Daiwa BG Spinning Reels Review: What are the Pros and Cons?

Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reels are so smooth with digitally cut gears and seven ball bearings. Daiwa BG has been redesigned; lately, these reels are now extremely powerful yet priced just right. There’s a size for your every fishing need, whether it’s inshore, offshore, or shark fishing. The next generation of the ever-popular Daiwa BG Saltwater Spinning Reels spinning reel series just got leaner and meaner. This complete series ranges from ultralight freshwater actions to heavy big game saltwater models.

Feature Details: Latest Daiwa BG TECHNOLOGY Used in This Reel

This is a wonderful reel. I’ve owned a Daiwa reel for over a year now, and it’s still silky smooth. It’s taken numerous dunks under the water in the surf and been dropped many times in the lakes and creeks surrounding my neighborhood. After some fair self-servicing and cleaning, it’s as smooth as the day I bought it. The only complaint I have is the line roller bushing, and it’s worn thin. I wish it was a bearing instead. So let’s check out the features-

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Black Anodized Machined Aluminum Housing (“Hard Bodyz” Body & Side Cover)

Daiwa BG is equipped with a machined aluminum body and body cover, providing strength and internal part stability. To increase the strength in the form of corrosion and scratch resistance, Daiwa has Black Anodized the body and body cover. The anodization process allows for better adhesion to the aluminum and will not chip or peel like a painted surface, extending the brilliant look of the BG spinning series.
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OVER-SIZED DIGIGEAR™ (DIGIGEAR™ SYSTEM)

Daiwa BG spinning series have integrated the largest drive gear in the history of Daiwa spinning reels. The benefit of having this oversized gear increases gear-tooth contact points, and this provides smoother and extended gear life as well as more power and increased torque.

Solid Screw-In Handle

Daiwa’s Screw-in-Handle design provides zero movements or play between the main gear and handle arm. This lack of movement offers the angler both confidence and control when rotating the handle.

AIR ROTOR

The Air Rotor weighs up to 15% less than ordinary rotor designs. Its unique shape reduces unnecessary weight while distributing stress more evenly throughout the rotor for maximum strength.

ABS SPOOL

The ABS spool’s maximized core diameter and reversed taper mean 100% usable line. No “dead” line is buried in a deep core. You can fill it with a line right up to the edge of the spool lip without fear of tangles. ABS cause less casting friction for longer and easier casting. The huge spool diameter line flows freely in larger coils and produces less line memory coil. Smaller spool diameter means line flows in tighter coils as well.

Quick Overview at a Glance:

• Black Anodized Machined Aluminum Housing (“Hard Bodyz” Body & Side Cover)
• Over-sized Digigear (Digigear™ System)
• Solid Screw-In Handle
• Air Rotor
• Dynamic Cut Aluminum ABS Spool
• Braided Line Ready Spool
• Waterproof Drag System
• Carbon ATD
• Machined Aluminum Screw In Handle
• Manual Return Bail (4500 and Larger)
• 6BB+1RB
• Infinite Anti-Reverse System (4000 and Smaller)
• Infinite Dual Anti-Reverse System (4500 and Larger)
• BG Series 4500 and Above Have A Manual Trip Bail for Durability

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My Personal Review on Daiwa BG Spinning Reels

Great for the price

I got the 4000 series so I can get ready for striped bass in April. paired it with a st Croix medium heavy 7.5 foot rod with power pro 20lb test or even 30lb would work. nice balance though they run a little bigger than other reels. I think its because of the wide gears it has which are made for power fights. doesn’t deserve someone giving it 3 star just so they can ask a question. take that somewhere else like an email! ya I might be a Daiwa and St. Croix fan boy. so?

This is my first ever review on anything. I had to make this statement about my Daiwa BG spinning reel. I have two other brands of spinning reels. They both are great brands Shimano and Quantum. All the reels I purchase are priced at 99.99 -129.99. I paid only $99.99 for the Daiwa BG, which was a steal compared to how smooth this reel cast, and the big knob on the retrieve made it that much easier. Honestly, I didn’t like the feel of the big knob when I tried it out at the store, but it is great.

Fantastic Reel

This is an amazing reel, especially in this price range. You have to pay twice as much from competitors to get what you do with the Daiwa BG. I know this because it performs just as well, if not better, than my ShimanoStradic. Disregard the 3-star review from a guy who doesn’t even own one…..he just can’t find the size he wants.
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This pushes the high-end reel market without breaking the bank. You really cannot go wrong by adding this reel to your arsenal.

