Daiwa Silvercast-A Series Spincast Reel review and price compare 2025- fishinghub

Brand	Daiwa
Material	Synthetic
Hand Orientation	Right Hand
Color	Silver
Handle Material	Stainless Steel, Aluminum
Item Weight	0.55 Pounds
Bearing Material	Aluminum

High carbon stainless steel blades
Authentic bone handle scales
Nickel silver bolsters and brass linings
Gear Ratio 4.3:1
pre-spooled 8#/75yds
Spincast reel with medium-light action in freshwater.
Specifications: Gear Ratio - 4.3:1; Line Per Crank - 21.8"; Weight - 8.8oz; Line Capacity - 8/75
Ball Bearings - 3

The Silvercast-A features: Hardbodyz rigid aluminum alloy construction with three ball bearings; titanium nitrided line pickup with an oversized line aperture for optimum performance; smooth disc drag with dial adjustment and a soft touch handle knob. Comes pre-wound with premium line. Gear Ratio: 4.3:1. Line Capacity: 8/75.

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 4 x 4 inches; 8.8 Ounces
Item model number ‏ : ‎ SC80A
Department ‏ : ‎ Unisex-adult
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 6, 2009
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Daiwa
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001SYF8TA

Q:

Is the 170 reel assembled and ready to place on rod when it arrives ?

Answer: The 100 is so I don't see why the 170 wouldn't be.

Answer: Yes, has line on it and is ready to install and your rod.

Answer: Yes

Q:

I just bought the 170 model of this reel but no where does it tell me what line it comes with. Does anyone know what comes on the reel they send you?

Answer: It comes with 17lb line..it will handle 14 to 17....take it off go down to 14 or even 12 for better casting

Answer: Richard, the model 170 comes preloaded with 80 yards of 17 lb test, which is going to reduce your casting distance. For greater distance, I would use no heavier than 12 lb test on a spincasting reel.

Answer: There are 4 sizes, #80 (75/8), #100 (80/10), #120 (100/12) and #170 (80/17), the first number in parentheses is the number of yards, the second is the pound test of line.

Answer: It's supposed to be 17lb/80 yds

Answer: I believe it's 8-10 # test

Q:

I'd like to attach a spincast reel to my fly rod, 9' 5/6 wt line. Would this work, and if so, which size? Or should I be looking for an "ultralight"?

Answer: This reel will work fine. I use it for many different applications. From 1 pound trout to 30 pound catfish. I generally use 10 or 15 pound line on the reel. I have a 100 and 2 120s

Answer: They are not designed for fly rods...get a casting rod

Answer: I would use an ultra light spinning reel.

Q:

Can it switch to left handed

Answer: Yes. Simply unscrew handle on right and cap on left and attach back to reel.

Answer: yes.....check out the new bass pro extreme ...3 sizes now and can hold braid. THIS IS A GOOD REEL BUT BP EXTREME IS BETTER FOR SAME PRICE

Answer: I am not sure, I have it as a gift

Q:

How to put line on Daiwa silver cast 170?

Answer: Greg, I would set the reel up on a rod, pull the line through the guides in the reverse direction, take the nosecone off, thread the line through the opening in the nosecone, tie the line around the spool with an improved clinch knot, trim the loose ends of the knot, then put the nosecone back on and wind line onto the reel with gentle tension (it's good to have a helper). Pull line off the bulk spool so that the bulk spool revolves. Don't peel it off sideways. Fill your spool to about 90% full (you will need to take the nosecone off to peek at this). Recommended line: copolymer.

Answer: dicks sporting goods,or another, bass pro shops,cabelas,will do it for a reasonable fee ,$3.00to $5.00,

Answer: I agree with take it to bass ,cabelas, dicks sporting they will do it for you and it will have right tension too

Q:

is the handle reversible?

Answer: Yes !! The handle IS reversible. The Daiwa silver cast is my favorite reel ever made. I have two of these reels and they are very well made. No cheap plastic casting buttons or pick-ups. I put a couple drops of wd-40 inside the mechanism fresh outta the box and I have been pulling huge catfish for 3 years on my first reel. Check out the Zebco omega pro. I have one of those too. A bit pricey but and excellent choice.

Answer: yes it is reversible

Answer: Yes it is. One of the best spincast reels on the market ...good luck!!

Answer: Yes it is. I returned it because it didn't cast well. Good luck.

