Shoot for the moon, the well machined Daiwa Luna
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Date: |
10/25/07 |
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Tackle type: |
Reels |
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Manufacturer: |
Daiwa |
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Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 9.00 + BEST VALUE AWARD!
Introduction:
Daiwa
has a cult following for their high end spinning and baitcasting reels, and over
the last few seasons has really started to pick up momentum when it comes to
saltwater as well. The Saltiga made us do a double take, and the Luna makes use
of a similar “all machined” formula. The Luna is the replacement for the
Millionaire and is positioned against both the Shimano Calcutta B and the
Calcutta TE, though most would argue that it is sandwiched right in the middle,
many anglers like to compare it to the venerable TE.
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Daiwa Luna
300
Specifications |
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Weight |
12.9oz. |
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Gear Ratio |
5.1:1 |
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Line retrieve per crank |
23.6in |
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Bearings |
5 Ball Bearings + 1 Roller Bearing |
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Line Capacity (lb-yds) |
14-320 / 17-245 / 20-190 |
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Additional Features |
Machined Aluminum frame and side plates, machined aluminum spool, spool
click (300 size only), multi-disc drag, Non-Disengaging levelwind system |
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MSRP |
$239.99 |
Impressions: The
Daiwa Millionaire reels were heralded by many anglers as one of the most refined
reels in Daiwa’s history. While the lion’s share of the market belonged to the
Calcutta the Millionaire found many a home among both freshwater and saltwater
anglers that liked the refined connected feel of the reel. Replacing the
Millionaire was a challenge, as the reel was already known for a high level of
refinement. Is the Luna up to that task?
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The Daiwa
Luna is available in four sizes, and we procured multiple reels for our test
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The Luna in contrast to
the Millionaire has a bolder look and feel, yet carries many of the design
elements that are found on other reels in the new Daiwa lineup. These include
the ported spool design and drilled holes in the crossbar. The color of the reel
also transitions from a bronze color on the Millionaire to a much more rich gold
finish on the Luna.
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 |
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The smaller
sized reels (all under the 300) feature external Magforce-Z anti backlash
control |
The Luna is machined for
maximum strength
and dead-on alignment, frame and sideplates are cut from solid bar stock
aluminum whereas many of the competitors will only machine the frame and
handle-side sideplate or forge both sideplates.
Under the hood the Luna
sports a drive
train that is supported by five Super Corrosion Resistant ball bearings and one
instant anti-reverse roller bearing for smooth cranking. The precision gears are
all machine cut from top grade phosphor bronze and brass for durability and
reliability.
|
 |
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The Daiwa
Luna features a Titanium Nitrided wide gap line guide |
The
natural competitor to the Luna is the Calcutta TE, a star performer in our book.
The Calcutta TE offered so much more performance than the original, and some of
the gap has been closed with the Calcutta B series reels, but the TE series
still reigns as the most refined domestic round reel we have tested to date. How
would the Luna match up? Let’s find out.
|
 |
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The 300 size
is much wider than the 203 and 253 sizes and looks more like an inshore reel
as it boasts a massive line capacity |
Real World Tests:
We procured three Luna’s for this test, two 300 size reels for inshore fishing
and tossing swimbaits (one right and one left) and a smaller 203 for tossing
conventional bass lures. We fished the Luna in the California Delta hunting for
Stripers and Largemouth Bass, as well as off the coast of Northern California
for Salmon and Rockcod. To properly gauge the performance of the Luna we
compared the reel in every category to the Shimano Calcutta TE reels.
|
 |
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The
handle is drilled for weight reduction |
Casting:
In terms of casting the Luna can basically be broken down into two distinct
variations. The smaller sizes are intended for lighter applications where
precision casting is a must. All Lunas below the 300 models make use of Magforce-Z
cast control with a simple easy to use external adjustment knob. By using two
fingers or pressing your palm against the sideplate it is easy to rotate the
plate and adjust the backlash magnetic counter force. This system is the fastest
and easiest cast control system we have tested to date for round reels.
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The Luna
features a clutch that extends across the entire span of the spool |
Next Section: Casting the Luna
continues 
