Wednesday Review... Daiwa Windcast QDA

This entry was posted on 2nd August, 2017

Reviewed by Carpology Magazine…

THEY BLOSSOMED! Looking for a set of reels which combines good looks and outstanding performance with a lovely, friendly, price tag? Then Daiwa’s updated version of their award-winning Windcast will be just right for you…

Eight years ago Daiwa launched the Windcast family. It offered the customer a new shape and look to a traditional Daiwa reel - and more importantly, one that offered previously unavailable performance at a price that’s affordable for everyone - not just the super rich. Three models made up the range: Z, X and S - all utilizing the same spool taper and delivering high-speed line release for distance casting - a feature also enhanced by the travelling line guard. In short, the Windcast name set a new standard in big pit performance, but now, the new QDA model features a host of new tech, all of which make it even better than its predecessors - here’s how…

THE BIG FIVE 1.) It has to be matt black While this new QDA model embraces many of the top features of the previous family members, the real biggie for us is… its looks! Oh come on, you spend long enough looking at your set-up, so you may as well ensure it looks nice, right? The QDA is a stunning blend of the original Windcast, fused with a Basia, and then drenched in a mixture of gloss and matt black paint. Visually it looks mouth-wateringly lovely.



2.) A good clutch is a must Of course it is, so you’ll be pleased to hear this new model features Daiwa’s legendary QD Drag which offers total control of free spool to fish playing in one action. And the FREE full spec spare spool on all models ensures a second line choice is now not an expensive add-on.

3.) You want to cover all options When Pecky headed off to the Orient, he went heavy-handed with these very reels. Why? Because they’re the Audi Q5 of the reel world. They’re workhorses - fearsomely robust. They also have a 35mm spool, which means they hold an insane amount of line (and for those who want to follow in Pecky’s footsteps, there’s a Long-Distance Windcast model which holds 580m of 14lb line!) - so you can cast, or boat, out a long, looooong way with these winders. The retrieval’s good too, pulling in 106cm of line even with its sub 5.0:1 ratio. But what we really love about these reels is that although they hold a lot of line and deliver big casting distances, they’re not shoeboxed-sized and weigh the same as an iMac.



4.) Want tech? There’s plenty Cosmetics aside, the second biggest difference to the original models is the increased accuracy of gear meshing thanks to Digigear II, which enhances its smooth feel and power conversion under loading. This is further assisted by the strength of Air Rotor and Air Bail. Of course there’s Twist Buster and Manual Bail Closure - two original features - both of which are designed to ensure good and healthy line life, but the addition of the HIP (High Impact) clip is very welcome.

5. ) There’s additions to the family One of those guys who loves to have everything matching? We know: Fox alarms, so you’ve got to have Fox indicators and Black Label bars and sticks, right? Well, you’ll be pleased to know you can offer your main angling reels a couple of siblings in the form of the Spod n Mark version. Featuring a 5.5:1 ratio, it means you’ll pull in 120cm of line per handle turn, and as its product name suggests, it’ll work perfectly well on either (or both) of your spod or marker rods.

Buy The Daiwa Windcast QDA