went to BPS today and was testing reels.  I also focused in on the Shimano NASCI 3000, and the DAIWA FUEGO LT 2500. I am leaning more and more towards the DAIWA.  Mainly due to color.  One certainly didn't feel better over the other.  Both smooth.  I see I can get the Shimano online anywhere from $85-100.  And the Daiwa online anywhere from $73-100.

 

I read the reviews where ppl are having issues with the line lay, and having to add a plastic disk to the reel in order to fix this.  Do all these Fuego reels have this issue?  That's the only downside to the Fuego that I can tell.  The guy at BPS leaned more towards this reel than the NASCI.  But gave both rave reviews.

 

As for the NASCI, I am not hearing any negative other than the loss of the anti-reverse switch.  But that's not an item that I would miss.

 

 

 

Shimano NASCI!!

Not the lightest but the BG 2000 can be found for $90.  I got the 1500 and it feels like a little tank.  Both are listed as weighing the same and having the same ratio, but the 2000 holds more line.

I've heard the Fuego has issues with flexing under load. Something to consider, although not everyone seems to have this problem. I have no personal experience with either reel though, so take this with a grain of salt. I'm planning on ordering a couple of Okuma Epixor xt's due to Tackle Advisor's review of them, may be another option to consider. You can also find them at a lower price point than either of the other two reels. However if you're sticking in that price range, I hear that if you can handle the weight, the BG is superior to any of the aforementioned reels.

I have 3 Pflueger Supreme XT's, best reeels I have ever used. I also have a President Limited Edition which I have never had any trouble.

After reading more reviews and specs, I think I'm going the NASCI 3000 route, and I will pair it up with a St Croix Triumph M/F

5 hours ago, crankbait2009 said:

After reading more reviews and specs, I think I'm going the NASCI 3000 route, and I will pair it up with a St Croix Triumph M/F

I was recently in a similar situation, between the Daiwa Tatula Lt and Shimano Stradic FL. Read a lot of reviews and found that the Daiwa reels, while smooth seems to have line lay issues. If I am paying good money for a reel I want it to work well out of the box and last a long time. I went with the Shimano, no regrets at all. I think you made a solid choice and will have a ton of fun with your new combo. 

I use both the BG 2000 and a Tatula 2500 on a regular basis and have never experienced any line lay issues.

 

11 hours ago, crankbait2009 said:

went to BPS today and was testing reels.  I also focused in on the Shimano NASCI 3000, and the DAIWA FUEGO LT 2500. I am leaning more and more towards the DAIWA.  Mainly due to color.  One certainly didn't feel better over the other.  Both smooth.  I see I can get the Shimano online anywhere from $85-100.  And the Daiwa online anywhere from $73-100.

 

I read the reviews where ppl are having issues with the line lay, and having to add a plastic disk to the reel in order to fix this.  Do all these Fuego reels have this issue?  That's the only downside to the Fuego that I can tell.  The guy at BPS leaned more towards this reel than the NASCI.  But gave both rave reviews.

 

As for the NASCI, I am not hearing any negative other than the loss of the anti-reverse switch.  But that's not an item that I would miss.

 

 

 

Be careful about using info from salesmen. I spent 45 minutes talking to BPS guy about electronics and he slipped up and told me he'd never even owned a boat. So basically he's just regurgitating what he's been told or read and had no real world experience with electronics. I was looking at buying a Solix 15($3600) so I wanted a little better info.

I haven’t used the Daiwa. The nasci is a great $99 reel no complaints and no line problems. I have the 2500 size and it’s everything I need it to be. 

The Diawa BG 2500 or 2000 seem to me to be at least as smooth as my Shimano Stradic 2500FK  for half ($90) the price. The 2500 BG is bigger than the 2500 Stradic and maybe a little bigger than the 3000 Stradic.  I surf fished two of the 2500 BGs every day for a week last year.  The only maintenance was rinsing them off at the end of the day. Both were exposed to sand and salt water.  I've used them since a few times for fresh water fishing and they still feel like new.

 

Based on reviews I've read on the BGs Diawa is now incorporating the same technology, bearings & main gear,  on the BG that are on their higher end reels.