Funny you should ask.. I am heading to a smaller river now. Before watching this vid, I packed up... and I debated small or large. I packed both but am starting big. People ask how I catch bigger bass. My answer... I use bigger baits!
I like throwing bigger baits in general (thanks to tactical bassin for that...) and will throw them basically anywhere. Glide bait fishing in clear water is addicting. It's surprising how fish in ponds react to things like a huddleston. You'd think they'd freak out but their curiosity gets the better of them. Even small fish go after big baits. I had a 1.5# smallie freight train a hinkle shad this spring, figure that out lol. What size baits are you throwing and having success with? I'm somewhat close to you (near philly) so I'm curious to see what you have success with.
What kind of damage can be caused by thumbing the spool to get out a snag.? And I have been gravitating towards bigger baits lately and catching mostly consistent 3-4 pounders and the occasional 6lbr largies
I’ve been putting this thing through its paces and it’s been AMAZING thus far. Switching back and forth between the slx and my curados, scorpions, etc has been no problem whatsoever. It doesn’t feel cheaper, flimsier or less refined. Even next to my beloved curado 70 and scorpion xt, it fits right in. Right now I’m using it on a spinnerbait/chatterbait rig. I’m already looking forward to the mgl release. This reel has the potential to be a mind blower with an mgl spool and svs inf.
Your depth of knowledge is amazing. Every vid blows me away with your knowledge! Thank you for time invested. Had to send my Curado K back to factory due to side plate issue. Glad to see mention texted regarding that. Wish I’d known. Lost use for nearly six weeks while they “fixed” an easy fix. Brand new reel. Couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t secure that side plate.
I picked up one a few months ago for 79.99 at sportsman warehouse online. Great reel for the price point and you are right about the breaks being it’s only fault. Great video
My eyes have been opened to using 6/8 Hudds and a few line throughs on smallish river this year. Mainly Green fish, but the ticked off 5-7lb river variety w/massive tails that always seem to have an extra run in them. Its been eye opening. These fish can be rather reclusive, and these baits seem to draw them out better than the most lures. As always - Great work here! Hope you never stop. Youre a great resource for us all!
I know it might seem inconvenient without an external brake setting but in some cases that's an advantage in my opinion. The 2 reels (a curado e5 and a first gen revo inshore )I use the most don't have one and it's a big reason I use them. I primarily fish salmon & steelhead in glacially fed rivers with a fair amount of silt and reels without the external adjustment handle an accidental dunk much better then say my revo premier. It's just one less place for the silt to get in and affect casting the rest of the day.
I wanna go fast!!!! That's an interesting use scenario. Friend of mine was involved in the tranx 300/400 development and tortured them out in BC on steelies. Are you sure it's not a brake design as a whole vs just the adjustability of it? My reels get dunked more than I'd like to admit in fresh and salt. It's a blast when a DC sees some underwater time and decides not to work for a few hours lol.....The IVCB4/6 abu brakes change drastically and inconsistently after a dunk...and that plate really has to be clean as well as the arms. And that really applies to all non mag brakes. I can say that some brake dials leave room for water to get in easier.
Tackle Advisors it very could be a brake design issue. If I'm honest I haven't dug into the why of it lol. My revo premiers can handle a dunk in a fairly clear river without too much change in casting, but if it's one of those lovely creamed coffee looking silt filled rivers, well they need a cleaning before they fish any better then beat up black max lol. I really think the curado e5 takes it like a champ because it's not build to as tight of tolerances but that's my opinion. Either way I just wanted to say the lack of an external adjustment isn't huge loss as far as features go, and it can be a selling point to some of us that don't adjust their brakes often or fish gritty water a lot lol. I love the honesty you put into these videos though, good info always helps when it comes times to fiddle with the new reels at the local shop.
I have the DC version of this and new to baitcasting. Caught my first Blue and Giant Jack yesterday. It has 4 settings. And yesterday I finally graduated to number 1. Lol. Small nests. But after an hour I got used it. Imma get the new Essence SS, I have to order it from Japan. Can’t wait. You should do a video on the new Essence SS. Would be cool to hear you. Roam it down and compare it to other casters. Anyways blood tight lines and keep killing it!
