Foothill Ranch, CA – DAIWA brought its first star-drag reel to market in the mid 1960’s – the Millionaire. From its conventional beginnings other legends sprouted, such as the ever-evolving and expanding SALTIGA, SALTIST, Seagate, and Sealine series’.
Now, no matter how you slice it – even given all the great advancements in reel technology – it’s still a conventional star-drag reel. Pretty fundamental gear for boat, jetty, and surf fishing.
DAIWA, however, isn’t okay with churning out me-too products just for the sake of having something new – not going to happen. So, when it was time to refresh the SALTIST star-drag, the new feature-rich and sturdy 2025 SALTIGA SD was born.
“The new SALTIGA SD promises to be that foundational and trustworthy reel in your saltwater collection,” said DAIWA Field Marketing Manager, Chris Martin. “It’s a reliable, value packed reel for saltwater jigging, casting jetties and surfcasting.”
“And with so many sizes available, you can match a SALTIGA SD to exactly where and how you fish.”
The SALTIGA SD is also a gateway reel. “It’s an excellent choice for anglers wanting to make their first move off spinning gear,” explained Martin. “The SALTIST SD is a very friendly conventional reel with excellent cast control.”
Martin went on to say conventional reels eliminate the wind knots associated with spinning reels, and they put you in a more comfortable and leveraged fighting stance when hooked up.
Beneath its sleek new cosmetics, the SALTIGA SD has the skeletal and muscular frame of a powerlifter. “It sports a strong and corrosion resistant diecast aluminum frame and sideplates,” said Martin. “The aluminum frame also maximizes space for powerful DIGIGEAR gearing and then protects those gears to maintain alignment.”
The SALTIGA SD’s dynamo braking system deserves specific mention, too. “The reel’s centrifugal casting control, also known as braking, is outstanding for throwing lures and fly-lining live baits,” said Martin. In practice, centrifugal braking causes a predetermined resistance on the spool to reduce spool overrun and backlash on the cast. The user controls that resistance, too, based on the weight of the lure or rig.
Martin also called out the SALTIGA SD’s premium drag system, which is guided by the reel’s signature star control. He says DAIWA’s keystone waterproof Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD) employs patented grease that helps the drag respond quickly and smoothy on the hookset, and then automatically adjusts to changes in tension while playing a fish.
Martin closed with his take on reel-size-to-application:
- SLTSD15 and SLTD20: Live bait for larger species like yellowtail, stripers, and black seabass
- SLTSD30: Best all-around model in the series for many fisheries
- SLTSD35: Unique tall and narrow frame with more line capacity for jigging and casting surface iron
- SLTSD40 and SLTS50: Wide variety of offshore casting applications and surf fishing
MSRP $279.99 to $309.99
ONE-PIECE ALUMINUM FRAME & SIDEPLATE
The frame is machined from high-strength diecast aluminum to provide exceptional rigidity and strength. The sideplate is threaded and screws directly into the frame, which increases the integrity of the reel body and prevents water or debris intrusion, as well as maximizing internal space for larger, more powerful gears for increased cranking power. The one-piece construction also keeps the bearings and gears perfectly aligned, resulting in smoother performance, less flex, more power, and reduced binding even under heavy loads.
CENTRIFUGAL CASTING BRAKE
Small weights are attached to the spool that move outward due to centrifugal force as the spool spins during a cast. As the weights extend, they contact a brake drum, creating friction that slows the spool. This helps prevent the spool from spinning faster than the line is paying out, reducing backlash. The system is adjustable, allowing anglers to fine-tune braking force dependent on the weight of the lure or surf rig.
DIGIGEAR
DAIWA’s digitally cut, machined gearing system ensures precise meshing of the main gear and pinion gear, which results in exceptional smoothness and vibration control, increased durability, and efficient power transfer from the handle to the rotor. DIGIGEAR gears are 20% to 40% larger than competing reels and dramatically extend the life of the reel.
4CRBB, 1RB
Lasting 12 times longer than standard stainless steel bearings, DAIWA’s corrosion resistant ball bearings feature specially treated stainless steel and a protective shield on the bearing race that seals out sand, fine grit, salt crystals, and other abrasives. The result is a longer lasting bearing that’s protected from the corrosive elements that destroy traditional bearings.
WATERPROOF CARBON ADVANCED TOURNAMENT DRAG (ATD)
DAWIA’s proprietary drag grease and specially structured spool combine to achieve exceptional smoothness, responsiveness, and dependability. At the initial hook-up, the drag starts smoothly and consistently, minimizing the risk of sudden line stress or breakage. As a fish runs, the ATD system automatically adjusts drag pressure to compensate for the increased tension. ATD is designed to maintain a stable, smooth drag throughout the fight, without stickiness or uneven pressure, even at high drag settings.
For offshore and nearshore applications, Martin points to the SALTIST Boat Rod. The powerful and hard-wearing rods are constructed with High Volume Fiber (HVF) technology, featuring high-modulus carbon graphite with low resin content for a lighter, sturdier, and more sensitive rod. Casting models are equipped with a Diamond pattern foregrip, EVA foam rear grip, and Aluminum Oxide Guides for durability and smooth line flow.
For DAIWA’s latest color catalog and/or information on DAIWA dealers in your area, call DAIWA’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: CSR@DAIWA.com. The URL for DAIWA’s web site is daiwa.us
About Daiwa Corporation
Daiwa’s first spinning reel rolled off the assembly line in 1955. Since then, the company has grown into one of the largest and most influential tackle companies in the world today. To handle sales and distribution in the United States, Daiwa Corporation first opened its doors on September 26, 1966, operating from a small facility in Culver City, California. Today, based in Foothill Ranch, California, Daiwa Corporation sells tackle throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America. From the very beginning, Daiwa’s emphasis has been upon innovation and quality. The result is a long list of product features, design and materials that have become standards for the fishing tackle industry. Daiwa’s long-standing record of innovation has left a visible mark on the majority of tackle manufactured today and continues to advance the sport of fishing. Learn more at daiwa.us
