Daiwa Lexa 100 Input Needed

[rippin-lips]

Ok so I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger on a lexa 100. I've looked for reviews but there aren't many and a handful are negative. I can pick one up for $109 bnib. I can get a tournament pro for $135 which all I own is Lews reels because they are great for the $. So I know exactly what I'm getting since I already own 3 Tp's. I just have this feeling it can't be that great of a reel, especially since its $109 now. I'm thinking of demoing one from TW first. What I'm asking for is input from people who actually own this reel and own or have used a TP. What are your thoughts on the two in a head to head. Thanks in advance BR

[RyneB]

dont hesitate. I love mine. I have all Abus, a curado (recently sold). I would trade in all my Revo Ss for Lexas if i could. My favorite reel is my Gen 2 Premier, followed by my MGX, then the Lexa. It is my first Daiwa, so maybe im just blinded by the name. But i went into it trying to find anything wrong with it. I would go as far as saying if it wasnt for the weight difference, i would prefer it over the MGX. It is one of the smoothest casting reels i have ever had the pleasure of using. I put a carbon fiber handle on it with EVA foam knobs and put it on a Rage rod. It is a combo that is very very fun to fish. Looks awesome too.

[rippin-lips]

What are you using it for? I'm planning on weightless senkos,flukes,wacky worms. Maybe with a small amount of weight at times. Weighted swim bait hooks,tungsten wacky weights, tungsten bullet weights 1/16- 1/4

[Crookedneck]

I don't own one but, I was looking at one last week.   I handled that and a Lew's TP.  I did not like the Lexa as much.  It wasn't bad, it just didn't seem as smooth as the Lews.  I have not fished either, I am shopping too.  Do you have anywhere close you can pick one up and mess around with?

[rippin-lips]

No the closet bps or cabelas is 2hrs away. There's a gander mtn an hour away.

[RyneB]

What are you using it for? I'm planning on weightless senkos,flukes,wacky worms. Maybe with a small amount of weight at times. Weighted swim bait hooks,tungsten wacky weights, tungsten bullet weights 1/16- 1/4

I have it on a 7-4 heavy Rage rod with 15lb Seaguar red label. So it is used for heavier presentations. But i know for a fact there are a few guys on here who use it as a finesse setup. I have never fished a Lews so i cant compare. But im pretty sure that you would not be dissapointed. Like i said, i went into it wanting to hate it (im an abu guy) and i am so impressed that i will be working on switching my S's to Lexas. If you get one and dont like it, i would be willing to give you $100 as long as its a right hand reel and you ship it for free. Or work on a trade with one of my Gen 1 revo Ss

[rippin-lips]

It'll be a lefty or that would almost be a reason to buy one haha

[RyneB]

It'll be a lefty or that would almost be a reason to buy one haha

bummer. I hope some of the other Lexa owners jump in. We are few, but i have yet to see anyone who owned one not like it. DarrenM was one of the first on here to write a report. I talked to him and he told me it was a great reel. Im glad i took his advice.

[rippin-lips]

Yeah me too. I've seen a few of his posts pushing it pretty hard but that's about the only one. Like I said I own all Lews reels and there are 1,000 posts or more from people who love them so you can't really go wrong with a tournament pro. I know jdm Daiwa stuff has a great following. I'll probably demo 1 first before a but it.

[lmbfisherman]

I own two, but can't compare how good they are vs the Lew's you were looking at.  I have been able to practice casting with it and it seems pretty smooth and it reels pretty well.  I definitely think it's worth getting at that price, not sure if I'd pay full price (yet) as I haven't been able to use it on the water just purchased them last week.  I also like the profile, as I don't have big hands..it was pretty comfortable palming it.  

 

There is one thing I noticed, I think it was posted by someone on the board already, but the Lexa has an issue with the latest Shimano reel seats.  Basically, I wouldn't recommend using them on those rods.  It wasn't just Shimano though, I was testing it on a St. Croix Triumph I have and it barely was able to fit, but it wasn't a big issue just had a adjust a little and it was ok. Did have a problem on my Avids though, on both rods it balanced very well.  That is my only complaint about the reel so far.  I bought both of mine at a very good price, one under 90 the other under 80. 

