium 13, Metanium 20 and Aldebaran 22, speaking for Shimano. I also have Daiwa reels: Alfas Air 20, Alfas 800S, but I haven’t used them yet, I don’t have the opportunity and I don’t have the time.

[@Dmitro_70]

@@BassniperEng P.S. I would like to add that I have been servicing reels for several years and not many, but a fair number of different reels have passed through my hands. I don’t recommend buying Abu Garcia now, lately their production quality has dropped.

[@BassniperEng]

Servicing reels was one of my hobby free duty offered to the fellow club members back in the early 2000s. I got to see a few flagship model failures due to user error or design flaw. Including one Shimano flagship lever brake spinning reel we use for ISO fishing. Back then when Shimano still used black oxide coating on duralumin gears, that guy got a snag, don't know what he did, he managed to deform one side of the main gear completely...but he was rich. Reel went to trash can before I picked it up LOL

[@arsenal_tackle_fishing]

Bought a 2021 Daiwa Zillion SV TW it was not robust first time using it and It chipped the silver paint on face on the plastic body I was so disappointed only had it for 1 day brand new only main selling point was clicking drag on baistcaster. The lower Dawia Tatula 103 sv tw outshines higher Daiwa baitcasters. My favorite Daiwa reels are the Tatula 103 sv tw, 300 & 400 models these specific models feel so good in hand.

[@AndrewFishman]

Well, I have mostly Shimano spinning reels and Daiwa baitcasting reels. I am not fussy. Whichever is the best price and does what I need it to do, that is the reel for me.

[@timothyorendorff7642]

Many years ago became a Shimano user and have not looked back. That being said I have a positive view of Daiwa and would own. My Shimano reels have been very durable and is the biggest reason I’ve stuck with them.

[@BassniperEng]

I'm closely alike. Daiwa has made impressive progress IMO in recent years. And I have to admit this year I have had some problems with 2 of Shimano's brand new spinning reels.

[@Adiarby13]

i owned two daiwa reels but mostly i'm just sticking with Shimano because i love their aesthetic over Daiwa, plus there's no official distributor for Daiwa in my country so im not familiar with Daiwa's products. but in the end it's just like comparing Toyota and Honda, they re both good and reliable.

[@ThomasShue]

I like both. I prefer my Tatula MQ 2500 over my Stradic 2500

[@michaelbyrne8860]

Personally I like reels I can clean and maintain myself! So it's easy to maintain the older Mitchell Spinning reels and Garcia Baitcasting reels both are like eggbeaters when casting and reeling! But The Shimano Calcutta's are machined much better with tighter tolerances! And are easier to cast especially in windy conditions! Saltwater wading the Calcutta's are bulletproof, but I still prefer the older Penn SSG series because of the use of brass parts and very little corrosion! unlike the Mitchell's unless you use the larger 402's & 306's reels! As far as Japanese Reels go! I'll take the Shimano Calcutta's Series all day every day! As a matter of fact! Everything Shimano produces from bike parts - fishing reels are made better from higher quality materials & craftsmanship!

[@socalbassmaster]

I agree with a lot of this and have little to no issues with any of the higher level of product from both companies. Many of the reels I own today (about 80%) are from the years 2000-2006 from these companies and are still going strong. (Calcutta te, steez, mentanium). However I do prefer fishing heavier duty tackle of my shimanos vs fishing more finesse gear on my diawa. I personally feel Shimano reels with aluminum bodies and gearing is superior for heavy duty applications but I also feel diawa's light weight reels like pixy, alphas, steez performance castability and overall feel with lighter duty applications is better.

[@BassniperEng]

Great point!

[@klayd2929]

I own both and I agree about the shimanos being hardier for longer. I don't baby my equipment and it gets exposed to fresh and salt water but I've noticed that the Shimanos seem to hold up much better/ That being said, individual reels can vary so there's no saying Daiwa wouldn't work better on occasion as well, just not for me so far

[@MrUCL]

My friend I'm back for your help. My friend purchased a Alderbaran 2015 limited. How do the brakes operate in or out for more braking?

[@BassniperEng]

I guess your friends' model is a 2015 Aldebaran BFS limited? If so, that reel uses the VBS braking system (i.e. the one used by almost all centrifugal Shimano before 2012). If you push the braking blocks out (i.e. push it away from the axis), it is on. If you turn on more than one, typically make sure they are turned on symmetrically is a good practice. Hope this helps.

