Baitcaster Comparo - Daiwa Sol Vs Daiwa HRF

[Red_Nut]

Team,
does anyone have experience with either of these 2 reels?

I am trying to decide which one to go for. It will be used primarily for chasing wild barra and jacks. About 99% of its use will be in a salt water environment.

Am I right in remembering that the Sol is designed as a freshwater reel? I am also interested in the ergonomics and suitability for flicking lures for hours on end (mainly weight). During the Barra Bounty here in Rocky we can sometimes be flicking all day.

To throw another into the mix - I really like the Daiwa Zillion but not sure if I can stretch the cash quite that far.

Any thoughts / opinions are appreciated.

Cheers.

Ed.

[NAGG]

Ed ..... The Sol & HRF ....... are quite different reels & the Zillion is even something else
The Sol is a light weight ( OK in the Salt) great for chucking smaller lures... but very capable
The HRF would be a better choice for Barra (larger capacity for heavier lines) .... Great to cast & troll ...... good Jack reel too
The Zillion is a awesome reel with heavier drag . A very well made tough reel. Even though it does not have the capacity of a HRF ..... It would be my choice if bigger fish were the target! ....... all class

If $ are a concern ...... I'd be happy with a HRF ( with a significant $ saving)

Nagg

PS .... Even though I own 2 Zillions .... I use a Chronarch SF (14lb braid) for my Jack & Wild barra fishing .... due to the lighter weight

[craigie]

Ed,

I have a HRF that is being spooled with 30 or 50 lb braid for the Big Moma Barra in our central qld Dams. Good quality reel and if you shop around can be purchased for under $250.
Like my Shimano Chronarch 100BSV as well but it is a bit more expensive.

For what you want to do, you can't go wrong with the HRF.
It's red too !!!! Wind the fish in faster !!!

Cheers,

Craigie.

[Mike_W]

I'm shopping around aswell, the 2 choices so far are HRF or the Daiwa Advantage Super-tuned, can anyone comment on the super tuned vs the HRF?

[Webby08]

I ended up buying a Tierra after looking at most of them. I love it

[NAGG]

I'm shopping around aswell, the 2 choices so far are HRF or the Daiwa Advantage Super-tuned, can anyone comment on the super tuned vs the HRF?

I had a chat to the local dealer recently about a low profile for a mate who wants a mid range BC (salt) ......... The two stand outs were the HRF & the HSTA.
From what I could see the HSTA seems to be a little bit more of a finesse reel than the HRF ...... It also seems to share some design features with the Zillion.
The HRF has a significant advantage in line capacity though
It would be a hard choice ...... & probably dictated by your target species
Nagg

[HOTRODS]

the SOL is a 103 size and the HRF, TD-A's, Tierra's ect are built on the same frame and they are a 253 size...
i use my SOL for bass, bream and flatties ect with 6lb braid, i have 2 TD-A's (1 with 20lb and 1 with 30lb braid) as mentioned a much better option for larger species like barra due to the line compacity...only other eels differences are bearing numbers and driled spools (ie/ the super tuned) alowing you to throw a larger range of lure sizes from small to big, where the HRF and standard TD-a's ad the tierra are a general mid to larger lure version.

[BARRAkid]

i have a hrf and it is great it casts well im running 20lb braid on it and it handles it well i have caught quite afew wild barra on it and it can handle them with ese.
i also have a red zillion but i just bought that and havent had a chance to catch a fish with it yet hopfully its good

[Wyoming]

I have both, but I must say that I prefer the HRF - it's a little more robust than the Sol.

[The Koala]

Hi there,

Regarding the Daiwa reels, I use the HRF and the super tuned for Barra fishing. They are awsome, the HRF has the better bearings and is better for use with less maint. Alot of the barra guides use them. The super tuned is smooth as and looks sweet, they are both excellent reels. The drag is a bit weak on them when brand new but once it has had a fish or two pulling it over it wears in and is excellent. I highly recommend them.

Cheers
The Koala.

[Rockfish]

I have owned both the Zillion and the Sol fishing with 30 and 50lb braid on the Zillion and 15 to 30lb on the Sol. Both had carbontex drag upgrades and were very good reels. Interestingly i found the Sol produced more drag pressure though the Zillion was smoother and able to cast bigger (120+mm) lures better whilst the Sol had the edge when it came to the lighter 80mm etc lures.

Anyways, got rid of them all and now have got a daiwa CVZ 203 for chasing the big one's and have found it great. Cast as well as the Zillion, is as smooth, holds more line and produces twice the drag pressure literally. Has a slow retrieve ratio much like the sol (due to its smaller spool diameter) and i have found this far more productive on the barra than the 6.3 or higher ratio's now availiable.

Thinking of buying a (cough) Shimano Curado 200DPV, for the lighter stuff and maybe seeing how it hold up in the dams.

[Steve B]

I'm shopping around aswell, the 2 choices so far are HRF or the Daiwa Advantage Super-tuned, can anyone comment on the super tuned vs the HRF?

Mike, I have 2 supertuneds for impoundment barra and a Zillion. I honestly rate the supertuned higher that the zillion out of the box. I haven't upgraded the drags, never needed to, and they have landed plenty of barra in all sizes and all conditions. HRF's feel about the same, not quite as smooth IMHO and dont look quite as sexy .
Cheers steve

[Steve B]

Hi there,

Regarding the Daiwa reels, I use the HRF and the super tuned for Barra fishing. They are awsome, the HRF has the better bearings and is better for use with less maint. Alot of the barra guides use them. The super tuned is smooth as and looks sweet, they are both excellent reels. The drag is a bit weak on them when brand new but once it has had a fish or two pulling it over it wears in and is excellent. I highly recommend them.

Cheers
The Koala.

Koala, Not sure what you mean about 'better' bearings in the HRF. Both reel use EXACTLY the same bearings. If anything, the TD advantage super tuned has 10CRRB + 1RB, where as the the HRF only has 8+1. Do you mean, less bearings = less maintanence or less possible trouble? Thats probalby why you find the supertuned smoother...I know I do. Drags are exactly the same in both reels (7 disc wet drag system). I agree, they do seem to get smoother the more they catch.

cheers steve

[chewy01]

When you guys are talking wet drags are you talking about using some type of grease on them as opposed to the carbontex dry??