FWIW....

I bought a Daiwa EMP5500 a few weeks back to replace a broken nautil. I hated the handle on the EMP5500 as it was just too small and slippery after handling fish. I checked around and no one knew about an upgrade so I called Daiwa.....

Spoke to a nice woman who stated she was unaware of an upgrade and asked if any of the Daiwa handles interested me. I told her that the Emcast handle was real nice as it was large enough to grip with ease. She stated she would contact their "Tech Dept" and look into this further.

3 hours later, I received a call. She stated the Tech's found that the Emcast 4500 handle fit on the EMP5500. For $13 and change, I ordered 2, one for Dad and one for me.

I got them in last week and tried it out. WORKS GREAT! If you don't mind the reel being silver and the handle body being green, the handle is perfect!

Figured I'd pass it along!

hey Bob,

Im thinkin about investin in a emblem pro myself, How's it treatin ya?? Are you gettin far casts with it? That is the only reason I am lookin to get one, is because it has been known to cast pretty far

Rip,

So far, I love the reel. Father has had one for about 2 years now and love his.

I coupled mine with a Rainshadow 1209 for the Canal. I cast 4 & 5 ounce bucktails and get pretty far with it. It's real smooth and handles great, thusfar

Hey Gang....BE CAREFUL with the upgrades.

I ordered 2. Fit great. One was missing the pin that holds the handle to the housing that goes onto the reel. Figured a mix-up so called Daiwa and they sent a new one.

Second one was used twice. Second time, 5th cast, dad's handle flew off. Same pin must have fallen out.

Called Daiwa today and they said they've had problems with that very pin. They said "You should peen it over with a nail" to keep this from happening agian. They're sending another.

Figured you'd want to know!