I've had mine 3000 for about 10 months, I've had no problems with it at all. I live on the North coast of Cornwall in England and we get lots of sea mist even in summer. I do lots of spinning of the rocks, it's had loads of wash and spray thrown at it and works fine.i just tighten up the drag when I get home, rinse out with fresh water and losen the drag once it's dry. Great value for money. I brought it as a "cheaper" light fishing reel at the same time I brought a Penn slammer 3, I use it over the slammer all the time.
I’ve been using a few 2500XH almost since they came out. It’s been great for trout and up to 40” redfish. They have performed every bit as well as my Ci4+ 3000. I did notice a little bit of flex when reeling in the larger redfish, it isn’t as stiff as the Ci4+. I’m happy with them, especially for the price. This has became my go to lightweight budget reel.
I own this reel on the 2500 size and have been using it for the past 3 months now and I'm very happy with it. Light, feels strong even for a composite material reel, the spool holds a good amount of line and that price point is very attractive. $100 or less anywhere online. Mine has been splashed and fairly abused and so far has lost none of it's smoothness. I have not dunked it completely in saltwater but it hasn't received a good amount of splashing like I mentioned before. I did however have the same problem with spooling it with new line out of the box, but all I had to do was add a washer (included) and it was fixed. Mind you, putting in that washer was not that simple but once it was there it was all good. I would 100% recommend it to anybody looking for a light, solid reel in the $100 price range for any inshore fishing applications. Great review as always Luke and keep Strong. Tight lines.
@@georgetgr7625 you put it on the top of the pinion shaft for the spool. Take the spool off the reel and once you take it off you place a shim that is provided by Daiwa to fix the line lay issue. What this does is lifts the whole spool up just a little so it lays a little more on the bottom.
i hooked a setup while i was saltwater fishing and it had this exact reel, i cleaned it up a little and it works just like it’s new. It was probably sitting down 20 ft for about a week or so.
I’ve been using this reel on a Tsunami Air Wave Coastal 7’ MH for about 3 months fishing from my kayak. Love the reel so far working stripers, blues and flounder. I have the 3000 model and yeah it gets salt water on it while in the rod holder at times. The thing I do with my gear after an outing, is rinse thoroughly with fresh water and allow to air dry.
Love this reel and the line bunching isn't an issue on the 4000 series. I don't think I could have found a better reel for the money, especially that's being used primarily in saltwater.
Smoothest reel I own and I own reels at three times the cost. I've been using it on saltwater and its gotten very wet with spray. I hose it down when I'm done as and it doesn't skip a beat. I've used it about 30 times in the last two months.
So glad I searched! I bought a Daiwa Fuego last year. I loved it and bought 2 more. Am thinking of getting a 3rd, so nice to hear good words about my choice! Roger, The Smiling BassHole
Luke, since it's been a year now, I'm curious of your opinion of the Fuego? I've caught a number of 5 - 10lb Jacks, trout and one 25ish lb. Black drum on my 3500 Fuego. I believe the Fuego is a nice reel for the money. 22lb's of smooth drag and bearing smooth reeling. I still prefer the BG but the weight savings in the Fuego is noticeable and appreciated. I don't believe there's a $100 reel , mag sealed bearings or not, that will continue to function like new if they're dunked in salt water. But the mag seal on the Fuego helps with normal salt moisture. Especially if you do what we're supposed to and wash off our reels after each use. I believe Daiwa is making some of the best fresh water reels available, period. And some very, very good salt water reels in that $100 range. Which for the average guy will provide many years of enjoyable use. Curious of your opinion now that you've been using it.
I don't know if you have realized by now but Most Daiwa reels bunch the line to the outside, it should be conical, it's part of the whole long cast thing, changing it to be flat is really nerfing the reel ;-)
i got a 2500XH a bit over a year ago and really liked it . last week i got a new 2023 2500XH version but i haven't used it yet . i only fish fresh water but i find salt strong to be VERY helpful . thanks folks :)
I've had this reel for 6 months and I use it in the salt with no issue, but I also rinse my stuff after each use.. The issue I did have was the line lay was off from the factory on mine as well and causing knots. It was subtle but just enough to cause some issues that I did have to address with washer swaps.. I was impressed with it though compared to my Ci4 that was more than double the price..oh and the thicker bail wire is a pro IMHO
Daiwa has been champion in every class... with 100 bugs fuego you can override 150 bugs shimano reels... manufacturers competitions are always good for costumers... keep casting
This reel is also mag sealed, something that daiwa used to only offer in their high end lineups. Mag seal is what makes the reel last and prevents corrosion in the bearings. Plus there are o-rings where you screw in the handle that make it even more waterproof. I really wish I got this reel instead of the BG now :/
In my eyes the bg is a proven work horse. Can't say that about this reel yet. Can say that a fishing buddy already had to get his 3000 size serviced and fixed after a few months a saltwater pier fishing.
Drew M. Van Staals are very expensive, not many people can afford them. I have friends that own the fuego lt and have no issues even after dumping it in saltwater and the reel is only 100 bucks.
im using the LT 2500D-XH, 10 lb mono line, 7" jonny mitchell medium light walleye rod, it casts incredibly smooth, reels with very smooth, ive had to dunk it after catching pike to clean it off. most of the time I'm catching small mouth bass up to 4 lb, some walleye up to 6 lb so far, a very sensitive setup I've made close to 1000 casts and spent any trips trolling with it. I have to say it has become my favorite setup. only thing I've noticed is the drag has to turn couple more revolutions more than my other reels to set drag tighter when my habit of loosing drag after catching a fish but the drag is very smooth no sticking.
