Daiwa LT Spinning Reel Features

[Big Hands]

I recently updated pretty much all of my rod/reel combos in the last year. The first spinning reel I got is a Legalis LT 2500D-XH.

 

The nomenclature Daiwa uses is somewhat of a 'smart' numbering system, so each character means something. The LT is the newest iteration of many of their models that have used the same name for many years running. The 2500 is the reel size. The "D" stands for deep spool capacity, and the XH designates the 'extra high' speed gear ratio. 

 

After using the reel a few times, it helped me to decide what I liked and didn't like about the Legalis LT 2500D-XH. I liked the size for the type of combo I am using, I like the 'LT' (light yet tough) design, and I like the 'XH' gear ratio (6.2:1). What I didn't particularly care for was the 'D' (deep) spool capacity. I do not need 240 yards of 6 lb monofilament for any fishing that I do. 

 

So, the only LT 2500 reels that have the 'XH' 6.2:1 gear ratio AND the 160 yard (6 lb test mono) capacity in the Daiwa lineup are the Certate LT, and the Revros LT. One lists for $449 and the other lists for $49. The Certate LT is too rich for my blood, so I set my sights on the Revros LT 2500-XH and found them on sale at Scheels for $29, so I bought two. So far, I am pretty pleased with the way the Revros fishes, and The 160 yard spool capacity has been plenty.

 

I know that the spools are available and many will interchange between models.

 

Ideally, I would like to see them release a shallow spool LT 2500-XH; something with a line capacity of around 110-120 yards of 6 lb monofilament. Personally, I always liked having a trigger bail too so I can let bits of line out as a bait falls down a steep shoreline, but you just don't see those much anymore as I guess folks don't like that they only have one anti-reverse point per revolution of the handle. The Shimano Spirex was a contender for the feature set I was looking for, but I ultimately went with the Daiwa.

 

So, the topic of discussion here would be why did you choose the model of reel that you did, and what would you change if you could?

[PaulVE64]

I had the Pflueger President 3500 on a 7ft medium heavy fast. It only had about 10# of drag and about 33" of pickup. It was a good setup but was the ugly sister to a better combo I used primarily myself. So I let friends use it until my brother broke the reel seat and the tip of the rod (at the same time)

 

I replaced it with a President XT 3500 which is very similar but has 20# drag and 39" of pickup. I put it on a flipping stick and I don't let my brother near it.

 

PS - I also have a Revros LT 1000 on a light fast 7' rod. It took me a month to appreciate it fully. I appreciate tools that just work and you can forget your using them while your working with them.

 

[Tywithay]

I ordered my Tatula LT 2000S-XH and Certate LT 2500S from Japan, solely because I did not want the deep spool. I don't know why Daiwa feels like people need 200 yards of line, but it makes no sense to me. The Daiwa BG has a standard depth spool and it's made for saltwater...headscratcher there. I wish the shallow spool reels were more readily available, especially since a lot of guys use braid nowadays. Oh well, I guess it's easy enough to find a source.

[waymont]

1 hour ago, Tywithay said:

I ordered my Tatula LT 2000S-XH and Certate LT 2500S from Japan, solely because I did not want the deep spool. I don't know why Daiwa feels like people need 200 yards of line, but it makes no sense to me. The Daiwa BG has a standard depth spool and it's made for saltwater...headscratcher there. I wish the shallow spool reels were more readily available, especially since a lot of guys use braid nowadays. Oh well, I guess it's easy enough to find a source.

Did you know that the Tatula LT 3000 has a shallow spool version?

[JustJames]

I started with Legalis LT and see potential of Daiwa LT series and I was using Shimano Stradic CI4. Once I decided to go all in with spinning then I upgrade to Tatula LT 1000 and 2000. Then come the need of getting slower speed reel which Tatula LT doesn’t offer, So I order Ballistic FW LT 5.2 gear and for the benefit of Zaion Rotor (lighter and stiffer than Tatula LT material) and bigger spool size 2500S-C. In the meantime ordered another Exceler LT 2000 in slower gear ratio (again not available here). Just before Exceler arrived found a good deal on Kage LT 2000 and my baitmonkey told me “you have to have it” lol. 
Now my liking in Daiwa might not same as your guys, but that ATD drag is superb, especially for my light line fishing and of course the smoothness. I was in the same about shallow spool, it cool, it different but I don’t care for it that much. The shallow spool only save a few grams of weight compare to deep spool after backing and I’m talking almost 2/3 of mono backing. But with deep or standard spool you have option of using super line or mono line. Heck even with 2500S I still add almost 1/2 of backing since I use only 75 yds of 8lb nanofil. 

