Just to edit my comment I actually like my Concept A's and C's more then the Tatula's.

Every Lew�s I every owned (with the exception of older BB1�s) I�ve sold. I still have every Daiwa I�ve ever bought for the last 45 years.

I threw my last Lews overboard after it backlashed the 3rd time in a row. bought a Curado DC and have not looked back. Fantastic Reel

User error lol

The issue with the new Daiwa is you can't seem to get them anymore without the "T Wing" on them. So...... If you're fishing a Texas rig, jig, Carolina rig, etc and you rest your finger on your line, the line spools all over on one side. I have a few of the last generation Steez reels and they are great.

I've had to change the way I rest my finger on the line. I always held the line up with my index finger, but now I push the line down towards the rod blank. It took a trip or two to get used to it but it's second nature now.

Regardless of what it was. I got all I could stand.

Still feels bigger than most lews for me. Still not buying more lews though.

My lews tournament pros sit in a storage tub after I started moving toward daiwa reels.

That's Apples to Oranges bud. The OP asked about reels under $200

I am also a big fan of the Daiwa Steez but they aren't applicable here. I've not used the Tatula but hear good things about it. I did buy a couple new Curado K's and am pretty impressed by them for $189.

Let's do some horse-trading Jackson. I have one Steez 8:1 that I would trade you for a T-wing version and even buy your lunch at Matt's to boot.


I'll text you some pics.

Lews for sure. Never seen a Daiwa reel i like. All feel like cheap junk with more to go wrong with that level wind flip thing.

For me..

1- 13 fishing
2- Lews
3- Shimano

I've tried that Monty but that old habit is hard to break! That, and I'm a slow learner but you're right..... It's just a small change that needs to happen.

Ken A..... Deal!

As an aside.... I bought a Shimano Antares and wow..... It out casts my Steez reels. Is it heavier? Yup. Bulkier? Check. But paired up with one of those new Dobyns Xtasy rods and it's like getting a new sharp scalpel.... Well, it's good. Really fun to use.

Back to the $200 deal - I also bought two new Curados for under $200 and they are a great value. They cast really well and you can adjust the heck out of them once you grasp the Shimano break set-up.

J