What’s the difference between the 1st fuego and the new fuego besides the bail ? I hear from some people they like the old fuego better than the new and have problems with the new one.
I think they designed the fuego in a way so that the line will bunch up a bit at the top, intentionally. I think they did this to increase casting distance
Hi. I picked up a Diego 3000 last winter, to replace a very old 3000 class, that became salt_ sand inoperable. I am very impressed with the reel. It is smooth, with a great drag. I know it is not advertised as sand and water proof. But it was dropped in the surf, as I ran to salvage a long rod, being dragged down the beach into the surf. Diego, washed and dried a while later, is still as smooth as ever. I am a fan. I would not be opposed to to 4 to 5000 size.
I have all the size since it's debut. Not a single problem. Very light rinse after use. Still super smooth. Nothing bad to say about this reel. Its light and for the price best bang for your $$$. Beats all the reels in its class per price point!
Luke, I notice you have the bright yellow braid in this reel. Is that what you normally use? I would like the line visibility but am concerned in the more translucent saltwater the line may spook the fish. Thanks Sir for your insight and experience concerning line choice.
how to mount spool washer for Line Lay Adjustment? the washers that came with the spool are way to big. had anyone the same problem, or delivers Daiwa the wrong ones? (my other Daiwas have the same washers but they dont fit here) maybe i´m placings them wrong?
The salt water dunk test is the ultimate test. For me being a yak fisherman your reels go threw a beating getting sprayed with saltwater all day if you flip getting dunked under. Id pay the money for a good reel that can withstand the salt
I'm sure that I'll end up dunking mine at some point soon, so that'll be something I can test later. I considered dunking it on purpose for making this review, but I just couldn't do it because of so many years of training myself to never let the reel get dunked into saltwater. That being said, it happens so finding a salt-proof reel would be fantastic if there is such a thing:)
Hi , I would like to know comparison of 3000 models I found 3000-C ; 3000D-C and 3000-CXH. Since reel is now in market for some time I would like to know how it compares to Daiwa BG and battle3 in same size. THANKS !!!
Salt Strong what's your thoughts still on this reel? I'm interested in the 3000? I live in Tampa and will be strictly fishing saltwater from my kayak and my bay boat. Thanks!
Caught 500lbs of speckled trout in 6 months and similar of Drum. Both casting and trolling. They have performed perfect. Just wash the reels after use. I carry a detail spray bottle with water and squirt them off.
Which Fuego size do you have for trolling? And what minnow size for the trolling? I'm considering the 5000 Fuego for my all round since it's still light enough for micro jig, and cast some minnows and swimbaits 30-60grams. But if it performs well for trolling then I shall go with this Fuego
Thanks for replying. How are these reels now are they still smooth n strong? Whats your average speed when trolling? I'm on a cargo vessel with 11 knots speed, i hope the 5000 size can also handle trolling with this speed.
I recently purchased a Daiwa Fuego 2500 lt... it’s definitely not as smooth as my $60 shimano Sedona. After 2 uses the handle cap fell of and after three uses it is now squeeling internally and feels like junk. And the line does bunch up at the top/: never dunked the reel in saltwater and always thoroughly rinse and clean..
Great question! Make sure to ask this over on the actual blog or in the Community (www.saltstrong.com/) where the coaches spend their time. The blog can be found here: www.saltstrong.com/articles/daiwa-fuego-lt-reel-review/
@@Saltstrong Just took the Fuego 2500 LT2500D out to the Everglades. After 1 trip it started squeaking and feels like junk. I was on a kayak, and so inevitably all my reels get wet and often dunked. I also took out a BG 2500 on the same trip. The BG got dunked too, I didn't rinse it until 48 hours after use and it still works like new. I definitely do NOT recommend the Fuego if you're like me and dunk reels often. But I'm really impressed with the BG 2500
Thank you for your question! We have a massive library of fishing tips on our website along with a search feature to let you quickly filter down to find help you're looking for, so just go to www.saltstrong.com/ and use the Search feature in the top menu.
Bodean Holler Yeah that's what I was thinking, I've been after it for a lot longer but once the fuego came out I started to wonder. I reckon I'm just gonna get the BG lol. Appreciate the input bro.
The issue in the example mentioned in this video was that one of the Daiwa Fuego 3000 reels was much more top heavy than the other... same exact reel, but much different thickness at the top (abnormally top heavy).
I got a new tatula lt 3000 and the line lay way more on top. I put the supplied washers under the spool (2) and the line lay is perfectly even. Afterwards I read somewhere else that diawa purposely makes them load up more towards the top. I left it even and it casts great but next time I respool I'm taking those washers back out to see how it performs the way diawa intended.
I was going to add a washer but will try it first. Definitely heavier towards the top. Adding a washer is not easy since I have to press off the small bearing above the washer. I have the 2500-XH.
I use Fuego LT 2500 and 4000, Exceler LT 2500 and Ballistic LT 1000 as my main gear. I got them right after the launch and so far they all hold up really well and don't see any war or tear. For brown trout i use Ballistic 1000 due to lighter weight for my UL rod,. Pike and perch go with Fuego 2500 and Exceler 2500 and for salmon and sea trout Fuego LT 4000. So far totally satisfied. I have used C14+ (eveyone says Ci4, but that's because of Shimano's unsuccessful model name design :D ) before, also Stella and Okuma Helios lineup, but so far i have been most satisfied with the new LT lineup. One that i am looging to try out is Tatula LT, too.