[@mattcampbell3876]

Very good information, thank you for breaking it down, this came at the perfect time as I am rebuilding my rod and reel arsenal because recently lost my stuff to thieves, sounds like I’m filling my cart with Shimano

[@BassniperEng]

Oh no sorry to hear, that was not good. My buddy once sent all his Daiwa reels for maintenance. The day he got them back, they arrived with a bunch of other high value orders, all got picked up by package thief. I hope you find your new favorites and go back to fishing soon. They are biting 🐟

[@phantomf4747]

Personally, I use both brands and have equal success with both. I have few "newer" reels only because my old ones still kick a$$. I have 2 30-year-old Shimano Beastmaster reels that crank like winches STILL. I have the Gen 1 Diawa TD1 and TD2 reels that are still my go to reels for flipping and pitching in heavy cover. All of those are circa 1990. There are brand guys, but I use what I am successful with and figure if it's not broke, no reason to fix it.

[@jslcharger]

I have owned about 30 spinning reels, most of them mid range shimanos. The new stradics (4k and 5K) seem to have weak pinion gears. When i fish metal lures the pinion gear deforms after around 10 casts, making the reel feel geary and weird noises. I can still fish with them but they feel like crap. Daiwa is new to my country but took a chanse on them when i saw their certate in my local tackle shop. My 5k certate is going strong on it`s third year now feels like new still, my best fishing reel purchase so far. Pulls fish like an 8k reel and the drag actually holds the line at what i set it to. Lost a lot of nice fish beacouse of shimanos unpredictable drag.

[@jimsteinway695]

I’ve fished both. Both rods. Love Shimano. Just love their stuff. On my bicycle. But fishing it’s Diawa. Especially since the Tatula came out. . Both rods and reels .

[@steverichardson6920]

I used to work in fishing tackle retail, my experience was that Shimano were always better with spare parts support, I’ve fished both manufacturers but my personal preference if towards Shimano probably 95% I have a couple of Daiwa spin reels but that’s all and only as they were a good price at the time……

[@peterolbrisch8970]

7:29.....nice to hear other people like to backreel. There's nothing like using the rod to fight the fish instead of the reel.

[@JesseCase]

Shimano of course makes good stuff. However we all know that Diawa is not only better than Shimano, but Diawa is the finest rod and reel company in existence! You have to go into the custom reel world to have any chance at beating Diawa.

[@thatonebeone]

i use both daiwa and shimano but has to be JDM only 🔰

[@redneckarchaeology3768]

Good stuff! I've fished more Shimano reels than Daiwa. Longevity definitely counts, however, when parts become obsolete before I'm ready to discard a reel and purchase a new high dollar one it tends to chap my ass. I would rather put a few dollars in a reel that's provided great service than reinvest in one that may or may not perform as well. Proprietary parts for particular flagship models should be available longer. IMHO

[@BassniperEng]

Agreed. Shimano parts are available for at least 10 years (I recently replaced the side plate on the 2014 Conquest...because after service I forgot to properly close it, and it fell into the lake)

[@rise4329]

I'm sorry but I've had both manufacturers reels but had 3 broken Daiwa reels break, most related to drag failure and only 1 failure of Shimano reels...

[@Justin-wf7op]

Daiwa mag seal is not great, the oil eventually dries up, I can live with the rotor mag sealed but the line rollers are nothing but trouble. The mag oil gets into the line roller bearings, makes them loud and raspy. Had many reels of both brands, only Daiwa’s I have kept are the luvias and BG MQ reels, otherwise Shimano all the way. Shimano have problems too but most can be fixed without too much trouble.

[@donuteh2461]

I have a Daiwa reel and it's good, but I doubt it's going to last as long as the old Abu Garcia I have that my grandfather has been using since, probably the 60s. Or the old Viking button cast my dad got in the early 80s. Both were working great until last year when a spring broke on the old Abu Garcia.

[@leepao6302]

I used both Shimano and Daiwa; i preferably lean towards Shimano more not because the products great too, but the customer services it's much more understand as well

[@BassniperEng]

Agree. On Loomis rods service as well.

