Introduction: The Daiwa T3 is perhaps
the most eagerly anticipated premium freshwater low profile baitcaster this
season and debuted just a few months ago at ICAST. The T3 features a number of
innovations including Daiwa’s MagForce 3D cast control system and the very
anomalous looking T-Wing design which flips the front of the reel completely
open during casting to reveal the uniquely shaped “T” levelwind.
A look back at the T3 right before
ICAST 2011, anticipation was high for this unique new baitcaster, was the new
system a gimmick or the real deal?
Impressions:This year there were a
number of interesting baitcasters at ICAST, Quantum unveiled their extremely
ported EXO reel, Abu highlighted the lightweight MGX which won best of show in
the category, and Shimano redefined their entire midrange lineup, but it was
Daiwa that introduced the most innovative new baitcaster, the T3.
The T3 looks quite unlike any
other baitcaster with the angled profile and hidden levelwind guide
The T3 and T3 Ballistic reels
are Daiwa’s first baitcasters to make use of the company’s durable Zaion carbon
material, and also features the new MagForce 3D cast control system which offers
anglers a much wider range of cast control options. But let’s face it, what
really makes this new series of reels noteworthy is the flip open “T-Wing” which
is designed to give the line coming off the spool extra space in which to more
naturally flow during casts. This is designed to reduce friction because line is
not forced to funnel through a narrow opening and in theory should result in
longer more accurate casts, as well as a more natural fall from your lures.
The T3 sits very low on
traditional Fuji reelseats making it very easy to palm
This design gives the T3 a
very unique look as the traditional levelwind does not need to be positioned at
the front of the reel. With the “T” levelwind concealed under the T-Wing the T3
features an aggressive stealth fighter look. Following the same slanting lines
the Magforce 3D knob is positioned flush within the sidelate.
At ICAST we checked out the T3
Ballistic reels (left) which are a scaled back version of the premium T3
At ICAST I checked out all
the T3 reels at the booth and found these first reels off the line to be both
very smooth and refined. The reel looked ready for primetime but at ICAST Daiwa
still needed time to ramp mass production for the hard launch. Bill Liston, the
head of Marketing for Daiwa US, told me to come back at the end of the show for
more information. After the three days of ICAST the Daiwa booth was my last stop
before we headed to the airport.
The T3 Ballistic opens up to
reveal the uniquely shaped "T" levelwind guide
With the show coming to a
close the Daiwa booth was already being broken down and the forklifts were ready
to move in. Bill smiled when he saw me and I figured I was going to get a scoop
on something else in the works, but instead he led me to the back of the booth
and handed me one of the very first T3-1016H reels from the show. I played with
the reel all the way to the airport and suffice to say I was itching to see just
what this new reel would really feel like with a lure tied on the end of the
line.
The high speed T3 model features
attractive red highlights to differentiate the reel
Real World Tests:
The real world tests for the T3 began exactly 10 hours after we returned to the
Bay Area from ICAST Las Vegas. I was eager to see just what this reel could do
and hitched up the bass boat and headed straight for the California Delta. Over
the next two months I logged as many hours as I could fishing the Delta and
local lakes fishing both Berkley Big Game mono and light Toray fluorocarbon with
a variety of plastics and hardbaits. I employed the T3 in a variety of
techniques including both finesse and power applications throughout the last few
months.
The T-Wing design incorporates a
single switch connected to the clutch, this is all constructed out of Zaion
material