ICAST: From the First Turn of the Handle
Category: article
Aug 11th, 2021 by Keith Worrall
Modified Aug 11th, 2021 at 9:57 AM
Daiwa’s Saltist MQ Spinning Reel Captures ICAST Best in Category Award
With MQ framing, incredible strength, precision smoothness and a great price, this rugged, lightweight reel sure turned heads at the world’s largest fishing tackle trade show.
Cypress, CA (August 10, 2021) – When the Daiwa-US team arrived at the 2020 Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), late last month, they came brimming with confidence. How could they not? With a line-up featuring some of the most advanced fishing technology in the world covering many aspects of the sport, the in-person event provided a great opportunity to showcase and sell their products, talk face-to-face with dealers, anglers and the media, and rekindle industry friendships.
The Daiwa team was feeling very good heading into the show, revealed Carey Graves, President for Daiwa-US, and things only got better after their new Saltist MQ spinning reel captured “Best in Category” for saltwater reels in the prestigious ICAST New Product Showcase Awards.
“To be honest, I felt the Saltist MQ was a winner from the first time I saw it and turned the handle,” admitted Graves. “Our whole team did an amazing job of not just creating this reel but putting in all the planning and work that went into it from field testing to marketing. This award shows that that our hard work as a team paid off. The Saltist MQ is packed with advanced technology that you’ll really feel when you get it on the water and, once you fish it, you’ll see the level of performance verse the price is even more amazing! It was really nice to receive industry confirmation for what the Daiwa team is creating in the reel market for both fresh and saltwater reels, and the Saltist MQ is a great example of how we are blending amazing technology, performance, durability and value in the products we produce!”
Indeed, Daiwa’s new Saltist MQ spinning reels are loaded with technological breakthroughs. Lightweight, smooth, durable and sexy, the entire series features Daiwa’s ground-breaking Monocoque (MQ) construction, allowing extra power to be packed inside an exceptionally rugged, corrosion resistant frame – and that’s just the beginning. Daiwa has piled on many additional cutting-edge features at a price that offers plenty of bang for the buck – all designed to guarantee these reels operate smoothly, precisely, stand-up to repeated saltwater dousing, and take a beating day after day and trip after trip.
“Serious anglers are going to be thrilled with all the advanced technology we’ve crammed into our Saltist MQ line,” added Marc Mills, Field Marketing Manager for Daiwa-US. “We’ve worked hard to build a stronger, lighter and more durable higher-end spinning reel at a reasonable price and it’s really nice to see all that effort come to fruition. With sizes ranging from 2,500 to 20,000, the Saltist MQ series is saltwater driven and can cover just about any species from speckled trout to giant bluefin tuna.”
Overall, the one-piece MQ aluminum body sets the tone for this Saltist upgrade. With the Monocoque design, the reel body serves as a stiff and distortion-proof frame, which is handy and compact at the same time. The reel’s screw on side plate has been replaced with a twist in version, allowing elimination of the screws and their sockets so the size of the reel body can be reduced even while gear size is increased by 20- to 40-percent. With larger gears and a tighter seal comes more power and torque production, plus a reduction in corrosion, for a win-win improvement. Further, Daiwa’s renown Digigear technology incorporates a larger gear, larger tooth pattern and a perfect mesh between an ultra-tough drive gear and pinion gears for optimized speed, torque, precision, smoothness and durability. Tests show Digigear gear life to be as much as three times greater than the gears used in competitive reels.
The new Saltist MQ also uses Daiwa’s proven and patented MagSeal technology down the main shaft,” revealed Mills. “That keeps water and contaminants from going down into the one-way roller bearing and into the gear set itself, which can really inhibit how the reel performs. It’s the best way we know to reduce contaminants and water into the gear box and still get a ‘no feel’ resistance when turning the handle. A Zaion Air Rotor and Air Bail help keep these reels exceptionally light for their size. Add in a waterproof Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD), and a round decorative but very functional machined aluminum knob handle, refined and polished under the watchful eyes of the Daiwa team, and you’ve got a dynamite reel that’s ready to take on all commers in a rough and tumble saltwater environment.”
Each year the ICAST New Products Showcase Awards recognize the best new fishing products in multiple categories. Voted on by attending product buyers and members of the sportfishing media, these “Best of Category” awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in the fishing tackle industry and are fiercely competitive. In total, this year’s contest saw 686 entries entered by 218 companies. Daiwa-US, it should be noted, also won “Best in Category” for “Freshwater Reels” with its new Zillion SV TW baitcasting reel.
“We are super-excited to have won ‘Best in Category’ for saltwater reels with the new Saltist MQ,” stated Daiwa-US marketing manager, Curt Arakawa. “It means a lot to be recognized and this is testimony to the great technology and products developed by Daiwa. Congratulations to our entire team on a job well done. We came to ICAST looking to show and sell our products – we achieved these goals and exceeded our expectations with our success in the New Product Showcase. Despite lighter attendance than in shows past, we enjoyed being able to speak and connect with people face-to-face while taking extra time to demonstrate our products and fully explain their features. We couldn’t be more pleased with the end results.”
Not a company to rest on its laurels, Daiwa-US continues to look to the future. “Dealers, get ready!” advises Arakawa, “Both the Saltist MQ and the Zillion SV TW will be shipping to you soon – and we know you are going to love offering it to your customers.”
Mills is also thinking ahead. “We’re thrilled with the awards, and already working on next year’s designs. We get a real rush from putting out the most dependable, smooth-operating and technology advanced products on the market today. We want each and every reel we make to be dynamite and truly worth every penny anglers invest in their purchase. Following our success at this year’s show we’re really stoked. In fact, we can’t wait for ICAST 2022.”
For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa products, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is Daiwa.us