Which Is The Better Reel: Daiwa BG or BG MQ?
- By: Justin Ritchey
- on August 1, 2022
The Daiwa BG or BG MQ???
Which way should you go?
We had the chance to speak with Mark Mills of Daiwa at iCast 2022!!
Check out his answer in the video below!
Daiwa BG or BG MQ? [VIDEO]
Both are excellent inshore saltwater fishing reels that can handle most inshore situations, however, the BG MQ is just a step above the BG in design and, of course, the price.
Before we dive deeper into this question, we first want to say there is not truly a “BEST” reel.
It depends on application among a bunch of other different factors.
Daiwa BG
The current rendition of the Daiwa BG has been in production for the last 6 years.
I personally have owned all different types of BG reels from 2500 sizes and higher and it is remarkable how much of a beating these reels can take.
At the beginning of this reel’s production, inshore anglers were hesitant of change but guides and deckhands on boats and vessels found it to be exactly what they needed.
It was about when this reel came out that anglers started paying closer attention to the details and inner workings of spinning reels.
The biggest thing I noticed on the BG was Daiwa’s Digigear System.
The main gear is bigger with bigger cut teeth creating smoother alignment between the teeth and the pinion gear.
In addition, Daiwa also went with a larger Zinc gear.
And when compared to competitors’ reels in the same price range, Daiwa’s Zinc gear was about 30-40% larger in size.
A bigger gear gives a reel more durability.
Moreover, Daiwa also incorporates an Air Rotor into this reel.
The Air Rotor is designed to alleviate the weight of the rotor on the reel itself.
The heavier the rotor, the heavier the reel and it can be harder to turn the handle after long periods of time.
Air Rotors make the reel feel overall lighter and create a smoother rotation for every turn of the handle.
Daiwa BG MQ
If you take a look at the Daiwa BG and BG MQ side by side, you can see some noticeable differences in color and other things off the bat.
But what you may not pick up on are the number of screws and access points on each reel.
The Daiwa BG has 4 main screw-in points on the side plate that is able to come off.
These 4 screw-in points create points of stress on the reel.
Some areas of the side plate are more secure than others.
These screw-in points eliminate gear space as well as adding more materials which add more weight.
In the case of inshore spinning reels, sometimes less material is actually stronger.
With regards to the Daiwa BG MQ, there are no screw-in points along the side plate.
There is a 360-degree disk that keeps the gears and inner workings in alignment.
The access point on the handle acts like a jar lid so the more secure it is, the fewer contaminants that can access the main gear.
This reduces the overall weight of the reel and actually strengthens it.
The gear ratio is the same on both reels, however, it is easier to crank the handle of the BG MQ when under a load of a fish than the BG.
Sealing
When it comes down to it, there actually is not a lot of sealing in the Daiwa BG.
But there are NINE rubber seals within the BG MQ.
There are several seals along the main shaft to protect the main gear as well as further seals along the side plate to prevent contamination of the inner workings.
This dramatically reduces the amount of spray and splash that these reels may endure on nearshore or offshore fishing trips.
The Bottom Line
The jump up in price from the BG to the BG MQ is justifiable.
You’re getting a bigger gear in relation to the body size, a reel that is carefully sealed on all sides, and the BG MQ is more lightweight than the BG.
The Daiwa BG MQ does everything you would want it to do for nearshore, offshore or even inshore fishing.
Conclusion
Daiwa has thoughtfully and carefully crafted some of the best spinning reels for saltwater anglers on the market.
I firmly believe that every inshore saltwater angler should get their hands on the Daiwa BG MQ if they’re able to.
These reels stand the test of time and will set you up for inshore fishing success.
Do you have any additional questions about the Daiwa BG or BG MQ?
Let us know what you thought of this video down in the comments section!!
And if you know someone who wants to learn more about these Daiwa Spinning Reels, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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I live on Merritt Island and plan on fishing the Indian/Banana rivers but also going off shore some. Do I need 2 separate rods/reels to do such? I was looking to choose between the BG MQ and the Saltist MQ. Newbie here so any info is greatly appreciated. Also, is it worth considering the certate series?
Hey Daniel! I think this other video I made where I compared the BGMQ to the Saltist MQ might help you make the decision for yourself:
http://www.saltstrong.com/fishing-tip/daiwa-bg-mq-vs-daiwa-saltist-mq/
All in all, it will depend on how important overall sealing and comfort in hand is to you. The Saltist MQ offers better sealing and includes their Aluminum Round Knob (which is more comfortable for some anglers).
The Certate is a significant step-up over the Saltist MQ! Incredibly smooth, much better Aluminum Main Gear, better Sealing and better Bearings. Go with the 3000 size on the Certate if you go that route.
Thanks Justin I appreciate the response and info! Can the certate be used for saltwater if I’d go that route? Should I be building two different rigs?
Love the BG series. Tough reels that are still smooth after years of use. I have a bunch in multiple sizes, and other than weak drags on the 2000 size I have no complaints. I have one BG MQ and it is also tough and smooth. Is one BG MQ worth two regular BGs? I guess it depends on how you use it, but either way both are solid, smooth and dependable.
Fair question! I tend to think so, since the BG MQ is smaller & feels much smoother in hand. I think the 9 seals also helps justify the purchase, given that the reel should outlast a standard BG.
I have both and I’m pretty hard on my gear. I’ve had the BG about a year longer than the MQ and the BG is still just as smooth as the MQ. Both great reels so far.
Appreciate the feedback, Steve!
Love my mq
Justin…As stated both are great reels. The main reason I went to the BG (2500 on a Bull Bay Bolt 7’6″ ML) is because I am an engineer and fanatic about reel maintenance. I can easily maintain my BG. A little Aquaseal at all normal water entry points and my BG is probably sealed almost as good as the gaskets they use. On the other hand the MQ has to go back to Daiwa or an authorized dealer because they refuse to sell the tool needed to remove the side plate. Most people who buy and own salt water fishing tackle (not including VanStaal owners) maintain their own equipment. In my opinion they are shooting themselves in the foot by not making the tool available. Maybe suggest Daiwa make the side plate tool available through Salt Strong!
Truthfully, I don’t know if I agree that most saltwater anglers service their own reels. I think it may be more Region Specific than anything else (i.e. anglers up in the NE might service their gear more frequently than those down in the Southeast). I’ve met hundreds of anglers over the years and the majority of them just sell-through their reels after ~1 year of use, or purchase a product that requires very little maintenance at all.
I will agree that there are a large majority of fishermen that wish they could service their own Daiwa MQ Series of reels. I’m sure this feedback has been presented to Daiwa many times, and hopefully they do create an end-user tool to help pop off that threaded side plate making for an easier access point to the main & pinion gears.
I used my BG MQ one time and it got pulled overboard. It was quickly recovered and rinsed thoroughly multiple times. I know that this is not normal wear and tear, but because of the seals I thought that it would surely be ok, but not so. I do not know if I would have ever tried to service it myself, but needing a special tool was something that did not please me at all. I sent it off to be repaired and the cost is about half of what I paid for the reel and it will be a month from the time they received it until I get it back. I have it on my Bull Bay custom rod and hope now to get many years out of it as long as it does not go swimming again. With that being said, because I am more of a recreational fisherman, I will go with the BG next time and if it gets ruined it will be a lot easier to stomach. For anyone new to this sport, fishes with children, or are just not sure how much you will go fishing I recommend starting with the BG or one of the other DIAWA reels offered by Salt Strong.
I do want to thank Justin for all of the reviews and the willingness to answer any questions thrown his way. You have definitely made my venture into this sport a lot easier when it comes to making my choices.
Like the BG MQ…a real workhorse! Have fished almost daily with it for 4 months…nothing but great performance!
They really are!!! I’ve been super impressed over the past year.
I have 4 BG reels used over the last few years. Each needed to be repaired despite no real obvious abuse.
Could you expect less repairs with BG MQ thus making it more appealing economically?
Or is this logic flawed?
Am I only one needing to repair the BG’s? My reel man states BG is a great reel.
As Marc Mills mentioned, the BG is not really considered a “sealed” reel. This would naturally lead to particulate/mineralization within the body around the main gear/pinion and other areas. That isn’t to say it’s not a Great Reel by itself, but it’s much more likely the BG Series will need servicing depending on the amount of use or abuse it gets.
The BG MQ has 9 physical seals throughout the entire reel. I have not needed to perform any internal maintenance on my BG MQ 3000s (both of them). I have removed the line roller assembly & added a small amount of TSI to the roller bushing to help allow it to spin more freely, but no maintenance has been needed internally in my reels.
Thanks for the insight on these two reels, I own a couple of the BG’s & have been extremely satisfied with the performance. I’m now considering the MQ as my next reel. Thanks again for such an informative comparison.
I think you will really enjoy the BG MQ, it’s been a workhorse in my arsenal over the past year.
Great information, I never really knew the difference between any of the reels. I’m going to study the other posts you listed to make my decision on what to buy next. Thanks
That’s what it’s all about, Bill! Making good, educated decisions. I’m glad you found this video helpful!
Great reels. Have one question what size rod should I use when you require 6,8,10 oz weights. I have a tsunami 701xh
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Good question, Christian. If you plan on bottom fishing or using jigs that heavy, I think the question you’ll need to ask yourself is: What do you plan on Targeting?
If it’s Stripers & Fluke, I think the BG MQ 6000 is perfectly suited for those species. But if you’re targeting Grouper in 200ft+, I would lean more towards the BG MQ 10000 for a larger body & main gear that will help you during those intense fights.