The thing I wanna see more from Daiwa, more options of gear ratio 4.8 and 5.2 in different size, counter balance rotor like shimano and a true 500 size reel. 

[Tywithay]

48 minutes ago, waymont said:

Did you know that the Tatula LT 3000 has a shallow spool version?

The Tatula 3000 has a standard spool option, not shallow. It still holds about 80 more yards than I'd ever want, or need. Not too keen on the T-knob that comes on the 3000 models either. 

[Nibbles]

14 hours ago, Big Hands said:

So, the only LT 2500 reels that have the 'XH' 6.2:1 gear ratio AND the 160 yard (6 lb test mono) capacity in the Daiwa lineup are the Certate LT, and the Revros LT. One lists for $449 and the other lists for $49. The Certate LT is too rich for my blood, so I set my sights on the Revros LT 2500-XH and found them on sale at Scheels for $29, so I bought two. So far, I am pretty pleased with the way the Revros fishes, and The 160 yard spool capacity has been plenty.

 

Don't forget about the Luvias LT

 

https://fishing.asian-portal.shop/category/select/pid/301310

 

This one seems to satisfy most of your requirements:

• 6.2 gear ratio, 93cm (36.6 in) IPT
• 150m (164yds) 6# line capacity, far less than 240 yds
• Priced in between $49 and $449
• Daiwa LT model

If you want a shallower spool, you can always wait for the FC 2500S-XH to be back in stock: https://fishing.asian-portal.shop/category/select/pid/300974

 

I ordered both the FC 2500S-XH and the FC 2000S-XH from them and they both arrived in 4 days with no issue.

 

If you'd rather wait for the FC 2000S-XH to be back in stock, watch this one instead: https://fishing.asian-portal.shop/category/select/pid/300972

[waymont]

4 hours ago, Tywithay said:

The Tatula 3000 has a standard spool option, not shallow. It still holds about 80 more yards than I'd ever want, or need. Not too keen on the T-knob that comes on the 3000 models either.

The shallow Tatula LT 3000 model number is TALT3000-CXH, it holds the same amount of line as the 2000 but with a larger diameter spool that is shallow. The reel with the deeper spool is the TALT3000D-CXH the "D" stands for deep.

[Tywithay]

52 minutes ago, waymont said:

The shallow Tatula LT 3000 model number is TALT3000-CXH, it holds the same amount of line as the 2000 but with a larger diameter spool that is shallow. The reel with the deeper spool is the TALT3000D-CXH the "D" stands for deep.

D is indeed deep. Shallow spools are labeled with an "S." The 3000 is just a standard depth Daiwa spool that holds 160 of 8lb line. By comparison, a 2500S holds 100 yards of 6lb line and a 2000S holds 100 yards of 4lb line. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I use backing on nearly every reel anyway so the deep spool isn’t really a factor. 

[JustJames]

@waymonti understand that you confused, Daiwa always come up with something that hard to understand lol. 
The one with D is deep spool which normally not a lot using it. The no letter is just standard (most of shimano spool) but shallower than D, then S even shallower and SS is the shallowest of them all, confusing? Yup. Picture shown, shallow standard and last deep.

[waymont]

2 hours ago, Tywithay said:

D is indeed deep. Shallow spools are labeled with an "S." The 3000 is just a standard depth Daiwa spool that holds 160 of 8lb line. By comparison, a 2500S holds 100 yards of 6lb line and a 2000S holds 100 yards of 4lb line. 

Are you talking about import versions of these reels? I never noticed the way Daiwa delineates there spools other than the "D" I see now that the 2000 LT has a "D" and the 3000 doesn't have a "D", That's why they hold the same amount of line. I agree that Daiwa gives their reel too much line capacity. I guess I should have said "shallower" instead of shallow.  Thanks.

 

I see these JDM versions have a much shallower spool. Looks good.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-JDM-Daiwa-Tatula-Spinning-LT-2500S-Zaion-light-weight-japan/402331385423?hash=item5dacd1be4f:g:k1cAAOSwm7VfEw1d