Answer: Yes, right or left. Great reel.

Q:

What does size mean?

Answer: As I can see, the reel comes in 2 sizes, one with lighter and one with heavier line. The larger reel also has more line on it.

Answer: Usually it pertains to the size of line you use with the reel.

Q:

Does anyone know if the screw can be replaced?

Answer: If it were my reel I would take it to an Ace Hardware and get some assistance. They have an aisle full of screws, metric, English of many shapes, sizes and lengths and metals. And if you have a choice in metals, I would choose stainless. I would also get a spare in case you lose it again, which is easy to do.

Q:

I need handle parts for silvercast 80a, where can I get them?

Q:

What are the different sizes?

Q:

What are the different sizes for the Daiwa Silvercast-A Series Spincast Reel?

Answer: Answer from Ms. Chandler is correct. I had the Silvercast with the 17lb line for 20 years before reel froze up. Cheaper to buy a new one from Amazon than have it repaired.

Answer: James, there are 4 sizes, #80 (75/8), #100 (80/10), #120 (100/12) and #170 (80/17), the first number in parentheses is the number of yards, the second is the pound test of line. Martin Chen

Answer: The most accurate info can be found on Daiwa's website. Check it out at https:// daiwa.com

Answer: Go to Daiwa spin cast web site The difference is in the yards and pounds also choice gold or silver

Answer: I believe the sizes are to determine #lb of line and line capacity

Q:

Can you use braided line with the silvercast 170a?

Answer: I have the 170 and I have thrown 20 lb cabelas longcast braid which is a mono like braid and it thrown it well however I expermiented with powerpro smooth and there was a lack of casting distance. The longcast is kind of like fireline . So I would say if your looking casting distance you shouild probably use mono.

Answer: I don't suggest using the silvercast reel series at all. While I don't know the specific answer to the braided line question, I would logically say "NO". The reel is so temperamental that you can't even change the weight of the line from what it came with. Numerous comments about this reel, and my own experience indicate that anything other than the line weight it is spooled with will cause snagging, and birdnesting problems.

Answer: Love the reel. it works great with Berkley nano fill line. I don't know about an actual braided line

Answer: I have not used braided but l see no reason why you could'nt.

Answer: I don't think so.

Q:

I would be fishing from a pier for steelhead, salmon, and occasionally bass fishing. Would this reel work.

Answer: Yes, I exclusivley used it for bass fishing throwing lures only and i was great.....I have the 170 which is the largest one and holds 14 or 17 lb line...i SUGGEST 12 -14 lb if lure fishing.

Answer: The Silvercast is a great, dependable reel, with various sizes, for different kinds of fishing. The larger size Silvercast would be fine for Steelhead/Salmon.

Answer: I've caught big catfish on this reel. I have mine strung up with trilene XL 17# smooth cast low visibility green. I use a couple sprays of ardent line butter before each 1st cast on every fishing trip. Hope this helps man.

Q:

Does the SC170 have a switch/button to disengage the anti-reverse allowing the handle to turn in reverse? If so, does it have a bait clicker?

Answer: does not have a bait clicker ,,,,, yes it does have switch/button ,,, and its worth every penny in my book

Answer: yup it works fantastic ,,, this reel works great for me i got 2 of these fantastic reel

Q:

Does the daiwa silvercast - a series spincast reel click when you are retrieving the line like the gold series does?

Answer: Doesn't click, I would stay away from this one if you are used to the gold series, very poor casting, will snag the line periodically , very frustrating, I ended up throwing mine out.

Answer: No it does not. I found this very refreshing. This has turned out to be a nice reel. I have cuaght many bass with it.

Answer: I am not positive but I think it will if you move the little lever on it forward. But that clicking bothers me so I make sure mine doesn't do that.

Answer: No it doesn't.

Q:

Does this reel come in a kit with a rod?

Answer: No, but it is a good solid reel. I have caught 5# redfish with it.

Answer: The one 2 purchased did not come with a rod

Q:

Does the 120 have an on/off anti-reverse allowing the handle the turn backwards? If so, does it have a bait clicker?

Answer: No, it doesn't and this kind of reel generally does not have that feature. It does not have a bait clicker either. I really hate having an on-off anti reverse on any reel! Kids will invariably turn the anti-reverse off, crank the wrong direction and get a big tangle with spinning reels. And kids are the reason you get a spincast reel, although I have found the Daiwa so good that I use it myself for pitching light baits for bass.

