Daiwa BLSMQLT2500D-XH Ballistic MQ LT Spinning Reel Review | J&H Tackle

[@joshlampe3458]

I've used this specific reel as my main go to kayak and ice fishing for the last year. It's exceptional, and even getting wet constantly in the kayak it still feels new.

[@jandhtackle]

Awesome!

[@edbaldwin8736]

Purchased a 3000 model. Love IT! Smooth as silk, strong with great drag. Fish from the beach mostly! Sealed well. Bath after fishing, feels like it will last forever

[@JoeValencia-ut6bj]

I fish a lot and made the switch from Shimano to Daiwa a couple years ago! I will never go back to Shimano!

[@ryanhelou7881]

Daiwa is nice but i like taking apart my reels and doing maintenance on them, whch is why i still prefer shimano

[@bostonbeanman6173]

I love what Daiwa has been producing. I’m always torn between Shimano an Daiwa and find myself alternating buys between each. Just bought another Shimano yesterday and now looking for my next Daiwa. :)

[@bryanli8584]

the products just keep getting better… i should buy this reel for sure

[@davidrauschenbach6871]

Thanks for the review Josh. Very nice, hopefully this is a sign that newer gear is getting here.

[@DandF957]

Keep up the great work I love your videos

[@julianstolz3987]

Definitely interested in this one.

[@Khmersmurf]

I bought one last year and love it

[@Unplugged704]

Crap.. I just bought the Shimano Vanford 3000 to fish freshwater hybrid striped bass. Thinking of using for bigger striped bass. I may return it for this for the same price!

[@fredkrowchenko6236]

Great review, I intend to purchase a Diawa to compare with my Shimano colleciton.

[@tonybishop51]

Now this is a 2500! I’ve got the fuego lt and for the life of me why would they leave the anti reverse switch on it? This is on the must have list!

[@dsw-fb8mp]

I have heard that with some mid-tier Diawa reels there is some noise (or clicking) coming from the handle when reeling in the bait. Does this Balistic have that issue?

[@Shawn_Lai]

How would you compare this with the Shimano sustain? Which is more smooth and which has less startup inertia? Great video!

[@shawnboisclair3696]

seems perfect for a kayak reel

[@davidgodal98]

How would you compare this the Shimano sustain FJ? The sustain is just a bit more expensive where i live

[@bartbryant8900]

Woo Ballistic!

[@joed2497]

Reel looks sweet been waiting on these to start to get into Stores, Online, Etc finally for along time now since the anouncement from Daiwa at Icast 2021 and that was last July already 🤷‍♂️🙆‍♂️😂😂 So Thanks for putting this out there for us Josh! 👍🏻.....About the reel Josh how would you say the new (Zion V) material compares to the older (2018) Ballistic LT standard Zion version? Does this new Zion material for more Rigid or less would you say?.....As from what I have heard about Zion V it is supposely alot cheaper for Daiwa to produce then their standard more expensive Zion material so I wonder about this even though it does have their stronger MQ body frame which is a good thing.....What are you thoughts on this reel with Zion V and how does it compare to the older model?

[@gurukantor]

I'm not Josh, but here's my two cents. Daiwa posted a show-and-tell video (I know it's on Daiwa Germany's youtube, about a year old) showing the difference between Zaion, Zaion V and "standard composite. Zaion V sits in between the two but closer to Zaion in my opinion. If I had to guess Zaion V has a bit more resin than Zaion and possibly a bit more plasticizer to stop chip-out during milling operations and possibly to promote chemical welding. Bottom line... they're effectively the same for most users. Please note these are my personal theories, nothing more. I own two Ballistic MQ 1000 and one Tatula LT 3000. I had purchased a Tatula 2000D and a Pflueger Supreme XT (junk vs Daiwa) but got a killer deal on the Ballistics. Given I may end up in SW at times this was a no-brainer. Ballistic vs Tatula... there's a little more rotor flex in the Tatula rotor which isn't Zaion (2000D Vs 1000). Stem flex is less on the Tatula LT 2000d and slightly less on the Tatula LT 3000 than the Ballistic MQ 1000, but it's still very low. I must admit I like the less-finished look of the Tatula in person. Coming from aluminum body 1000-sized Daiwa reels built in the 70's (the workhorse D1000) I have no durability concerns with either model. Long term we'll see. At present I expect Zaion V to scratch easier but take a bit more of a beating before breaking. I'll be very curious to see how they are doing after a few years of heating, cooling and all-season use.

