Recommendation for serious anglers
Each tackle should be specified to specific usage, and I choose the best performing reels respectively. And counted factors are smoothness, castability, weight, stability of performance, durability and easiness of service. Exterior factors, looking nice, feeling nice, and etc are also considered because I believe fishing tackle is your partner on boat, and I trust only what I think great tackle.
Recommendation:
| Usage | wants | Recommendation | Alternatives (in order of from the second best) | Reasoning |
| Deep cranking, large spinner baits 5/8oz | power, smoothness | Shimano Conquest 200/201 | Daiwa Zillion, Calcutta TE200(GT) | Silky cranking and power, most efficient gears |
| Distance search: +5/8oz Top-water, Rat-L-Trap, heavy Carolina rigs | distance, speed | Daiwa Zillion HLC | Daiwa Zillion | Relatively large spool with effective brake system allow long distance |
| Pinpoint search :3/8-1/2oz Mid cranking & spinnerbaits, Ratltrap, Texas rigs | accuracy, stable brake, low profile | Daiwa Steez, Shimano Metanium MG | Daiwa Alphas 103 Shimano Chronarch, Shimano Scorpion 1000, Conquest 100/101, Calcutta TE100(GT), | Stable brake and light spool allows accurate machinegun casts |
| Pitching, flipping | light, good palming, low profile | Daiwa Alphas 103 Type-F Shimano Metanium MG | Scorpion 1000 | Light weight, great brake, small body is good for palming |
| Jerk baits, bazzbaits | good brake, high speed | Daiwa Steez, Daiwa Zillion HLC Daiwa Zillion, | Shimano Metanium MG, | MagforceV/Z, DC brake prevent trouble for bulky lures |
| Small plastic, drop shot | light, cast small rig | Daiwa Alphas 103 Type-F Shimano Scorpion MG 1000/1001 | Scorpion 1000 | Specialized for small weights |
| To cover all in one | Daiwa Alphas 103 Type-F, Shimano Metanium MG, Daiwa Zillion | Shimano Scorpion MG 1000/1001 Scorpion 1000 | Value reel with high performance, versatility, easy maintenance |
For deep cranks, large spinner baits and swim baits, I strongly recommend Shimano Conquest 200/201. Conquest 200's smoothest ever cranking and power is best matching to heavy loads, and its all ball bearing supported mechanism improves efficiency remarkably. Compared to its export model Shimano Calcutta TE200-GT have the same mechanic as Conquest. Why not purchase the high-end for a little more? Daiwa Zillion comes second in this category.
If you want to cast far away with relatively heavy lures, like heavy Carolina rigs and large vibrations, Daiwa Zillion HLC is the best. Its machined light-weight spool accelerates quite fast, and Magforce Z brake system controls the speed very effectively. Relatively large spool among Daiwa reels is also good for the distance search.
For middle weight(3/8-1/2) lures, Daiwa Steez 100H models provide the most comfortable castings. New Shimano Metanium MG also serves very well with proven casting performance.
For pitching and flipping, good-palming reels leave less stress on your arm, and help accuracy of casting. Small body, light weight and great brake are what needed for the fishing, and Daiwa Alphas 103 Type-F serve you great. Its sturdy aluminum body is what I trust in the heavy duty fishing.
For small plastics and lures like less than 1/4oz, smaller reels with light spool are good. Three models work great for 1/8-1/4oz Daiwa Alphas 103 Type-F Shimano Scorpion 1000/1001 and Shimano Scorpion MG 1000/1001. For further finesse purpose, Daiwa Pixy serves you well for 1/16-1/4oz.
If you want to use all the same reels for 5-6 tackle sets, I recommend Daiwa Alphas 103 Type-F , Shimano Metanium MG and Daiwa Zillion. These middle priced reels perform with versatility at high performance, and they are also easy to service.