Sharp looks and prices. The anodised gold finish is bright and fresh. Body and spools are machined from solid bar stock and nicely finished. Fit is excellent for this type of conventional quick release spool, minimal play between the body and spool. All the spools are counterbalanced and the turned wooden handles are large enough. I wonder if wooden handles will stand up to the abuse we heap on working reels – time will tell.

On the back the drag knobs are simple and smooth: recessed on the larger reels, scalloped and standing proud on the smaller versions. The recessed knobs are easy to grip and turn the smoother scalloped knobs on the 5/6 and 7 /8 need fingertips and are slightly less easily gripped despite standing proud of the body. Given these are freshwater reels I would expect to set the drag and get on with fishing so the ability to adjust drag quickly is not vital. All sizes have exposed rims and the design leaves the bottom of the reels completely clear so they all palm beautifully.

Inside, the disc-drag mechanism is sealed; impossible for dirt to get to the drag surfaces. The drag direction is set by a one-way bearing in the spool, easily converted from right to left by removing a spring and turning the bearing around. Smooth drag with minimal start-up inertia.

A small nylon pin in the spool meets a circle of blind holes in the drag housing to make a discrete but audible click in both directions. On the way in that pin is enough to prevent the spool overrunning. Diawa have thoughtfully provided a spare pin and spring with a small tool to remove and replace.

All sizes have half-frame bodies, not the most rigid body type but half-frames can be rigid enough if the machining is not over eager; these seem solid. Spools are well ported so wet lines should dry and of course that makes the spool lighter. Similarly the backs of these reels have been lightened by removing a fair amount of aluminium. The result is a set of relatively light reels – 5/6 is 4.9oz the 10/11 is 9.1oz – all weights compare very favourably. Add the capacities to the weight and these are well specified reels.

Daiwa has decided on highly competitive prices across the Lochmor Large Arbour range. At £80 to £100 these compete head-on with cast alloy reels, sealed drag mechanisms and lighter, stronger bar-stock bodies and spools mean Lochmor LAs are well worth considering.

Prices:
5/6 £80.00 (spool £25.00)
7/8 £85.00 (spool £27.00)
8/9 £90.00 (spool £30.00)
9/10 £95.00 (spool £33.00)
10/11 £100.00 (spool £35.00)

From: Daiwa stockists.