Daiwa Lexa WN300HS (WN300HSL) Review
June 2018, Carl Garrard
Best Price: Daiwa LEXA-WN300HS
*Disclaimer, I purchase all of the fishing equipment I review on this website, or in certain cases, I am loaned equipment (in which case I will report if a manufacturer has loaned me such a product). Either way, know that I do not get paid by any company to make reviews on this website. I will always give you straight honest reviews that you can take to heart, whether or not a product is loaned.*
Daiwa Lexa WN300HS (WN300HSL) Review: Overview
So let's break down that long name first. Obviously the reel is made by Daiwa, Lexa is the name Daiwa gives to their largest low profile baitcast reels. In the case of this particular model they worked with the handle designer WINN to create a better grip and upgrade the aesthetics to improve the already stellar older model Lexa 300/400 series reels. So the WN in the name denotes "Winn", 300 is obviously the size of the series (more on that later), and the HS simply stands for high speed. When you see HSL that simply means it's a high speed left handed retrieve (you hold the reel in your right hand).
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| No nonsense clean design. In terms of looks, it's one of the cleanest designed reels I could find available. Many of the newer reels have pretty obnoxious styling which sometimes can turn me the other way, but Daiwa has done very well here. I like my gear to be as simple to use and simple looking as possible. That's just me. Design in general, looks better to me when a "less is more" philosophical approach is taken. |
Beyond the name, lets get into some quick specs. The WN300HS has a 7.1 to 1 gear ratio vs. 6.3 to 1 on the other available model (Daiwa makes two versions of the WN300 series, offered with two different handle types, so four models total). The drag is rated at a stout 22lbs (the 400 series has 25lb rated drag), it will hold 240 yards of 12lb mono/fluorocarbon (or 240 yards of 40lb braid), it has a total of 7 bearings (2CRBB, 4BB +1RB), infinite anti reverse, and weighs about 10.5 ounces. Also, Daiwa has worked hard on making the tolerances and build of this reel capable of withstanding the very tough conditions of heavy saltwater use, both internally and externally. Not all saltwater ready reels are created equal, but you can count on this one handling the elements.
Handling is believing, the WN300 feels like its carved out of a single block of metal. The side plates and frame are all metal, including the cast control knobs. Daiwa did not skimp on build quality both internally or externally, and it shows everywhere but the price. I purchased my WN300HS for $157.00 on Amazon (price fluctuates a bit), which I find quite a steal for the price. If you think you can find a better price, check on Amazon here:
Best Price: Daiwa LEXA-WN300HS
What a written review can't make you feel, is how nice these reels feel in hand. The build quality, smoothness, and materials are top rate. The WN300HS gives you confidence in it's quality of build that it can handle a very wide range of duty, which is why I purchased it in the first place. I wanted a reel that I could toss small to large swimbaits and large top water baits, in both fresh water and saltwater and not be worried where I take it. In essence, I wanted a bomb proof reel that could stand the test of time, but what I got was so much more.
I chose the WN300HS over the Lexa CC because of the Winn handle first and foremost, secondly for its aesthetics (I'm a sucker for black, especially blue/black and red/black), and lastly because of it's more versatile 7.1 to 1 gear ratio. Since I also have the WN400 (more later on that), I wanted a smaller version of that reel, but one that was more suitable for largemouth bass fishing. And it certainly is just that. Thus, I feel it's more versatile than its larger 400 model for multi-species fishing, and it will be used more often as a result. Matched to my 7'6" heavy power Daiwa Procyon rod, it's perfectly balanced. The combo can also be used for lighter duty ocean fishing, just use your imagination.
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| Best Price: Daiwa LEXA-WN300HS |
But boy is it awesome for swim baits. Reliable casting endears me to my reels, and once I got this Daiwa set up, it was easy to cast without thumbing the spool at the end of the cast. Backlashes were nearly non existant. So, I'm happy to report that it casts incredibly well, especially with lures 3/8ths of an ounce or greater. I'd have no issues using lures up to about 3.5 ounces on this reel, anything larger I'll grab my WN400HS. As you can see, the WN300HS can handle a wide range of lures, and it's not too large to use as a daily baitcaster for bass.
Baitcast reels all seem to have a personality, some are more finicky than others, but this one is not finicky at all. It's also very smooth and precise feeling. So not only does it look good, cast good, feel good, it also performs reliably. Not all reels can make that claim in all of those categories. I find its versatility to be especially charming. I'd have no problem fishing catfish to medium sized Yellow Tail with this reel. It's spool can hold a generous amount of line. I managed to spool 200 yards of 17lb Fluorokote on it, without over filling it, so if you hook up a large fish, you can let him peel away some line to tire him out. Based on some testing I did, I can report that when you need to winch a fish in, its drag is quite strong and very very smooth.
Fatigue is also not an issue with this reel and Daiwa have worked hard to design it this way. It's low profile, and really not heavy (10.5oz) especially when you consider how versatile it is. Also, it's grips are stellar, and it palms comfortably. You'll appreciate its cooler metal touch, and if it gets hot sitting on your deck, just dunk it in water, you won't hurt it. That said, trust me, this reel can handle a lot. For saltwater use, just rinse it off with a bit of fresh water after a days use, then shake and spin the reel, then towel dry it after. For freshwater, just shake it a bit and spin the handle. You don't even need to towel dry it.
Daiwa Lexa WN300HS (WN300HSL) Review: Conclusion
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| Also available with a single power handle (I prefer the double) designated as the 300HS-P (P for power handle) |
Daiwa managed to make the WN300HS a high class premium feeling reel without abandoning practicality. It feels like a form follows function design, which is what I prefer. They also did so without making it a wallet killer. It's a tough, well built reel that oozes value. It's so fun to use that it makes you want to pick it up and take it to the water. To me that spells good design. It's price can be swallowed by a wide range of anglers because this reel can do the duty of three. They say you don't get something for nothing, but you can't help but feel like you'll walk away with this purchase as if you paid too little for it. I guess you can call that a sense of value, and we all like to have that.
From largemouth bass to medium sized yellowtail, the WN300HS can handle it. The Daiwa Lexa class reels are an exceptional value in my opinion, especially the WN300HS. I wholly endorse this reel for someone needing a larger than normal low profile bait caster than can handle a very wide range of duty, and do so reliably. While the Lexa series lacks some of the high end features that Daiwa offers (like the T-Wing system and Magforce Z options), it does have the already excellent Magforce control and Ultimate Tournament Drag, and makes up for a lack of features with tough as nails build quality and smooth reliability.
I'm out there finding the best bang for the buck equipment for you. And don't worry, I'll give you a long term reliability and service report on the WN300HS later on down the roa here on the site. Thank you for reading.
Good luck, and stay hooked!
-Carl Garrard
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Best Price: Daiwa LEXA-WN300HS
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