[@leepao6302]

@@BassniperEng I've talk to one of Daiwa Customer Service personnel back then about 3yrs ago they come across kinda a dick. plus services your reel is much more easier on Shimano side compares to Daiwa, because their MQ spinning reels is annoyingly stupid, you'll need a special tool just to open it. Daiwa don't sell that tool at all to public user; you MUST be a shop or a certified Daiwa services person to get one. so if you get dirt or debris into the reels you can't open up quick and service yourself; you have sent to Daiwa or a Daiwa certified shop to do it for you. in my opinion kinda lame/stupid

[@no_regerts5176]

I’ve used Shimano reels for years. They changed the angle on the spinning reel seat arm thing. Now my knuckle gets sore from the lack of room.

[@kizzjd9578]

Im glad most of the reels pictured are left handle. Pretty much impossible to find these in australia.

[@BassniperEng]

That is interesting to know. Why is that? Consider purchase from Japan web tackle stores directly? Might be easier this way.

[@kizzjd9578]

yea ebay, digitaka and plat is where i get my reels.@@BassniperEng

[@frankingram3477]

I find, generally, Shimano reels are smoother both in retrieve and drag, though my largest snook (41") was caught on a Diawa Regal XIA 2500 (purchased on sale for $24.99) mated to a $15.00 on sale (regular $20) Gander Mountain 6'6" Vortex spinning rod. The skill of the fisherman is more important than the fishing gear. My brother uses a 10 year old 2 piece fiberglass rod with matching aged reel so old can't even remember the brand/model. He out fishes everyone on the beach/under the pier about 70% of the time. I'm sure everyone knows someone like that who just has "it" when it comes to catching fish.

[@BassniperEng]

Superb fisherman uses instinct and catches fish no matter what. Tackle junkies are fishermen who need a piece of nice equipment to admire when the fish are not biting lol

[@alexbrown6624]

After care at little or no cost l was a big Shimano fan but recently the Shimano and Diawa have become very similar so it more about buying for the type of fishing lm doing but lots of companies are now quickly catching or have caught up ?

[@BassniperEng]

I recently gave another brand a try, bought their flagship model, love a lot of the feature and designs, but when it comes to retrieve smoothness and casting, I have to admit its not even close, plus the one I got, the start drag was not centered. That is unacceptable for a $500 reel. It's like cars can have all the bells and whistles and even talk to your wife perhaps, but when you step on the accelerator, it bogs~for me, I'm staying with S and D, mostly S.

[@helterskelter156]

I prefer Shimano, generally speaking. Especially because the new MQs and Magsealed reels require specialty tools and oils to maintain. Being able to maintain my reels on my own is an essential integral part to reel and other tool ownership, for me. I still have a few Daiwas that I use rather regularly, but I reach for Shimano most of the tome.

[@gerlor9425]

Yes my Daiwa tat SV (1st gen) braking system failed on me. The ring basically broke from the spool allowing it to spin around the shaft . Further inspection indicated the plastic pins that hold the ring to the spool broke off. Had to wait + 6months for warrenty replacement. I Never had any issues with shimano. I thought my daiwa issue was an isolated problem.

[@BassniperEng]

You are not alone~

[@LoneStarBassPursuit]

For someone looking for a first baitcaster what would be recommended? Others have said Slx DC XT (a little harder to get over other models but i can) or the Tatula 100.

[@BassniperEng]

I'd go with the 2020 Daiwa Tatula. Daiwa's mag brake is super easy to adjust and super friendly for beginners (like auto transmission).

[@LoneStarBassPursuit]

@@BassniperEng I found a used slx dc for $120

[@gregsmith7821]

I buy Shimano my mate buys Diawa. We a are both open minded and happy with what we have. Shimano tend to give you more reliability and more for your money. Diawa give great performance but it never seems to last. At the top end, Shimano make Diawa look limited but, you are paying more, so what do you expect? He tends to look at my reels with envy, where as I look at his, with interest. 👍

[@russellredner6342]

Any suggestions for a mid grade Shamino reel?

[@BassniperEng]

Spinning I will say Stradic or Twinpower, if light weight is preferred, Vanquish; for baitcasting reels, Metanium all the way; but I've been using SLX recently, honestly it is very impressive. I wonder if SLX is just essentially a reproduction of their Core/09Aldebaran line in different cosmetic...hope this helps.