Just picked this reel up from scheels online with a 5’6” ultralight Shakespeare rod for creek fishing. I’m a long time fan of Daiwa in the bait casting world, but this is my first spinner from them and hoping it turns out great for my creek excursions with my family. What’s your experience with this reel? I’ve read a lot of good about it.
 

I plan to run 4lb braid for rooster tails and beetle spins. 

A buddy of mine has one and it's a pretty good reel for the money but 4lb braid is going to be hard to handle on this reel. The line management is not the greatest.  I would go 6lb mono or a bigger diameter braid. 

Although I have zero experience with that reel it seems a bit big for 4 pound braid even with monofilament backing. But I will add the Regal gets a lot of love on this site and elsewhere with @FrnkNsteen referring to it pretty recently if I remember correctly.

Thanks for the replies! I may just bump up to 6lb as per the suggestion.

34 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

Although I have zero experience with that reel it seems a bit big for 4 pound braid even with monofilament backing. But I will add the Regal gets a lot of love on this site and elsewhere with @FrnkNsteen referring to it pretty recently if I remember correctly.

Agreed! I have always liked the Daiwa Regal spinning reels. I don't currently have any as I have replaced them with Fuegos and up to Tatula, Ballistics and Shimano Stradics and Vanfords.

 

I've had Regals going way back to the old Regal X and Regal Z reels from the 90's up to having a couple newer versions as recent as a year or two ago. To this day I think it's hard to beat the lower priced Daiwa reels like the RG, the Revros, and the Regal reels. My experience with them has only been in the 2000 and 2500 size. I don't know how well a 2500 will handle 4lb braid though. 

 

I used them for #2 and #3 Mepps and Aglia spinners up in Ontario for smallies, but I used 10 or 14lb Berkeley Fireline. That fused Fireline holds up surprisingly well to the toothy Northerns and Muskies and is very limp once it wears in and starts to turn gray.

Regals are probably the best at their price point.  I don't own one, but a friend has a couple and they run great. 

I put 5# braid on a Benkei 6'7" LF 2-piece rod to keep in the car for unexpected fishing opportunities.  Zero abrasion existence.  Very thin.  Will try to keep it on now that I live where abrasion resistance isn't much of a problem, but definitely will go heavier when time to replace it if I stick with braid.  I like mono/co-polymer, so may go to 4# line at replacement time.

 

No comment on the reel.  Gave an older Revros to a B-I-L as a birthday gift several years ago.  He's still using it AFAIK.  To the best of my knowledge, he never cleans or lubes a reel.

Don't have the Regal, but did play with one in the store. Ended up buying a Daiwa Exceler LT 3000 instead due to some upgraded features and I prefer the basic silver finish. Have not put it to use it, but have it spooled with thin 15lb braid and lays line well. 

 

I also have a Daiwa Tatula LT 2000 spooled with thin 8lb braid and it also lays line nicely. I have had this reel for 2 years and never had a wind knot or any issues at all. 

 

Daiwa LT series of reels are lightweight, smooth drags, and very light rotation of the handle, sort of a smooth airy feel. I like their spinning reels. 

I have an older gen revros which is similar,  different bearings in certain places. It's really nice. I probably caught 100s of crappie the first season is used it. I'm guessing you're getting the current gen. They did a nice upgrade for the current gen so I'm sure you'll like it. I have a new gen JDM Legalis and exceler and they're great. I think the big upgrade was a much lighter rotor. 

 

I actually just ordered a 2500 for my wife. 
 

All my spinning reels are low-mid 2500 Daiwas. Revros and legalis. All have been solid for me. Smooth drag, good line management (I typically have 8-10 lb braid or 6lb yozuri hybrid). 
 

I expect the Regal to be no different. 

I have a couple of older ones and they work good and smooth.  The only drawback is their weight.  I have a 200 Tatula and it's 3 oz lighter.  Also a 2500 is, IMO, way too big for an ultra light and 4 lb line.

22 hours ago, msgf91 said:

I have an older gen revros which is similar,  different bearings in certain places. It's really nice. I probably caught 100s of crappie the first season is used it. I'm guessing you're getting the current gen. They did a nice upgrade for the current gen so I'm sure you'll like it. I have a new gen JDM Legalis and exceler and they're great. I think the big upgrade was a much lighter rotor. 

 

I did buy current gen yes.

I have a 2000 I use for creek fishing and I love it. I've caught dozens if not hundreds of fish on it the past 3-4 years including a bunch of Smallmouth up to 17". I just broke it down to service it a month ago, it's as smooth or smoother than the day I bought it now. I don't think it lays line as well and gets more line twist than a comparable Shimano but I'm okay with that because of how much lighter it is in comparison.

 

IMO, if you wanted to use it for ultra light I would've opted for the 1000/2000 though, but I'm sure the 2500 will do fine.