The only Reel I truly trust

I bought my first BG by accident when I first started surf fishing. Went with the 8000 and man does it have the power and line capacity. I’ve dunked it in the water and dropped it many times, on rocks and sand. And it’s still smooth as always. I now own the 8000, 2-5000, and one 2500. All of them are perfect, even the 2500 slapped big catfish and gar around.

Smooth in both inshore and offshore

I bought this reel after my penn reel gave out on me after only 2 years of use. I have 2 of the old BGs and I love them so I figured I would by the new one and see how it was. Turns out the reel is better and smoother than the older BGs. I 100% recommend this reel for inshore and offshore fishing I have the 3000 and I use it for inshore and offshore with 15 powerpro. I would buy another one without thinking twice about it.

Saltwater Compatible

Just bought my second 2500 this year to add to my older Gold 15 and Black Gold 13, which still work exceptionally well. These newer BG’s also have a very smooth retrieve and drag system. They have proven to be tremendous spinning reels in ,fresh or saltwater, and a honest-to-God value at their most reasonable pricepoint.

Outstanding Reel

Bought the 2500 about a year ago as a general purpose reel for freshwater that I could take to the coast as well. Chose it over similarly priced options from Penn, and several on the “freshwater” side of the counter. Have been impressed since day one. I’ve since added a pair of 2000’s to my rod locker, with more coming in the future. I’m replacing pretty much all of my current spinning reels with Daiwa BG’s. Line lay is perfect with braid and fluoro, it handles both very well, the drag is butter smooth.
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The attached photo is a 23.5″ largemouth taken with a 2000 size Daiwa BG spooled with 6lb Sniper. The reel was flawless all the way through the fight, absorbing multiple strong runs smoothly and gaining line with every turn of the handle. I headed to the coast for some inshore fishing in a few weeks and looking forward to giving these a workout down there. If you’re looking for a reel in the $100 range and aren’t considering this one, you’re making a bad mistake. Believe the hype, Daiwa has produced a real winner here.

Highly Recommend!

Bought the 2500 just before Xmas to use on my Lew’s 7′ Medium action rod. Wanted to use reel for a while before I reviewed. The reel is just as advertised. It is extremely smooth, casts great with plenty of drag, I spooled 20# Power Pro braid on without backing because of rubber insert and it works great. In the past I have mainly gone with my two bait casters and steered away from my spinning rod but now I find myself taking one of each with me and am using the spinning combo more & more mainly because of the BG reel. I’m actually thinking of getting either a 1500 or 2000 for light weight applications. I definitely recommend this reel. Once you try it you will love it.

Crushes the Competition

Best $100.00 reel on the market, period! Well built, solid, you can feel it. Top-of-the-line bearings, smooth drag. The machined handle threads in and zero play between the handle and reel body, with no back and forth between the handle and the handle knob. I’ve been a Shimano guy for years, but they have nothing near this good unless it’s 2-3 times the price. I never thought I’d say it, but it’s true.

Setbacks I Experienced: Not the Reel Fishermen praised for many years

I fish 8 days a week. So I have reels from ever manufacture. I was excited to see the new Daiwa BG come out after all these years of watching people praise the old Daiwa BGs. So I bought a 4500 to use for jig fishing at night for snook and tarpon. Usually I would use a 60 or 6000 but Daiwa makes an oversized 4500 so I tried it. Retrieving the jig (1.5 ounce) I could feel wobble as if I was working a chatter bait or a crank bait. I called some of the best in the business and all of us were baffled.

What it turned out to be was the piece that holds the line roller bearing is plastic and was flexing every time the rotor spins. Still hooked up on a couple fish and the drag was very sticky with some pressure on it even though I never lock down the drag. I was very disappointed and it turned me off to buying the Daiwa Saltist that was thinking of buying. Manufacturers need to stop trying to save weight everywhere and let people cry about weight but still have a solid reel.

Final Thoughts

The spinning reel is beautifully made and meticulously arranged with all moving components. Long-distance casting is so easy, and retrieving my bg 4000 reel has the feel of knifing in butter. The handle knob is exactly what I wanted. Click sound is not that loud but sweet. Presently I am using this reel with Fenwick Methods Travel Rod without any problem and am very satisfied… Thanks to TD for delivering the reel safely on time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What size will Daiwa BG handle yellow and blackfin tuna?

Answer: The Daiwa BG6500 would be your best bet for the yellowfin and blackfin tuna.

Question: Is the Daiwa BG4500 handle knob riveted or Philips screw?

Answer: The knob is riveted.

Question: Do you know where I could find a round handle knob for the Daiwa BG8000?

Answer: You may be able to order one straight from Daiwa.

Question: How many lines do you think a Diawa BG5000 could hold if I use a 25lbs mono line?

Answer: I would ESTIMATE somewhere around 180 yards.