[jhoffman]

The lexa is only $109 at a few places. Most places it retails $140

[Intruder 150]

I have 3 Lexa 100PL I use for cranks and I love them, great reels.....And they fit the reel seats fine on my Avids.

[21farms]

i spent a lot of time on the water with mine this week on two fishing trips. i have the low-speed version and i was throwing #7 balsa shad raps with it. so far, i'm really impressed. it really does cast light lures pretty well. what's more, it is smooth. i really like the 90mm handle (why don't more companies use 90mm handles??? 80mm is way too short, 85mm is okay but 95mm is kinda long...90mm is perfect) and how easy it is to thread line from the spool out the line guide because of the elongated shape (if you have revos, you know how difficult that can be in low light a full spool). i only wish it were a little lighter and the design of the sideplate were a little sexier.

[Darren.]

I'm here!

 

Paired it up with a 6'6" St. Croix Premier, M/F stick.

 

Using 20 lb braid mainline, leaders of various materials and pound tests.

 

Zero problems. Every time I have it out I feel better about the purchase. Love the reel.

 

What are you using it for? I'm planning on weightless senkos,flukes,wacky worms. Maybe with a small amount of weight at times. Weighted swim bait hooks,tungsten wacky weights, tungsten bullet weights 1/16- 1/4

 

 

I use mine for throwing weightless senkos, light to heavy TX rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits, etc. Nothing here is really outside of the possibility, providing your line and rod are capable. Not sure I'd do a MH to throw the weightless stuff unless the rod loads up well. I've never owned a BC reel before that hardly ever backlashes. And when I say backlash for the Lexa, it's not bad at all.

[bass1980]

If you can get a TP for $135 then look no further. I have a Lexa and have handled a TP. I don't think they are in the same league and is not fair to evaluate the Lexa to the TP. The Lexa does cast light stuff pretty well and smooth. However it is not as smooth on the retrieve as the TP, but anything under $200 will be hard to beat the TP in smoothness.

 

Overall the Lexa has had a really good reviews from users. I think they are pushing the Lexa hard to be a player in the Curado, Citica, Revo SX, S, Quantum Energy, and Lews MG market. Daiwa's bread and butter reels are $300 plus. They finally got a reel under $200 that is respectable IMO.

[RyneB]

If you can get a TP for $135 then look no further. I have a Lexa and have handled a TP. I don't think they are in the same league and is not fair to evaluate the Lexa to the TP. The Lexa does cast light stuff pretty well and smooth. However it is not as smooth on the retrieve as the TP, but anything under $200 will be hard to beat the TP in smoothness.

 

Overall the Lexa has had a really good reviews from users. I think they are pushing the Lexa hard to be a player in the Curado, Citica, Revo SX, S, Quantum Energy, and Lews MG market. Daiwa's bread and butter reels are $300 plus. They finally got a reel under $200 that is respectable IMO.

Really? I have to own a Lews TP then. My gen 2 Premier that is super tuned and upgraded Abec 7 bearings isnt that much smoother than my bone stock Lexa. Is the TP a smoother caster than the Lexa? Thats where i feel the Lexa shines compared to the Revo Ss. The TP must be a great reel for someone to say the Lexa isnt in the same league.

[ghost]

I bought one a couple weeks ago and I can tell you it`s a really good reel to use. Fits the hand nicely and did not have any backlash.

I had the RevoS 3rd gen and did not like the braking system or how low the main gear sat, it intruded with how I held the reel and rod.

Had no problem dialing it in and getting long casts. I use mine for all techs

[bass1980]

Unless I got a bad reel from a bad batch, yes IMO the TP is a notch above the Lexa. I'm not braise towards any brands, in fact I'm really just beginning to use baitcaster a lot. However with many friends I have the opportunity to try out various reels for the day. For me I have relatively small hands so the Lews just felt better to palm and its 1.3 oz lighter. It really is a smooth reel right out of the box. Don't get me wrong, the Lexa felt great too.

