TackleTour

Hey Guy's,

Been gone from here for a bit but thought I might jump back on an review a few reels I have picked up in the last year for my high end ultra light addiction....Bought a new Daiwa Exist LT FC 1000S for pairing with my favorite UL crappie rod the G. Loomis TSR 801-2 GLX. Reel has been used to catch, trout, crappie and yellow perch thus far. Spooled with 3lb Berkley Fireline crystal and 4lb vanish fluro as a leader it has cast both 1/32oz and 1/16oz jig heads and plastic tails no problem. The reel is butter smooth and the drag is amazing....Biggest fish though has been a 3lb Rainbow Trout....

2nd newer reel is almost a year old and it is the current version of the Daiwa Luvias 1003. Again a truly epic little reel, same line and leader setup but this is paired with a G. Loomis SR842-2 GLX rod for slightly heavier ultra light fishing, helps when the bass bite and the odd Walleye too. Reel is very smooth and drag is pretty much spot on... Mag seal is a bit tighter than previous models that came before without it, but I have grown used to it and would recommend this reel to anyone looking for a higher end ultra light / light trout or panfish reel. I would say in my opinion just slightly ahead of the Shimano Stradic CI4 1000. I prefer the air bail on the daiwa and the general shape and handling.... I have used one each of the three previous versions of the JDM 1003 and all have been good.

Lastly is the new Daiwa Caldia LT 1003S. A new entry in the 1003 size market for Daiwa JDM. Same basic body shape and BB count as the new Tatula....Price point on the Caldia was $180.....Reel is smooth, drag is very, very good. Landed some larger than average crappies on it yesterday and was very impressed......It is not a $500 reel like the Exist, but it is pretty close to the Luvias 1003. Either one would make a great panfish or trout reel when paired with a higher end rod. I am down for any questions of course.......

Ranger 619VS

Really appreciate the review. I think maybe the Luvias are discontinued, not sure but there may be some great auction site deals if they are. Buying a good spinning real would be hard right now as there are many good one out there.

timinmo,


I know they are available still in Japan. I don't know if Daiwa USA stopped bringing them in. I really hope they did not. THey need to keep a few mid to high end UL reels in the stable for die hard ultra light panfish and trout anglers.......



Ranger 619VS/Brian

Daiwa removed the MAP for them not too long ago. I don't know off hand what the letters stand for but basically it is the price retailers agree to sell them at. Normally that is only done when a model is discontinued. I just brought it up because it usually means there are some deals to had.

Awesome equipment, and I have always enjoyed Fireline. Caught one of my better bass at night by accident on 6lb while panfishing. My question is how are you using Berkley Vanish with those amazing setups??? haha, just joking with you, but I've honestly only had the WORST of luck with that fluorocarbon...

How do you like the slower speed for UL fishing? It bothers me that the higher end 1000s aren't normally available in higher speed ratios...

I slow roll plastics like 90% of the time amd love those gear ratios....Truthfully I have never felt like the ratio was too slow. My regular fishing partner formerly fished with Stradic's with a faster ratio and he swore I got bit more cause of the slower ratio reels from Daiwa I use.....He ended up selling all his Shimano reels and replaced them with Daiwa Certates......As for the vanish, I have used it for leader material for years and years both on my ultra lights and bass spinning setups and never had an issue
...Just.works for me.

Ranger 619VS/Brian

timinmo wrote:Daiwa removed the MAP for them not too long ago.

If I'm not mistaken, MAP is Minimum Advertised Price...

I imagine you are right. All I know is it usually means the end of a model or at least a major revamp.

I read that the new Exist LT FC JDM models don't come with the full Mag Seal, the FC model excludes the Mag Seal line roller and both Mag Seal side plates.

I switched to Daiwa this past year. The Luvias 1003 is a fine reel, I prefer the body design and air bail over my Shimano reels of the past.

JB,


I made the switch in 2005 when the first Exist 1003 was offered, I then purchased a 1003H native custom. I have one each of the 2012 1003 and a 2015 1025 models. The current 1000S is amazing feat of engineering. That being said I have multiple 1003 Luvias and 2004 Luvias reels from all three versions, the 2007, 2012 and the current 2015 model years. In my opinion best value for the money in Daiwa's JDM lineup. I love them matched up to my favorite 6'8 through 7'2 ultra light and light rods for crappie, panfish and trout......
JB if you can PM me what part of the SC you are in? My oldest daughter is starting Coastal Carolina University in August and would like to know if there is any great fishing in the immediate area..


Ranger 619VS/Brian

I sent a PM, I live in the Upstate. Coastal is a great school.

I have a Presso 1025 mounted on a Presso AGS 54 XUL. Nice little outfit for bluegills, crappie, or trout.

Tmeng wrote:I read that the new Exist LT FC JDM models don't come with the full Mag Seal, the FC model excludes the Mag Seal line roller and both Mag Seal side plates.

Where did you get this info?

How are you liking the exist now?

Contemplating the fc 1000 or the stella 1k sss

That Caldia LT looks sweet...