For fishing enthusiasts—especially those who are passionate about tackle—this is the most exciting time of the year. As we head toward the biggest fishing show in Japan early next year, manufacturers are rapidly releasing information on their upcoming new products.
One of the industry giants, DAIWA, is no exception. And on December 15, they dropped a bombshell:
the DAIWA 26 Certate HD.
Let’s dive straight into the details.
Watch the video above to obtain our first impression and review of the actual reel.
A “Full Metal” Spinning Reel — Seriously?!
This is without a doubt the biggest highlight.
The 26 Certate HD is the only small-sized DAIWA spinning reel to feature a full metal construction.
The base platform is the 24 Certate LT, but as a Heavy Duty model, it comes equipped with an Aluminium Air Drive Rotor—something no one really expected.
This is a huge win in our book. As we often mention in our videos, our main fishing grounds are offshore environments where fish sizes can vary wildly. While our primary targets are species like snapper, spotted mackerel, and bluefish (known as tailor or chopper here in Australia), there’s always the chance of hooking into something much bigger—Spanish mackerel, cobia, cod, kingfish, and if you’re really lucky, even a wahoo.
That unpredictability is what makes these fisheries so exciting—but also challenging.
We often want to use smaller reels to cast light jigs or plugs as far as possible. However, when an unexpected big fish shows up, reels with resin-based rotors such as Ci4+ or ZAION can struggle. You simply can’t lock down the drag hard enough, leading to long fights, lost fish, or worse—getting sharked.
In some cases, a single brutal fight can even mean a trip straight to the repair shop.
Because of this, we’ve traditionally relied on SHIMANO STELLA or TWIN POWER with metal rotors for this style of fishing. But honestly?
The 26 Certate HD fits this niche perfectly.
For anglers running PE 1.5–2.5, fishing both land-based and offshore, and wanting to cover everything from medium-sized fish to reasonably large gamefish, this reel hits the sweet spot.
That’s why we’ve already planned to purchase the 5000-CXH and put together a full review.
Interestingly, DAIWA states that the Aluminium Air Drive Rotor is thinner and more aggressively weight-reduced than the ZAION version. In line with DAIWA’s long-standing “Light and Tough” philosophy for compact reels, the increased rigidity of aluminium is offset by clever design to preserve light, responsive rotation.
Air Drive Bail Gets the SW Treatment
As you’d expect from an HD model, the Air Drive Bail is also upgraded.
Unlike the 24 Certate LT, the 26 Certate HD features a curvier SW-style bail. There’s no mention of a manual return system, so it appears that the rotor and bail mechanism remain LT-based, while the bail wire itself is upgraded to the SW specification.
Since the introduction of Air Drive Bail, bail-related issues have largely disappeared. This new shape—similar to SHIMANO’s design—guides line more smoothly toward the line roller, further reducing line troubles. A very welcome refinement.
A Stronger, More Refined Drag System
While physically compact, the drag system has received some meaningful upgrades.
First, the drag washer has been changed from felt to carbon ATD Tough. This places the 26 Certate HD neatly between the LT and SW lineups—essentially the best of both worlds.
Additionally, ball bearings are installed as standard above and below the spool, improving drag smoothness and consistency. While it’s always possible to add bearings yourself, having quality genuine bearings pre-installed is a big plus.
To support these upgrades, the drag knob has also been changed to a more durable SUS (stainless steel) construction.
Other Differences from the 24 Certate LT
Another notable upgrade is the newly designed Magsealed line roller. The structure adds an extra barrier before water can reach the Magsealed area, significantly improving water resistance. As a result, the Mag Oil is retained for longer, enhancing long-term performance.
DAIWA has also upgraded the shaft supporting the bail arm and aluminium rotor to SUS material, further improving durability across the board.
With changes like these throughout the reel, it truly earns the “Heavy Duty” name.
Other than these points, most core components remain the same as the 24 Certate LT.
Release Date & Specifications
The release date is set for February 2026 (* This has already been released in some countries).
That means we’ll be able to fish it very early next year—which is great news. This date applies to the Japanese domestic market, and while the global release date hasn’t been confirmed yet, it’s likely to follow closely.
As an HD model, the lineup covers medium to large LT sizes, ranging from 3000-C up to 5000. There is no speed gear option—only standard gear ratio and extra-high-speed (XH) models are available.
| Model | Gear Ratio | Weight (g) | Line Retrieve (cm) | Max Drag (kg) | Spool dia/width (mm) | Line Capacity Nylon (lb-m) | Line Capacity PE (Gou-m) | Handle Length (mm) | Bearings | Price (yen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT3000-CH | 5.7 | 225 | 85 | 10 | – | 8-150 | 1-200 | 55 | 12/1 | 79,500 |
| LT3000 | 5.2 | 245 | 77 | 10 | – | 8-150 | 1-200 | 60 | 12/1 | 82,000 |
| LT3000-XH | 6.2 | 245 | 93 | 10 | – | 8-150 | 1-200 | 60 | 12/1 | 82,000 |
| LT4000-C | 5.2 | 255 | 82 | 12 | – | 12-150 | 1.5-200 | 60 | 12/1 | 83,000 |
| LT4000-CXH | 6.2 | 255 | 99 | 12 | – | 12-150 | 1.5-200 | 60 | 12/1 | 83,000 |
| LT5000D-CXH | 6.2 | 260 | 105 | 12 | – | 25-150 | 2.5-300 | 60 | 12/1 | 86,500 |
| LT5000D | 5.2 | 305 | 87 | 12 | – | 25-150 | 2.5-300 | 65 | 12/1 | 88,000 |
| LT5000D-XH | 6.2 | 305 | 105 | 12 | – | 25-150 | 2.5-300 | 65 | 12/1 | 88,000 |
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a small spinning reel with a metal rotor—something we haven’t had since the 2013 Certate.
The 26 Certate HD comes remarkably close to the flagship EXIST in terms of concept and performance, yet at a more approachable price point.
We can’t wait to get our hands on it. This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting releases in years.
