Keith Lusher 10.06.23
Daiwa has long been a favorite of mine when it comes to baitcasting reels. It seems as technology advances, manufacturers are finding new ways to improve on what the public already labels as – The Best Ever. My journey to find the best baitcasting reel has led me to the Daiwa Tatula Elite Baitcasting Reel. I was able to try out the Tatula Elite during a weekend fishing trip to a private trophy lake in northern Alabama. Being someone who is familiar with and even a favorite of the Tatula line of reels, I went into my test with the assumption that the Elite would top my original preferred reel: the Daiwa Tatula SV TW Reel.
I started my day on the lake fishing the shoreline with a hollow-bodied frog which the Elite made ultra-smooth casts with and allowed me to drop the lure steadily in between the lily pads and the shoreline. The Magforce Braking System impressed me tremendously as the magnetic force inside the reel seemed to adjust to each cast I made It was like the reel had an autopilot mode.
That feature combined with the Zero Adjuster performed as a sort of “fine-tuning” feature which allows me to adjust the reel based on certain casting situations like wind and lure weight. This allowed me to maximize my casting distance without backlashes.
Another thing that impressed me was the overall weight of the reel. The cut-outs account for a significant reduction in weight bringing the reel down to 6.7 oz which is incredibly light for such a high-performance baitcaster.
When compared to the Tatula SV TW, the Elite holds 50 yards more line as well. During my test, I managed to throw a swimbait 60 yards and then switch gears to throwing a small 3″ weightless FlukeI turned the Zero Adjuster knob to account for a lighter lure and was able to whip the Fluke under a dock with ease.
The Tatula Elite is available in left-hand or right-hand retrieval and comes in two different models with gear ratios of 6.3:1 and 8.1:1.
During my test, I hooked several bass but the highlight came on a cast to a drop-off where the water went from 3 feet to 10 feet. I was using a crankbait and hooked a 4.5-pound bass which tested the drag system on the reel. Simply put, the drag system performed flawlessly as on the initial run, the line gave at a slow and control strip which felt and sounded smooth.
Overall I was very impressed with the Tatula Elite and would recommend it for everyone from tournament pros to beginners. However, I will say that the Zero Adjuster took a little time to get used to but if you put in the time, you will be rewarded!
If you’re looking for a tournament-grade, lightweight baitcaster that excels with casting accuracy and distance, the Daiwa Tatula Elite Baitcasting Reel is the reel to go with. I have no regrets about this purchase!