Answer: No it doesn't. Honestly I would stay away from this reel. It did not hold up. The quality isn't there... I showed my son how it was supposed to work and how to take care of it and made sure he did both and it still failed within a couple months.

Q:

would the 170 be good for bow fishing with 100-200 pound braid on it?

Answer: no.....zebco 808 for bow fishing

Answer: I'm not a bow fisherman. The Daiwa silver cast series is awesome but I have a new favorite reel. It is the Bass Pro Shops extreme spincast. Check it out.

Answer: I wouldn't think so. You should consider a large saltwater spinning reel or a large penn level wind.

Q:

Can it be adjusted to left-hand use?

Answer: Yes it can be switched to retrieve for left hand use.

Answer: Yes you can change it to left handed by unscrewing the handle and srewing it to the other side.

Answer: Yes but they are junk and unusable. I bought two and both are garbage. By far the worst reel I've ever tried. Do not buy this reel !.. Get something from Zebco

Q:

If I need to respool the line with 8lb test, what is the optimal amount of line on the spool? Is there an optimal line level for this reel?

Answer: dont over fill spool on reel , i usually keep it about 1/8 from the edge of spool, this make casting alot easy too, i hope that answer your question ,, it a great reel too

Q:

is it ok to use this reel in salt water

Answer: It's ok to use any reel in salt water so long as you flush it out afterwards with fresh water.

Answer: Any reel can be used in salt if you immediately disassemble it, clean and reoil it. If you're not willing to do that don't use it salt water. Frankly this would be a very light weight reel for salt water.

Answer: I wouldn't recommend it. Go for a Penn spinning reel for brackish or salt water.

Answer: it is ok to use in salt water

Answer: zebco 888 better choice

Q:

where is it made

Answer:

Answer: This is all I could find on the net.

james holcombe : Five Stars

Excellent reel and order was perfect. Time and all. Great all around experience.

mr fix it : good casting, will see if it holds up. only used one season.

pretty good real. use for panfish and bass mostly.

Ciry Ramirez : Five Stars

Haven't used it yet but its smooth reeling it in.

Darryl Lawrence : Well-built, solid spincast reel.

I have 2 of these reels and they work perfectly. The quality of the product and the attention to detail on a reel in this price range is impressive. What really drew me to the Silvercast series is the retrieve ratio. Most spincast reels have a very slow retrieve and if you are casting long distances or fishing in an area with a lot of obstructions on the bottom this can really be an issue. This 170 series reel pulls in 29 inches of line with every crank of the handle (IPT)! Considering my Abu Garcia 6500 C3 is rated at 25 IPT, this is an extremely fast retrieve and amazing for a spincaster. Now, just to be clear, with that fast of a retrieve you do give up some cranking power and you will notice that right away if you are throwing heavier weights, like 1 oz or above. But, the drag works perfect on even large catfish and the reel is smooth and rock solid. Highly recommend if you need a reel that is foolproof to use and fish for larger freshwater species.

Review Update, December 2012:
After a few months of use I wanted to update and clarify my review of this reel. This is a very well-built, solid MEDIUM action class reel. 12-14 lb test line works great and the casting, retrieve and drag functions on the reel are good. If you are looking for a spincast reel to throw weights less than 1 ounce and/or to fish for 10 lb and under fish, this is a great choice.
As to heavier applications, throwing larger weights, this reel is not the one. The high-speed gear ratio is great for lighter weights, but for anything over 1 oz the reel strains on the retrieve. I originally bought this to pair up with a medium/heavy 7-foot casting rod to fish for catfish from the bank. At lighter lines and weights it works good for that. But, it is limited to those applications. Throwing a 2-ounce weight in any kind of current and the reel feels like you are trying to retrieve a log.
So, good reel for lighter applications. Not the best choice for what I wanted to do - can't really blame the reel for that! For a true HD spincast reel, check out a Zebco 888 ProStaff.

dan : Nice real had some hang up issues with the release ...

Nice real had some hang up issues with the release cast. I changed the line it seems to work now.

Naturally Midwest : Smooth but heavy

Smooth reel, but much heavier than expected. Would have returned for the smaller size if I wasn't leaving on a canoe trip so quickly.

Charles Rullmann : NIce reel for the money

Smooth and well built, easy to use for all levels of fisherpeople. I ordered 2 and will soon order another. Rugged and simple enough for kids and guests.

