Product Review: Tatula SV TW 70

By Simon Goldsmith 

Small n’ mighty is an apt way to describe the Tatula SV TW 70. The most recent addition to the Tatula baitcaster reel line-up is also Tatula’s first sub 100 size baitcaster to be added to the range.

A well-regarded mid-price family of reels since it was first slotted into the Daiwa baitcaster range over a decade ago the Tatula stable of reels has been growing over the years, but it’s always been about adding larger sized (e.g. 200, 300 and 400 size reels) more heavy duty reels to the range rather than going down in size to more finesse focused reels.

When it came to finesse baitcasters in the Daiwa range it’s names like Steez, Alphas or Pixy that pop to mind, but the release of the new 70-size Tatula now sees a new name added to Daiwa’s finesse stable of baitcasters, and it’s a name that comes with a cheaper price tag than your beloved Steez and Alphas.

Why So Small

Small baitcasters in the 100 and sub 100 size range is a sub-genre of reels in the baitcaster family that aren’t huge in numbers or use. Often described as finesse baitcasters, for the Daiwa reel fan they most notably became a class of reels with the release of the iconic orange Daiwa Pixy.

Released in 2003, the Pixy was followed by a range of varying colours (yellow, red, grey), variants (PX68, Presso), and in time was joined in the Daiwa finesse baitcaster range by two other reels that would go on to become famous, namely the Alphas and Steez.  

The late 2010’s would see another evolution in this finesse category with the release of the Steez CT SV 700 TW delivering Daiwa baitcaster fans a sub-100 size reel. The Alphas SV TW 800 followed in 2021, and in 2022 the Tatula 70 SV TW was released to offer baitcaster users another finesse option, and their most price friendly option so far. 

What’s This For?

So, when it comes to baitcasters the question that many people have is “what do you use a small baitcaster for?”

Baitcasters dominate when it comes to pinpoint casting at structure, with the ability to control the cast by controlling the spool and line flow making it the go-to choice for lure casters. A baitcaster’s Achilles heel though has always been its ability to throw light, especially ultra-light, lures. 

Advances in baitcasters design, especially in the areas of magnetic cast control (Magforce V, Magforce Z), spool design (HLC, SV Concept, SV Boost), and line guide (TWS) design have delivered steps forward in reel performance and function and the ability to cast lighter lures with less back lashes and limitations.

Daiwa’s modern-day finesse baitcasters have reaped the benefits of these design evolutions and have made life for a light lure angler better than it's ever been. If throwing jighead soft plastics (2.5” Bait Junkie Minnow on a 1/8oz jighead), small crankbaits (Infeet Spike), jerkbaits (Double Clutch 75SP), or topwaters (Steez Popper 50F) is your thing and you’d rather use a baitcaster than a spin reel to do it then one of Daiwa’s finesse baitcasters is a reel that’s tailor made for you.

If you’re looking at stepping into the finesse baitcaster world or looking at adding another one to your collection the Tatula 70 SV TW is a reel that you definitely want to consider. What makes it worthy of your time and attention, and possibly hard-earned money? Let’s look at what’s inside and why it’s worthy of taking for a spin. 

Let’s Go For a Drive

The Tatula range is a tried-and-true family of reels, with proven design, structure, performance, and reliability. The Tatula 70 continues this tradition of performance and reliability but features, and enjoys the benefits, of one of Daiwa’s newest baitcaster design concepts ‘Hyperdrive Design’, a concept that features in both the 21 Zillion SV TW and 21 Alphas SV TW 800.

A multi-faceted design concept Hyperdrive Design features four key design elements, Hyper Armed Housing, Hyper Double Support, Hyperdrive Digigear, and Hyper Tough Clutch. Let’s look at each of these elements and the roll that they play in elevating the design and performance of the Tatula 70.

Check Out My Body

The strength, refinement, and power of any baitcaster begins with its frame and Hyper Armed Housing (HAH) is Daiwa’s best baitcaster frame and side plate design platform yet.

Light, strong, and rigid the result it a reel that holds everything in perfect alignment for optimum reel function. Reel alignment and support is further enhanced with Hyper Double Support supporting the pinion gear to extend gear life and enhance cranking power under load.