It may be just a matter of personal preference, but I don't mind opening the side cover at all as I like centrifugal brakes much better than magnetic. I bought this reel specifically because it uses centrifugal brakes at this price point. I don't have a problem with spending more for a reel that I feel is better, but this is about as inexpensive as it gets for a high quality reel.
It's good, you just have to change the central bearing for a ceramic one, like the daiwa. That ball bearing in a year of constant use, rusts in salt water.
3/8 oz baits on 8lb-10lb pline cxxf works like money this reel is my favorite and go to reel i didnt see you underhand casting . its where it out shines like no other
I have problems with worn in and wet powerpro line. It doesn’t backlash but it has a weird overrun with one part of the line flying out of the reel. That is why I use suffix braid instead because it doesn’t seem to happen.
After 3 months. around 10000 casts the handle bar nut completely broken, flew off the spring and clicker :DDDDD fought with around 3-5kg sneakhead and I cought one 8kg red tail catfish in Malaysia...
$139.00 in Canada. Took a while for the 151 to come out, but It finally did and I got it. Can’t wait for spring to try it. What rod would be good for this reel?
Could you do a review on the daiwa crossfire spinning reel? I’ve had 2 (3000 & 4000) for the past 5-6 years. I’ve done loads of shore fishing, where the reels were under water, I even swam out about 100 metres into the sea (with the reel in my hand) to fish on top of some rocks. The reels perform amazingly and to this day still reel as smooth as butter. It would really be appreciated to know your thoughts about the reel, to me they are absolutely worth the price!
Great review my Friend, is the SLX a better Reel all around than say a Fuego or the Origin C from 13 Fishing. I do not know a lot about the new Baitcasting Reels and around 99 bucks is my budget. I want to try the Topwater Hollow Body Frog here in Virginia and I’ve seen where an Aluminum Frame Reel is preferable for that type of Fishing. Thank you
upstate NY basser 10586 definitely! Fantastic reels and rods at the 100$ price-point (each), so you’re almost getting one for free. If you don’t like the combo, you can have funds left-over for something else and/or swap em around different set-ups. Or sell/trade whatever you don’t like and still come ahead. I’d love to know where you found that deal!
B U N G I E I got one awhile ago but sold it when my camera shit the bed because i wasn't going to need it for a bit. But my friend bought it so it was still around.....Figured i'd buy another since it's throw away money and a great tool. The SLX is on par with it in some departments. And more compact which is cool. But the fuego beats it in some other aspects....Efficiency being one and one of the most important.
Tackle Advisors yea ive heard you mention this in your previous vidoes. Did you get the CG or whatever they're called? Compare it to poopy Chinese/Korean reels in the same price range to see if Daiwa's quality control is any better even if the reel is not made by them.
Tackle Advisor, I'm looking for a good lo pro baitcasting reel with external brake control. I don't want to spend a lot since I may only use it half a dozen times per year. Use for large mouth bass and stripers, maybe flounders as well. I have an ABU C3 as my round reel. Lews kinda caught my eye. Looking at $100 price range.
Nice review sir, I'm from India and planning to buy this reel, is this slx good enough to land snakehead of 2 to 4kg from weedy grass. Plz respond me and how long this reel last it's smoothness
Does Shimano use the same gear and pinion for the SLX and the SLX DC? I want to change the gear ratio for my slx dc and wondering if the SLX gear and pinion are compatible
All awesome reels. I really prefer external brake adjustment. And there is somethin about how the line pays out with that t wing so wide and how quiet it comes off the spool that I've come to really like. Gotta go tat for that. If pinching pennies go fuego.
Man people get so hung up on drag numbers. Yeah it's cool if your baitcaster has 18-22 pounds of drag but when are you actually going to use that much. Like you mentioned using a baitcasting reel at full drag is going to break shit.
I've been noticing an ever expanding SLX lineup but worldwide, any rumors of the SLX XT or the MGL versions coming to the US domestic market? Looking at the Australian shimano site they mention the XT taking the place of the Casitas.