@@rabidgp Hello Rob. The flex is minimal. Tatula LT and Ballistic LT are very very lightly stiffer, but you won't notice it unless you twist and sqeeze them under laboratory conditions with all those measuring sensors attached. You will be satisfied with Fuego for sure. With that price, i haven't found a better reel yet. Cheers.
Thank you for that review, wonder though your thoughts comparing it, if you know, with Daiwa's BG, and/or other reels in the same price range, Shimano, Okuma, etc. I think this one's claim to fame is being fully sealed; as you say, only time will tell but I do think it is a sealed system. BG is heavier, but what then, might be the BG's advantage--other than singing?
vsonic86 I own both the 3000 stradic ci4 and the fuego 3000. Have owned the stradic for about 4 years and have beat the hell out of it in salt water, really ill treated the reel with minimum maintenance and used for all types of applications, light shore jigging,spinning, egi fishing, u name it. I can tell you the drag is still crisp, reel is extremely smooth, considering its made out of composite it is quite solid with minimum flex, and most importantly no signs of corrosion whatsoever! Highly recommend it. On the other hand straight out of the box the Fuego looks quite good for the price (looks cheaper than stradic though), very smooth rotation nearly matching that of the stradic, drag also feels smooth with a pleasant click to it........... however!!! The flex on this reel is crazy! At first I thought the problem was with the rods reel seat because the amount of movement on the reel as you apply a little bit of pressure was huge. I mean spooling the reel with 14lb braid and applying 2lbs of pressure on the line was causing a huge amounts of flex from the reel seat and support arm. Very cheap materials used here that cant match that of the stradics ci4+ I cant understand why the reel would have 7kg of drag when at 3lbs of pressure it starts twisting like a snake! Wouldn’t feel comfortable fighting a decent fish as ive done with the stradic. My advice would be to pay a little more and buy the stradic, you wont look back. However if you are strictly on a budget and a 3000 daiwa is what you are after then go for the freams, ive owned one for two years and can guarantee you that its a great solid reel that matches the quality of the stradics and at a better price, the only thing is it weighs a little more than the stradic but id take any day a couple of grams of extra weight over that ridiculous amount of flex on the fuego!
My last name is Fueyo... had to get one. Bought at Southeastern Tackle in Tampa and took advantage of the Insiders discount. haven't fished with it but hope to in Anna Maria if the red tide is not bad. Good stuff Salt Strong, your videos have kicked up a notch, great youtube watching.
So. I have the Wright n McGill and the new lews. Love them both. Quality and light weight. Gonna try a different sized reel on the lews tho. Should have a Daiwa BG 3000 at my door within the next week which will be going on the BW Lews 7’6” MD rod. I prefer this size set up for my live baits and Mirrodines
murdered350 I have the 3000 sabalos on my Wright and McGill 7’6” and love it for that rod. I have caught it all on it : snook, tarpon, mangrove snapper, trout, jacks, reds, flounder and handled all well. I do a lot of use live bait a lot also. Has sensitive tip and has some back bone also. Been wanting to get another 7’6” and 7’ also just haven’t had to get up to dicks.
I know of a guy that uses the ballistic ex and lt for wading in salt. His ex has lasted him 3 yrs according to him on IG, he uses lures and braided line I'm sure he's dunked them.
I have the Fuego 2500 and the line bunches on the bottom of the spool, never seen one do that. I have been fishing with spinning reels for decades and never had this problem. Right out of the box this reel should work great and it does not. I'm on my second spool of power pro after the first one knotted all up after only 10 minutes of use. I don't get it but Diawa should be ashamed, there is a known issue with this reel.
That happens every once in a while with reels. Here's a tip that shows how to fix it: www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-prevent-wind-knots-on-spinning-reels/
@@noahjohns7954 thank you for the answer but i solved the problem by adding second ball bearing 4/7/2mm under the spool and removing the thickest plastic bushing. the hole of the spool is deep enough to hold 2 bearings. a russian youtuber recommend that tuning. it works
Saltwater gets into the gear and Alu gear dont mix with saltwater its ger really messy. Mine opion wast it out with water or dont use it on saltwater it destroy your bearings and alu gear.
Nah skip this reel guys. I got one listening to this video and these guys and the reel is not good at all. There is a ton of flex that the reel feels unstable. It's smooth at first but really dry and creaky and makes a bunch of friction noises even after cleaning. Sure, it's got mag seal but it's impossible to take apart and clean. Skip this one and pay the extra 40$ for a shimano
@@1FishinAddict Interesting... that's the same specs that I use too. Sounds like you may want to test out how much drag tension you're using... with a 10 lb line, the drag should only be at 2.5 lbs (which should be small enough to not feel much flexing). I have heard of the flex problem before, but everyone else who mentioned it was spooling 20 to 40 lb braid on the 3000 size one which is more power than this LT line is built for.
@@1FishinAddict I agree that it should be strong enough not to flex even with 20lb + line. My point was mostly focused on making sure that your drag setting is at the recommend ~25% of line strength because I learned that lesson the hard way multiple times by losing big fish to breakoffs before I realized that my drag was set too tight (I was setting mine at 5+ lbs with 10 lb line). And a bonus for this reel is that when the drag is set at 2.5 lbs, then the flexing arm problem shouldn't be a noticeable issue.
