|
The Best Tatula Yet? The Tatula SV TW103
Baitcaster is a Worthy Baitfinesse Option
(continued)
  Drag:
Even though the new Tatula is designed to improve casting control, making it a
good choice for those aforementioned finesse applications, it also comes with an
improved drag system. The reel’s Ultimate Tournament Drag (UTD) is rated at
13.2lbs. of drag pressure, and our tests in the lab have shown that it can
surpass that under full lockdown where it delivered 13.8lbs. of max pressure.
Like many other reel manufacturers Daiwa conservatively rates their drags to
ensure they meet the published specifications.
The drag system is pretty simple
but the key is the use of various materials that sandwich the gearing to
increase surface area The
UTD drag is adjusted with the same plastic star found on the original Tatula
100, and if there is any part of the reel that feels a little cheap this is it.
The Zion drag star found on the more expensive SV TW and Elite Series Tatula’s
definitely add a little refinement to those models, but functionally there
really is no difference.
The new Tatula SV TW
reel is nice and light and matched up well with just about any mid-range casting
rod Ergonomics:
Ergonomically I found the new reel almost exactly the same as the other Tatula
reels but Daiwa was able to beef up the cast control system while also reducing
weight. The new reel feels immediately familiar in hand, which isn’t a surprise
considering the unified 100-size Tatula tooling.
The compact form factor is
comfortable to palm
The 90mm aluminum swept handle
makes use of the same soft touch handle knobs that are used on the Tatula Elite,
and they do a great job providing a solid grip without ever feeling oversized.
The best thing about this new reel’s ergonomics is the weight. The Tatula SV TW
103 delivers the SV spool upgrade and improved drag over the Elite Series model
and yet weighs in exactly the same (6.7 ounces). This new reel paired well with
just about every mid-range and multipurpose casting rod we bolted it on.
The soft touch knobs are
comfortable and just the right size
Price & Applications: In many ways this new
Tatula SV TW103is a better reel than many previous, and existing Tatulas, and
the main reason is the inclusion of the 32mm A7075 SV spool which delivers an
improved balance of weight and strength thanks to the super duralumin
construction. Add this in with the dual cast control system and you have a
legitimate baitfinesse option, and yet when it comes time to pull those fish
away from cover the reel’s souped up UTD drag is certainly up to the challenge.
The Tatula
Series is already full of good options but the new Tatula SV TW 103 might very
well represent the sweet spot for mainstream anglers, as it delivers exceptional
casting on both sides of the range, and with a retail price of $199 dollars it
falls right between the original Tatula Series and the Tatula Elite Series
reels.
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
Tatula
SV
TW103
Ratings
(?/10)
|
|
Construction/Quality |
The
Tatula
Series
keeps
getting
better
and
better.
This new
reel is
built
out of
aluminum
and
feels
compact
and
solid,
and the
finish
looks
high-end.
The only
part of
it that
doesn't
stand up
to the
original
Tatula
SV TW is
the drag
star
which is
not made
out
Zaion |
8.5 |
|
Performance |
One of
the best
Tatulas
yet when
it comes
to
casting.
The SV
spool
implementation
is
excellent
and the
reel
handles
both
heavy
and
lightweight
baits,
and
performed
really
well at
the
lighter
end of
the
spectrum.
This is
a good
option
for
baitfinesse
under
the 200
dollar
price
point |
9.5 |
|
Price |
Though
it may
hard to
tell at
first
with so
many
similar
Tatula
reels
the new
SV TW103
hits the
sweet
spot
when in
comes to
features,
performance,
and
value |
8.5 |
|
Features |
With a
compact
profile
this
reel
delivers
plenty
of
cranking
power,
excellent
finesse
performance,
and an
excellent
drag,
but the
real
star is
the SV
spool
with
Airbrake
|
9 |
|
Design
(Ergonomics) |
The
Tatula
100
platform
feels
more
ergonomic
and
compact
than the
older CT
platform
and
continues
to be a
very
palmable
reel
that is
a
pleasure
to fish
with |
8.5 |
|
Application |
The
Tatula
SV TW103
is good
for the
complete
range of
applications
and
performed
very
well
with
lighter
presentations.
This
reel is
great
for
freshwater
applications |
8 |
|
Total
Score
|
8.66 |
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 |
|
+ There
are a
lot of
Tatula
reels
but this
one
stands
out with
the
compact
form
factor
and SV
Spool |
-
Sideplates
are not
aluminum |
|
+ Great
for
lighter
presentations,
casts
everything
well |
- Drag
star is
not made
of Zaion
and
feels
"plasticky"
|
|
+
Excellent
overall
ergonomics |
-
Tactical
look but
doesn't
visually
stand
out from
the rest
of
Tatula
lineup |
|
+
Quality
drag
system |
|
|
+ Hits
the
sweet
spot
when it
comes to
features,
performance,
and
value |
|
Conclusion: As the 50th
Anniversary Classic kicks off Daiwa brought their A-Game with the introduction
of the new Tatula SV TW103, their best 100 sized Tatula reel yet. With eight
reels now in the Tatula lineup it is clear that Daiwa is going all-in with this
mainstream series.
With so many Tatula options it may be hard to decide which one is right for you,
but if baitfinesse at a reasonable price is high on your list of priorities then
this latest version is the one to get.
The Daiwa Tatula SV TW103 delivers
the best balance of features, performance, and value we have seen from the
series yet Anglers looking
for more refinement and speed can also consider the company’s other Classic
debut, the blazing fast Zillion 10.0:1, which
features an even lighter G1 SV spool. Daiwa continues to up their game with both
the Tatula and Zillion models, giving anglers a one-two punch at the mainstream
to premium segments. We will have to wait and see how the Classic plays out this
weekend, but we already know that Daiwa has a winner, an Editor’s Choice Award
Winner, with the exciting new Tatula SV TW103.
Looking for a Daiwa
Tatula SV TW 103
Reels?
Try
Tackle Warehouse
 |