Top Gear

Improvements in gear design has been one of Daiwa’s most notable tech advancements in recent years and it’s no different in Hyperdrive Design, with the new Hyperdrive Digigear delivering a leap forward in baitcaster gear performance. The result is a gearing system that is smoother and stronger and with a 60% improvement in durability. 

One of the most significant human touch points when it comes to a baitcaster’s gearing system is the thumb bar and the new Hyper Tough Clutch introduces a redeveloped version. More durable and stronger the result is a thumb bar with strength and precision like never before.

In a Cast

While a baitcaster’s frame is significant in the foundation of reel the thing that we notice the most when it comes to a reel’s performance and quality is how it casts. There’s no point creating the most robust and strong reel possible if it’s a nightmare to cast with or it simply doesn’t do the job it’s meant, or designed to do. Daiwa baitcasters have a rich history of being next level when it comes to casting performance and Tatula 70 continues in the tradition and can be attributed to a few key design features and technologies. 

The first cab of the rank when it comes to tech features that play a part in casting performance is Daiwa’s T-Wing System. While regulating the rotating spool of a baitcaster is seen as the most important thing in maximising casting distance and performance equally as important is line flow resistance and the things that slow and get in the way of the line as it’s comes off the spool.

Small round traditional styled line guides have always provided a level of resistance to line flow, and Daiwa addressed this with the introduction of the T-Wing System (TWS). Large and reducing line friction through the line guide during the cast, T-Wing increases casting distance, reduces casting effort, and improves overall casting performance.

The Tatula’s SV spool is another element that steps up casting performance, especially when it comes to light weights, with the SV (Super Versatile) Concept designed to deliver greater versatility in the weights that it can cast, particularly its ability to cast super light weights with greater ease and consistency.

Daiwa’s Magforce Z magnetic cast control system is a proven classic when it comes to casting control and adjustment, while the more recently released Zero Adjuster eliminates the need of having to also adjust a spool tension knob to get your baitcaster dialled in just right.

These four features (TWS, SV spool, Magforce Z, and Zero Adjuster) combine to make the Tatula 70 SV TW a dream to cast and fish with and an absolute joy to use when casting ultralight lures. Often in the past trying to throw light baits on a baitcaster was a recipe in frustration and back lashes, particularly when it was windy. With the new 70-size Tatula those frustrating days are long gone.

So Where Are We Going?

While finesse sized baitcasters a super fun to fish with, where and when you use them can be a little limiting compared to a 150, 200, or 300 size reel. Reels in this size (150 size plus) are the go-to for 90% or baitcaster users with bass, barra, cod and estuary anglers generally opting for this size. 

In my baitcaster line-up the 70 size Tatula is what I reach for my light baits, such as sub 55mm crankbaits/topwaters, sub 75mm jerkbaits, sub 1/8oz spinnerbaits/jigs/chatterbaits), and sub 1/6oz jighead soft plastics. Essentially when my lure gets under the 1/4oz (7gram) I’ll start to reach for my finesse baitcaster to throw it with.

Lures in this weight category in most cases are thrown with a spin outfit, but there are many times, and with many techniques, that a baitcaster is a better tool to do the job with. Skirted jigs, hardbaits thrown at structure, spinnerbaits and soft plastics cast underhand and slid under an overhanging tree are all places whether the ability to feather and control the cast make a baitcaster a better tool to do the job. Sliding and skipping a lure deep into a shaded pocket is do-able with both a spin and baitcaster, a baitcaster though gives you that added ability to easily regulate the line and stop your lure exactly where you want it.

My Tatula 70 gets used as one of my favourite river bass and sooty reels. Bream anglers are also starting to come onboard to using a baitcaster for fishing their Cranka Crabs around structure such as bridges and rock bars. The ability to easily click a baitcaster in and out of gear and take in and then release line often makes lift and drop presentations easier and more efficient than with a spin reel.

