Why did Daiwa remove the Air Bail from the new LT spinning reels?

[The Rooster]

I’ve been fishing Daiwa Fuego and Exceler spinning reels for a few years now and love the design. Thought I’d get another one for a crappie rod. I knew they had updated the designs some but I’m seeing the new ones don’t have the air bail anymore. They’ve gone back to a wire. This seems like going backwards. Why would they do this? My $40 Pflueger has a wire bail. I would think at $110 for a Fuego it would have something nicer. I love the air bails on my older models. Looks like Sheel’s and Bass Pro Shops housebranded Daiwas still have it so I guess I’ll look at them. 

[FishTank]

Daiwa gives an explanation here. 

 

https://daiwa.us/products/23-fuego-lt

 

 

[The Rooster]

Thanks! That’s the answer I needed, and also didn’t need. Cause now, not only do I still need a crappie reel, but now after reading that I also need to sell my current bass fishing Daiwas and upgrade to the new ones, LOL! 😂 They said that change also helps make the handle easier to turn. It’s hard to imagine reels being any freer and smoother than the ones I have now though. Just this morning I was playing with them and noticing how slick they felt.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I think Daiwa makes a great reel, but IMO Shimano has better feeling bail, in terms of crisp articulation.  

[The Rooster]

I haven’t tried a Shimano in years. Had a Sedona and a Symetre once and thought they were really nice. I need to check out some of the new models. 

[Bigbox99]

Thats Daiwa US.  Don't believe anything they say.  They aren't real Daiwa.  They get whatever Daiwa Japan says they can have and they make up their own sales jargon without any real understanding of what was done and why.  Their hot take on Zaion being totally not plastic with carbon in it and actually carbon fiber is in direct opposition to what real Daiwa has been saying for over 10 years.  This is not to mention the time they got the description of Magforce Z completely backwards or when they stated that the 20 Tatula CT had Magforce (it has Magforce Z).  The changes where almost certainly made to save costs and/or move the Air Bail into an exclusive of their high end platforms.  Daiwa Japan mentions Air Bail as part of their Air Drive Concept so its probably the latter.  This may sound egregious but they have done things like this in the past.  We are only now getting back to aluminum frame, handle side plate and set plate with the Armed Housing Concept.  Something that you used to just get on bog standard Daiwas 20 years ago.  It's not just Daiwa.  A lot of this has been going on over the years with the removal of features sold to you as a new and improved.  

[JediAmoeba]

3 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

Thats Daiwa US.  Don't believe anything they say.  They aren't real Daiwa.  They get whatever Daiwa Japan says they can have and they make up their own sales jargon without any real understanding of what was done and why.  Their hot take on Zaion being totally not plastic with carbon in it and actually carbon fiber is in direct opposition to what real Daiwa has been saying for over 10 years.  This is not to mention the time they got the description of Magforce Z completely backwards or when they stated that the 20 Tatula CT had Magforce (it has Magforce Z).  The changes where almost certainly made to save costs and/or move the Air Bail into an exclusive of their high end platforms.  Daiwa Japan mentions Air Bail as part of their Air Drive Concept so its probably the latter.  This may sound egregious but they have done things like this in the past.  We are only now getting back to aluminum frame, handle side plate and set plate with the Armed Housing Concept.  Something that you used to just get on bog standard Daiwas 20 years ago.  It's not just Daiwa.  A lot of this has been going on over the years with the removal of features sold to you as a new and improved.  

 A lot of this is truth - look at their Tatula Spinning reels now - the newer MQ are heavier than the former LT. They moved some features to more expensive lines and they also removed the anti-reverse switch.