Expert Review: Daiwa Tatula Series Casting Rod

About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the fishing rod, which I tested for a month in April of 2022.

My take

The Daiwa Tatula Series Casting Rod is a sleek-looking flipping rod that every serious power fisherman should have in their arsenal. This rod is gear towards someone who wants a dedicated flipping rod. It’s not versatile, but it excels at what it is made for.

About the rod I tested

• Model: Takahiro Omori - Pitchin’
• Rod Length: 7’3”
• Rod Power: Heavy
• Rod Action: Fast
• Rod Pieces: 1 Piece
• Rod Material: Graphite

About me

• Preferred fishing style(s): Flipping and Pitching
• Experience: 15 years of fishing

Test conditions

• When I tested this rod: April 2022
• Reel paired with rod: Daiwa Tatula P/F
• Line paired rod: 50lb braided line
• Days tested: 50
• Waters I’ve used it on: Freshwater lakes and ponds
• Species targeted with rod: Largemouth bass

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was searching for a heavy power-pitching rod for bigger jigs and Texas rigs. I like to search for specific rods, especially in jig rods, so I was looking for a heavier backbone and more stout in comparison to my other jig rods. I have tried several other options from Daiwa, American Tackle, and even some personal custom rods.

Why I chose to test this gear

I was searching for a stronger jig rod to throw bigger jigs in heavier cover. I was looking at rods from other companies from Lews, Shimano, and Abu Garcia, but I have had good luck with Daiwa gear, so I wanted to test this rod series.

What I love about it

• Quality: This rod is built with very nice, mid-quality materials. The guides are made by Fuji. Their blank used is an SVF Nanoplus that increases sensitivity due to a higher carbon density.
• Durability: So far, this rod has held up very well to heavy baits, heavy line, and power fishing.
• Versatility: This rod works best for flipping and pitching heavy baits. This is a very stout rod, making it harder to control casting jigs. That stoutness helps though when using it how it was intended: flipping/pitching.
• Application: I used this rod throwing into the heaviest of cover. I am throwing bigger jigs into the heart of the cover attempting to get the bigger fish that many do not target.
• Ease of casting: When used for its purpose, this rod aids the angler to become a better flipper.
• Power: This is a heavy power with a line rating 14–30lbs and lure rating 3/16oz–1 1/12oz.
• Action: It is a stouter rod, but it still does bend like a fast action should. It does not have an Extra-Fast tip.
• Ideal casting distance: 3–15yd, this is great for close quarters flipping.
• Feel: For a stout rod, it still transmits sensitivity very well.
• Literal Weight: This rod is lighter in comparison to other companies in the realm of “pitching rods”.
• Length: This rod is a great length for pitching; at 7’3”, it is longer than a standard 7’, but it is not cumbersome in those 7’6”+ punching rods.
• Grip: I love the high-quality, dense, EVA grip. It feels great when wet. The grip feels nice and powerful for compact fishing.
• Aesthetics: It is a very slick looking rod with a shiny grey and metallic silver finish.
• Warranty: This rod comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Versatility: Being as stout as this rod is, specifically for flipping, it does not cast jigs the best.

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with this rod was flipping bushes and hanging trees. I flipped into the heart of one, my bait hit the bottom, and then my bait just got smashed. I set the hook and proceed to pull a four-pound bass in through this tree for five minutes.

Value for the money vs. other options

This rod is comparable to Shimano Expride and Lews KVD series as far as general build and price. Though I have never tested those products exactly for an A/B comparison.

Final verdict

This rod is a very niche rod for flipping and pitching. If a customer is searching for a specific flipping rod, it is a great rod at a mid-ranged price without getting to high-end products and prices.