[Hooligan]

Dollar for dollar I think the Lexa is one of the better built reels out there. I'm extremely happy with the Lexa reels that I've purchased and tested. They're well built, have excellent components and this far have performed quite solidly.

I'm willing to say that the Lexa actually outperforms the TP under most circumstances. It handles lighter baits better in my experience. The drag is also much more reliable on the Lexa.

[rippin-lips]

Do you own a TP hooligan? I've never had any drag issues on mine. Lexa seems like a solid reel but the majority are saying it won't compare to a TP.

[Bass Junkie]

I was as to handle a Lexa recently. It was smooth, and very solid. I loved the handle, although the knobs might take a little getting used to. I am not interested in purchasing one for three specific reasons:

1. The spool shaft is a solid, through frame design. While this is not a end-all for me, I don't like the fact that it was in an $140 reel.

2. The fixed inductor. I prefer the standard, mobile inductor. It tends to handle lighter weights better, as long as the angler has an educated thumb.

3. The lack of a spool-supporting bearing in the handle side plate. Especially on a spool shaft through design, I'd really like to see a bearing there.

I also did not like how the star drag was designed. It is similar to those on the Sol/Alphas platform, and too thin. Not that it is susceptible to bending, but it tends to dig into your fingers every time you adjust it. I much would have preferred a thicker star drag. For the MSRP, I feel Daiwa could have done slightly better, but it is probably the best $140 reel made in the last few years. I do think it will be around for a while though, and that Shimano is in trouble if they think they can compete with the current Curado....

[lmbfisherman]

I was as to handle a Lexa recently. It was smooth, and very solid. I loved the handle, although the knobs might take a little getting used to. I am not interested in purchasing one for three specific reasons:

1. The spool shaft is a solid, through frame design. While this is not a end-all for me, I don't like the fact that it was in an $140 reel.

2. The fixed inductor. I prefer the standard, mobile inductor. It tends to handle lighter weights better, as long as the angler has an educated thumb.

3. The lack of a spool-supporting bearing in the handle side plate. Especially on a spool shaft through design, I'd really like to see a bearing there.

I also did not like how the star drag was designed. It is similar to those on the Sol/Alphas platform, and too thin. Not that it is susceptible to bending, but it tends to dig into your fingers every time you adjust it. I much would have preferred a thicker star drag. For the MSRP, I feel Daiwa could have done slightly better, but it is probably the best $140 reel made in the last few years. I do think it will be around for a while though, and that Shimano is in trouble if they think they can compete with the current Curado....

I think you hit it right on the head.  I think this reel is a foot in the door to compete against the Curado line.  Especially the price point, just under the normal 159 usually asked for the Curado.  You can actually get the Lexa 100 regular price if you look around below the 139 mark.  Sail has the Lexa 100 at 119, it didn't say it was a sale price either.  Good competition imo is good for us consumers.  I'll probably get more of these reels if the ones I bought impress me on the water (I haven't tested mine on water, but feels well good in my hand).  To replace my Quantum Energy PT and CU200.  Good reels, but they just don't feel as comfortable with them as my other reels. 

[0119]

See what I meant Darren?  You cant give a reel review here.  Too many brand militia's come out of the wood work.  They will fight to the death to convince themselves that the reel they bought is the worlds only choice.

[Darren.]

See what I meant Darren?  You cant give a reel review here.  Too many brand militia's come out of the wood work.  They will fight to the death to convince themselves that the reel they bought is the worlds only choice.

Yeah... Loud n' clear. I may still give it a go, though! LOL.

[rippin-lips]

I agree with 0119 in a way. Mainly seems that way with Shimano fans but not really everyone else. I've handled-bought-fished a handful of companies but never a Daiwa. Was going to buy a zillion at a local tackle shop that someone ordered and never picked up. So all I had to do was pay the stores cost but it sold already. The Lews Tp is a $300 reel with a $150 price tag on it. So I'm hard pressed to buy something for $100 that seems to have a handful of negatives about it but I'm also willing to try it out if enough people can convince me it's really worth it.