In this review of the Daiwa Ballistic LT spinning reel, I will go through the features that make this an excellent option for all types of fishing, from saltwater (both on and offshore) to freshwater.
The Daiwa Ballistic LT is available in 7 models, from the Daiwa Ballistic LT BLSLT1000D to the larger Daiwa Ballistic LT BLSLT6000D-C.
Additionally, the BLSLT2500D also comes in a high-speed version, the BLSLT2500D-XG, that bumps the gear ratio from 5.3:1 up to 6.2:1 and increases the retrieval rate from 29.6″ to 34.5″ for your topwater lures.
A few of the features that make this reel ideal for both saltwater and freshwater fishing are the carbon fiber ‘Zaion’ reel, the MagSealed system that keeps corrosion at bay, and the machined alloy DigiGear that keeps the reel running smoothly no matter how big the fish is.
The Bottom Line
- Daiwa’s lightweight spinning reel with 22 lbs of drag in a size 2500 reel that rocks!
- Corrosion-resistant ball bearings and MagSealed for harsh conditions.
- Small and lightweight frame that houses the massive DigiGear.
- Super strong body made of Daiwa’s Zaion material.
The Daiwa Ballistic LT is a great, high-end, lightweight spinning reel that does not break the bank. Get it here.
The Daiwa Ballistic LT BLSLT1000D weighs just 5.8 ounces, making it a great option if you target smaller fish and want to finesse them.
While the Daiwa Ballistic LT BLSLT6000D-C comes in at 11.1 ounces, this is still an incredibly lightweight spinning reel, especially for its 26.4 lbs of drag capacity.
The Daiwa Ballistic LT BLSLT6000D-C comes with 26.4 pounds of maximum drag, making it an incredibly durable reel, especially considering how little it weighs.
With seven ball bearings, including one infinite anti-reverse, this reel delivers a smooth retrieve and a solid hookset.
So, what does the LT stand for in the Daiwa Ballistic LT? Simply put, the LT stands for light and tough, which is Daiwa’s way of denoting models in the lighter weight range.
With a reel like this, you get exactly what you pay for, so you’ll find the Daiwa Ballistic LT spinning reel perfect for everything from playing with the mangrove snappers to landing a big Redfish or Snook.
Features
New Smaller frame, body, and housing
Daiwa has designed the Ballistic LT to be smaller and lighter than their older models. Not only will you see that the body, frame, and housing are smaller, but the spool also takes up less room this time. Daiwa has been strategic with this move to ‘light and tough’ as they have something to put up against their competition, like the Shimano Stradic Ci4+.
This deliberate action to make the reel smaller is not typical of Daiwa, known for its large spools and huge line capacity. Despite the reduced size, the new spool still offers a lot of line capacity. It’s worth pairing this model with some mono for extra grip.
ZAION LT Housing Concept
Daiwa has developed a very light yet strong carbon body for the Daiwa Ballistic LT, also known as ‘Zaion.’ ‘Zaion’ is Daiwa’s proprietary carbon material, creating an aesthetically appealing outer body that is both incredibly lightweight and rigid. The combination of lightweight and stiffness in the Ballistic LT’s body results in minimal flex, making even the larger models of the Daiwa Ballistic LT lightweight.
This carbon fiber body, known as ‘Zaion,’ is the reason behind the remarkable lightweight design of the Daiwa Ballistic LT, providing both aesthetic appeal and durability.
Machined Aluminium Alloy DIGIGEAR
The main DigiGears of Daiwa Ballistic LT are manufactured using an aluminum CNC process, which results in smooth and clean gear with a crisp spin. The use of CNC machining enhances durability and smoothness and eliminates any drag from the meshing of the teeth, providing a superior free-spin experience. This is a stark contrast to many manufacturers that use casting for the gears.
The large main gear, typical of Daiwa, further contributes to the smoothness and durability of the reel. Even under heavy loads, the aluminum DigiGears demonstrate their ability to maintain a smooth, clean, and crisp spin without any teeth seizing or meshing issues.
MAGSEALED System
Daiwa’s MagSealed is a unique and effective technology that significantly reduces the amount of debris and water traveling down the main shaft, offering great protection for the internal components of the reel. The proprietary sealing system, which uses magnets and specialized oil, is a game-changer in comparison to the traditional rubber seals or gaskets used by other manufacturers. By employing this innovative approach, the MagSealed system effectively keeps water and debris out, similar to how a boat propeller shaft operates. This results in an incredibly smooth reel with minimal resistance, practically eliminating any friction.
