I been going down the Gold Series
Rabbit hole awhile & wondered when the BG series began?The early versions seem to have gold spool black bodies with a wood handle.
James, I believe Daiwa started the BG series in US around 1981. Great looking and working reels. Other than the decals falling off and the handle collars cracking, they seem pretty bulletproof to me.
Just had the collars make a cracking noise on my 13 and 15 when trying to fold. Plenty of lube and still wanted to be stuck.
Quote from: jgp12000 on June 06, 2026, 08:18:08 AMI been going down the Gold Series
Rabbit hole awhile & wondered when the BG series began?The early versions seem to have gold spool black bodies with a wood handle.
Not sure if they pre-date the BG's, but the GS models that with internal bail trips were the identical reel. The DXXXX series, not to be confused with the XXXXD series which are different, are very similar but have bushings on the main gear. Once switched out with bearings, on the water there is no difference.
I have a BG15 that I purchased new in the late 90's and fished hard, its been a great reel and still works just like the day I purchased it. I cant see ever parting with it.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52680927946_b13532c589_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ogewv9)029-2 (https://flic.kr/p/2ogewv9) by , on Flickr
Is the BG15 & GS15 considered a size 1500,please Correct me if not?
Line capacity of old BG15 is about the same as the new BG3000. However, new BG has a much better, stronger drag.
Quote from: MACflyer on June 10, 2026, 10:12:05 PMLine capacity of old BG15 is about the same as the new BG3000. However, new BG has a much better, stronger drag.
This is true, but the line capacity of both reels is 200 yards of 10 lb mono, since the world seems to mostly use the Shimano system as the standard these days, I would call them both 4000 size reels.
The new BG is a worthy successor IMO, but IMO its major flaw is that the spool shaft must come out through the body of the reel. So while the reel body is metal much of the reel cannot be serviced without removing the rotor, which is plastic. On this alone, the new reel will never last as long as the old one, even if it was as robust it simply cannot be serviced indefinitely. When the plastic threads for the AR retention screws wear out, short of getting a new rotor the new BG is toast.
The addition of carbon drag washers to the original BG offers as good of a drag as one would ever need, short of chasing large pelagics.
Quote from: drumbum on June 06, 2026, 01:50:11 PMJust had the collars make a cracking noise on my 13 and 15 when trying to fold. Plenty of lube and still wanted to be stuck.
Just wondering if you could clarify this for me, but do the 13 and 15 share the same sized body? IIRC that was the case on some of the Daiwa series from that era, but I cant remember if that was the case for the BG's and finding specs on them is a bit tricky because you often just get the specs for the new version.
Quote from: bushleague on June 11, 2026, 12:14:23 AMQuote from: drumbum on June 06, 2026, 01:50:11 PMJust had the collars make a cracking noise on my 13 and 15 when trying to fold. Plenty of lube and still wanted to be stuck.
Just wondering if you could clarify this for me, but do the 13 and 15 share the same sized body? IIRC that was the case on some of the Daiwa series from that era, but I cant remember if that was the case for the BG's and finding specs on them is a bit tricky because you often just get the specs for the new version.
Yes,...the 13 and the 15 share the same body, with the 15 having a larger rotor and spool.
bg13
6/270 8/200 10/125 12/100...12oz...5.1:1...29.1ipt...13.2 max drag
bg15
6/400 8/270 10/190 12/150 14/120...12.3oz...5.1:1...32.7ipt...max drag 13.2
pro tip
the line rollers on the 13&15 can be upgraded to the 2 piece (sleeve and SiC roller) from a Whisker SS1600.
I hope this helps.
"the line rollers on the 13&15 can be upgraded to the 2 piece (sleeve and SiC roller) from a Whisker SS1600."
This is very good information , may be GS 13 can do that too .
Since I recently picked up my first BG10,...I am also wondering if the roller from the ss700 will fit the 10.......
Hmmmmmmmm......
Quote from: MACflyer on June 06, 2026, 11:00:38 AMJames, I believe Daiwa started the BG series in US around 1981. Great looking and working reels. Other than the decals falling off and the handle collars cracking, they seem pretty bulletproof to me.
That's funny. I tried buying one from someone on Facebook Marketplace over the weekend and but the handle collar was cracked.
Quote from: drumbum on June 11, 2026, 01:41:02 PMQuote from: bushleague on June 11, 2026, 12:14:23 AMQuote from: drumbum on June 06, 2026, 01:50:11 PMJust had the collars make a cracking noise on my 13 and 15 when trying to fold. Plenty of lube and still wanted to be stuck.
Just wondering if you could clarify this for me, but do the 13 and 15 share the same sized body? IIRC that was the case on some of the Daiwa series from that era, but I cant remember if that was the case for the BG's and finding specs on them is a bit tricky because you often just get the specs for the new version.
Yes,...the 13 and the 15 share the same body, with the 15 having a larger rotor and spool.
bg13
6/270 8/200 10/125 12/100...12oz...5.1:1...29.1ipt...13.2 max drag
bg15
6/400 8/270 10/190 12/150 14/120...12.3oz...5.1:1...32.7ipt...max drag 13.2
pro tip
the line rollers on the 13&15 can be upgraded to the 2 piece (sleeve and SiC roller) from a Whisker SS1600.
