Credit: Daiwa.com
The Daiwa Lexa 300 HD Baitcaster Reel (Review)
The Daiwa Lexa 300 HD baitcaster reel is a prime example of a blend of high quality combined with solid construction and innovative design.
The Daiwa Lexa 300 HD is a heavy duty baitcaster that utilizes its tough construction materials to complement the smart integration of its various components.
Don’t let the price of this Daiwa reel mislead you. This reel is the exact upgrade you need for your fishing needs if you continue to find yourself not on the winning side against headstrong fish.
Daiwa Lexa 300 HD Specs:
- Stainless Steel Drive
- Pinion Gears
- 6 Corrosion-Resistant Ball Bearings
- 22 lbs of drag
Click image to view on Amazon.com
PROS: What I Like About the Daiwa Lexa 300 HD
There’s a lot to like about the Daiwa Lexa 300 HD. Below are the features that stuck out to me about this reel. Keep reading to learn more about each of the “Pros” that I’ve listed here.
- Aluminum Frame and Side Plate
- 6 Corrosion-resistant Ball Bearing System
- Ultimate Tournament Carbon Drag System
- Magforce Cast Control
- Convenient Handle Knobs
- Gearbox Location
- Infinite Anti-Reverse Functionality
Aluminum Frame and Side Plate
The aluminum construction of this heavy duty baitcaster proves to withstand the massive open water battles while maintaining a compact and lightweight feel. This makes handling the Lexa 300 an ease to use without sacrificing strength or power as you reel in your fish. You can be confident that the aluminum construction will maintain its durability and integrity fo years of frequent and hard use, which in my opinion makes the Daiwa Lexa 300 HD a great value for the money.
6 Corrosion-resistant Ball Bearing System
As you know, saltwater is extremely harsh on fishing equipment. But these corrosion resistant bearings are specially coated to resist corrosion and can last up to 12 times longer than standard steel ball bearings. In the end, this extends the life of the reel making your investment a great value.
Ultimate Tournament Carbon Drag System
Both the 300 and 400 models of the reel use this system, which is comprised of oversized carbon fiber drive washers. These go on both sides of the spool and distribute the stress from the spool evenly. Basically, this makes your drag extremely smooth and lessens the chance that you’ll experience any catching or binding. It also helps you keep a grip on your fishing rod more easily and prevents damage from high-stress struggles.
Magforce Cast Control
This reel utilizes Daiwa’s unique magnetic braking system and it helps make this particular reel extremely castable and feel fantastic to use. It lets your spool start to spin freely the second that you release it. Near the end of the cast, your spool will start to slow down as the magnets integrated with the reel start to apply. This prevents back spooling and keeps your cast feeling great throughout the duration.
You can fine-tune the magnetic force applied during the cast via a dial that’s located on the sideplate. You don’t have to remove the sideplate as it’s totally accessible at any point during your cast. This also lets you make changes in the middle of the action rather than in between casts.
Convenient Handle Knobs
These can be a lifesaver when it comes to a tough catch. These handles are located in key spots that are extremely easy to grip, allowing you to put more power into your struggle if you catch a fish that is particularly wild and resistant. These grips are sturdy enough that they won’t threaten the integrity of the entire reel, even if you’re putting a lot of pressure on it.
Gearbox Location
I also really liked the fact that the Lexa 300 has its gearbox installed below the rod handle. This makes changing gears a lot simpler and more convenient and can let you make quick changes in the middle of the cast without having to fumble your grip on the fishing rod.
Infinite Anti-Reverse Functionality
Perhaps the most important aspect of this reel is its Anti-Reverse function. This combines with the integrated dual-stopper and both eliminate back play on the part of the snagged fish. The Infinite Anti-Reverse feature makes it really hard for the fishing rod handle to turn back whenever the line is pulled from the real. When you combine this aspect with the overall durable construction of the reel, you’ve got a heavy-duty model that can go toe to toe with all types of different fish.
CONS: What I Don’t Like About the Daiwa Lexa 300 HD
- Loud
- Price
Loud
Although it feels fantastic to use, the Daiwa Lexa 300 HD can be a little noisy as you cast. This noise level is fairly consistent and there’s no doubt that you can get used to it after a while, but it might be a bit of a shock after coming from quieter angler casters. The noise is likely due to all of the aluminum and stainless steel components reacting together and can’t really be avoided.
Price
This is definitely a high-quality baitcasting reel and with that comes a relatively high price. This isn’t a budget pick by any means, so beginner anglers will probably want to go with something else while they get their grips on the hobby before moving up to something so professional as the Lexa 300.
Best Alternative To The Daiwa Lexa 300 HD
Daiwa Coastal TWS Baitcasting Reel
- A7075 aircraft grade aluminum deep spool
- 8 bearing System
- High strength gearing material
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The Daiwa Coastal TWS baitcaster has many of the same positive features that the as the Lexa 300 HD has, but at a more affordable price.
However, with the lower price comes a few sacrifices. And those are overall durability and smoothness of casting. The Daiwa coastal features seven stainless steel ball bearings as well as a Power Disk drag system. It’s also bolstered by high-density EVA handles to let you keep your grip during those massive battles. A machined double-anodized aluminum spooling system completes the reel.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there’s some serious value that the Daiwa Lexa 300 HD brings to the table. While I don’t recommend this reel to anglers targeting smaller species of fish, I do recommend it to those of you who are battling the big boys. Daiwa has done an excellent job with this heavy duty baitcaster.
If this reel is for you, you can check it out right here, or click on any of the images in this article.
- Stainless steel drive gear & pinion gear
- 7 bearing System
- Extra line capacity for strong lines, powerful fish
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