[@joed2497]

@@gurukantor Brad good to know here so Thanks for the reply I appreciate it! So you already have been using the New Ballistic MQ (1000D) For how long now? How do you feel the Gearing is in the New Models vs the Older (2018) Tatula/Ballistic LT's? As there was no mention from Daiwa at Icast 21 what the gearing material is made of? As either it is Cast Zinc (Such as what is in the BG MQ and possibly the New Saltist MQ as well too) or it is the machined Aluminum Alloy Digigear that is used in the older version Zion Ballistic/Tatula/Kage Lt's which was a Very good, Smooth, and Reliable Made Gearing from what people have said over the yrs about those older model reels

[@gurukantor]

@Joe D not very long... I bought them for a couple light/ultralight all-purpose rigs. I couldn't wait to use them so I took them out ice fishing. I don't know how it feels vs the old ballistic, but compared to the Tatula it's just different. Both a very smooth. I prefer the lower gear ratio of the ballsitic which makes the gear material a bit less important in my opinion. After a bit of reading I have no concerns about what the gear is made of as long as it wears in properly. So many other things are likely to fail first. Those d1000 reels from the 70s I mentioned have cast zinc gears and they still function great. I'm 99% sure the ballsitic mq uses a cast zinc alloy (a good material that people look down on) that is surface milled (machined) to the necessary tolerances (digigear 2). How do they do the machined aluminum gears? I bet they start as aluminum alloy castings that are milled to spec. Wait, that sounds like the same thing. Marketing drops cast and add machined to make it sound premium and spins a good story. Forging or milling a gear from an aluminum billet would be impractical for all but the most expensive reels and is likely reserved for prototypes. We've been trained to think more expensive = better, and while true in many cases it doesn't always translate to working with raw materials. Zinc is cheap and easier to work with, and while alloy-dependent it is generally stronger and more durable. If it weren't for the fact aluminum is lighter and "good enough" we'd only see zinc gears. To take it a step further, the bigger MQ gears are potentially a byproduct of wanting to improve aluminum gear durability (just a hypothesis, I have no evidence).

[@joed2497]

@@gurukantor Yeah Brad only time will tell on actual use of the reel how the reliability will be you know but, Daiwa (Like Shimano too) has always made a good quality product for many many yrs now (From early 70's, 80's) like you say as to why I stick with them or Shimano for my Freshwater/Light Saltwater needs....I'am planning on picking up New Ballistic MQ (1000D & possibly a 4000D-C) very soon to try them out asap this spring.....Take Care and Thanks for the input!...Joe

[@kratimamnurpujinegara710]

drive gear zink or alloy?

[@danieleckart3103]

Love me some j and h and I also live on the east end

[@Costafishin]

Awesome reel

[@purifierphoenixthemecca]

How it versus vanford?

[@alanabara1248]

Sweet ❤️

[@billmoss5624]

Nice!

[@chrisnelson6659]

They are so sweet I'm getting a 3000 and a dark matter to match for father's day from my wife and kids

[@beni7928]

Water still get in case?

[@caperjim]

The reel is mag sealed. Water shouldnt enter it. Just dont dunk and crank under water.

[@beni7928]

@@caperjim you never took one apart before, "magseal" is only on the spool shaft

[@caperjim]

@@beni7928 At this price point you aren't going to get a sealed reel with zero chance of water getting in. Go buy a van Staal at 4 times the price. Even more expensive depending on where you live.

[@wormway_69]

Light!!!

[@canadagooses]

I want it!!!!!

[@Thetruckerfisherman]

Nice

[@danielvertiz773]

😯

[@Tom-nz7nn]

Awesome reel