OK I've heard you guys sing diawas praises so I thought I would try one out, I found one on eBay and took it out yesterday night. I can't seem to get much distance out of it with a 3/8oz spinnerbait. Only about 30ft. If I loosen it up it hairballs on me. I'm using a Mitchell crucial medium heavy rod 6'6". And 10lb mono. Is it the reel?

I seriously doubt is the reel by itself, it´s the brake settings.

Going to have to step up to the tatula if you want a good daiwa IMO. The lexa and all lower end daiwa's are very disappointing.

All I saw was the magnetic brakes inside, I turned that down but created the hairball problem again

There´s no point in I telling you that for X or Y Brand the "good stuff" starts at a particular point, I swear, my first baitcaster was a cheap Silstar, used it for years and served me well until accidentally the reel foot broke, compared to my newer Shimanos and Daiwas and even to my older Abus it was "crap", there´s no point inm saying " dump it ! " and get another one, you already have the reel so let´s make with it thebest we can.

 

It´s a matter of adjustment, the line is right, the rod is right, the lure weight is right ( even thou spinnerbaits have s*ty aerodynamic properties ) and the reel is right, If it were able to go and pay you a visit to set the dang thing for you I swear I would do it gladly, but it´s not posible, so it´s up to you to set, try and adjust. If my POS Silstar was capable of casting practically anything your Daiwa can.