Man you have something against daiwa. First the mag seal and now the gears? Look at Tackle advisors review of the fuego lt. The gears of the 3000 model held up against tarpon and the mag seal did its job and protected the reel from being destroyed
What power line are you using? Do you know how much drag tension the reel is set to? The reason I ask is because I have not yet seen any issues with flexing. But that most likely is due to the fact that I'm just using 10 lb line on mine so the drag setting is only about 3 lbs.
You are full of bs man, light reel, this is heavy reel, check out shimano ci4, that's 6oz, a bit more to the price, but great reel. Or find some Chinese that are up to 7 ounces for half the price of this daiwa and same or better quality. Also LT version
Perhaps you're referring to a different Daiwa reel? The 3000 Shimano ci4 weighs 6.7 oz, and the 3000 Daiwa Fuego LT (shown in this video) is 7.5 oz... yes, the ci4 is lighter, but I wouldn't consider the Fuego LT as a heavy reel because 7.5 oz for a 3000 size spinning reel is less than most other options.
The Fuego LT is like 1oz heavier than the equivalent Stradic CI4? Given the price difference I don't see your point at all? Also, what Chinese reel would you buy over the Daiwa? Very few Japanese reels are even made in Japan including most Shimano's so your China comment doesn't make sense either?
@@Saltstrong Idk what "Chinese" reels he is talking about that could be anything but comparing a Fuego LT to a Stradic CI4+ is silly for price reasons. I'll take a major manufacturer over any of the Kastking, Piscifun, Amazon special garbage made in China reels. Just doesn't make sense his comment.
@@jeffsmith825 Thanks for making time to send in the nice comment Jeff! I didn't follow that earlier comment either... my guess is that he was referring to an early version of the Fuego (before the LT version) that was much heavier and supposedly had a lot of bad reviews.
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I've had mine 3000 for about 10 months, I've had no problems with it at all. I live on the North coast of Cornwall in England and we get lots of sea mist even in summer. I do lots of spinning of the rocks, it's had loads of wash and spray thrown at it and works fine.i just tighten up the drag when I get home, rinse out with fresh water and losen the drag once it's dry. Great value for money. I brought it as a "cheaper" light fishing reel at the same time I brought a Penn slammer 3, I use it over the slammer all the time.
I’ve been using a few 2500XH almost since they came out. It’s been great for trout and up to 40” redfish. They have performed every bit as well as my Ci4+ 3000. I did notice a little bit of flex when reeling in the larger redfish, it isn’t as stiff as the Ci4+. I’m happy with them, especially for the price. This has became my go to lightweight budget reel.
I own this reel on the 2500 size and have been using it for the past 3 months now and I'm very happy with it. Light, feels strong even for a composite material reel, the spool holds a good amount of line and that price point is very attractive. $100 or less anywhere online.
Mine has been splashed and fairly abused and so far has lost none of it's smoothness. I have not dunked it completely in saltwater but it hasn't received a good amount of splashing like I mentioned before.
I did however have the same problem with spooling it with new line out of the box, but all I had to do was add a washer (included) and it was fixed. Mind you, putting in that washer was not that simple but once it was there it was all good. I would 100% recommend it to anybody looking for a light, solid reel in the $100 price range for any inshore fishing applications. Great review as always Luke and keep Strong. Tight lines.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with this Daiwa Fuego reel. Fish On!
where do you put that washer?
Wondering where you put that washer as well? Thanks
@@georgetgr7625 you put it on the top of the pinion shaft for the spool. Take the spool off the reel and once you take it off you place a shim that is provided by Daiwa to fix the line lay issue. What this does is lifts the whole spool up just a little so it lays a little more on the bottom.
@@WongorRight check my reply to the George.
i hooked a setup while i was saltwater fishing and it had this exact reel, i cleaned it up a little and it works just like it’s new. It was probably sitting down 20 ft for about a week or so.
why do you mark "havent used it enough" as a con? thats weird.
I’ve been using this reel on a Tsunami Air Wave Coastal 7’ MH for about 3 months fishing from my kayak. Love the reel so far working stripers, blues and flounder. I have the 3000 model and yeah it gets salt water on it while in the rod holder at times. The thing I do with my gear after an outing, is rinse thoroughly with fresh water and allow to air dry.
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment Robert.
Aluminium dont work with saltwater watch your gear
Love this reel and the line bunching isn't an issue on the 4000 series. I don't think I could have found a better reel for the money, especially that's being used primarily in saltwater.
Smoothest reel I own and I own reels at three times the cost. I've been using it on saltwater and its gotten very wet with spray. I hose it down when I'm done as and it doesn't skip a beat. I've used it about 30 times in the last two months.
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment.
So glad I searched! I bought a Daiwa Fuego last year. I loved it and bought 2 more. Am thinking of getting a 3rd, so nice to hear good words about my choice!
Roger, The Smiling BassHole
Good choice! Glad to hear you found what you liked!
@@Saltstrong I'm loving them! And I do fish fresh water only. But great to hear how rugged they are!
