We have a winner!

Literally.

Daiwa’s Saltiga 5000H spinning reels, a redesign of the previous Saltigas, won the award for best new saltwater reels at ICAST, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, this past year.

The reels, arguably the frontrunner
of the company's 2012 products,
are high-end, with a suggested
retail price from $1,099.95 to $1,299.95.

They're reminiscent of custom-made reels from smaller companies.

A watertight seal, called Mag Seal, between the rotor-bearing and
the reel-body, is one of the main improvements.

A rotor-bearing is one of the most susceptible areas to saltwater intrusion in a spinning reel, the company says.

Magnetic Oil, a trick borrowed from NASA, the company says, creates a seal between the
rotor and the body.

Magnets can be used to change Magnetic Oil's shape.

Magnets in the Saltiga 5000H’s rotor make the Magnetic Oil form
the seal.

The Mag Seal is watertight, and creates much less friction than
rubber seals do, the company says.

The rotor itself is the other main improvement.

It’s named the Air Rotor, a new design built to be lighter weight.

The Air Rotor “spreads stress more evenly throughout the rotor, eliminating high-stress points while eliminating excess material not required for strength,” the company says.

Yet reportedly the rotor is strong, and is corrosion-free, built from
Zaion Carbon.

Saltigas come in five models – 3500H, 4000H, 4500H, 5000H and 6500H – for 10- to 35-pound monofilament or 30- to 80-pound braid.

The 5000H is made for 25- to 35-pound mono or 55- to 70-pound braid.

There’s no question which new saltwater spinning reel is going to be
the best this season.

Saltiga was already named the winner.

For more info, visit Daiwa’s Saltiga Reels Web page.