Classic modification

In 1994 the now legendary Emblem reel was created by Daiwa. It was a pivotal moment in the history of Reels We Really Care About. It was the first “proper” big pit reel which was affordable to all. It was designed as a no-nonsense workhorse. A reel with a bucket spool and a folding handle. Nothing more, nothing less. Now fast-forward to this summer and Daiwa decided it was time for this workhorse to also be a show pony. So what was new? Aside from the fancy new matt black paintwork, nothing. But then why would anything be? It’s a rugged, reliable winder; the reel world’s Land Rover Defender. However, this autumn sees the Scottish company launch a completely new generation of Emblem – the Emblem BR25A – which unlike its most recent predecessor carries all of the company’s best tech and materials.

Just like the Cast’Izm BR25A and the Crosscast BK50, Daiwa has built the Emblem BR25A around a more compact chassis with a shortened 25mm mini big pit spool

The big questions

Wow.
Yeah, that’s right. The lines of the reel look complex and stylish. It’s shiny black paintwork has virtually zero graphics stained across it. It’s compact, yet powerful, full of tech yet all totally user-friendly.

It doesn’t look that much like an original Emblem though?
And a MK1 Golf doesn’t exactly look like an identical twin to the MK7. Whilst the original Emblem shape is an iconic one, times and tastes changed and a quick glance through Daiwa’s 2016 brochure reveals the Emblem BR25A is one of many (Cast’Izm BR25A and the Crosscast BK50 for example) which now carry these looks. Where previously the Tournament 5000T’s and Emblems had larger, rounder backends, these new reels look more tapered, smoother and less abrupt.

A shortened 25mm mini big pit spool results in outstanding line lay

The BR system is faultless, and once again Daiwa have employ their positive ‘pull back’ lever with the tension adjuster easily accessible at the rear

So what’s the ‘tech’ then?
We’ll start with the chassis, which has been built around the same compact design they used for £100-more-expensive Cast’Izm BR, and just like that model, the Emblem BR also offers a shortened 25mm mini big pit spool. This, coupled with the taper angle lip all helps to deliver much longer casts thanks to the reduced resistance. The bail arm is now supported by Castlock – a system which secures the bail arm in place during the cast, meaning zero chance of any future spectacular crack-off. There’s also Air Bail, Air Rotor, Twistbuster, UTD (that stands for Ultimate Tournament Drag), and long-term patriots of the Emblem will be overjoyed to hear this new model comes with the company’s patented High Impact Line Clip. Oh, and of course there’s now a BR system (free-spool) integrated into its backend.

Result! I much prefer this method to loosening the clutch.
We’ve got to be honest, Daiwa’s BR system is faultless and for the Emblem BR25A they’ve continued to employ their positive ‘pull back’ lever with the tension adjuster easily accessible at the rear. The front clutch delivers too, thanks to combining six washers, some Teflon impregnated in fact, with a coil spring and micro adjustment to ensure you have direct and accurate control at all times.

This new model comes with Daiwa’s tried and trusted High Impact Line Clip

There’s loads of tech on the Emblem BR25A, including Castlock, Air Bail and Twistbuster

I’m impressed, but will it perform on both small and large waters?
Yes. Thanks to its new reduced shape, it means this reel is perfectly suited for small, intimate venues right up to for anything but huuuuuuge inland seas and that’s all thanks to the innovative spool geometry which will deliver big casts. At the other end of the spectrum, the Emblem BR25A has crank rate of 107cm of line per rotation so it means you can recovery those big chucks pretty darn quickly.

What are the numbers?
The Emblem BR25A has six ball bearings (three more than its predecessor), weighs 510g (that’s 74g less), holds 320m of 0.32mm line and comes with a retail price of £199.99.

Should I get one?
Hell, yeah. It may not have the cult status of an original Emblem, but it does have 21st century tech. And if you’re in the market for a baby big pit reel which will deliver – and keep on delivering – then it doesn’t get much better than this.
daiwasports.co.uk

SPEC SHEET:
Price: £199.99
Weight: 510g
Ball bearings: Six
Line capacity: 320m of 0.32mm
Spare spool: No
On-sale: Now

Other reels we care about

The equivalent to classic motor cars

ST800D

Launched in 1985, the ST8000D was Daiwa’s first long-distance fixed spool reel. It could hold 260m of 15lb line, weighed 20.8oz and retailed for £39.99.

GS9000 Millionmax

At the beginning of the 90’s, Daiwa introduced the little-talked-about-today GS9000 Millionmax reel. This first proper ‘big pit’ reel was to become the stepping-stone to a reel which was going to change reel design forever: the SS3000.

SS3000

In 1991, Kevin Nash spotted the SS3000 – a reel aimed at the sea market. 12-months later, a tweaked and adjusted version landed on the shelves of all tackle shops across Europe. A cult classic was born.

SS9000

Along with this model’s larger waistline, the other most noticeable difference between the SS3000 and this one was the “gold spool”.