I have the 3k w 20 lb braid, again, too much flex when reeling in fish. Yes, v light, smooth, but excessive flex is no starter
Luke, since it's been a year now, I'm curious of your opinion of the Fuego? I've caught a number of 5 - 10lb Jacks, trout and one 25ish lb. Black drum on my 3500 Fuego. I believe the Fuego is a nice reel for the money. 22lb's of smooth drag and bearing smooth reeling. I still prefer the BG but the weight savings in the Fuego is noticeable and appreciated. I don't believe there's a $100 reel , mag sealed bearings or not, that will continue to function like new if they're dunked in salt water. But the mag seal on the Fuego helps with normal salt moisture. Especially if you do what we're supposed to and wash off our reels after each use. I believe Daiwa is making some of the best fresh water reels available, period. And some very, very good salt water reels in that $100 range. Which for the average guy will provide many years of enjoyable use. Curious of your opinion now that you've been using it.
I don't know if you have realized by now but Most Daiwa reels bunch the line to the outside, it should be conical, it's part of the whole long cast thing, changing it to be flat is really nerfing the reel ;-)
i got a 2500XH a bit over a year ago and really liked it . last week i got a new 2023 2500XH version but i haven't used it yet . i only fish fresh water but i find salt strong to be VERY helpful . thanks folks :)
Awesome!!
I've had this reel for 6 months and I use it in the salt with no issue, but I also rinse my stuff after each use.. The issue I did have was the line lay was off from the factory on mine as well and causing knots. It was subtle but just enough to cause some issues that I did have to address with washer swaps.. I was impressed with it though compared to my Ci4 that was more than double the price..oh and the thicker bail wire is a pro IMHO
Daiwa has been champion in every class... with 100 bugs fuego you can override 150 bugs shimano reels... manufacturers competitions are always good for costumers... keep casting
This reel is also mag sealed, something that daiwa used to only offer in their high end lineups. Mag seal is what makes the reel last and prevents corrosion in the bearings. Plus there are o-rings where you screw in the handle that make it even more waterproof. I really wish I got this reel instead of the BG now :/
In my eyes the bg is a proven work horse. Can't say that about this reel yet. Can say that a fishing buddy already had to get his 3000 size serviced and fixed after a few months a saltwater pier fishing.
Mag seals are horrible, if you want s sealed reel pony up and buy a VS
Carolina Crown2014 BS, Ive reeled my VS150 underwater multiple times, you aren't talking to the right people, they have no clue
Drew M. Van Staals are very expensive, not many people can afford them. I have friends that own the fuego lt and have no issues even after dumping it in saltwater and the reel is only 100 bucks.
Drew M. Why do you think mag seal is horrible ?
I have a 2500 so far its holding up in salt. Awesome videos man!
How’s it doing now???
im using the LT 2500D-XH, 10 lb mono line, 7" jonny mitchell medium light walleye rod, it casts incredibly smooth, reels with very smooth, ive had to dunk it after catching pike to clean it off.
most of the time I'm catching small mouth bass up to 4 lb, some walleye up to 6 lb so far,
a very sensitive setup I've made close to 1000 casts and spent any trips trolling with it.
I have to say it has become my favorite setup.
only thing I've noticed is the drag has to turn couple more revolutions more than my other reels to set drag tighter when my habit of loosing drag after catching a fish but the drag is very smooth no sticking.
I dont like that there isn't a clicking sound when the drag is letting out.
What’s the difference between the 1st fuego and the new fuego besides the bail ? I hear from some people they like the old fuego better than the new and have problems with the new one.
I think they designed the fuego in a way so that the line will bunch up a bit at the top, intentionally. I think they did this to increase casting distance
Hi.
I picked up a Diego 3000 last winter, to replace a very old 3000 class, that became salt_ sand inoperable.
I am very impressed with the reel. It is smooth, with a great drag. I know it is not advertised as sand and water proof. But it was dropped in the surf, as I ran to salvage a long rod, being dragged down the beach into the surf.
Diego, washed and dried a while later, is still as smooth as ever. I am a fan. I would not be opposed to to 4 to 5000 size.
Sorry spell check is a pain.
Fuego not diego
is it good enough for the surf?
I have all the size since it's debut. Not a single problem. Very light rinse after use. Still super smooth. Nothing bad to say about this reel. Its light and for the price best bang for your $$$. Beats all the reels in its class per price point!
Just bought it , excited to pit it to use
Luke, I notice you have the bright yellow braid in this reel. Is that what you normally use? I would like the line visibility but am concerned in the more translucent saltwater the line may spook the fish. Thanks Sir for your insight and experience concerning line choice.
how to mount spool washer for Line Lay Adjustment?
the washers that came with the spool are way to big.
had anyone the same problem, or delivers Daiwa the wrong ones?
(my other Daiwas have the same washers but they dont fit here)
maybe i´m placings them wrong?
Yes, same problem. I think I have to remove top bearing and washer. I think they were pressed on. Big PIA.
The salt water dunk test is the ultimate test. For me being a yak fisherman your reels go threw a beating getting sprayed with saltwater all day if you flip getting dunked under. Id pay the money for a good reel that can withstand the salt
I'm sure that I'll end up dunking mine at some point soon, so that'll be something I can test later. I considered dunking it on purpose for making this review, but I just couldn't do it because of so many years of training myself to never let the reel get dunked into saltwater. That being said, it happens so finding a salt-proof reel would be fantastic if there is such a thing:)
Luke. You sell both the 2500 and 3000. What is the criterion for selection? Fishing inshore for snook, trout, reds
know this video is old but was thinking about getting the fuego but wondering if it’s worth spending 100 more for the ballistic
Which one is better the Daiwa Fuego or Daiwa Freams 2018?
