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New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 5:52 pm
by Fishman5000
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

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:53 pm
by FishingwithBranden
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

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:58 am
by Smalleyez
The Calcutta's are my favorite.

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:46 am
by goldrod
I like the gear ratio and ergonomics of the TDZ-M
so I would highly suggest that reel

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2020 4:11 pm
by joekaz
I love my OG Zillion C.C. for fishing deep cranks.

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 4:20 pm
by mthao105
I keep an old curado dpv around for deep cranking. Tank of a reel.

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:32 pm
by Bass Junkie
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.

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:48 am
by steve1206
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.

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2020 6:33 pm
by Fishman5000
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.

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:19 pm
by zodiak311
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.

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:29 am
by LowRange
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

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 5:26 am
by noc10
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.

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 11:48 am
by SteveSchmelzle
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.

Re: New vs old greats for cranking.

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 4:32 pm
by new2BC4bass
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