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Reels · Big-pit carp reels · Our take
Daiwa 23 Emblem 45 SCW QD Reel
23 Emblem 45 SCW QD
A 45mm long-cast spool, tidy line-lay features and a spare deep spool give this Emblem plenty of carp-fishing appeal. Just don’t mistake it for a lightweight.
- 620g reel with a DS4 body and ZAION V Air Rotor.
- 45mm LC long-cast spool with Slow Cross Wrap line lay.
- 4.9:1 gearing and a stated 104cm retrieve per handle turn.
- QDM quick drag moves from free spool to locked in one full turn.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the 2023 Emblem 45 SCW QD with QDM quick drag, supplied shallow C spool and spare deep LD spool. We haven’t tested it on the bank.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
Provisional feature-based scores, not bank-test results; value remains price-dependent because no current selling price has been supplied.
- Product Quality8.8/10
- Performance9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching7.9/10
- Ease of Use8.6/10
- Value for Money8.6/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Carp anglers fishing larger lakes. The long-cast spool, substantial line capacity and useful retrieve rate fit regular work on distant spots.
- Anglers wanting two ready-loaded spool options. The included C and LD spools let you organise different line choices without immediately buying another spool.
Maybe skip if
- Light-travelling stalkers. A 620g big-pit reel is a fair lump when you’re carrying minimal kit and moving between margin spots.
- General float and light feeder anglers. Its size and capacity don’t bring much benefit to lighter tackle and modest casting distances.
The lowdown
Introducing the Daiwa 23 Emblem 45 SCW QD Reel
A 45mm long-cast spool, tidy line-lay features and a spare deep spool give this Emblem plenty of carp-fishing appeal. Just don’t mistake it for a lightweight.
- 620g reel with a DS4 body and ZAION V Air Rotor.
- 45mm LC long-cast spool with Slow Cross Wrap line lay.
- 4.9:1 gearing and a stated 104cm retrieve per handle turn.
- QDM quick drag moves from free spool to locked in one full turn.
Quick verdict
Plenty of reel for a proper carp setup
The 23 Emblem 45 SCW QD makes a convincing case for anglers fishing bigger waters or regularly recasting at range. Its long-cast spool, Slow Cross Wrap and useful retrieve rate are a sensible combination, with the spare deep spool adding genuine flexibility.
The catch? At 620g, it’s no featherweight, and its size is unnecessary for plenty of short-range fishing. Buy it because your fishing needs a big-pit reel, not because a bigger reel automatically means bigger carp.
Provisional feature-based scores, not bank-test results; value remains price-dependent because no current selling price has been supplied.
- Product Quality
- 8.8/10
- Performance
- 9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 7.9/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.6/10
- Value for Money
- 8.6/10
The DS4 body, ZAION V Air Rotor and metal handle make a credible package, although long-term durability is untested here.
The long-cast spool, Slow Cross Wrap and stated retrieve rate are well matched to bigger-water carp fishing.
Repeatable distance setting and practical line management can support good fishing, but location and presentation still do the heavy lifting.
Quick front-drag adjustment and a useful retrieve are appealing, with weight and drag familiarisation the main compromises.
The included spare spool adds useful value, but the final judgement depends on the selling price and whether you need the capacity.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Daiwa
Daiwa 23 Emblem 45 SCW QD Reel (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Daiwa 23 Emblem 45 SCW QD Reel
The Daiwa 23 Emblem 45 SCW QD is aimed squarely at the carp angler who wants a proper big-pit reel without getting distracted by every shiny flagship in the tackle shop. Its appeal is straightforward: a long-cast spool, controlled line lay, quick drag adjustment and enough line capacity for demanding venues. That’s a useful shopping list if your fishing involves wrapping up to distant spots and bringing rigs back for another go. We haven’t used this reel on the bank, though, so this is a look at what its features offer, not a catch report dressed up as a review.