Finesse baitcasters in the past have often been limiting when it comes to spool capacity, the Tatula 70 is more generous and able to accommodate plenty of line. JDM bait finesse baitcasters often struggled to accommodate 100 metres of PE 1.0, the Tatula 70 thankfully isn’t one of those and will easily take a 150 yard spool of 10lb (PE 1.5) J-Braid Grand.

When it comes to selecting line for a baitcaster going thinner will allow to maximise the amount of line you can put on reel but there’s a line you don’t want to cross. For me PE 0.8 is the thinnest I’ll go, and I find if I go anything thinner than this then I start to get issues with the line digging in on the spool and if it does your line management really needs to be on-point to manage and minimise the problem. Honestly the returns of using ultra, ultra-thin line aren’t worth the hassles that come with it so I wouldn’t go any thinner than the afore mentioned PE 0.8. You’ll thank me for not doing so. 

Picking Sticks

While finesse baitcaster reels have been relatively easy to get your hands on, getting hold of a finesse baitcaster rods has been a different story. Things thankfully have improved over the last few years, and the Daiwa Australia rod range offers many options.

The Infeet range welcomed some baitcaster models in 2022 with the release of the, Infeet EX 701LFB, Infeet EX 722LRB, Infeet Z 702LRB, and Infeet Z 732LFB. Other rods in the Daiwa family that fit the finesse bill include the TD Zero 6102LFB, Rebellion 652LFB, 661MLRB and 631MLFB, and TD Black Baitlady 6101LFB and Skinnymini 641LRB.

I’ve been running a Rebellion 661MLRB and an old JDM Black Label 610LRB paired to my Tatula 70 and both are a dream to fish with. Both are getting plenty of use as my go-to baitcaster set-up when fishing for bass on the Upper Noosa River and the Tatula 70 is a reel that makes fishing small lures for bass incredibly easy. Small 40-60mm cranks and jerkbaits are my two go-to lure types with this outfit, with the sensitive nimble taper of the rods and the finesse casting capability of Tatula 70 making casting effortless.

Flat and underhanded casting is my preferred approach on the Noosa due to the abundance of overhanging vegetation and the lures roll effortlessly of the rod tip with limited effort required.

In My Hands

Strapped to a rod and in the hand the Tatula 70 is uber comfortable to hold. It’s one of the nicest reels to palm with its small profile fitting seamlessly in your hand. While impressive and comfortable when you first put it in your hands it’s when you put it to work that its impressive qualities kick into another gear.

While it’s often overlooking it’s when you first press the thumb bar to make a cast that you get your first indication of the quality of reel and the Tatula 70 has an assured and solid feel and sound to it thanks to the Hyper Tough Clutch.

The SV Spool shows its ability once you make that first cast with the line coming off the finesse focused spool with ease. The Zero Adjuster removes the need to adjust a spool tension knob to optimises casting performance meaning you only need to adjust the casting control dial to get the reel’s Magforce Z magnetic cast control system dialled in just right. Personal preference, conditions and lure type and size play a big role in choosing what you have your dial set at, my setting for the Tatula 70 was around the same as what I have most of baitcasters set at, which is 4-5.

Post cast and during the retrieve the Tatula is smooth and assured to fish, with the 90mm aluminium swept handle and I-shaped knobs balancing perfectly with the small profile reel and delivering plenty of cranking power, comfort, and control. The Zaion Star Drag blends perfectly with the handle assembly, enhancing looks and making drag adjustment effortless and only a finger’s reach away.

Long days on the water with a rod and reel in the hand is the ultimate test of comfort and performance and Tatula wins on both fronts with palming fatigue and soreness never an issue while reel function never skips a beat.

That’s a Wrap

Assessed purely as a baitcaster the Tatula 70 is one of the nicest and smoothest that I’ve fished with in a long time and as a finesse baitcaster it’s a reel that’s hard not to be impressed by. Fitting comfortably in the hand, balancing perfectly on a rod, and ticking so many boxes when it comes to performance and design the Tatula 70 is a dream to cast, smooth, strong, and quiet under load, and at its core is a reel that makes casting light lures effortless. This is a reel that I’ve certainly fallen in love with and one that I recommend for new and seasoned baitcaster users alike.