Daiwa Tatula Spinning Rod Review

The Daiwa Tatula Spinning Rod is a high-performance rod that quickly garnered the attention of experienced bass anglers– even if it’s not quite a professional-grade bass rod.

That said, this versatile spinning rod provides more than a refined technique in bass angling with a spinning set-up capable of employing more than one lure action effectively.

With a fantastic blank employing maximum performance design techniques generally found on more expensive rod blanks, the Tatula series rods offers a blank with plenty of backbone.

That said, at a medium price range, this review examines whether or not the awesome, all-around blank and excellent guides are worth the fishing gear investment or if you’re better off opting for a general-purpose bass rod at a bargain price.

Pros

• X-45 Concept Blanks
• Fuji Fazelite guide system
• Extremely ergonomic design

Cons

• Not a budget-friendly option
• Iffy reel seat
• More for bass fishing

Review

Construction (craftsmanship, make quality)

The real value of the Tatula series rods crops up in their powerful blanks that employ manufacturing techniques often found on more expensive fishing poles.

The Tatula X-45 Blanks use a high-end manufacturing process called Braiding-X Fiber Braiding Technology that sees the graphite fibers wrapped at an alternating 45-degree bias.

This design approach not only eliminates bulky tubes and significantly reduces the amount of graphite needed, but it also helps limit blank twist while still providing a blank with plenty of backbone.

This design results in a stiffer blank, but the wrap of braid with graphite fibers allow you to target larger fish– even through heavy cover– without having to worry about cracking or breaking the stout blank.

Even better, Daiwa employs an SVF, or Super Volume Fiber, manufacturing process that uses nano resin particles to reduce the amount of resin applied and thus reduce the weight, ensuring a sensitive blank.

On top of that, this process also increases the graphite density of the rod blanks, further reinforcing the blank with plenty of backbone and ensuring its use as a durable choice.

Keep in mind that you generally find many of these manufacturing techniques used on expensive options made in Japan.

The fact that you get maximum performance at a relatively affordable price is just icing on the cake.

It also doesn’t hurt that this fishing pole comes with a solid hook keeper

Moving through this versatile spinning rod from the sensitive blank to the solid all-round performance guide quality, the Fuji Fazelite guide system uses a double-foot K-series.

While the Fazelite material is interesting in its own right, the inclusion of high-end performance K-series guides significantly reduces the incidence of line tangles.

The split handle design further boosts the blank quality by allowing you to better feel the slightest vibrations.

This solid choice makes the Tatula a tough competitor in the general-purpose bass rod market.

Material

The Tatula pretty much utilizes exclusively quality materials for the entirety of this pole increasing not only the blank quality but every other high-performance component as well.

For starters, the Super Volume Fibers make another appearance with high-modulus graphite, offering a solid price-to-performance ratio without sacrificing blank quality.

The SVF resin is also worth its own mention given that it allows a tighter wrap of braid with the graphite and is not necessarily a given on a somewhat affordable option like this.

It’s also heavily responsible for providing some of the models with medium-heavy power without having to worry about the blank coming in bulky tubes.

Moving on from the fantastic blank, the Daiwa also spares no expense with its Fuji Fazelite guide system that further expands this pole as a sensitive spinning rod.

While not quite the ceramic Alconite found with other premium components, this modified aluminum-oxide blend performs nearly as well as those inserts.

Unlike older models that came with a split EVA foam handle, this general-purpose bass rod opts for primary handle materials made of premium cork.

The excellent handles of this high-performance rod only cement it as a great spinning set-up for all types of bass anglers.

Action

This general-purpose bass rod doesn’t offer a wide range of actions with only fast and extra-fast available.

This approach introduces something of a trade-off where you lose a bit of potential casting distance but more than make up for that consequence with increased casting control.

On top of that, the quicker actions help boost the touch of this already somewhat sensitive blank.

The ever-popular medium-heavy, fast action blanks make adoption among bass anglers that much easier due to the solid hookset with a variety of lures from light lures to heavy lures.