C.D. : prefer

Always used zebco but quality has gone to crap . This reel is better quality than present day zebco in my opinion .

Nealzee : Very dissatisfied

I bought this for my youngest son for his 11th birthday. He fishes 3 to 4 times a week and catches mainly large mouths raining from 1 to 3 pounds. After one week the drag has completely seized, and there has been a few other small issues. Don't waste your money, this reel won't hold up.

JCKalb : Not Bad

Just got this reel and fished it over the last few days. While it does appear to be well constructed and works great for my kids it struggles to keep up with hard casts. I have had several issues with the line catching inside and had to take the reel apart 4 or 5 times in 3 days of fishing it off and on. It was easily repaired each time but a hassle all the same. I would say it is great for kids and way better than Zebcos I have used in this price range but for an adult casting 30-60 yards I'd look for something a bit higher end.

jk : Snags and tangles

This reel has never worked well. Lines of all weights snag and tangle (both monofilament and braided).

C.D. : prefer

Always used zebco but quality has gone to crap . This reel is better quality than present day zebco in my opinion .

Nated14 : Smooth

Great reel great price. It is very smooth casting and reeling

Holli Jewell : Five Stars

Love it

josh : not a good reel

I bought the 170A silvercast.
not nearly as smooth as the 100A silvercast, which I also own.
After fighting with the original line, I re-spooled with my 15lb line and for some reason will still not pay out slack very well at all.
you literally have to unscrew the face, and pull it out inch by inch, like a maniac. It made me look like a real dork today at the beach.
if your hands are wet, or god forbid, fish slimed, the drag is IMPOSSIBLE to adjust !
I was however able to take it off the rod, and shoot a beautiful rainbow three pointer in the back of my truck ! nothing but net.
were you looking to get something like a ZEBCO ? a cheap but better spincast reel ? ... keep looking
its not worth 30 dollars

Jim Gillespie : Five Stars

Great reels for a great price! I bought two!

Gary J. : Works well with the rod I bought. I carry ...

Works well with the rod I bought. I carry them both in the trunk of my Goldwing. If I'm out on a ride and I see a public lake. I'm getting my line wet.

brandon kelley : Received unusable!

Straight from the box, broken. Dissatisfied. I never got to try it, so I cannot speak much on how it functions. Now I have to return the product. What a waste of time.

Ciry Ramirez : Five Stars

Haven't used it yet but its smooth reeling it in.

Mark R : Great reel for the money!

Smooth, quiet, reliable. I like it better than my Diawa Gold, which was twice as much. We will see how long it lasts, as my Gold is almost 20 years old.

randal : Light weight for the girls.

Purchased one for each of our daughters rods (ugly stick Lt). They have both been very pleased with this reel.

J Michael Meyers : Best ultra light spin cast on market for price

I usually use moderately priced reels, such as Zebco. I won a Diawa Silver SpinCast 80 (8 lb test line or less) at our fish fry raffle for SAF. I use this reel/rod always when fishing for smaller bass and bream. It never jams and is smooth going out and coming it. Drag is great. I have bought one for my 1 mo. old grandaughter so she starts fishing at age 4 with an excellent reel. Also got one for my wife. The reel goes well with an Eagle Claw 4'10" feather weight rod that breaks down for easy transport on a trip. This reel functions just as well as a Zebco Omega Z03 reel, but is 1/3 the price and much better than a Zebco reel in same type and price range. I have used Zebco for 40 yrs or more. Diawa will be looked at more in the future.

Holli Jewell : Five Stars

Love it

Travis and Samantha : Trash

This reel worked great for about a month and then the inside broke somehow and I couldn't use it anymore.

Chad Bean : One cheap part turns reel into trash

Stay away from these. I loved the reel, but they used a tiny cheap spring to control the line guide. The spring stretched out and broke on both of the reels I puchased within a dozen outings. As a result, most of my casts end in a hang up inside the reel, when the line guide comes out at the wrong time. It's a shame, because this one cheap part ruins a nice reel. I tried to order new parts, but the parts schematic doesn't go into detail, and customer service via the phone wasn't helpful either. Back to zebcos for me.

George : Good entry level reel

Some spots needed polishing to prevent snagging. Reel Butter and some light polishing of the guide ring and It has proven to be pretty reliable for an entry level reel and i have no complaints at this price point.

