Daiwa’s Pluton can
be described with one word…. Solid (continued)
Ergonomics
cont'd:
In comparison the Luna 203
weighs 11.9oz and the Shimano 200 GT TE weighs in at 11.4oz. Can you feel the
difference of 1.1oz? Not so much when saltwater fishing and you’re hanging 3oz.
of iron vertically or trolling a plug but absolutely when tossing lures like
swimbaits which require constant casts and continual retrieves.
Though a round reel the Pluton has
plenty of geometric angles that help balance out the reel's design
Price & Applications:
Both Pluton versions are currently retailing for 369.99 which is 120 dollars
more than the Daiwa Luna. The Pluton also costs 20 dollars more than the
similarly sized Calcutta GT TE 200 size. While similar in performance and
positioning the Pluton does feature a number of more refined elements including
all machined components versus forged or cast frame and sideplates. The Pluton
does have two less bearings than the Calcutta GT TE but you would never know it
from the reel’s smooth connected retrieve.
Cal finds the Pluton to be an
exceptional caster while fishing on the Delta
When it comes to capacity the
Pluton holds enough line for most species (14/155) and much more than the
Calcutta GT TE (14/110). For freshwater fishing this capacity is more than
enough but the Pluton is also designed for larger saltwater species. When
tackling big game superlines may be necessary to achieve enough capacity and it
is good to know that the Pluton can bear the strain of these low stretch lines.
The Pluton manhandles schoolie
stripers in our test
The Pluton is a bit heavy for
casting smaller lures all day but the weight matches up well with oversized
swimbait rods making it an excellent choice for tossing big baits. The Pluton
can also pull double duty as an inshore reel and even can tackle bigger pelagic
species with the right superlines.
Cranking on the Pluton never gets
tiring, the reel is smooth, powerful, and refined
The Pluton it is also among
the easiest round reels we have ever taken apart and during our preview we
explored the innards of the reel. Once you remove the handle and drag star there
are only three screws holding the handle side plate in place.
The sun has set on our tests and
the Pluton proved to be an excellent multi-purpose reel and is rapidly becoming
a popular swimbait reel among the staff
The gearing and clutch
mechanism is straightforward and all lubrication points are easy to access.
Service is especially important on this round reel as there is a high
probability that anglers will use this reel for a combination of fresh and
saltwater applications depending on their region.
Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide):
|
Daiwa
Pluton 200H/200SH
Ratings (?/10)
|
| Construction/Quality |
Built
like a
tank the
Pluton
is as
solid as
they
come and
feels
like a
Saltiga
with a
levelwind |
9 |
| Performance |
The
Pluton
surprised
us in
multiple
categories
and is
an
excellent
reel for
both
mono and
braided
lines.
The reel
proved
very
good
when
casting
and the
external
cast
control
is very
easy to
use on
the fly.
On the
retrieve
the reel
feels
powerful
and
refined |
9 |
| Price |
The
Pluton
rates in
as
"good"
in the
price
category
and
while it
is
slightly
more
expensive
than
competing
offerings
it also
has some
features
and
components
that are
more
refined |
7.5 |
| Features |
When it
comes to
round
reels
the
Pluton
is a
feature
rich
reel
with
quality
gearing,
a new
clutch
design,
wet
drag,
and
external
cast
control |
8.5 |
| Design (Ergonomics) |
The
Pluton's
biggest
strength
is its
solid
build
quality
but this
also
causes
the reel
to be on
the
heavy
side.
While
fine for
saltwater
or
tossing
swimbaits
the reel
feels
heavy
when
constantly
casting
lighter
lures |
6 |
| Application |
The
Pluton
is a
great
multi-purpose
reel
good for
larger
freshwater
baits,
inshore
fishing
and even
some
bigger
saltwater
game |
9 |
|
Total Score
|
8.16 |
Ratings Key:
1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus Minus
|
| J
Machined
frame,
built
like a
tank |
L
Heavy
for a
200 size
reel |
| J
Smooth
drag
performance |
L
Would
like
more
drag
pressure |
| J
High
torque
when
cranking |
|
| J
External
cast
control
is quick
and easy
to use |
|
| J
Wide
range of
applications |
|
Conclusion:
The Team Daiwa
Pluton is the best
round reel we have
seen from the
company since the
esteemed Saltiga hit
our shores. Built to
handle serious
punishment from big
fish the polished
Pluton is the latest
jewel to come out of
the Daiwa camp, and
a serious contender
to the popular
Calcutta TE series.
This reel combines
the refinement and
elegance of the
Saltiga with the
functionality and
ease of use of the
Luna. Daiwa took the
high road with the
Pluton and
over-engineered the
reel with extra
robust gearing, a
souped all machined
frame, and a quality
externally
adjustable cast
control system. The
Pluton has quickly
become a favorite
round reel of Cal,
our Enthusiast
Editor. Cal normally
only fishes with
left handed reels
but was willing to
give the right
handed Pluton a
shot, and since that
initial cast has not
put it down. What
does it take for a
domestic reel to win
an “Ultimate
Enthusiast” Award?
We knew that when
our Enthusiast
Editor was willing
to put down his ITO
reels to fish a
domestic that we had
something truly
special.
Looking for a Daiwa Pluton?
Try
Tackle Warehouse