Even better, the different spec configs contribute to the Tatula being a versatile spinning rod that can use one lure action or another with a broad range of lures.

Power

This is one of the areas where Tatula’s powerful blanks are on full display as the stiffer blank ensures that you don’t have to worry about a strong backbone after engaging the general-duty bass rod’s solid hookset.

This approach allows you to use a wide variety of lures from light lures to heavy lures and all lure weights in between.

Even though this rod tops out with a medium-heavy blank, most fishermen agree that the entire series of rods offers more backbone than you might expect.

As such even if you opt for a lower power rating than the strongest medium-heavy blank, the Tatula will tend to function as a slightly heavier powered model than most of the comparable competition.

And while this lineup carries models with a lighter power than the top medium-heavy power options, none of them even dip into a proper medium-light power rating.

That said, as a general-purpose bass rod, the medium-heavy, fast action blanks serve as excellent bass rods that afford a stout blank with plenty of backbone for your growing bass arsenal.

Rod Guides

In terms of quality, the Tatula offers high-grade components that see its guide quality sit well above average– even if it’s not quite “the best.” Still, the Fuji Fazelite quality guides enhance numerous features like improving casting control with a buttery smooth, modified aluminum oxide insert encased in a K-series ring.

Not only does this choice reduce the number of tangles you’ll have to deal with, but it also allows the modestly sensitive blank to reinforce that touch, leading to a surprisingly sensitive spinning rod.

However, one of the best qualities of this approach involves the guide system’s ability to cast even the strongest braids without worrying about it slicing through the rings or popping out the inserts.

Handle (material, shape, etc)

Whereas earlier models opted for a split EVA foam handle, the modern version still comes with excellent handles, but the primary handle materials now favor cork.

The natural cork handle uses a split handle design that tends to work the best with virtually any spinning set-up by balancing control over your spinning reel with sensitivity.

Uses (Who is this good for)

Billed as excellent bass rods from the beginning, Daiwa saw rapid adoption among bass anglers for these dedicated bass rods as part of a standard spinning set-up.

Of course, experienced bass anglers waited to see if the pitching technique in bass angling performed as well with a variety of lures and lure weights before jumping on the bandwagon.

Of course, with the ability to handle the strongest braids and afford some of the best hookset certainty with a strong backbone, it wasn’t long before real competitors recognized a solid choice with top-tier blank quality.

Fast-forward a few years and this spinning set-up is almost expected to be one of the dedicated bass rods in any serious bass arsenal.

It’s worth remembering that because this top-quality rod doesn’t come in at a bargain price, it might not be the best option for beginners– especially if they haven’t yet been bitten by the bug.

However, once a fisherman moves from the beginner to the intermediate level, this series of rods offers top-notch performance at a reasonably affordable price.

Reel and Real Seat Compatibility

In terms of quality, not everyone loves the FUJI PTS reel seat that comes with the Tatula, even if it is a durable choice.

The main issue seems to be the reel seat’s bulk which often loses out when compared to a tough competitor with a sleeker profile.

That said, you should have no issue with slop or wiggle with pretty much any spinning reel.

Still, real competitors may pine a bit for the reel seats included with the Tatula Elite Spinning Rod, though these designs can see a bit of variation with the hook keeper.

Conclusion (Wrap Up)

The Daiwa Tatula Spinning Rod offers a large collection of bass rods that hit the sweet spot between top-notch performance and an affordable price– though it’s by no means a budget-friendly option.

That said it’s still an affordable option with a medium price range, though is not really part of a professional collection like the Tatula Elite Spinning Rod or other expensive options.

Still, the Tatula spinning set-up is a quality rod with high-end performance thanks to high-quality materials and a great all-around blank with top-quality guides.

So, if you need solid all-around performance, able to use a variety of lures for an impressive general-duty bass rod, the Tatula Spinning Rod hits all the right notes in the price-to-performance ratio.