In the Daiwa Ballistic LT, the main shaft is MagSealed, which significantly decreases the risk of foreign particles entering the gears. The use of MagOil as a sealant at common points of entry further enhances the protection against salt, sand, and other contaminants. The MagSealed system doesn’t just keep out water and debris, but also ensures an exceptionally smooth spin, making it a highly advantageous feature.
7-Bearing System
The Daiwa Ballistic LT reel features a 7-bearing 6+1 system, which includes 1 CRBB, five stainless steel bearing balls, and 1 anti-reverse instant roller bearing. The instant anti-reverse feature ensures there is no backplay on the reel when you set the hook, resulting in a solid hook set.
This design optimizes the reel for heavy-duty fishing and smaller hauls, making it ideal for a variety of fishing conditions.
Lightweight Air Rotor design
Daiwa’s Air Rotor design is similar to what Okuma did with their Cyclonic Flow Rotor on the Inspira and Helios models.
The air rotor design provides for a reduction in weight of 15%, distributes the pressure from the line and line roller evenly, and helps to dry the reel faster, especially under the spool area where saltwater is a known issue.
Extremely powerful drag system
The drag system on the Daiwa Fuego LT is made of what appears to be animal hair and provides from 11 lbs on the tiny 1000 model up to 26.4 lbs on the 4000, 5000, and 6000 models, making the drag sufficient for even your hard fighting inshore species such as snook and big Bull Reds.
Ergonomic machined aluminum handle
The aluminum handle has a gentle sway that feels right in your hands. The handle is designed to screw in for a solid feel with no slop and can easily be adapted for both right- and left-handed retrieving.
Because Daiwa has made the handles on these models out of aluminum, you won’t experience any flex.
Designed for freshwater, inshore, and offshore applications
The Daiwa Ballistic LT is a versatile reel that is suitable for various fishing applications. Although many people use it for freshwater fishing, it has actually been designed for both inshore and offshore saltwater fishing.
The handles of these models are made of aluminum, which minimizes flex to reduce the chances of corrosion on the outer body of the reel, including the handle. This design feature makes the Daiwa Ballistic LT an excellent choice for different types of fishing, whether it’s inshore, offshore, or freshwater.
Features at a Glance
- New Smaller frame, body, and housing
- ZAION Housing LT Concept- very light yet very strong
- Machined Aluminum Alloy DIGIGEAR- smoothness and durability
- MAGSEALED- reduces water and debris from traveling down the shaft
- 7-Bearing System 1-CRBB, 5-BB and 1BB
- Lightweight Air Rotor design
- Extremely powerful drag system
- Ergonomic machined aluminum handle
- Designed for freshwater, inshore, and offshore applications
Field Test
For our field test, we paired the Daiwa Ballistic LT in a 2500 model with the 5.3:1 gear ratio and a 7′ St. Croix Mojo Inshore in a Medium Light Fast, one of my favorite rods for fishing inshore.
One of the things that immediately stood out was just how smooth the reel is; at just 6.3 oz, when paired with the Mojo, I had a setup that weighed less than 11 oz. For the person who wants to cast a rod and reel for a few hours, weight is not so important, but when you fish from a kayak the way I like to and fish for hours on end, every little bit counts.
We took the combo to the grass flats to find what we could find. I first started with a smaller topwater lure and was pleased with the responsiveness of the reel when retrieving. I wish I had both the 5.3:1 and the higher speed 6.2:1 model side by side to compare the difference, but I got good action walking the dog.
In the first hour of the day, I hooked up with a few smaller specs, and then I hooked into a decent 22″ red. The 22 lbs. of drag was way more than I needed for this smaller fish, so I backed it way off and had fun playing the fish for a few minutes.
I then moved on to another spot where there are great holes in and around the grass flats and a nice channel about 8′ that comes up quickly to the grasses. I swapped out the topwater for a Z-Man Jerk Shad rigged on one of my favorites, an Owner Weighted Twistlock, and started to work from the grasses out to the edge where it drops off in hopes of finding a Red cruising.
