New vs old greats for cranking.

Reels are the hottest topic for TackleTour. Everyone wants to know what the latest and greatest is and how they compare to the old guard. What's the best for light stuff, or what's your suggestion for heavy cover. Do we really need different retrieve ratios? It's all in here.
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Fishman5000
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New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by Fishman5000 » Wed Mar 25, 2020 5:52 pm

Hi all
For background I have basic tatulas, citicas, and bps proQs currently. I was going to order a tatula crazy cranker off eBay but I noticed I could get old school pre TW steez, zillions, alphas, shimano Mets all in that very rough price range of a new tatulas.

Plan on putting it on my Mid depth crank bait rod a shimano curado 7’8” MH moderate rod and use 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce crankbaits.

Any suggestions for that use? I am not brand loyal yet mostly tied up between new production vs older models? I didn’t want to spend more than $200 but with it’s not a hard cap.

Thanks

FishingwithBranden
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by FishingwithBranden » Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:53 pm

Get a zillion. There is not much in that price range that can hold a candle to it. I love my tatulas, but call me old fashioned and give me a zillion

Smalleyez
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by Smalleyez » Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:58 am

The Calcutta's are my favorite.
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goldrod
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by goldrod » Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:46 am

I like the gear ratio and ergonomics of the TDZ-M
so I would highly suggest that reel
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joekaz
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by joekaz » Thu Mar 26, 2020 4:11 pm

I love my OG Zillion C.C. for fishing deep cranks.

mthao105
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by mthao105 » Tue Mar 31, 2020 4:20 pm

I keep an old curado dpv around for deep cranking. Tank of a reel.

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Bass Junkie
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by Bass Junkie » Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:32 pm

goldrod wrote:
Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:46 am
I like the gear ratio and ergonomics of the TDZ-M
so I would highly suggest that reel
I’ll second this recommendation. Great reels, a good cranking ratio, and a lot of cosmetic upgrades available. Plus it comes with what is arguably the best 36mm Daiwa spools ever made. You can absolutely sling baits with that reel. I would recommend grabbing some Carbontex drag washers for it, as all of the TDZ’s fall short in that department.

steve1206
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by steve1206 » Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:48 am

I still have 3 Calais 100a that I crank with. The only caveat is that they need a longer handle than the short stock handle. Its an amazing tank of 5.8:1 cranking reel.

Fishman5000
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by Fishman5000 » Wed Apr 01, 2020 6:33 pm

Trying a Zillion hlc out and moving some other reels around and gonna try a older model shimano exsense dc reel out for frogging and what not.

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zodiak311
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by zodiak311 » Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:19 pm

Fishman5000 wrote:
Wed Apr 01, 2020 6:33 pm
Trying a Zillion hlc out and moving some other reels around and gonna try a older model shimano exsense dc reel out for frogging and what not.
Yes, the HLC spool is still my favorite for cranks, casting is done with such ease. I have three, all in red Daiwa 50ths.
Last edited by zodiak311 on Sun Apr 05, 2020 1:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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LowRange
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by LowRange » Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:29 am

Those TD Zillion spools are rockets. I've got one in an IP and it insta dumps the spool of 65# braid with a frog. You have to cast it with some authority or it will backlash badly. I would think it would do poorly with balsa cranks or other baits that catch the air and slow on the cast

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noc10
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by noc10 » Tue Apr 07, 2020 5:26 am

I think that the TD-Z series was the best quality production reel ever made. The quality of reels has slowly gone downhill since, though I do love me some OG Steez and PX68's as well. I also have a few newer Daiwas, Tat SV TW, SS SV etc, and while I like them and think that they decent enough, they just don't measure up to the tanks that are the OG TD-Z and Zillions.

Sure, I changed out the spools and spool bearings, most of the handles and the drag washers, and some bling parts to modernize and customize them, but I will never willingly retire my TD-Z, I have 8 of them now and am always keeping an eye out for the occasional mint unit offered for sale.
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SteveSchmelzle
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by SteveSchmelzle » Tue Apr 07, 2020 11:48 am

mthao105 wrote:
Tue Mar 31, 2020 4:20 pm
I keep an old curado dpv around for deep cranking. Tank of a reel.
this is the correct answer.

also the best curado ever made.
1-2%

new2BC4bass
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Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Post by new2BC4bass » Tue Apr 07, 2020 4:32 pm

I am not a reel snob, but do have more Daiwas than any other brand. Along with the OG Steez, OG Zillion, Alphas and TD-Z you might also want to look at a TD-X 103HSDF...or the 100HSDF if really unloading some line. http://tackletour.com/reviewdaiwatdx.html

Or possibly the TDA 153HSTA. http://tackletour.com/reviewdaiwaadvantage153hsta.html

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