The 26 Aorimatic BR LT (2026 model) is a Daiwa reel for yaen fishing (live-bait squid fishing with a horse mackerel and a sliding gaff rig), released in Japan in May 2026. List price JPY 19,400 (excl. tax). If you spool heavy main line for big aori squid, the LT3000D is my pick.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
The heart of the 26 Aorimatic is two drags, front and rear, switched with a single lever. While the horse mackerel swims, the light rear drag lets line out; once a squid grabs it, you flip straight back to the front drag and start the fight. So for a yaen reel, I choose one with this system.
Key points
- Released May 2026. All 2 models JPY 19,400 (excl. tax)
- LT3000D: 270g, 150m of #4 nylon, 12kg
- Lighter around the rotor: 10g less than the previous model
When is the 26 Aorimatic BR LT released? How much?
Released in Japan in May 2026. Both 2 models, LT3000 and LT3000D, have a list price of JPY 19,400 (excl. tax). It is a spinning reel for yaen fishing, where a live horse mackerel swims out until an aori squid grabs it.
BR stands for BITE & RUN, named for the moment the squid grabs and runs.
| Model | Nylon capacity | PE capacity | Spool |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT3000 | #2, 150m | #1, 200m | Shallow |
| LT3000D | #4, 150m | #1.5, 300m | Deep |
How I judged it
With the eye of someone with 30 years of fishing who also chases aori squid with egi, what matters in a yaen reel is a sure switch. The 26 Aorimatic's clutch is manual, so it does not re-engage by itself when you turn the handle. That is the key point.
What I weighed was which of the two models. For letting the horse mackerel swim freely on thin line, the LT3000; for holding up to a big squid's runs on heavy line, the LT3000D.
Decided. My pick is the LT3000D: a deep spool for 150m of #4 nylon and 12kg max drag. As a reel ready for the runs of big aori squid, this is the one I choose.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa 26 Aorimatic BR LT3000D
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 14,297 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 19,439. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumHow does the Aori Clutch work?
This reel has two independent drags, front and rear. The Aori Clutch is the lever that switches between them.
Here is the flow. Engage the clutch and the front drag works. Disengage it and the spool goes free, with the rear drag (spool-free adjustment dial) setting how heavily line pays out. Keep it disengaged and light while the horse mackerel swims; when a squid grabs and runs, re-engage the clutch and set the hook.
There are also auto types that re-engage when you turn the handle. Handy. But they re-engage even when you don't want them to. The 26 Aorimatic avoids that with a manual clutch you re-engage by hand. If the squid suddenly pulls hard mid-fight, you can flip the lever and free the spool instantly.
LT3000 or LT3000D: which to choose?
It comes down to main line thickness. Weight, gear ratio, drag and price are the same; only the spool depth differs.
The LT3000 has a shallow spool set up for 150m of #2 nylon. It suits anglers who use thin line with little water drag so the horse mackerel can swim freely without strain. The LT3000D has a deep spool for 150m of #4 nylon, for anglers preparing for big runs with heavy line.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa 26 Aorimatic BR LT3000
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 14,900 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 19,308. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumWhat got lighter?
The rotating parts. An Airdrive rotor shaped as if carved from a sphere, a wire Airdrive bail and a newly shaped arm lever lighten the rotating parts, and Daiwa claims 10g less than the previous model.
The lighter the rotating parts, the faster the reel responds to starting and stopping. In yaen fishing, where you wind a little and stop to match the bait's movement, that lightness counts for more than the weight in the spec table. The spool is also lighter LC-ABS, with a reshaped lip for smoother line release.
vs the all-round 26 Freams?
Swipe the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Gear ratio / per crank | Max drag | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Aorimatic BR LT3000D | 270g | 5.2 / 77cm | 12kg | JPY 19,400 |
| 26 Freams LT3000D-C | 200g | 5.3 / 80cm | 10kg | JPY 21,400 |
Line capacity matches. The Aorimatic is JPY 2,000 cheaper with 2kg more drag, but 70g heavier. The difference is a yaen-only build with 2 drags (front and rear) and the Aori Clutch, versus an all-rounder that takes lightness.
In yaen, where you spend long stretches waiting with the rod in a holder, I think the switching system counts for more than 70g.
How many cranks to retrieve 100m?
100m is 10,000cm: 10,000 ÷ 77 = about 130 cranks. The Freams LT3000D-C takes 10,000 ÷ 80 = 125, a 5-crank gap. Not a gap that causes trouble.
Things to watch
This part is so-so. 270g is 70g heavier than an all-rounder with the same capacity. If you also hand-hold it for fishing other than yaen, the weight will bother you. The handle is 55mm, a bit short if you want to wind powerfully with a long handle.
Who is the 26 Aorimatic BR LT3000D for?
- Anglers starting yaen fishing, or looking for their first yaen reel
- Anglers who want to spool #4 nylon for big aori squid
- Anglers who want a reel with Mag Sealed waterproofing for under JPY 20,000
If you are also putting together eging gear, see the eging rod ranking; sizes for all-round spinning reels are in How to choose a reel size.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Daiwa 26 Aorimatic BR LT3000D
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 14,297 (as of Oct 18). Some stores go up to JPY 19,439. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on NaturumFAQ
When is the 26 Aorimatic BR LT released?
May 2026. Both the LT3000 and LT3000D have a list price of JPY 19,400 (excl. tax).
What is the difference between the Aorimatic LT3000 and LT3000D?
The spool depth. The LT3000 holds 150m of #2 nylon; the LT3000D holds 150m of #4. Weight (270g) and drag (12kg) are the same.
What is the difference between an auto and a manual Aori Clutch?
An auto clutch re-engages by itself when you turn the handle; a manual one you re-engage by hand. The 26 Aorimatic is manual, which prevents it re-engaging when you don't mean it to.