I hope this helps.
Interesting, I wonder what the last series was where those two sizes had their own frames? I know the C's do, but the 1300 and 1600c's are very different reels. Did that change with the X's?
Good info on the line rollers, thanks, I'll be on the lookout for one.
The older BG reels were just just good old, heavy duty reliable reels, kinda like the old Penn spinfishers. The new BG's are pretty decent reels at their price point. Can't stand the old SS tournament wobble machine series though. Funny Bass Pro got their pretty similar looking model nice and smooth, except it doesn't have the same quality drag. Have two of the BPS reels on bionic blade rods, that I absolutely adore. How do you guys deal with the wobbling on the tournament series? Never had one that didn't rotor wobble like crazy lol?
I've never noticed rotor wobble on my SS700. I fished it a few weeks ago. I don't think it has a balanced rotor, it pre-dates that. But that's something you feel playing with it at bass pro, not something you'd notice fighting a fish.
It's an SS 1300. None of them have a balancing weight in the rotor, that I'm aware of? But they sure could use one. Don't even need to work a bait using this thing lol. Just cast it out and wobbles back on its own lol. It's definitely more pronounced, than other ones I've handled in the past. I've had a bunch of these over the years. Only had one 2600 that wasn't too bad. That one was made in Japan, I do believe. Pick them up cheap, when I do see them and always wind up dumping them, not too long after lol.
I think he talk about these ss series , not Whisker SS tournament series ,how ever wobble only happen on big reel SS700 is too small for wobble
Quote from: quang tran on June 14, 2026, 02:58:39 PMI think he talk about these ss series , not Whisker SS tournament series ,how ever wobble only happen on big reel SS700 is too small for wobble
Ohh, that's an old one, nice shape too. Do not see many of those around anymore. Lots of the older BG's around for sale still.
I bought this reel when they just come out . Daiwa that time was a cheaper brand , SS 2000 is quite big about same size as Mitchell 306 and same price too , work much better . As you said it wobble . Daiwa whisker SS1300 no wobble at all
Quote from: quang tran on June 14, 2026, 03:49:19 PMI bought this reel when they just come out . Daiwa that time was a cheaper brand , SS 2000 is quite big about same size as Mitchell 306 and same price too , work much better . As you said it wobble . Daiwa whisker SS1300 no wobble at all
Well, that ss1300 just happens to be the exact reel that wobbles so bad, I can't stand it. Maybe something's wrong with it and just not realizing it? Is that a made in Thailand reel?
No, it made in Japan and I have 3 of these ,no wobble at all . I do notice the one made in Thailand sale cheaper on ebay but i don't have any and don't know what is diferent
I've had/have other older Daiwa reels that are made in Japan or Thailand. The made in Japan ones always seem to be of a better quality to me. Guess I'll have to keep my eye out. Thanks.
Sorry for sidelining the thread too.
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on June 14, 2026, 02:33:27 PMI've never noticed rotor wobble on my SS700. I fished it a few weeks ago. I don't think it has a balanced rotor, it pre-dates that. But that's something you feel playing with it at bass pro, not something you'd notice fighting a fish.
This, I've got quite a few reels that have a bit of wobble if you just stand there and give them a fast crank, and generally the bigger the reel the more noticeable it is. On the water I've never noticed it though... anytime I need to crank fast enough for it to be an issue I've got more important things to worry about.
I've got Daiwas from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Cant say I've noticed any definite trend in quality between any of them. My Korean 1300c is smoother than my Japanese one, and my Taiwanese BG is of better quality than my Japanese D1600 and 2600, while my favorites are a couple 1600c's which are Japanese.
I still say if the whisker SS had a metal body, brass gears, and came with carbon drags, it would be the arguably best spinning reel of all time.
It would out-cast and out-last anything else on the market, while also being "more fun" than any other spinner (but that last one's purely opinion)
I saw an 850 on ebay never heard of that size
Quote from: jgp12000 on June 15, 2026, 03:11:20 PMI saw an 850 on ebay never heard of that size
There are some JDM versions of this reel (I think there's a 650, a 750, and an 850) that have the same internals as the SS Tournaments, but bigger/better line rollers and more solid handles.
Quote from: ExcessiveAngler on June 14, 2026, 04:20:33 AMThe older BG reels were just just good old, heavy duty reliable reels, kinda like the old Penn spinfishers. The new BG's are pretty decent reels at their price point. Can't stand the old SS tournament wobble machine series though. Funny Bass Pro got their pretty similar looking model nice and smooth, except it doesn't have the same quality drag. Have two of the BPS reels on bionic blade rods, that I absolutely adore. How do you guys deal with the wobbling on the tournament series? Never had one that didn't rotor wobble like crazy lol?
Definitely a noticeable wobble, especially in the bigger ones, when just reeling and not fishing. Having a line in the water helps some. The faster you reel, the worse it is. That said I use a 2600 for metals at the coast (long casts and fast retrieves) and the wobble never bothered me on that one. If it did I might try to glue a counterweight inside the rotor to balance it.