Hi , I would like to know comparison of 3000 models I found 3000-C ; 3000D-C and 3000-CXH. Since reel is now in market for some time I would like to know how it compares to Daiwa BG and battle3 in same size. THANKS !!!
How has the Fuego held up?
Salt Strong what's your thoughts still on this reel? I'm interested in the 3000? I live in Tampa and will be strictly fishing saltwater from my kayak and my bay boat. Thanks!
I want to know if this reel would be good for top water applications where I need good casting distance? Thanks in advance.
I have the LT3000D-C would 10lb Fluorocarbon be ok with the series??
Caught 500lbs of speckled trout in 6 months and similar of Drum. Both casting and trolling. They have performed perfect. Just wash the reels after use. I carry a detail spray bottle with water and squirt them off.
Which Fuego size do you have for trolling? And what minnow size for the trolling? I'm considering the 5000 Fuego for my all round since it's still light enough for micro jig, and cast some minnows and swimbaits 30-60grams. But if it performs well for trolling then I shall go with this Fuego
You really means 500lb or 50lb?
@@vodzmarinero 2500 and 3000
@@vodzmarinero 500lb 20 to 40 fish a day adds up
Thanks for replying. How are these reels now are they still smooth n strong? Whats your average speed when trolling? I'm on a cargo vessel with 11 knots speed, i hope the 5000 size can also handle trolling with this speed.
Hello Sir, is this full metal body?
I recently purchased a Daiwa Fuego 2500 lt... it’s definitely not as smooth as my $60 shimano Sedona. After 2 uses the handle cap fell of and after three uses it is now squeeling internally and feels like junk. And the line does bunch up at the top/: never dunked the reel in saltwater and always thoroughly rinse and clean..
Great question! Make sure to ask this over on the actual blog or in the Community (www.saltstrong.com/) where the coaches spend their time. The blog can be found here:
www.saltstrong.com/articles/daiwa-fuego-lt-reel-review/
Same problem to my fuego.What is that squeeling noise at slow speed retrieving?
@@Saltstrong Just took the Fuego 2500 LT2500D out to the Everglades. After 1 trip it started squeaking and feels like junk. I was on a kayak, and so inevitably all my reels get wet and often dunked. I also took out a BG 2500 on the same trip. The BG got dunked too, I didn't rinse it until 48 hours after use and it still works like new. I definitely do NOT recommend the Fuego if you're like me and dunk reels often. But I'm really impressed with the BG 2500
Are you still using this reel? Do you notice a flex in the reel while fighting a fish?
The reel doesn't last long because the one way clutch will corrode and the bushing will corrode too, the magsealed doesn't have use.
What size reel is this in the video ?
Any updates on how this reel held up?
Great reels I own (4) of the 4000 love these reels!
Wow! The fact that you bought 4 of them certainly shows that you like them:)
How's the flex on the 4000's?
What line do you use on the 4000 fuegos
Hi , Can this Reel fit to this Rod Major Craft New Crostage CRX-1002M Seabass Series (Length: 3.04mt, Lure: 15-42gr)?
Thank you for your question! We have a massive library of fishing tips on our website along with a search feature to let you quickly filter down to find help you're looking for, so just go to www.saltstrong.com/ and use the Search feature in the top menu.
Can you review the BG? Which one do you prefer between the BG & fuego?
Here's the review of the BG: www.saltstrong.com/articles/daiwa-bg-2500-spinning-reel-review/
Salt Strong Just read the article & saw the video, appreciate it boss.
Dre' M. Go with the BG bro.
Bodean Holler Yeah that's what I was thinking, I've been after it for a lot longer but once the fuego came out I started to wonder. I reckon I'm just gonna get the BG lol. Appreciate the input bro.
Dre' M. You fish salt water or fresh?
Is 20lb braid ok?
Why noy the leglalis or exceller lt
Daiwa deliberately lays the line so the spool thickens upwards. They say it will give you longer casts, so that's not a fault that's a feature.
The issue in the example mentioned in this video was that one of the Daiwa Fuego 3000 reels was much more top heavy than the other... same exact reel, but much different thickness at the top (abnormally top heavy).
I got a new tatula lt 3000 and the line lay way more on top. I put the supplied washers under the spool (2) and the line lay is perfectly even. Afterwards I read somewhere else that diawa purposely makes them load up more towards the top. I left it even and it casts great but next time I respool I'm taking those washers back out to see how it performs the way diawa intended.
I was going to add a washer but will try it first. Definitely heavier towards the top. Adding a washer is not easy since I have to press off the small bearing above the washer. I have the 2500-XH.
I use Fuego LT 2500 and 4000, Exceler LT 2500 and Ballistic LT 1000 as my main gear. I got them right after the launch and so far they all hold up really well and don't see any war or tear. For brown trout i use Ballistic 1000 due to lighter weight for my UL rod,. Pike and perch go with Fuego 2500 and Exceler 2500 and for salmon and sea trout Fuego LT 4000. So far totally satisfied. I have used C14+ (eveyone says Ci4, but that's because of Shimano's unsuccessful model name design :D ) before, also Stella and Okuma Helios lineup, but so far i have been most satisfied with the new LT lineup. One that i am looging to try out is Tatula LT, too.