Thank you bro! I just put a msg saying that i think the lews lfs and tatula are better for $100 for some weird reason some people "kind of like sports and politics" people start likeing a brand and they caint see past it. Just like sport casters yea they will speak on all the teams but you can always tell when they start talking about the one they like. Its like that with alabama football. Iam just sorry its not the best $100 reel i caint speak for stuff i havent used but ive used the lsx the lews lfs and the tatula ct and i would put the slx 3rd out of thos 3 overall. And as far as its the same reel as the feugo no its not! Its a tatula ct so what they sell the same identical reel under difrent name no! You said it your self "more bells and whistles" aaahhh yea! thats the whole point of this whole thing every thing in life is that way cars reels its like saying a cadilac is the same as a Tahoe with more bells and whistles aaahhhh yea! Thats the whole point lol! Omg! Some people crack me up the s**t people say. " its a feugo! With more bells and whistles so yea its smother. Translation- its a more refined more bearings a lot smother better casting better looking better peforming feugo so yea it smoother. Lol! C,mon people really lol!
Idk man I haven't tried the lews speed spool but I have had the diawa CT for a little over a year and got the slx when it came out. And the way the slx is designed with the way the handles and knobs are put on the body of the reel. Its extremely smoother than the CT. Despite the lack of bearings it still beats the CT just because of how compact it is.
LOLOL.......every time I have to say them i have to think about the pronunciation because it's just one of them words I've said 10x in my life......and suck at it lolol....And when I'm talking..I think about what I'm going to say 30 secs in the future.....I hose it up. Thanks Brotha!!!!! That's your only pet peeve? Damn....I have like 20 lol
How will this reel handle flipping n pitching or frogging right now I'm using a diawa tatula 151 n I love it but I just ordered this reel to check it out
Last winter I was looking for a lefty retrieve, low profile, 5:1 gear ratio baitcasting reel. I was surprised to learn that only 2 companies make them ( bass pro shop & Abu Garcia). I bought a Revo 4 X (mspr $99) from eBay for $70. It's pretty smooth & quiet reel for its price point! It has an 18# drag, 8 BB, clicking drag & tension knob, external magnetic break, and a 100mm handle. I can cast a 6" weightless soft stick bait 65 yds on 12# mono. I've used this reel for 8 months and have caught over 600 bass. This reel is still smooth and quiet!
Kastking makes them i have one but i warn you dont listen to all the hype they are ok for the price but verry cheap qulity you get what you pay for. They have a lot of qulity issues the push button is cheap the reel rattles and has a lot of movement. But if your lucky like me by the time you get back your third return you mite have one that most of the stuff is ok.
Gday mate totally enjoy all the reviews they are very handy. Could I get your advice please I am looking for a overhead reel for slow jigging that will fit about 300 yards of 30lb braid, the reel will be used on a storm gomuko rod my budget is about 300 bucks any suggestions would be greatly appreciated keep up the great work thanks Yogi
I'm glad you appreciate them. In regards to the audio. I check it on multiple devices. And I didn't lower the gain in premier pro. The audio can play quite loud on my sources. So there may be an issue on your setup
Is there a good casting reel in this price range with external brake adjustments that is also rated for saltwater? This one looks great but the internal brake adjustment is a turn off.
Are you someone who is proficient in working and maintaining your gear....? Pretty much any baitcaster can be used fw or salt if you do a little preventative maintenance and keep up with it
Would you recommend this reel for throwing the S-waver 168?? Looking for a decent reel that isn't crazy expensive to throw the Swaver 168 and my a-rigs with. Great review. Thanks!!
I would say get the tranx 300 or 400 for the bigger baits. I love my tranx 400 for kayaking. I use the tether for the side plate and I don't have any problems with it
It's perfectly fine for that. 1.5 ounces isn't much at all and they come through the water easier than a square bill. No need for a big low pro for half the swimbaits out there. NONE..I don't get how the world things you need a 200 yard capacity of 60lb braid for casting 2 ounce baits 50 yards :) (often the gears are the same size and the spool shafts the same diameter) But I will say....I haven't made any casts with the brakes over 3....sometimes heavier braking works better with some single joint glides as it keeps em from banana frisbee'ing.
curado k or slx? is there a reason to go for a curado instead? Just lighttackle fishing inshore and lakes, anything striper, panfish, flounder, trout... any answer Tackle Advisors?