Start with the spool, because that’s where much of the interest sits. Daiwa pairs a 45mm LC long-cast spool with Slow Cross Wrap line lay. The idea is to organise the line neatly and help it leave the spool during a cast. Sounds bob on for bigger lakes, but keep your expectations sensible. No spool design rescues poor casting technique, tired mono or a reel filled right over the lip. Get the basics sorted first: suitable line, an even fill under tension and a balanced rod-and-lead combination. Then you’re giving the reel a fair chance to do its job.
The two-spool package is dead handy, too. You get a shallow C spool holding 300m of 0.35mm line, plus a spare deep LD spool holding 530m of 0.35mm. For plenty of conventional casting situations, the C spool already offers substantial capacity. The deeper spare gives you another option where extra line genuinely matters, or simply somewhere to keep a different line choice ready. Don’t load it with hundreds of metres of expensive main line just for the sake of it, mind. Suitable backing can make filling a deep spool less wasteful when you don’t need its full working capacity.
Then there’s the drag. Despite QD appearing in the reel’s name, the fitted system is QDM, adjusting from free spool to locked in one full turn. That makes the front knob the place where you move between your waiting and playing settings, rather than flicking a separate freespool lever. It’s a straightforward arrangement once you’re familiar with it, but worth practising before the rods are off. A screaming take isn’t the moment to discover how much adjustment your usual hand movement gives. Set resistance to suit the swim and tackle, and never confuse a locked spool with the correct playing drag.
Retrieval looks suitably purposeful for the job. The 4.9:1 gear ratio comes with a stated pickup of 104cm per handle turn, which is useful when you’re winding back from a long chuck to check a hook point or freshen the hookbait. Actual pickup changes with the amount of line on the spool, so don’t treat that figure as a fixed measurement throughout every retrieve. Digigear II gearing, six ball bearings and a machine-cut aluminium handle with a soft-touch knob round out this side of the package. How smooth it feels under sustained load needs hands-on use, not guesswork.
Construction brings a DS4 body and ZAION V Air Rotor, with total weight listed at 620g. That’s the number to think about before buying a set, especially if you like travelling light. On rods sitting on alarms for most of a session, carrying that weight may be a fair trade for the spool format and capacity. When you’re creeping between little margin spots with one rod and a net, it’s less appealing. Try the balance on your intended rod if you can. A reel can look cracking in isolation and still feel rather cumbersome on the wrong setup.
A metal HIP high-impact line clip adds practical appeal for getting back to a measured distance. Wrap up carefully, feather the cast and cushion the lead’s arrival rather than belting into the clip with everything held rigid. For fishing, make sure a taking carp can pull line rather than being stopped by the distance clip. Ultimately, this Emblem looks most convincing as a working carp reel for anglers who actually need the big-pit format. If your usual spot is a gentle flick down the edge, a smaller reel could be the smarter buy. Match it to your water, mate, not somebody else’s trophy photo.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Weight and construction
- 620g; DS4 body; ZAION V Air Rotor
- Gearing and retrieve
- 4.9:1; 104cm per handle turn; Digigear II
- Bearings and drag
- 6 ball bearings; 15kg drag rating; QDM quick drag
- Spool and line lay
- 45mm LC long-cast spool; Slow Cross Wrap
- Supplied spool capacities
- C spool: 300m of 0.35mm; spare LD spool: 530m of 0.35mm
- Clip and handle
- Metal HIP high-impact line clip; machine-cut aluminium handle with soft-touch knob
Specs checked with Daiwa, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
The spool package is the real draw
The supplied C spool takes 300m of 0.35mm line, while the included LD spare takes 530m of the same diameter. That gives you two useful options without buying another spool straight away.
Pair that with a 45mm LC long-cast spool and Slow Cross Wrap, and the Emblem’s appeal is clear: managing line for bigger-water carp fishing, rather than piling on features you’ll barely touch.
