In this review of the Daiwa Lexa 300 and the Daiwa Lexa 400 baitcasters, we will take a look at these high-performance reels that combine powerful gearing, lightweight designs, carbon fiber drag systems and a total of 9 primary configurations.
The features that have made the Lexa a staple in markets across the country have been supplemented and upgraded to offer the ultimate in heavy duty performance.
There is a total of 3 different gearing ratios: High Speed 7.1:1, Standard Speed 6.3:1 and High Power 5.1:1 so you are sure to be able to find the right retrieve rate and strength for your particular style of fishing.
The Lexa 300 is going to provide you with 22 lbs of drag.
Both the Lexa models are equipped with Daiwa’s Ultimate Tournament carbon drag (UTD), which gives you an amazing 22 lbs of drag on the Lexa 300 series and 25 lbs of drag on the Lexa 400 series.
If your favorite gamefish include, tarpon, drum, snook, dolphin, barracuda, bluefish or any other hard-fighting larger species and you want to have the power to cast and retrieve big swim baits while at the same time have the ability to precision cast, then the Daiwa Lexa 300 and Lexa 400 are two reels you need to learn more about.
Ordering the right configuration can be a bit complicated so make sure you read through the specifications below to get just the right configuration.
The Bottom Line
- My favorite heavy-duty saltwater baitcasting reel at any price point
- Very smooth reel with an excellent drag system
- High level of manufacturing quality, parts are easy to find and reel is easy to maintain
- Very durable aluminum body and side plate
Features
Aluminum frame and side plate (gear side) – The Lexa models have precisely designed frames and side plates that are both made of lightweight aluminum which provides strength while at the same time providing for a compact and lightweight reel.
7 Bearing System (2CRBB, 4BB +1RB) – Both the Lexa 300 and the Lexa 400 reels use what are called CRBB or Corrosion Resistant Ball Bearings. These are specially treated stainless steel ball bearings that are designed to provide up to 12 times the normal life expectancy of ordinary steel ball bearings in harsh saltwater conditions.
Magforce Cast Control – Magforce-Z is what makes the castability of the Daiwa Lexa series of reels so great. Daiwa’s unique magnetic braking system allows the spool to spin freely as soon as you release it, as the spool starts to slow near the end of your cast, it automatically applies magnets to start slowing the rotation of the spool to prevent back spoiling.
For anyone who has thrown a baitcaster, you know that back spoiling is a common issue for many anglers, especially when just starting to use a baitcaster. Additional fine-tuning of the force that is applied by the magnets is controlled by a dial adjustment on the side plate.
Swept Handle with weight-reducing cutouts – The Large, swept power handle with cutouts for reduced weight places the paddles closer to the center of the reel and rod, which means that more energy is transferred directly to the reel and is not wasted unnecessarily.
The Lexa 400 models come with an oversized 120mm handle.
Counterbalanced Power Handle on ”P” Models – For the P models, Daiwa has replaced the large paddle handles with a single Power Handle that provides a better grip for cranking in those lunkers.
Ultimate Tournament carbon drag (UTD) – All of the Lexa models use what Daiwa refers to as the Ultimate Tournament Carbon Drag system. The UTD is comprised of oversized carbon fiber drag washers that are placed on either side of the spool and allow the stress on the spool to be evenly distributed.
This design results in a smooth drag with no catching or binding.
Features at a Glance
- Aluminum frame and side plate (gear side)
- 7 Bearing System (2CRBB, 4BB +1RB)
- Magforce Cast Control
- Infinite Anti-Reverse
- Swept Handle with weight-reducing cutouts
- Counterbalanced Power Handle on ”P” Models
- Super-leverage 120mm handle on 400-size models
- A7075 Aluminum spool
- Extra line capacity
- Ultimate Tournament carbon drag (UTD)
In testing, we found that the Magforce cast control system performed flawlessly. The unique magnetic braking system allows you to adjust the amount of braking that is applied to the spool to match the type of lure that you are using and, probably more importantly, to match the skill of the angler.
Located on the side of the reel is a dial that allows you to adjust the amount of magnetics that is used for braking. The dial is a nice improvement, as you no longer need to remove the side plate to access the adjustment.
This feature is particularly helpful if you happen to be fishing with someone who is learning to use a baitcaster as you can change the setting easily during the day to match their increased skill level.
Another feature that you will appreciate about the Lexa 300 and Lexa 400 is how they moved the larger gearboxes down below the rod handle. What this accomplished was getting the spool closer to the center of the rod and at the same time, it made the reel that much easier to palm in your hand, even though it was technically a larger reel.
Focusing on the Lexa 400 for a moment, you will see that this reel is really designed for casting larger baits and lures, particularly for saltwater fishing. The larger spool accommodates up to 300 yards of 55 lbs braided line, which is about 10% more than the Shimano Tranx 400 that tops out at 275 yards of 50 lbs braid.
Compared to the Shimano Tranx 500 which boasts 420 yards of 50 lbs, the Tranx 400 falls short but weighs in at 15.3 oz. vs 20 oz. The Lexa 400 is specifically designed to go after the larger hard fighting fish, such as Tuna and other pelagics, that are often fished for using large topwater plugs, surface irons, and poppers.
Daiwa has incorporated what they refer to as the Ultimate Tournament Drag System or UTD which is a high-density woven carbon drag washer that is impregnated with grease. The UTD provides 22 lbs of drag for the Lexa 300 and 25 lbs for the Lexa 400. One of the major improvements over the previous design is that it takes less inertia to get the drag started.
What this means to you is that the drag starts earlier on after you hook a fish and that it is incredibly smooth from the start. You can also set your drag pressure higher without the worry of breaking the fish off when you initially hook it. This means that you no longer need to adjust the drag while fighting the fish.
Pros
- UTD drag system
- Great cast control
- Smooth
Cons
- Not a fully sealed reel
Dawia Lexa 300 & Dawia Lexa 400 Alternatives
The closest competitors would be the Shimano Tranx 300 and Shimano Tranx 400 reels which are going to be almost exactly the same price point.
If you want to have a reel that you can use both inshore and for tackling the larger species 30 lbs+ or the super hard fighting fish like Tuna, Stripers, and wahoo, then you might want to step up to the big brother Shimano Tranx 500. You are going to pay nearly twice as much but you will have a reel that you can use for all situations, but it will be heavier.
Your choice will come down to how much time you spend fishing for larger species vs mid-sized species. Heck, if your budget permits, you might want to consider one of each.
Revolutionary design and shape provides the comfort of low profile with the capacity of a conventional reel. X-SHIP and HEG technologies combine to provide massive cranking power with a smooth effortless retrieve. 
If you are looking to spend less than the cost of the Daiwa Lexa 300 or Lexa 400 reels or the Shimano Tranx reels then you can take a look at the Daiwa Tatula series of reels.
In Conclusion
Overall, the Daiwa Lexa reels are of excellent quality and fill the gap that Daiwa had in the low-profile, heavy-duty baitcasting reels. With all of the different configurations, you are sure to find just the right one to fit your personal style of fishing.
The reels are smooth as “butter,” and I really like both the UTD drag system and the Magforce-Z cast control systems.
- Pflueger Patriarch Spinning Review - April 3, 2023
- Penn Fierce II Spinning Reel Review - February 14, 2023
- Abu Garcia Revo STX Baitcast Reel Review - February 8, 2023