2022 Exist

[BlackMarlin]

While waiting for my new rod to arrive, I need to decide on a reel and would appreciate your input on it.

The rod is G-Craft Midnight Jetty LIMITED MJSL-952-TR made in a limited run of 350 pieces.
It will be used for seabass fishing with soft plastics and minnows from 9/32oz to 27/32oz on PE0.8 braid. Targeted seabass varies in size from 3lbs to 10lbs, even 15lbs but rare.

Since I will get a JDM reel my first thought was Exist PC LT3000-XH, but I never owned Exist before (only Certate for me).

So some questions started to come up.
1. Does that model share same body with 4000 size (like certate)?

2. How sturdy is Exist's body compared to Certate? Did someone experience body flex on 3000/4000 sizes under high drag or strong fighting fish? At what point we can see benefits of aluminum body of certate in 4000 size vs Exist?

3. How much bigger in physical dimensions is 4000 to 3000 size, maybe someone has spool diameter numbers?

4. Airity 2023 is just announced. Should this reel also be considered?

Btw, I live in a metric part of the world so I apologize if I messed some conversions

[reason162]

Targeted seabass varies in size from 3lbs to 10lbs, even 15lbs but rare.

How has your Certate held up in the salt?

[Aquaftm45]

While waiting for my new rod to arrive, I need to decide on a reel and would appreciate your input on it.

The rod is G-Craft Midnight Jetty LIMITED MJSL-952-TR made in a limited run of 350 pieces.
It will be used for seabass fishing with soft plastics and minnows from 9/32oz to 27/32oz on PE0.8 braid. Targeted seabass varies in size from 3lbs to 10lbs, even 15lbs but rare.

Since I will get a JDM reel my first thought was Exist PC LT3000-XH, but I never owned Exist before (only Certate for me).

So some questions started to come up.
1. Does that model share same body with 4000 size (like certate)?

2. How sturdy is Exist's body compared to Certate? Did someone experience body flex on 3000/4000 sizes under high drag or strong fighting fish? At what point we can see benefits of aluminum body of certate in 4000 size vs Exist?

3. How much bigger in physical dimensions is 4000 to 3000 size, maybe someone has spool diameter numbers?

4. Airity 2023 is just announced. Should this reel also be considered?

Btw, I live in a metric part of the world so I apologize if I messed some conversions

Sounds like a gem of a rod you are getting.

Exist 3000 spool size 48mm, 4000 spool size is 51mm
Certates are the same size 48/51mm respectivly

The Exist 4000 is 15 grams heavier than the 3000. The handles are the same size. I don't think that is all spool.

I think both would work great for intended purposes. Just depends on how much line you want to carry and if you want a little counter balance to the long (but light) rod.

[BlackMarlin]

Targeted seabass varies in size from 3lbs to 10lbs, even 15lbs but rare.

How has your Certate held up in the salt?

I have 2, 4000CXH and 2500S-XH. Both held up amazing, they look like new after 2 years of inshore use on Adriatic coast which has high salanity.

[BlackMarlin]

Exist 3000 spool size 48mm, 4000 spool size is 51mm
Certates are the same size 48/51mm respectivly

The Exist 4000 is 15 grams heavier than the 3000. The handles are the same size. I don't think that is all spool.

Similar thing is with Certate LT 3000-4000 size. They differ in weight by 10g, have different spools but they share everything else.

[reason162]

I have 2, 4000CXH and 2500S-XH. Both held up amazing, they look like new after 2 years of inshore use on Adriatic coast which has high salanity.

That's good to know. Were you fishing any sandy beaches or all rock/jetties?

While I am a huge fan of Daiwa spinners - esp the Certate/Airity/Exist - my own experience with them in light surf duties leaves me hesitant to recommend for saltwater.

[Cranky]

As much as the 22 Exist is a nice reel, for what you’re describing I would recommend looking at a 22 Stella instead. If you are really in need of super light weight, and can wait for the release, the new 23 Vanquish also will be great.

This might open up a Daiwa vs Shimano can of worms but the Stella is the gold standard A-#1-tops in saltwater period (no matter how much anyone might cheer for Daiwa) and personally owning and using both 2022 model reels a lot, I recommend the Stella over the Exist.