The hardware
Closer look: line management comes first
The 45mm LC spool and Slow Cross Wrap are the heart of the package. They’re relevant to anglers regularly casting at range, where spool fill and line behaviour matter. The metal HIP clip also gives you a way to set a repeatable distance, although accurate casting still needs a consistent aim and controlled delivery.
There’s a sensible supporting cast: DS4 body, ZAION V Air Rotor, Digigear II and an aluminium handle with a soft-touch knob. Those are confirmed features, not proof of years of trouble-free use. We can’t judge long-term wear, loaded smoothness or wet-handed comfort without using the reel.
Worth knowing. The 15kg drag rating isn’t a target setting or a guide to the size of carp you can land. Set your drag around the line, knots, hookhold and swim. Fully locked isn’t automatically better.
Your fishing
Who it suits: bigger waters, purposeful setups
This makes most sense on a carp setup where the spool format earns its keep. Think regular casts to open-water spots and repeated retrieves while finding a clean area or checking presentation. The spare spool is useful if you change line choices between venues, too.
For short-range stalking, float fishing or light feeder work, there’s a lot here you don’t need. The 620g weight is the obvious compromise. Even on carp rods, check the balance rather than assuming that a big-pit reel suits every blank.
Value depends on the price you’re actually offered. The included spare spool strengthens the package if you’ll use it; it’s less persuasive if it’ll spend its life in a drawer. Compare complete packages, not just the reel name and whichever discount looks biggest.
Bank-side questions
FAQs in full: the useful details
Does it come with a spare spool? Yes: a shallow C spool rated for 300m of 0.35mm and a spare deep LD spool rated for 530m of 0.35mm. Those capacities apply to that stated diameter. Change diameter and the amount you can load changes, so don’t treat them as universal lengths.
How does QDM work? You adjust the front drag knob, with one full turn covering free spool to locked. Practise finding a sensible playing setting before fishing. Your waiting resistance also needs to suit the swim: allowing a fish easy line near snags can get you into trouble very quickly.
Will it add casting distance? The long-cast spool and Slow Cross Wrap offer relevant design features, but we can’t promise extra yards. Line diameter, fill level, rod loading and technique all play their part. Work on a repeatable, controlled cast first; buying a reel isn’t a shortcut to hitting the far bank.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Long-cast spool and Slow Cross Wrap make a purposeful pairing for range work.
- Included shallow and deep spools give you useful line-loading options.
- 104cm stated retrieve helps with bringing rigs back from distant spots.
- QDM offers quick drag adjustment without a separate freespool lever.
- Metal HIP line clip is handy for repeatable casting distances.
Worth knowing
- At 620g, it adds noticeable weight to a mobile setup.
- Big-pit size and capacity are overkill for much short-range coarse fishing.
- Quick drag needs a measured hand; locking it down isn’t the right setting for every situation.
Want one?
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Does it come with a spare spool?
Does it come with a spare spool?
Yes. The supplied shallow C spool holds 300m of 0.35mm line, and the included spare deep LD spool holds 530m of 0.35mm.
02How does the quick drag work?
How does the quick drag work?
The QDM front drag adjusts from free spool to locked in one full turn. It isn’t a separate rear-lever freespool system; you change the drag setting at the front spool knob.
03Will it help me cast further?
Will it help me cast further?
The 45mm LC spool and Slow Cross Wrap are intended to support casting and line management. They can’t guarantee extra yards: your rod, line, spool fill, rig and technique still matter.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: plenty of reel for a proper carp setup. The strongest reasons to choose it are long-cast spool and slow cross wrap make a purposeful pairing for range work. and included shallow and deep spools give you useful line-loading options.; the main trade-off is at 620g, it adds noticeable weight to a mobile setup..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Long-cast spool and Slow Cross Wrap make a purposeful pairing for range work.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Carp anglers fishing larger lakes: The long-cast spool, substantial line capacity and useful retrieve rate fit regular work on distant spots.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “At 620g, it adds noticeable weight to a mobile setup.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
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