Master the Water Column  Built for big-water adventures, DAIWA’s new GREAT LAKES 40LC line counter reel delivers rugged reliability and unmatched accuracy

Master the Water Column 

Built for big-water adventures, DAIWA’s new GREAT LAKES 40LC line counter reel delivers rugged reliability and unmatched accuracy

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (April 19, 2026) – Trolling success is a game of repeatable depth and distance—not luck. Whether you are pulling baits mid-lake or tracing a breakline, the ability to put a lure back into the money zone with duplicatable precision is the single most important factor in filling a limit. To give every angler that definitive edge, DAIWA is proud to announce the arrival of the all-new GREAT LAKES 40LC line counter—a reel built for the requirements of big-water trolling.

While specifically engineered to dominate the Great Lakes region, these reels are the new standard for any trolling scenario that requires precise line management for targeting walleyes, salmon, and trout.

The heart of the 2026 GREAT LAKES is its Direct Drive Built-in Line Counter. For the serious troller, being able to precisely count back line is the difference between a dry net and a boatside selfie. Unlike inferior designs where counters can slip under the heavy tension of leadcore or copper wire, DAIWA’s system is geared directly to the spool—ensuring your lure stays exactly in the sweet spot, pass after pass, with zero guesswork.

“Repeatability is the goal once you dial in a trolling bite,” said DAIWA Field Marketing Manager, Chris Martin. “By integrating a direct-drive counter into a rigid one-piece composite frame, we’ve created a reel that maintains its internal alignment even under the heavy torque of outsized fish—it’s a tool built to work as hard as the anglers who use it.”

Rugged Construction, Refined Control

The GREAT LAKES 40LC is defined by its warhorse build designed to survive seasons of big-water abuse:

One-Piece Composite Frame: Maximizes rigidity to secure internal components and prevent gear binding while significantly reducing overall weight.

Performance Features: With a loud spool clicker, auto-engaging clutch, and a deep capacity aluminum spool, these reels provide the seamless operation required for complex trolling spreads.

Universal Torque: A 4.2:1 gear ratio provides the perfect balance of cranking power and retrieve speed for deep-diving cranks or heavy downrigger sets.

Comfort & Grip: Comfortable Soft Touch T-Shape Power Handle offers maximum leverage and a solid grip when winching in heavy weights.

The 2026 GREAT LAKES 40LC series packs everything anglers need and more—at a price anyone can afford.

GREAT LAKES 40LC FEATURES:

• Direct Drive Line Counter: Geared for absolute accuracy.
• One-Piece Composite Frame: High rigidity, low weight.
• Deep Capacity Aluminum Spool: Optimized for high-capacity mono or braid.
• Gear Ratio: 4.2:1

MSRP: $99.99

To achieve maximum performance on the water, DAIWA recommends pairing the new 40LC with their specialized rod lineups. For a perfectly balanced big-water setup, these reels are the ideal match for DAIWA Great Lakes Trolling or TD Eye Trolling rods—combinations purpose-built to handle the unique stresses of planer boards, dipsy divers, and downriggers.

To complement the 40LC reels, the DAIWA Great Lakes Trolling rod series is engineered as a dedicated powerhouse for the mechanical demands of hard strikes on locomotive lures. These rods feature a unique glass and graphite composite construction that provides the ideal parabolic bend required to absorb the surge of a salmon or the steady pull of a planer board without sacrificing the backbone needed to move heavy leadcore or copper setups. The series is outfitted with specialized, durable guides designed to weather the constant friction of abrasive trolling lines and heavy-duty EVA grips for a secure, comfortable hold in wet, freezing conditions. By pairing the Great Lakes Trolling rod with the 40LC reel, anglers gain a perfectly balanced system where the rod’s flex and the reel’s high-torque 4.2:1 gearing work in tandem to maintain constant tension—ensuring that once a fish is hooked, it stays pinned all the way to the hoop.

For the technical walleye troller, the DAIWA TD Eye Trolling series represents a significant step up in sensitivity and specific action. Unlike generic trolling sticks, these rods are built on high-modulus graphite blanks engineered with a unique soft tip section that serves as a visual strike indicator—telegraphing the subtle vibration of a crankbait or the weight of a trailing walleye. This refined tip transitions into a powerful midsection designed to handle the resistance of planer boards and the heavy rush of a big fish without the rod loading up too early. Outfitted with premium Fuji® FazLite K-guides and a comfortable, ergonomic reel seat, the TD Eye series is the purposeful tool for the angler who treats trolling as a game of finesse—providing the perfect physical bridge between the 40LC’s mechanical precision and the fish.

For DAIWA’s latest color catalog and/or information on DAIWA dealers in your area, call DAIWA’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: CSR@DAIWA.com. The URL for DAIWA’s web site is daiwa.us

About Daiwa Corporation

Daiwa’s first spinning reel rolled off the assembly line in 1955. Since then, the company has grown into one of the largest and most influential tackle companies in the world today. To handle sales and distribution in the United States, Daiwa Corporation first opened its doors on September 26, 1966, operating from a small facility in Culver City, California. Today, based in Foothill Ranch, California, Daiwa Corporation sells tackle throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America. From the very beginning, Daiwa’s emphasis has been upon innovation and quality. The result is a long list of product features, design and materials that have become standards for the fishing tackle industry. Daiwa’s long-standing record of innovation has left a visible mark on the majority of tackle manufactured today and continues to advance the sport of fishing. Learn more at daiwa.us