Daiwa Zillion PE

[jack-n-barra]

Hi Everyone, Was wondering if anyone has purchased a Daiwa Zillion PE special?
Was looking at buying one but I am concerned about the line capacity seems to hold less line than the normal zillion which I allready own.

Hope someone knows about these reels.
Cheers Tod

[5Zigen]

Line capacity is definitely a bit on the low side but it depends on what fish/line u'll be using the reel for.

Mine has 20lb PE...and the reel holds enuff line for big barra,jews and small/medium kings.

Have tried putting 50lb PE on it as well, and it almost seems like the spool is filled in just a few turns of the handle!

[jack-n-barra]

Thanks 5Zigen, would be using it for impoundment barra and need to run 50lb pe which is what Im running on my zillion currently and find it is just enough line ( it holds about 90m)

Cheers tod

[Strewth]

Tod

A bit off topic, but have you seen this new model

http://www.daiwafishing.com.au/daiwa.cfm?page=reels&reels=lowprofile&product=Heartland-XA

Very smooth with 10 saltwater bearings (including two in the handle knobs) and cost around $340. Plenty of line capacity and not too heavy for flicking all day. Based on the Supertuned Team Daiwa Advantage and has the Zillion swept handle.

Strewth

[5Zigen]

Thanks 5Zigen, would be using it for impoundment barra and need to run 50lb pe which is what Im running on my zillion currently and find it is just enough line ( it holds about 90m)


My Zillion PE was bought for use at impoundments too.

I'm really not sure how many metres of 50lb the PE will hold, but I do know that it was kinda alarming how little of it the spool held! On a wind assisted cast, I suspect that emptying the spool might be possible.

For what its worth, I started off using 50lb PE for impoundment barra as well, but have since gone down to 20-30lb as my barra experience grew. 50lb is just generally not necessary IMO (I still use 60-80lb leader tho) unless u need to muscle fish around structure.

Some of my barra reels still have 50lb PE on it, but it doesnt really get used anymore, except for the one I use for throwing gigantic (ie very expensive) swimbaits and I want a bit of insurance...

[jack-n-barra]

5Zigen I fish Monduran mostly for Barra these days and allways fish in the timber,started out fishing 20/30lb and was loosing to many fish went to 50lb and have had much more sucess landing fish in the timber. Have got an Alphas loaded with 30lb and both times I have used it lately I have lost good fish.
cheers Tod

[5Zigen]

Monduran is an awesome place to fish, the trees there are just insane:D

The Alphas is an awesome reel, and I've used it a fair bit on Awoonga barra, fishing open water (weedbeds, shoreline,flats etc) but utimately, its lacking a bit of oomph for structure fishing that Monduran is known for.

If u plan on continuing to use this reel at Monduran, u can get a drag kit from Jack Erskine, that way you can maybe extract more drag out of the reel.

[wheezer]

I have a Zillion HLC and PE Special. The stock PE special spool is shallower, holds the same amount of line as 103 size daiwas like the Alphas, Steez etc. This is because it is tuned for braid use, so should be more than adequate except if you are trolling for impoundment barra with heavy braid. I run 50lb PE on my 103 i'ze light for impoundment fishing and have yet to run into an issue regarding line cap.

The spool also has a different cast control. it uses a fixed rotor which means a fixed brake force across the cast. easier to control lighter lures but the offset is shorter casting distance due to the brake always being 'on'

Because i wanted to use my PE for open water applications ie casting distance and also for chasing inshore pelagics up here such as queenies i retrofitted a standard gold Zillion spool no problems

[wheezer]

I Have a Zillion HLC and PE Special. The PE does have less line cap. same as 103 sized daiwas like Steez, Alphas etc. This is because it is tuned for braid use. It should be OK unless you are trolling (i use 50lb PE on my i'ze light 103 for casting, no issues) also the spool uses a different casting system, being a fixed rotor which makes for a linear brake profile. this handles smaller lures better but trade off is reduced casting distance due to the brake always being 'on' other daiwa systems being Magforce V or Z use a rotor which moves depending on spool acceleration/velocity to maximise casting distance.

I needed my PE for open water barra fishing as well as inshore pelagic work up here like queenies so i retrofitted the stock Zillion gold spool no problems

[jack-n-barra]

Hey Wheezer thanks for your reply, you say you have a HLC as well as a PE special. How does the HLC go with barra size lures? The smallest lure i use in the impoundments is the 90mm tilsan barra, the lure I have been favouring lately is the 120mm X RAP by all the reading I have done this reel should be the most suited for this type of fishing and is an advantage over the normal Zillion?

Cheers Tod

[wheezer]

the HLC has a significantly lighter, tuned spool but with the same line cap as std. it casts any lure better than a stock zillion, and so it should. it casts lighter lures better thanks to its lower mass. you won't have any issues casting any barra lures on the HLC. its a shame they didn't put the PE gears in (lighter, stronger saltiga spec) but thats an easy upgrade....IMO the HLC is a better reel than the PE, but i wanted one of each!

[jack-n-barra]

Wheezer thanks for passing on imformation about these reels. It's great to hear about the performance of these reels from people who own and use them.
Was a bit disapointed about the line capacity on the PE I'm sure it's a great reel and I'm sure I would like to own one but Xmas only comes around once a year.
So maybee a HLC

Decisions, Decisions.
Cheers Tod