Drew C. : Should be called Daiwa stopcast

Purchased two of these. Absolutely great shipping and handling and timely delivery as usual from amazon. But let me tell you if u are a true panfish fisherman don't waste ur money. The line that comes on them is trash. Replaced in hopes of all the stop casts to slow down some. No luck. You have to throw it out really hard every 3rd or 4th throw so it doesn't kink up. I think an ole Zebco 33 would be a more wise investment. Not impressed on anything other than looks. They also set really high up from the rod, not comfortable after an hours use. And the drag is a joke. You feel like your going to break it, just trying to get it to a decent setting. I do not know what I'm going to try next but these are sure not it.

Six : smooth

Ain't enough "0's" in smooth to describe how easy the action is on this reel, I love it!

George : Good entry level reel

Some spots needed polishing to prevent snagging. Reel Butter and some light polishing of the guide ring and It has proven to be pretty reliable for an entry level reel and i have no complaints at this price point.

auntianne : Perfect Daiwa reel

Gave this to Husband for birthday he was thrilled . He says 'Its the best" for him easy to use. He also gave one each to son and son-in-law

William Livingston : Four Stars

Like them

Dominic Seidel : The reel cover got cross threaded very easily and i coyld not get it screwed on properly ...

When I got the reel, it was already jammed. I finally fixed it. By the end of the first day using it I took it off my rod and never used it again. Kept getting stuck. The reel cover got cross threaded very easily and i coyld not get it screwed on properly after. Not saying this product is bad necessarily, I think I may have just gotten a bad one.

C. Parker : Surprised by this reel

This is my first time purchasing a Daiwa reel. I always used the classic 33 made by zebco. The old school 33, not the piece of plastic zebco sells now. This reel cast further than any reel I have owed, even my more expensive Abu Garcia spinning reel!! I was very pleased with the smooth cast and retrieve. I plan on buying another one before the summer hits.

Mike Miller : He outcasts all his friends at the lake or pond and can still haul in good size bass with it

bought this as gift for a friend that goes with a small shakespehere rod I also bought him. He outcasts all his friends at the lake or pond and can still haul in good size bass with it. he claims best rod/reel he has owned.

J H : Ok reel sensitive to line diameter

I have owned a Daiwa SC08 initially purchased from tacklewarehouse; and I was more than happy with it, in terms of cost effectiveness. I respooled it with 8 lbs fluorocarbon line and used it exclusively for crappie fishing. In my opinion, it outperformed many other spincasting reels *in the same price range*, such as those lower-end Pure Fishing reels (Zebco 33 authentic, and some other Shakespeare and Pflueger) reels etc). I purchased another SC08 from Amazon, respooled it with a 10 lbs fluorocarbon line and coupled it with a 6'9" ML rod with a hope to have an inexpensive bass/pan fish rig for small ponds. And it kept giving me troubles. The problem was during casting; the line kept stuck, causing sudden stop of the bait in the middle and hence very poor casting distance. Upon closer look into the reel, I realized there was very limited space between the spool and the reel cover, and my 10 lbs line was apparently too thick. So I respooled it back with 8 lbs line and it performed much better. -- though from time to time, small line twists inside of the reel will cause this type of line stuck. And this happens on both my SC08 reels.

Overall I am satisfied with the reel, particularly because it is a 'better' reel for this price. But it's low tolerance to even slightly thicker or twisted lines prevented me from giving it a five star review. Sometimes I wished it had some better features such as instant anti-reverse and more metal components (particularly the drag dial, presently made of plastic, which appears a weakest link for the reel). But I also realize I am probably asking for something that I have not paid for... -- As a side note, Daiwa Gold Cast series and Zebco Omega series, both in $50 range do appear a decent upgrade to the SC series. But IMHO, spending $50+ on a spincaster probably is 'too much', as one could better off buying a baitcaster then.

Geezer : Every thing I expected

I have had this reel about three weeks and used about 3 full days of fishing..
I find no fault with it to date. In the past I have used Zebco spincast reels for fishing for Crappie, Bass & Catfish... All of have performed well. This Daiwa Silvercast reel appears to be of higher quality than the others at same price level. Time will tell, but so far I am pleased with my purchase.

William Livingston : Four Stars

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J H : Ok reel sensitive to line diameter

I have owned a Daiwa SC08 initially purchased from tacklewarehouse; and I was more than happy with it, in terms of cost effectiveness. I respooled it with 8 lbs fluorocarbon line and used it exclusively for crappie fishing. In my opinion, it outperformed many other spincasting reels *in the same price range*, such as those lower-end Pure Fishing reels (Zebco 33 authentic, and some other Shakespeare and Pflueger) reels etc). I purchased another SC08 from Amazon, respooled it with a 10 lbs fluorocarbon line and coupled it with a 6'9" ML rod with a hope to have an inexpensive bass/pan fish rig for small ponds. And it kept giving me troubles. The problem was during casting; the line kept stuck, causing sudden stop of the bait in the middle and hence very poor casting distance. Upon closer look into the reel, I realized there was very limited space between the spool and the reel cover, and my 10 lbs line was apparently too thick. So I respooled it back with 8 lbs line and it performed much better. -- though from time to time, small line twists inside of the reel will cause this type of line stuck. And this happens on both my SC08 reels.

Overall I am satisfied with the reel, particularly because it is a 'better' reel for this price. But it's low tolerance to even slightly thicker or twisted lines prevented me from giving it a five star review. Sometimes I wished it had some better features such as instant anti-reverse and more metal components (particularly the drag dial, presently made of plastic, which appears a weakest link for the reel). But I also realize I am probably asking for something that I have not paid for... -- As a side note, Daiwa Gold Cast series and Zebco Omega series, both in $50 range do appear a decent upgrade to the SC series. But IMHO, spending $50+ on a spincaster probably is 'too much', as one could better off buying a baitcaster then.

The WhistleSmith : Best all round closed face spinning reel I have found...

I bought two of these Silvercast reels for my wife. She is a lefty fisherman and smallmouth bass in Canada is her game.

Best closed face reel on the river for casting plugs all day. Load it with 15 lb. line and you won't get a tangle on your next trip.

Rod Brewer, The WhistlSmith

randal : Light weight for the girls.

Purchased one for each of our daughters rods (ugly stick Lt). They have both been very pleased with this reel.

Ritchie Hernandez : It's OK...lasted less than 1 yr.

Bought this in June of 2011 and had to replace it in March of 2012. Was using 8lb. test line and the metal hub that contains the retrieval stud developed a deep groove. This was a great hinderance in any attempt to cast, the groove was so deep that it couldn't be polished out. The only weight on my line was a weighted bobber and #12 hook. Never caught anything more than 1/2 lb. and was setup as a very light duty fishing rig. I went back to my 25 yr. old Japanese made Daiwa reel and haven't looked back since.

NACHO LIBRE : I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY GRANDKID WHO IS LEARNING TO ...

I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY GRANDKID WHO IS LEARNING TO FISH.
THIS REEL IS TOP NOTCH. VERY WELL MADE AND ALREADY HAS HELP LAND A 10LB FISH.

Ronald Lough : Diawa Silvercast Spincast Reel

I had an Daiwa Silvercast reel for nearly 20 years and it is a very good product so I decided to order a new one. The price was very good.

Donald Krosnicki : A step above

Great real. Smooth action.A step above the average closed face reels.

I'm not rick james : It's alright

Decent reel, but a still over priced imho 30$. I bought it in hopes of casting heavier spinner baits, but I think they're a bit much for this reel. Don't get me wrong it'l probably be fine for anybody wanting to fish with less than heavy baits.
This review is In reference to the 120a

Update, after spending a day casting a strike king spinner bait, I'm thinkin bout selling this thing because I simply hate the thumb release button. My casts went all over the place. Maybe it just takes time to get used to, but it def casts differently than any spincaster that Ive used. Also the drag seems a bit weak. I think daiwa has taken a step down having sold their production to china.....

Darryl Lawrence : Well-built, solid spincast reel.

I have 2 of these reels and they work perfectly. The quality of the product and the attention to detail on a reel in this price range is impressive. What really drew me to the Silvercast series is the retrieve ratio. Most spincast reels have a very slow retrieve and if you are casting long distances or fishing in an area with a lot of obstructions on the bottom this can really be an issue. This 170 series reel pulls in 29 inches of line with every crank of the handle (IPT)! Considering my Abu Garcia 6500 C3 is rated at 25 IPT, this is an extremely fast retrieve and amazing for a spincaster. Now, just to be clear, with that fast of a retrieve you do give up some cranking power and you will notice that right away if you are throwing heavier weights, like 1 oz or above. But, the drag works perfect on even large catfish and the reel is smooth and rock solid. Highly recommend if you need a reel that is foolproof to use and fish for larger freshwater species.