How is the flex on the 4000 Fuego LT? I will be using for light surfcasting, pompano, snook , reds, blues etc. central florida. Thanks.
@@rabidgp Hello Rob. The flex is minimal. Tatula LT and Ballistic LT are very very lightly stiffer, but you won't notice it unless you twist and sqeeze them under laboratory conditions with all those measuring sensors attached. You will be satisfied with Fuego for sure. With that price, i haven't found a better reel yet. Cheers.
I replied with different account, i was the initial commenter, just so you know ;)
@@RockwebEu gotcha, thanks!
Just bought one and used it for about 4 hours. It slightly bunches the line at the top. Does anyone have this issue? Thinking about returning it.
Thank you for that review, wonder though your thoughts comparing it, if you know, with Daiwa's BG, and/or other reels in the same price range, Shimano, Okuma, etc. I think this one's claim to fame is being fully sealed; as you say, only time will tell but I do think it is a sealed system. BG is heavier, but what then, might be the BG's advantage--other than singing?
The body is not sealed, the seal is around the rotor only. ie. will survive a splash, will not survive a dunk.
What size reel was that? Maybe you said it and I missed it but was it a 3000 or 4000?
The one I'm using is the Daiwa Fuego LT 3000.
Would you choose shimano stradic ci4+ fk over daiwa fuego still?
vsonic86 stradic is ballistic's class.. fuego is just lil brother
rahman hidayat thank bro. Saw it light and got a strong drag, thought it is better than Stradic.
vsonic86 I own both the 3000 stradic ci4 and the fuego 3000.
Have owned the stradic for about 4 years and have beat the hell out of it in salt water, really ill treated the reel with minimum maintenance and used for all types of applications, light shore jigging,spinning, egi fishing, u name it. I can tell you the drag is still crisp, reel is extremely smooth, considering its made out of composite it is quite solid with minimum flex, and most importantly no signs of corrosion whatsoever! Highly recommend it.
On the other hand straight out of the box the Fuego looks quite good for the price (looks cheaper than stradic though), very smooth rotation nearly matching that of the stradic, drag also feels smooth with a pleasant click to it........... however!!! The flex on this reel is crazy! At first I thought the problem was with the rods reel seat because the amount of movement on the reel as you apply a little bit of pressure was huge. I mean spooling the reel with 14lb braid and applying 2lbs of pressure on the line was causing a huge amounts of flex from the reel seat and support arm. Very cheap materials used here that cant match that of the stradics ci4+
I cant understand why the reel would have 7kg of drag when at 3lbs of pressure it starts twisting like a snake! Wouldn’t feel comfortable fighting a decent fish as ive done with the stradic.
My advice would be to pay a little more and buy the stradic, you wont look back. However if you are strictly on a budget and a 3000 daiwa is what you are after then go for the freams, ive owned one for two years and can guarantee you that its a great solid reel that matches the quality of the stradics and at a better price, the only thing is it weighs a little more than the stradic but id take any day a couple of grams of extra weight over that ridiculous amount of flex on the fuego!
My last name is Fueyo... had to get one. Bought at Southeastern Tackle in Tampa and took advantage of the Insiders discount. haven't fished with it but hope to in Anna Maria if the red tide is not bad. Good stuff Salt Strong, your videos have kicked up a notch, great youtube watching.
Thanks for the kind words Rick! Hope you enjoy the Fuego (or shall we just call it the Fueyo now) as much as we do. Fish On!
the bigger the reel the flimsier it feels when hooked up
there are advantages to a super light reel
unfortunately there are drawbacks too
Thanks for sharing!
Does anyone else have that reel? Does it do the thing when you reel it back it takes the handle off?
Hi man I'm pretty sure all spinning reels do that, or at least every one that I own which is close to 30
How is this reel holding up?
Test out the new Blair Wiggins Lews inshore rods
I'll keep an eye out for those rods in future shopping sprees.
Carolina Crown2014 I have the Wright and McGill one and have caught a lot with it , wanted to see how the new ones were. Great rod for a $100 .
So. I have the Wright n McGill and the new lews. Love them both. Quality and light weight. Gonna try a different sized reel on the lews tho. Should have a Daiwa BG 3000 at my door within the next week which will be going on the BW Lews 7’6” MD rod. I prefer this size set up for my live baits and Mirrodines
murdered350 I have the 3000 sabalos on my Wright and McGill 7’6” and love it for that rod. I have caught it all on it : snook, tarpon, mangrove snapper, trout, jacks, reds, flounder and handled all well. I do a lot of use live bait a lot also. Has sensitive tip and has some back bone also. Been wanting to get another 7’6” and 7’ also just haven’t had to get up to dicks.
I know of a guy that uses the ballistic ex and lt for wading in salt. His ex has lasted him 3 yrs according to him on IG, he uses lures and braided line I'm sure he's dunked them.
Thanks for sharing the helpful info. Fish On!
I have the Fuego 2500 and the line bunches on the bottom of the spool, never seen one do that. I have been fishing with spinning reels for decades and never had this problem. Right out of the box this reel should work great and it does not. I'm on my second spool of power pro after the first one knotted all up after only 10 minutes of use. I don't get it but Diawa should be ashamed, there is a known issue with this reel.
