I had some really high hopes for this reel going into my testing. I’ve used quite a few Daiwa reels in the past and they continue to impress me with their distance, ease of use and line management. So needless to say, the bar was set pretty high for the Tatula 150.
I’ve tested it for several months now and have learned a great deal about it. Hang with me for a few minutes and I’ll share my rundown of this bass fishing reel.
Big-time line capacity
You certainly won’t have to worry about emptying the spool when you’re using the Daiwa Tatula 150. Featuring an oversized spool, you can pack line onto this reel for all types of different techniques. The specs say it can hold 150 yards of 14-pound test, but I’ve been loving it with 12-pound fluorocarbon and 68-pound braided line (pictured).
I can just about empty a 200-yard spool of Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon on this reel without any issues. I’ve also been packing 68-pound Finatic braided line, which has a .370-millimeter or .015-inch diameter.
This type of line capacity certainly comes in handy for several specific techniques. This reel is an outstanding choice for deep cranking, umbrella rigs, swimbaits and topwater lures.
Distance is definitely not a problem
I was sincerely blown away when I made my first cast with a hollow-bodied topwater frog on this reel. I tied on a SPRO Bronzeye Frog 65 and almost got down to my backing with a medium-effort cast. I don’t know if I’ve ever used a reel that can throw a frog farther. That’s not an exaggeration.
In addition to the larger spool, the Tatula 150 also features the T-Wing line management system that allows the line to fly off the spool with little to no friction. I’d be willing to bet you a dollar that you could take this reel from the package, not adjust anything, and make one of your longest casts of the year.
Very user friendly
When I first took this reel out of the box and spooled it up, I didn’t adjust the settings for my first half-dozen trips. Simply because I didn’t need to. It worked excellently straight from the package.
But if you run into stiff winds or you’re looking to skip baits underneath cover, small adjustments are super simple to make thanks to the Magforce Z Cast Control. You won’t have to sit there and mess with the dials for several minutes at a time, either. Just a few clicks and you’re ready to keep fishing.
Comfortable for a larger reel
Of course, the larger spool requires a larger frame for the Tatula 150. It weighs in at 8.1 ounces which isn’t the lightest reel on the market, but it’s certainly reasonable for a large-capacity casting reel. It feels good in your hands and you shouldn’t have any problems fishing all day with it.
The paddle handles are quite comfortable and retain their tackiness even with fish- or water-covered hands. IT also has a 100-millimeter swept handle for a little extra leverage in heavy cover.
Final impressions
In my opinion, this isn’t the prettiest reel on the market. It’s not ugly; it’s just very plain. But my gosh, the performance more than makes up for it. It is a true workhorse and again, the casting distance is pretty insane, especially for a $160 reel.
The Daiwa Tatula 150 is available at these retailers:
