Daiwa Tatula Elite Rod Series - Top 20 List
Curt Arakawa at Daiwa is on a mission to bring bass anglers not only the finest quality bass rods and reels, but also the most fine-tuned equipment on the market. On the heels of the incredibly successful Tatula series of Rods and Reels, Curt upped the stakes. Daiwa put their pro staff to work. The assignment was to design the perfect rod for each of their favorite/most successful techniques! The Pro Daiwa Staff has some of the biggest, most successful professional anglers on the tour. Here they are; Brent Ehrler, Cody Meyer, Ish Monroe, Randy Howell, Takahiro Omori, Seth Feider and Andy Montgomery. With about 20 or so major titles, including Bassmasters Classics and Forrest Wood Cup victories, and millions in winnings, this is a truly elite Pro Staff! Each angler was turned loose to create the best rod(s) they could. This includes action, materials and components. Making these rods even better is the price! These rods are in the $175-$300 range. I believe these are the best value on the market for a rod of this quality. Here is the summary of their efforts, the top 20 Daiwa Tatula Elite Series Rods.
Here is our top 20 list for Daiwa Tatula Elite Series Rods (in no particular order).
BRENT EHRLER
One of the most successful western anglers on the national scene. Brent fished the FLW tour for several years and is now fishing the Elite Series with B.A.S.S. Brent finished in the Angler of the Year race top-10 the majority of the years he fished the FLW Tour, including two runner-up finishes. His second year on Tour (2006) he won the Forrest Wood Cup and has competed in the championship event every year and became one of the few anglers to win multiple events during the same season. Other notable accomplishments include a FLW Series Western Division Angler of the Year title in 2010 and a victory at the Rayovac FLW Series Championship at Lake Cumberland in 2004. On the Elite Series Brent has fished 42 event with 2 Bassmasters Classic appearances. He has cashed 25 times and has already won almost $300,000 with B.A.S.S.
A Note from Brent about these rods: "The new Tatula Elite rods are by far the best rods I've ever put my hands on"
1) Brent Ehrler Model Number: TAEL701MMHXB-AGS
Technique: FINESSE (WORMING)
Power: MEDUIM - MEDIUM HEAVY
Action: XFAST
Length: 7’0”
Recommended Line Weights: 8-20 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/8 - 1 oz
Guide Type: DAIWA AGS®
2) Brent Ehrler Model Number: TAEL741MHRB-G
Technique: CRANKIN’/BLADED JIG
Power: MEDIUM HEAVY
Action: REGULAR
Length: 7’4”
Recommended Line Weights: 10-20 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/2 - 2 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
3) Brent Ehrler Model Number: TAEL801MHRB-G
Technique: DEEP CRANKIN’
Power: MEDIUM HEAVY
Action: REGULAR
Length: 8’0”
Recommended Line Weights: 10-20 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/2 - 2 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
4) Brent Ehrler Model Number: TAEL711MFS-AGS (Spinning)
Technique: DROPSHOT
Power: MEDUIM
Action: FAST
Length: 7’1”
Recommended Line Weights: 6-12 lb, 6-20 lb BRAID
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/8 - 1/2 oz
Guide Type: DAIWA AGS®
5) Brent Ehrler Model Number: TAEL731MHFB
Technique: MULTI-PURPOSE
Power: MEDIUM HEAVY
Action: FAST
Length: 7’3”
Recommended Line Weights: 10-20 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/4 - 1 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
CODY MEYER
I grew up in Grass Valley, CA. fishing farm ponds and local lakes in the Northern California Area. In my teens, I started fishing local team tournaments, then fished a couple years as co-angler fishing the FLW Everstart Western Division. I began fishing professionally in 2007 and joined the FLW Tour in 2009. Since then my fishing has only been getting better. 2012 was my best season to date, finishing 5th in the Kellogg’s Walmart FLW Tour Angler of the Year race.
A Note from Cody: "The TAEL701MLFS & TAEL741MFS-AGS models are the best Drop-Shot rods on the market! They are designed to help anglers hook and landed more fish on a drop-shot. These rods are the perfect length, extremely balanced, and proven to have the ultimate action to fish a drop-shot more effectively!"
