Yes, they look great, but the real benefit is in the extra comfort when winding, or especially when fighting a fish.  Two sizes available. Medium size fits 2500 – 4000 size reels, large size suits 4500 and over.

Here’s how to do the swap, as shown on the Daiwa Procaster 4000X. Time required, about three minutes.

1. use a small piece of wire, in the jaws of set of pliers, to remove the rubber cap covering the screw head:

2. Use a screwdriver, to remove the screw holding the knob to the handle:

3. There are two ball bearings inside the Procaster knob. Put these to one side, they can be used for the replacement knob:

4. The replacement knob is supplied complete with main shaft, two ball bearings and screw. In this case we will keep all those items for future servicing and use the ones on the Procaster, which are the same size. To remove the shaft from the replacement knob, firstly unscrew the cover, using a coin:

5. Then, unscrew the shaft inside the spindle:

6. Remove the shaft, ball bearing and screw, and save it for later servicing of the reel:

7. You are now ready to install the replacement knob:

8. The first ball bearing goes on the shaft closest to the handle. Then the spindle slides on, then another ball bearing. Fit and tighten the screw, and lastly screw on the handle cover:

Here’s how the Procaster looks, with its new handle knob:

Not only does it look much better, it works better too. The replacement handles are $39 complete, including delivery. Add a sheet of carbontex for $20 and you can give your reel a total revamp, in both performance and appearance. Peter P stopped in at the boat show to pick one up, and generously sent me an image or two showing it fitted to his Saltist:

These reel knobs fill the hand beautifully, and make a good reel even better. Andrew writes from Geelong:

Hi Andrew

Some pics attached of your Diawa Procaster and the feather jig that accounted for some school Blue Fin off Port Fairy yesterday. Was a very capable reel on the 7ft rod I showed you at the show. I handed it around the boat for the other blokes to try and everyone was very impressed with the custom knob and the smooth drag, particularly when the Tuna were taking those last lunges at the boat.

I have also included some sounder shots showing the SBT hanging down low, we were blind trolling with little bird action, the wind ended up over 20 knots so we were probably lucky to get the fish we did.

Monte ordered a replacement knob for his Daiwa Catalina 4500, and sent in a pic after replacing the stock handle:

It looks great on the Catalina, cant wait to try it out this sunday if the weathers ok.

Too right it does, Monte. They are a huge improvement, even just ordinary winding feels more comfortable, let alone jigging or fighting. Here’s one on my personal Daiwa 4500T: