The Team Daiwa SOL Radiates Brilliance when finesse fishing
light lines with lighter lures

Date: |
1/11/05 |
Tackle type: |
Reels |
Manufacturer: |
Daiwa |
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 9.0
Introduction: Anglers stateside drooled when the Daiwa Alphas was first
released, and it seemed like an eternity before the first SOL's finally landed
at the local tackle shops. When anglers first hold a SOL for the the most
common response is "Wow! that thing is tiny!" While the SOL is small in size it
is designed to deliver surprisingly robust fish catching ability, all in one of
the most striking Daiwa designs ever unveiled.
Daiwa TD SOL
Specifications |
Line Capacity (lb/yds) |
10/105, 12/90 |
Gear Ratio |
5.8:1 |
Weight |
7.4 oz. |
Bearings |
6BB + 1RB |
Additional Features |
Free floating perforated aluminum spool, Magforce-V, infinite anti reverse,
precision machined marine bronze gears & ultra tough super alloy pinion, low profile, seven disc
composite drag,
titanium nitride line guide aperture, Autocast clutch |
MSRP |
$229.99 |
Impressions: Four months ago when we released our
coverage of the new 2005
Daiwa lineup the response was extraordinary. The preview received so much
traffic that it nearly brought our servers to a screeching halt. Why so much
interest? Perhaps it was the sleek new profiles, or maybe the brightly colored
finishes, but more likely it was that Daiwa fans were more than ready for a new
high end offering. Unlike many other manufacturers that produce complete reel
lineups with very similar profiles, Daiwa manages to design and manufacture
reels that are each remarkably distinctive and yet still instantly recognizable as an
"engineered by Daiwa" product.

|
The Daiwa
SOL is radically designed, and the bright Sunrise-Gold finish sure is a head
turner |
Though the SOL sports a similar layout to the TD
Advantage reels the new TD SOL is actually much smaller in actual dimensions and
weight. The name SOL (pronounced "sole") was named after the Spanish word for
"sun." This aptly named reel is painted "Sunrise-Gold" and is designed to stand
apart from the competition, but the trend towards colored reels will take the
market by force in 2005 as a number of manufacturers have confirmed various
color options in their new lineups. The SOL's frame is all aluminum and the reel
features Magforce V anti-backlash control, and a ultra light perforated spool on
Daiwa's floating ball bearing system. The SOL comes with a service wrench and
what is termed "Special Oil" for lubricating the left and right spool shaft
bearings.

|
The reel
sits extremely low on Fuji reel seats |
The Field Tests: The SOL is designed for ultimate finesse applications
and is intended for fishing with light lines, though it can be spooled with up
to 12lb line. We decided to test the reel with 3 weights of line (8, 10, 12),
and head out for the clearest possible water we could find to see just how well
this undersized reel would toss our most diminutive lures.
Complete Rig
for Daiwa TD SOL Field Tests |
Rod |
GLoomis MBR782C |
Reel |
TD SOL |
Line(s) |
8,
10, 12lb. Yozuri Hybrid |
We paired the SOL with our medium rated, fast
action, GLoomis GLX MBR782C. This rod is not known for extreme casting but
rather excellent sensitivity and accuracy when dealing tiny lures to finicky
bass. Matched together the combo weighed in at an impressive 11.5oz total.

|
The SOL's
drilled free floating spool helps anglers cast even the lightest lures with
ease |
Casting:
Casting light lines and light lures in the wind was made possible in our tests
with the Daiwa Magforce-V. Daiwa's cast control system still takes home the blue
ribbon for instant adjustments, thanks to the external knob. We were surprised
that Daiwa armed the Fuego and TD Advantage 153HST with the new Magforce-Z while
the Sol is fitted with the current Magforce-V system. MagForce-Z uses
the same principles as Magforce-V, but does so a bit more efficiently. To increase
maximum casting distance and exactness Magforce-Z applies smooth magnetic
braking only when needed. The new system allows the spool to start up faster and
achieve a higher top speed and a longer spinning period before the magnetic drag
kicks into affect.
Though primarily intended
for fishing with light lines it is possible to spool thicker mono or braided
superline on the SOL. The perforated spool starts up quickly. The minute you
depress the clutch the Sol enters freespool and gravity alone is enough to give
the spool its initial startup rotation. The reel casts effortlessly and we found
it extremely accurate, making it a good choice for subtle pitches with light
plastics. We also tried striper fishing with the SOL but found the line capacity
a bit low, though the reel was absolutely excellent at casting jerkbaits. In
addition the SOL is very predictable, meaning once you set your cast controls
you know exactly how much effort needs to go into each and every cast for exact
lure placement. Repetitive casting is also made easier with the reel’s
insubstantial overall weight, which balanced very well with our test rod.

|
The SOL is
refined from every angle, and though the reel bears seemingly sharp angles
it is surprisingly comfortable to palm |
Retrieve:
The SOL is an unmistakable
“Daiwa” engineered product and opts for refinement over buttery smooth retrieve.
The reel feels extremely “connected” during retrieves, similar to a F1 car, you
can still feel every detail below you, and are constantly aware of exactly what
your lure is doing. The Sol also possesses an excellent anti-reverse with no
discernable backplay in the handle.
The 5.8:1 gear ratio puts the Sol right in the
middle speed range making it a flexible reel for a great many applications. Not
too fast to slow crawl plastics or too slow for burning spinners. Overall when
fighting fish the reel feels more refined than powerful. With each and every
crank you will gain ground, but you are sure to savor every second of the fight,
especially if you are using 6 or 8lb line.

|
The SOL has
a simple drag star, but no micro-click adjustment here unfortunately |
Drag:
For a finesse reel the SOL
exhibits exceptional drag pressure. Daiwa’s seven disc composite washer system
is fantastic in terms of adjustment and delivery of smooth fish fighting power.
During our test 4lb bass could do little to overcome the SOL’s drag pressure,
definitely not what I expected from a reel this undersized. Striper fishing put
more of a drain on the SOL, and while the act of ripping up fish pushed the
Sol’s drags to the upper echelon the reel endured. While the inner guts of the
drag were superb the drag adjustment unfortunately leaves a bit to be desired.
The SOL has a simple drag star without a micro-click mechanism, making it just a
bit harder to make minute adjustments on the fly. We understand why Daiwa did
this, as weight reduction was a key factor in the reel’s design, but what angler
doesn’t yearn to have their cake and eat it too.

|
The SOL's
Magforce-V cast control has proven itself on countless Daiwa reels and does
an excellent job minimizing backlashes while extending casting distances |
Ergonomics:
If you have smaller hands
the SOL is going to be an absolute dream come true. The reel is so small, and
sits so low on most rods that it is instantly consumed by your entire hand when
palming. The reel looks angular in pictures but we found every edge to be
ergonomically sculpted, including the front of the reel which easily accommodated our fingers
when palming. This reel is so small that anglers with large hands might actually
find it “too small,” a concern rarely encountered. But we believe that the vast
majority of anglers will find the Sol’s unique dimensions, style, and weight to
all be very ergonomically positive attributes.

|
A palming
dream the SOL seems to disappear in the palm of your hand |
Durability:
The SOL feels solid and
well crafted, the only plastic on the reel is the left sideplate. The entire
frame and right plate are constructed from single pieces of aluminum. The
gearing on the SOL isn’t quite as robust as the supertuned TD Advantage we just
reviewed but it isn’t anything to scoff at by any means. This finesse reel
boasts quality bearings, a machined bronze drive gear, and a super-alloy pinion.
The SOL reeled in Largemouth and Stripers and is no worse for wear. The reel is
highly refined and we recommend finesse fishing with the reel more than more
aggressive techniques like ripping and deep water cranking, this will help
ensure the reel remains perfectly tuned.
Ratings:
Daiwa TD SOL
Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
The SOL feels solid and is quite durable
considering it is intended to be a finesse reel. |
9 |
Performance |
A quality reel with all quality
components. The drag was impressive, as was the feel of the retrieve.
|
9 |
Price |
The SOL isn't cheap but the price more
than matches the performance. The reel is priced reasonably against the
competition. |
8.5 |
Features |
All the features you would expect from a
high end Daiwa. Would have been a perfect 10 with new Magforce Z and a
clicking drag. |
9 |
Design (Ergonomics) |
A palmers dream come true, the SOL is
extremely sleek and compact and rests low on the reel seat making it very
comfortable to palm for hours at a time. Ergonomically this reel is
excellent. |
9.5 |
Application |
The SOL may be designed to be a finesse
reel but during our tests the reel proved to be surprisingly versatile. The
reel is only limited by its line capacity and can be used for fishing a
variety of lines for different species. |
9 |
Total Score |
9.00 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus Minus |
J
Excellent refinement |
L
No micro-clicking drag |
J
first-rate casting ability |
L
Wish it had Magforce-Z like the Fuego |
J
Sleek low profile |
|
J
Excellent for handling light lines |
|
J
Looks to kill |
|
Conclusion: Do we like where Daiwa is going with their latest reel
designs? Yes. Do these new designs preserve all that anglers love about their
current Daiwa reels? Definitely. Daiwa's new SOL may not look a lot like the
previous generation reels, but make no mistake this reel is undeniably from the
same proud pedigree. The sleek SOL makes use of proven Daiwa technologies like
Magforce-V, a free floating spool, their exclusive fiber composite washer
system, and manages to incorporate all this in a all new ultra compact low
profile design. Anglers that like to palm their reels while fishing will find
the SOL is perfectly suited for extreme finesse fishing. This reel can work the
lightest baits with ease, making it an ideal tool for drop shotting with
ultralight lines, or shaking tiny plastics. Though exceedingly refined, when
push comes to shove the SOL is no slouch, and the bronze gearing and hearty drag
will deliver. The only major gripe we had with the reel was the lack of a
clicker on the drag, but if omitting the clicker is necessary for hitting the
low weight target then we can accept the sacrifice. The SOL's performance
matches its sexy exterior design and delivers Japanese refinement to anglers
stateside. If you are looking for a sleek low profile reel with few sacrifices
and plenty of upside the Daiwa SOL shines brightly apart from the competition
when it comes time to finesse fish with those ultralight lines.
Until Next Time....Tight Lines