Review Update, December 2012:
After a few months of use I wanted to update and clarify my review of this reel. This is a very well-built, solid MEDIUM action class reel. 12-14 lb test line works great and the casting, retrieve and drag functions on the reel are good. If you are looking for a spincast reel to throw weights less than 1 ounce and/or to fish for 10 lb and under fish, this is a great choice.
As to heavier applications, throwing larger weights, this reel is not the one. The high-speed gear ratio is great for lighter weights, but for anything over 1 oz the reel strains on the retrieve. I originally bought this to pair up with a medium/heavy 7-foot casting rod to fish for catfish from the bank. At lighter lines and weights it works good for that. But, it is limited to those applications. Throwing a 2-ounce weight in any kind of current and the reel feels like you are trying to retrieve a log.
So, good reel for lighter applications. Not the best choice for what I wanted to do - can't really blame the reel for that! For a true HD spincast reel, check out a Zebco 888 ProStaff.

Mike Miller : He outcasts all his friends at the lake or pond and can still haul in good size bass with it

bought this as gift for a friend that goes with a small shakespehere rod I also bought him. He outcasts all his friends at the lake or pond and can still haul in good size bass with it. he claims best rod/reel he has owned.

Ken Ricci : Daiwa 100 Silvercast Reel

Only used it 1 time since I received the reel. Worked really well, casting and drag were smooth and I believe I'm going to like this reel very much.

Bruce C. : Smooth retrieve and casts well once you oil it

I put this reel on a Daiwa 2-piece rod. I use it for catfishing from my kayak. It throws well. It came pre-filled with line, but I don't know what weight. I'd guess 15lb. I will replace it with 12lb when it comes time and see how that does.

It was dry when I got it, so oil it before you use it. I cast it and it sounded bad and didn't go far. I took it down and oiled it. After about three casts, it was quiet and smooth like butter. It's amazing what lubrication will do. The 3-bearing system makes for smooth retrieves. I recommend it.

Ritchie Hernandez : It's OK...lasted less than 1 yr.

Bought this in June of 2011 and had to replace it in March of 2012. Was using 8lb. test line and the metal hub that contains the retrieval stud developed a deep groove. This was a great hinderance in any attempt to cast, the groove was so deep that it couldn't be polished out. The only weight on my line was a weighted bobber and #12 hook. Never caught anything more than 1/2 lb. and was setup as a very light duty fishing rig. I went back to my 25 yr. old Japanese made Daiwa reel and haven't looked back since.

Daiwa Silvercast-A Series Spincast Reel review and price compare 2025

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Questions about Daiwa Silvercast-A Series Spincast Reel

Is the 170 reel assembled and ready to place on rod when it arrives ?

I just bought the 170 model of this reel but no where does it tell me what line it comes with. Does anyone know what comes on the reel they send you?

I'd like to attach a spincast reel to my fly rod, 9' 5/6 wt line. Would this work, and if so, which size? Or should I be looking for an "ultralight"?

Can it switch to left handed

How to put line on Daiwa silver cast 170?

is the handle reversible?

What does size mean?

Does anyone know if the screw can be replaced?

I need handle parts for silvercast 80a, where can I get them?

What are the different sizes?

What are the different sizes for the Daiwa Silvercast-A Series Spincast Reel?

Can you use braided line with the silvercast 170a?

I would be fishing from a pier for steelhead, salmon, and occasionally bass fishing. Would this reel work.

Does the SC170 have a switch/button to disengage the anti-reverse allowing the handle to turn in reverse? If so, does it have a bait clicker?

Does the daiwa silvercast - a series spincast reel click when you are retrieving the line like the gold series does?

Does this reel come in a kit with a rod?

Does the 120 have an on/off anti-reverse allowing the handle the turn backwards? If so, does it have a bait clicker?

would the 170 be good for bow fishing with 100-200 pound braid on it?

Can it be adjusted to left-hand use?

If I need to respool the line with 8lb test, what is the optimal amount of line on the spool? Is there an optimal line level for this reel?

is it ok to use this reel in salt water

where is it made

Product reviews of Daiwa Silvercast-A Series Spincast Reel