6) Cody Meyer Model Number: TAEL701MLFS (Spinning)
Technique: FINESSE
Power: MEDUIM - MEDIUM LIGHT
Action: FAST
Length: 7’0”
Recommended Line Weights: 4-10 lb, 6-16 lb BRAID
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/6 - 3/8 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
7) Cody Meyer Model Number: TAEL741MFS-AGS (Spinning)
Technique: VERSATILE
Power: MEDUIM
Action: FAST
Length: 7’4”
Recommended Line Weights: 6-14, 8-20 BRAID
Recommended Lure Weights: 3/16 - 1/2 oz
Guide Type: DAIWA AGS®
ISH MONROE
Another western angler on the national tour. With current career FLW earnings of $670,000 dollars, “Ish” has been competing in events on FLW Tour since 2005. Monroe’s favorite technique is flipping and being a California native, he loves fishing the big bass factories that are Clear Lake and the California Delta. With B.A.S.S., Ish has
fished 227 events with 4 wins. He has 10 Bassmasters Classics appearances and more than $1.4 million in winnings! Ish doesn’t just like to fish for bass, whether it be carp, bluegills or crappies, he claims he is happy fishing for anything that swims.
A Note from Ish about these rods: "The new Tatula Elite rods are the perfect rods for every technics! The 8ft Flippin’/Punchin’ rod is so sensitive that you feel the lightest strikes in heavy cover and will allow you to flip and punch lighter baits."
8) Ish Monroe Model Number: TAEL741HFB-AGS
Technique: FROG
Power: HEAVY
Action: FAST
Length: 7’4”
Recommended Line Weights: 30-55 lb BRAID
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/2 - 1 1/2 oz
Guide Type: DAIWA AGS®
9) Ish Monroe Model Number: TAEL761HFB-AGS
Technique: FLIPPIN’
Power: HEAVY
Action: FAST
Length: 7’6”
Recommended Line Weights: 16-30 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/4 - 1 1/2 oz
Guide Type: DAIWA AGS®
10) Ish Monroe Model Number: TAEL801HXB-AGS
Technique: PUNCHING’/FLIPPIN’
Power: HEAVY
Action: XFAST
Length: 8’0”
Recommended Line Weights: 30-55 lb BRAID
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/2 - 1 1/2 oz
Guide Type: DAIWA AGS®
RANDY HOWELL
Randy Howell is a 21-year veteran of the Bassmaster Tour. He is the 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion. He has fished 265 events and has fished the Bassmasters Classic 15 times. In addition to his Classic victory he has 3 Elite tour wins and has collected more than $1.8 million in winnings.
A Note from Randy: "These new Tatula SV reels are simply amazing" for every technique! Teamed with my new Tatula elite rods, I can touch perfection on the water" "My TAEL701MLRB med/light has the perfect medium blank with a fast soft tip for shallow cranking and jerk-baiting. My TAEL711MHFS power spinning rod is the best ever for braided line and heavy finesse tactics"
11) Randy Howell Model Number: TAEL741MHRB
Technique: BIG TOPWATER/SPINNERBAIT/BLADED JIG
Power: MEDIUM HEAVY
Action: REGULAR
Length: 7’4”
Recommended Line Weights: 12-25 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/4 - 1 3/8 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
12) Randy Howell Model Number: TAEL711MHFS (Spinning)
Technique: POWERSPIN
Power: MEDIUM HEAVY
Action: FAST
Length: 7’1”
Recommended Line Weights: 6-14 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/4 - 3/4 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
13) Randy Howell Model Number: TAEL731MXS (Spinning)
Technique: SHAKY HEAD/UNDERSPIN
Power: MEDUIM
Action: XFAST
Length: 7’3”
Recommended Line Weights: 6-14 lb, 6-20 lb BRAID
Recommended Lure Weights: 3/16 - 1/2 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
14) Randy Howell Model Number: TAEL701MLRB
Technique: SHALLOW CRANK/LIPLESS/JERKBAIT
Power: MEDIUM LIGHT
Action: REGULAR
Length: 7’0”
Recommended Line Weights: 8-14 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/4 - 5/8 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
TAKAHIRO OMORI
Takahiro “Tak”, is a Bassmasters Classic Champion! He has fished 282 B.A.S.S. events with 6 victories and 12 Classic appearances. He has won almost $2 million with B.A.S.S. On the FLW tour, Tak has fished 97 events with 1 win, 7 Cup appearances and $573K in tournament winnings.