After moving around for 20 minutes, my patience paid off, and I was hooked on a nice fish. The drag screamed, and I had to tighten it down, which I found very easy. I carefully played the fish and brought it back to the kayak in about 4 minutes.
At 32″, this is one of the biggest reds I have caught in the last few months.
Overall, I was very pleased with the Ballistic LT’s performance casting a 7″ jerk shad and a smaller topwater plug. I am confident that this will also be a good setup when fishing for Sheepheads, which, as you know, require a lot of finesse as they have such a light bite.
In speaking with Matt down in St. Augustine, he had this to say: “I have both the 5000 and 6000 reels; I have used them fishing for tarpon in the Everglades (saltwater); they are very light, smooth, and have a very good drag.”
I have caught about 50 tarpons on them, up to 125 pounds, and they have stood up well. I would give them the edge over Quantum Cabo’s and Shimano Stradic reels. Drag is as good as Cabo and reels as smooth as Stradic while lighter.
I am using them with a DOA baitbuster that I cast and reel for 12 plus hours a day, so being smooth and light is very important, as is having a drag that can stand up to a 100-pound tarpon.
Pros
- Daiwa’s MagSealed system is unique and efficient
- Strong machined aluminum main DigiGear gear
- Light and Tough as advertised
Cons
- The MagSealed system is proprietary, making it harder to service
- Some feel the spool is smaller than advertised
Alternatives
The first reel I would have you look at is the Shimano Stradic Ci4+, which falls within the same mid-range price category.
While these two models are tied in price, let’s look at how they compare in the drag and weight categories. With the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000, you’re looking at an 8.1 oz reel that can withstand 24 maximum pounds of drag. With the Daiwa Ballistic LT 4000, you’ve got a 7.9 oz reel that can hand out a maximum of 26.4 pounds of drag, so more drag and less weight.
The Shimano Stradic Ci4+ models have their own Advanced CoreProtect water-resistant system, which goes head-to-head with Daiwa’s unique MagSealed system. Both prevent the onset of corrosion, just in different ways.
With the Pflueger Supreme XT models, you’ve got another reel that falls within the same price range as the Daiwa Ballistic LT models, if not slightly cheaper. Let’s look at how these two reels compare when it comes to drag and weight.
The Pflueger SUPXTSP40X reel weighs 8.7 ounces with a maximum drag capacity of 14 pounds. The Daiwa Ballistic LT BLSLT4000D-C comes in at 7.9 ounces and has a maximum drag capacity of 26.4 pounds. This stark difference makes it easy to decide who the winner is when it comes to drag.
The sealed carbon system on the Pflueger Supreme XT models does a good job of keeping dirt and grime out. However, the portholes in the spools have a tendency to attract grime and are subject to corrosion if not cleaned well.
In Conclusion
We found the Daiwa Ballistic LT Spinning Reel to be a winner and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to add a lightweight reel to their arsenal that can withstand harsh saltwater conditions.
With the Daiwa MagSeal and Zaion carbon composite body on the Daiwa Ballistic LT, you’re looking at a stand-out reel that can hold its own when it comes to fishing both saltwater and freshwater.
You’ll struggle to find another reel in this price range that offers the features and capacity that the Daiwa Ballistic LT does. From its smooth drag to impressive weightlessness and overall endurance, you’ll find it easy to fish for long periods in all of the elements.
While Pflueger Supreme XT offers a slightly more affordable reel, it can’t compare to Daiwa Ballistic LT regarding composition and drag.
While you may spend slightly more initially with the Ballistic LT, you will get your money’s worth, and you will have a reel that will be around years from now if appropriately rinsed after each use.
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Chris
Thursday 30th of May 2019
Can I can the 6000 size for yellowtail and tuna fishing? 50lb braid with 20-40lbs leader. Fish up to 40-50lbs.
Salted Angler
Thursday 30th of May 2019
The Ballistic LT is really designed with inshore fishing in mind. With that said the manufacturer rates it for 240 yards of 40 lb braid and if you were to use a braid like Suffix 832 Advanced Superline in a 50 lb you could probably squeeze all 300 yards on the spool.
If you primary target species is Tuna and Yellowtail you might want a slightly larger reel unless you are like me and really like the light tackle.
To answer your question, YES!
If you go in this direction please be sure to send us some pics with your catch.