That happens every once in a while with reels. Here's a tip that shows how to fix it: www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-prevent-wind-knots-on-spinning-reels/
good reel but mine has sticky drag out of the box :(
Grease the drag washers and then put line on the reel, then pull drag out sometimes while fishing and it should loosen the drag
@@noahjohns7954 thank you for the answer but i solved the problem by adding second ball bearing 4/7/2mm under the spool and removing the thickest plastic bushing. the hole of the spool is deep enough to hold 2 bearings. a russian youtuber recommend that tuning. it works
@@VANSbeingused cool cool. Glad you found a fix, now I know that my Diego could come with sticky bearings and now 2 ways to fix it! Tight lines
Is it better than the stradic ci4?
No way . . . Ci4 better, fuego flexs alu gear no saltwater it kills
But for light fishing on fresh water great line clip it will do the job
its been 5 years, any update about this reel in 2023? I am planning on buying it, but im not so sure yet
Daiwa has recreated their Fuego with a few updates - that video is coming soon!!!
I just bought one and it’s already covered in sand that’s my fault tho
I guess its it the magnetic oil inside
Saltwater gets into the gear and Alu gear dont mix with saltwater
its ger really messy. Mine opion wast it out with water or dont use it on saltwater it destroy your bearings and alu gear.
Nah skip this reel guys. I got one listening to this video and these guys and the reel is not good at all.
There is a ton of flex that the reel feels unstable. It's smooth at first but really dry and creaky and makes a bunch of friction noises even after cleaning.
Sure, it's got mag seal but it's impossible to take apart and clean. Skip this one and pay the extra 40$ for a shimano
Thank you for your feedback.
I’ve got 8 reels and all have lasted for years. I don’t buy anything else.
Thanks for sharing!
It flexes like mad, really weak considering it’s carbon. It feels like made out of noodles.
Interesting... what size fuego reel are you using when you experience that flex problem? And what strength line?
Salt Strong 2500, 10lbs line. You can hold on to the reel and feel the flex. When fish on, it’s definitely wobble like a cheap plastic reel.
@@1FishinAddict Interesting... that's the same specs that I use too. Sounds like you may want to test out how much drag tension you're using... with a 10 lb line, the drag should only be at 2.5 lbs (which should be small enough to not feel much flexing). I have heard of the flex problem before, but everyone else who mentioned it was spooling 20 to 40 lb braid on the 3000 size one which is more power than this LT line is built for.
Salt Strong it’s a big disappointment considering it’s carbon. Carbon reel not supposed to flex.
@@1FishinAddict I agree that it should be strong enough not to flex even with 20lb + line. My point was mostly focused on making sure that your drag setting is at the recommend ~25% of line strength because I learned that lesson the hard way multiple times by losing big fish to breakoffs before I realized that my drag was set too tight (I was setting mine at 5+ lbs with 10 lb line). And a bonus for this reel is that when the drag is set at 2.5 lbs, then the flexing arm problem shouldn't be a noticeable issue.
The new daiwa line of LT reels flex way to much very disappointed
Depends on the reel. The Fuego is not built with Daiwa's Zaion material which is stiffer. You have to step up to the Ballistic or Tatula for that.
I have purchased the legalis 3000 LT the reel arm flex so much idk why
Way too much flex. Hard to tell if flex is in body itself or in the handle. When I reel in a fish I feel the flex. V annoying.
Which size Fuego LT reel are you using (3000, 4000, etc.)? And what size line (10 lb, 20, etc.)?
Salt Strong 3k size w 20 lb braid.
Coza King shut ain’t got nothing to do with line size
Gears are horrible on that reel
Man you have something against daiwa. First the mag seal and now the gears? Look at Tackle advisors review of the fuego lt. The gears of the 3000 model held up against tarpon and the mag seal did its job and protected the reel from being destroyed
Despite being carbon, it flexes like grandma on crutches. Not meant for big fish.
What power line are you using? Do you know how much drag tension the reel is set to?
The reason I ask is because I have not yet seen any issues with flexing. But that most likely is due to the fact that I'm just using 10 lb line on mine so the drag setting is only about 3 lbs.
Mboh.! Orah roh blas bosone..!
You are full of bs man, light reel, this is heavy reel, check out shimano ci4, that's 6oz, a bit more to the price, but great reel. Or find some Chinese that are up to 7 ounces for half the price of this daiwa and same or better quality. Also LT version
Perhaps you're referring to a different Daiwa reel? The 3000 Shimano ci4 weighs 6.7 oz, and the 3000 Daiwa Fuego LT (shown in this video) is 7.5 oz... yes, the ci4 is lighter, but I wouldn't consider the Fuego LT as a heavy reel because 7.5 oz for a 3000 size spinning reel is less than most other options.
The Fuego LT is like 1oz heavier than the equivalent Stradic CI4? Given the price difference I don't see your point at all? Also, what Chinese reel would you buy over the Daiwa? Very few Japanese reels are even made in Japan including most Shimano's so your China comment doesn't make sense either?
@@Saltstrong Idk what "Chinese" reels he is talking about that could be anything but comparing a Fuego LT to a Stradic CI4+ is silly for price reasons. I'll take a major manufacturer over any of the Kastking, Piscifun, Amazon special garbage made in China reels. Just doesn't make sense his comment.
@@jeffsmith825 Thanks for making time to send in the nice comment Jeff! I didn't follow that earlier comment either... my guess is that he was referring to an early version of the Fuego (before the LT version) that was much heavier and supposedly had a lot of bad reviews.