Diawa reel

[pete]

Does anyone have any comments on the Diawa Emblem S 1500ia spinning reel for a general reel for walleye fishing? Also, what is the general retail price for this reel? Thanks

[Wile E.]

don't know much about the new ones but I have 2 Diawa's and they are 25 years old. work great

[Heye5]

I couldn't find the Emblem S in catalogs I've got from Basspro or Cabela's but I have an Emblem X 2000ia. I really like it. Very smooth drag and retrieve. Only problem I ever had was a plastic piece in the bail release snapped once while fishing in very cold weather. That did not totally disable the reel, I was able to continue fishing flipping the bail by hand and Daiwa sent a new part right away. Performance wise, I would compare this reel very closely with a Shimano Stradic which I also use. If I remember correctly, the Daiwa ran about $130. Can't tell you what the difference is between the Emblem S and X. Good fishing!! Heye5

[Rapaleye]

I have two Diawa Emblem s reels. One model 2000, and one 2500. I would rank them as very good. What attacted me to them was price point and the smoothness of the drag. I don't get all caught up in the number of ball bearings. I care most about how smooth the drag is when fighting a fish. I think this is the best drag under $100. Their normal retail price is around $75. I have seen them as low as $65. I believe that Diawa must be droping them from their line as the don't appear in any of the catalogs this year. When I was shopping it seemed that both Shimano and Diawa either had reels around $50 or over $100. This reel seemed to have a drag comparable to the $125-150 reels but fall in the $75 range.
Good luck in your decision.

[Pete]

The Diawa 1500 series has a capacity of only 80 yards of 8 lB test. Could this cause a problem?

[Gunga Din]

Low capacity reels are ideal when using a superline, like Fireline.

[CHAD C]

Daiwa has discontinued the Emblem reels.
Their are still a few new one's around at a few stores that bought the last that daiwa had and usually about $40 below the suggested retail.

[Rapaleye]

Pete
You ask a good question. I would think that for vertical jigging it wouldn't be a problem. When I think of 80 yards, being equal to 3/4 of a football field, it is hard for me to picture a walleye running anywhere close to that, especially if your drag is set for 8 lb test. I'll bet that on my model 2000, and 2500, 3/4 of the line never sees the light of day. For what it is worth the 2000 is the same reel just bigger spool. My opinion, if the price is right (under $50) the 1500 would be a great panfish reel, and a good walleye reel.
Good luck

[Rapaleye]

Chad,
You don't happen to live in the twin cities and know where there might be a store with a few of these Emblems trying to clear them out do you?
Just a shot
Jim