Daiwa Exceler LT or BG

[Lil fat guy]

I'm looking for help choosing between a Daiwa exceler LT 2500 and a Daiwa BG 2000.  It will be going on a dobyns 702SF.  I only fish freshwater and this rig to dropshot bass.  I had planned on the exceler lt but you always hear so many good things about the Daiwa BGs.   I've never held a BG so I don't know what they're like.  Is it mainly a saltwater reel like it's advertised? Have any of y'all used both? I have a buddy trying to talk me into a lews so that's probably the only other brand I'd consider.  I'm not even sure what they'd have to compare.  I've been a Daiwa guy for a while, it's usually with baitcasters though.  I don't know as much about spinning reels.  I would appreciate any advice!  Thanks! 

[optimator]

I recently picked up a BG 2500. I liked it enough that it passed up my Sahara. I have an older model Exceler 1500 that is also a fantastic reel. But I'll replace it with a BG 1500 as well as soon as I see one for the right price. 

[new2BC4bass]

I hope the BG isn't just for saltwater cuz I got the 1500 to put on my new-2-me Benkei finesse rod.    Got it over the winter for about $75 if I remember correctly.  A good enough price for you optimator?

[Tywithay]

5 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I hope the BG isn't just for saltwater cuz I got the 1500 to put on my new-2-me Benkei finesse rod.    Got it over the winter for about $75 if I remember correctly.  A good enough price for you optimator?

I just bought a 2nd one today for $64.34 with an ebay code. 

 

No reel is "just for saltwater." Some may be better suited, but I assure you the reel won't know the difference. 

[new2BC4bass]

3 minutes ago, Tywithay said:

I just bought a 2nd one today for $64.34 with an ebay code. 

 

No reel is "just for saltwater." Some may be better suited, but I assure you the reel won't know the difference. 

Very nice! 

[Lil fat guy]

5 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I hope the BG isn't just for saltwater cuz I got the 1500 to put on my new-2-me Benkei finesse rod.    Got it over the winter for about $75 if I remember correctly.  A good enough price for you optimator?

I should have phrased that better haha!  I just thought maybe some people might be selecting this reel over others because you could use it in saltwater.  It really sounds like the BG is just the way to go no matter where your fishing.  

[optimator]

5 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I hope the BG isn't just for saltwater cuz I got the 1500 to put on my new-2-me Benkei finesse rod.    Got it over the winter for about $75 if I remember correctly.  A good enough price for you optimator?

$75 is about the going price. They get to the $60 ish range on Amazon & eBay. I'm in no hurry, my Excelor is still chugging right along. 

[Armtx77]

1500 BG owner here as well. Mine is hooked into a Fenwick HMG 7' ML-F.

 

I bought a second 1500 BG about two weeks ago. So, Im biased, but have no issues saying it is a solid reel for 75-90 bucks.

 

It is not a Ci4 at any level, but I have a couple hundred fish on it and it does what I need.

[Darren.]

2 hours ago, Lil fat guy said:

I should have phrased that better haha!  I just thought maybe some people might be selecting this reel over others because you could use it in saltwater.  It really sounds like the BG is just the way to go no matter where your fishing.  

This is what I look for in reels given I live with both

fresh and salt water fisheries. Though I only recently

started fishing salt, because I live here, I chose to

buy Shimano Stradics (and a couple other models and

brands over the years).

 

Had a Daiwa Lexa 2000 in the mix for the same reason.

 

So big respect for Daiwa and Shimano.

 

FWIW, you can take any reel into salt fishing, just needs

extra TLC to keep it in good shape.

Edited April 26, 2018 by Darren.
spelling correction

[OnthePotomac]

I have the Excelar 2500 I picked up 5 years ago on a.....forgot how to use English's special buy sale and have really enjoyed the reel.  It has only had 8lb mono on it, but has hauled some husky bass from the grass beds.  I service it myself once a year.  Shortly after I picked up a Diawa Capricorn 2500, which is basically is the same reel.

[timsford]

I'd check the auction site and see what deals can be had. I'd recommend the procyon. It was recently discontinued but i got mine for the same price that the bg retails for. It has an aluminum frame and is much more refined than the bg

[PatrickKnight]

My BG 2500 is on par with my Stradic FK 3000. Given the choice again I would own 3x BGs and no Stradic.

[Boomstick]

On ‎4‎/‎26‎/‎2018 at 7:10 AM, new2BC4bass said:

I hope the BG isn't just for saltwater cuz I got the 1500 to put on my new-2-me Benkei finesse rod.    Got it over the winter for about $75 if I remember correctly.  A good enough price for you optimator?

The smaller BG models were designed with the idea of freshwater and the larger ones for saltwater (or larger fish like catfish).

 

I got a BG 2000 size over the winter for finesse fishing. I think I paid $40 or $45 after all my amazon gift cards and rewards points. Feels like a very solid reel and it has a nice larger diameter spool as well.