[BlackMarlin]

Tbh, I never really cared about Shimano high end gear because I find them as a company, more greedy than Daiwa. For example, their Exence Infinity rods cost more than Daiwa Branzino EX AGS, yet Daiwa is made in Japan, has higher end technology put in their Branzino EX AGS, while Shimano is made in Indonesia. I see this as a "let's ripp them off and sell them some story through marketing team" type of doing business. Actually, Exsence Infinity costs more than most handmade low volume and much more high end JDM rods.
Same thing with stella. I wanted to buy it but it felt like flimsy toy next to Certate LT so I went and got Certate. I would dare to say it felt cheap compared to previous Stella. I liked Stella FJ much more than FK. Also, i think Shimano should be ashamed by having magnesium 4000 stellla weigh 260g in 2023. Certate is simpler mechanically but stronger reel on every level and it is still lighter. Also, too many people complained on unreliable drag while fighting fish.
As I said, I wanted to get it and love it but I just don't see anything where this reel is really that much better than Exist, except MAYBE in line lay.

[reason162]

As I said, I wanted to get it and love it but I just don't see anything where this reel is really that much better than Exist, except MAYBE in line lay.

The Stella is heavier bc they went with a heavy rotor - it's a design philosophy that reasonable people can argue about, but the Vanquish is really the reel to go up against the Exist (light Mg body and light rotor), Stella vs Certate...but leave all of that aside for a moment - the painful truth is Magsealed Daiwas fail in saltwater. I've had it happen to my Certate and 3 others in my orbit. A friend from Oz used his Exist in the salt and half the frame started bubbling (Daiwa paint is notorious for chipping, and chipped paint on Mg reels + salt do not mix).

Since your Certates are doing okay after 2 seasons in the salt, I can only say that the likely culprit as I suspected all along is salt + sandy sediments when you fish off a beach. That water with suspended metal particles get drawn in by the magseal down the AR and it's toast. And I'm not talking about dunking or splashing - just the water that gets picked up by your braid and flung around by the rotor is enough to do the damage.

Shimano's labyrinth system (X-Protect?) just works - from the Ultegras up to Stellas they have all performed flawlessly in light surf fishing. A quick freshwater rinse after each trip is all you need.

I split my time between fresh and salt, and my Certate/Airity/Exists are now exclusively freshwater reels. I love them. As you said, the Certate is still the best value in reels today - more refined than the Stella FJ/FK, smoother drag (though the new FK drag is an improvement over the FJ imo), larger gearing and more beautiful design. The Stella and new Vanquish line lay is impressive, and yields real world performance benefits, but that's not really a priority for me.

In any case, I would get the Exist only if you're confident with Daiwa's warranty in your country. That's my 2 cents worth from a huge Daiwa spinning reel fan.

[Cranky]

You clearly have a strong preference for Daiwa and that’s fine if you feel that way. Can’t say I’ve ever run into the Shimano-is-greedy and Daiwa isn’t opinion before. I still agree with the other comments, I have fished all of these reels and for true saltwater use, I would get a Shimano.

[ras]

Just found this thread and am not sure if you still need the info:

22 Exist PC LT 3000-XH will have the same body and gears as LT 4000-XH, the weight difference comes mostly from the rotor – it is slightly bigger in LT 4000-XH. Same is true about corresponding Certate LT models.

I own the reel in question (3000-XH), it is simply stunning, smooth and powerful. I've converted almost all my saltwater spinning reels to 22 Exist, in part because the entire line-up uses magsealed bearings on the main gear (that's part of the reason Daiwa did away with the FC notation – 18 Exist LT FC models didn't have magsealed bearing on the main gear – and had to effectively reworked their sizing terminology). Daiwa has a video of the 22 Exist submerged into water – the body of the reel appears to be waterproof or at least water resistant enough for my fishing (shore, surf, inshore). I haven't done any tests, but I'm inclined to believe Daiwa in this case. I also own several Stellas, 18 and 22. They are also exceptional reels, but I won't use them in saltwater.

[HobeyBaker]

I have 4000 size 18 Exists, 19 Certates, and a 21 Airity. I’ve caught a 30 lb king salmon on my 18 Exist on 10 lb braid. No reel flex at all and the drag easily held up.

[Senkobass1]

2022 exist is the 2018 on steroids. Lighter startup inertia, lighter reel, and an overall smoother retrieve. I’ve caught 12-15 lb catfish on accident while dropshotting on 6lb and have had no issues at all. I am currently using the 2500-XH model and it has been amazing so far. The Certate is no slouch at all either, but I have put it on my spybaits rods or mooring bait rods since it’s heavier.