A Note from Tak: "My new TAEL701MHRB-G Tatula Elite Crankin’ rod is the best for all fast moving baits, but especially shallow cranking." "This is my most favorite way to catch big fish is cranking around shallow cover with my new 7ft. Tatula Elite rod." "My TAEL731HFB Tatula Elite Pitching rod I feel is the best for all multi-purpose techniques but especially for fishing around heavy cover." "I can make a super long cast with new Zillion reel with TWS system. New Zillion reel with 9:1 gear is fastest production reel on the market."
15) Takahiro Omori Model Number: TAEL731HFB
Technique: PITCHIN’
Power: HEAVY
Action: FAST
Length: 7’3”
Recommended Line Weights: 14-30
Recommended Lure Weights: 3/16 - 1 1/2 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
16) Takahiro Omori Model Number: TAEL701MHRB-G
Technique: CRANKIN’
Power: MEDIUM HEAVY
Action: FAST
Length: 7’0”
Recommended Line Weights: 10-20
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/2 - 2 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
SETH FEIDER
Seth is the newest angler on the Daiwa Pro Staff. He is from Bloomington, Minnesota. Seth has fished 41 events and has already cashed in 23 events. He has collected $176,000 in winnings.
17) Seth Feider Model Number: TAEL691MLRB
Technique: LIGHT TOPWATER/JERKBAIT
Power: MEDIUM LIGHT
Action: REGULAR
Length: 6’9”
Recommended Line Weights: 8-14 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/4 - 5/8 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
A Note from Seth: "A note from Seth about this rod: Working with Daiwa's rod design team, we developed the ultimate jerkbait rod. Not too long, to avoid hitting the water while working the bait. Still long enough to launch a jerkbait a great distance from the boat. The other key attribute is this rods moderate action. Never again do I fear losing key fish on light wire treble hooks. Daiwa nailed this rods glass rod like action with a super lightweight, sensitive SVF graphite blank. Even down to the shortened handle to avoid snagging clothing. This is the perfect Jerkbait rod."
18) Seth Feider Model Number: TAEL761MLMFS-AGS (Spinning)
Technique: HAIR JIG/NEKO
Power: MEDUIM - MEDIUM LIGHT
Action: FAST
Length: 7’6”
Recommended Line Weights: 5-12 lb, 8-20 lb BRAID
Recommended Lure Weights: 3/16 - 1/2 oz
Guide Type: DAIWA AGS®
A Note from Cody: "Daiwa worked with me to design what I feel is the perfect weapon for extra-long casting while maintaining the perfect action. Something that I feel has been missing in any rods over 7'. This rod is precisely what you need to master the ultra-finesse hair jig or Neko rig technique."
ANDY MONTGOMERY
Andy has fished 71 B.A.S.S. events and has cashed in 42 of those events. He has 2 victories and has competed in 3 Bassmasters Classics. His career winnings with B.A.S.S. in almost $500,000. Andy also has 20 top ten finishes on the FLW tour and $480,000 in winnings.
A Note from Andy: "The search is over for the perfect skipping rod" "No longer do you have to search for the proper action in a skipping rod"
19) Andy Montgomery Model Number: TAEL691HFB
Technique: SKIPPIN’ JIG
Power: HEAVY
Action: FAST
Length: 6’9”
Recommended Line Weights: 16-30 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/4 - 1 1/2 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
20) Andy Montgomery Model Number: TAEL711HFB
Technique: SKIPPIN’ JIG
Power: HEAVY
Action: FAST
Length: 7’1”
Recommended Line Weights: 16-30 lb
Recommended Lure Weights: 1/4 - 1 1/2 oz
Guide Type: Fuji®Alconite
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