The curado is physically larger and a bit heavier. But it's an all around better performer and the adjust on the fly casting brake is great and without a doubt one of the best casters out. The slx is almost as good and more of a bare bones baitcaster. Me being me I like the adjust on the fly brake and put that high on my list
Hey! I need a baitcaster that will be used for pike fishing, but also long casts in river for trout. What do you recommend? Price range 100-250$ I'm looking at the Lexa 300 atm
I drove up to the big city yesterday and checked these out at Cabelas. I have to be honest, they were disgusting. They had a half dozen on display, SLX, XT and DC. Every one of them, both right and left hand felt like the spool tension was cranked or something. There was no free spinning of the handle, and I couldn't push the bar and freespin the spool by hand. Maybe these were worn out display models, but all six? I gave them a hard no and ended up with a Citica instead. But to be honest, I was very shocked and disappointed.
I have this reel and cannot figure out why it won’t cast more than 30-40 ft. All breaks are off. 20 lb x9 braid. It’s not the spool tension either. Frustrating.
Hmmmmmm........what kind of free spool spin time do you get ((freespool isn't ultimately importatnt)) But at your setting. It should spin with full spool of line at least 10 seconds)) .with the spool tension backed all the way off or the knob off completely...does the spool drift side to side?
Hey bud, I want to ask you a question about spinning reels and why more expensive dial Orr kind of have a cone shaped spool where it's thicker on top than at the bottom
Dude you read my mind... I'm prepping for some tests to compare casting distances on reverse tapered spools... The way I envision the tests it'll be colorful and cool... Just waiting for the parts and windless weather
Tackle Advisors I bought the Daiwa exist a few weeks ago and I've been fishing it for Smallmouth a lot lately impaired up with my STEEZ rod it is an absolute dream
I'm reading alot of comments... I'm looking into buying a new baitcast reel. I'm looking towards an slx or a dawai 100ct I think.. what are your thoughts?
@@TackleAdvisors as of now I own a concept z and not having an external braking system doesn't bother me much... just looking for a good 100$ baitcast for top water action. Looking for a smooth action, easy maintenance and reliable.
Aside from a cleaning where the spool may contact the frame..bearings, worm gear and where the pinion traverse the frame to meet the spool...send it for service.
Shimano dropped the ball on this, it should be a great reel for the price but the brake/backlash control needs to be much easier to dial in. Consider this is a baitcaster newbies reel, and that's what they also still don't get, if someone starts with a brand they often get loyal to it. Daiwa's Fuego LT is the same price but far more newbie friendly, sure it may not cast quite as far but because of the magnetic braking but far easier for newbies to learn to adjust/avoid/reduce backlash.
Iam sorry but your wrong about it better than lews i notice you studerd and hesitated to say lews. I have this and the lews lfs for 99$ and the lews makes less movement it cast firther it smoother its a better ovarall reel. That being said the slx is better than a 100 abu or quntam i think the tatula fro diwa is about the same. But iam sorry you are way way off when you say nothing is better. You need to go try the lews lfs and for 30$ more they have the tournament mb that is really good. Iam not a brand whore i use it all and love it all. And iam probley the most honest out of most people i see. I dont get these people who fall in love with one brand and one brand onley it silley. But i will say this lews is by far the best bang for your buck $1 for $1 lews offers the most. Then i would say diawa then abu then shimano. Now i think none of these brands at this day and time or "better" they all have something in a price range that out shines the rest. But i will say shimano does make one of my favorite reels the curado which i think is one of the best reels ever made for the money followed by the lews bb1. I would say $1 for$1 lews is the best bang for buck you can get a nicer reel for cheaper with lews. And shimano is the most exspensive with abu a close second and diawa is priced just rite. But yea lews lfs best $100 reel on the market then the tatula
LMAO you think I stuttered because I was trying to be misleading??? You're crazy. I even said the lews has a huge advantage over this reel. Maybe you got a dud....Out of the 100 bnib reels i've received over the past few years. I've received close to 10 defects. 2 being stellas. I stand by what I said. And I can promise you i'm not playing favorites.
Hey bro iam sorry if i worded that wrong after reading it i understand why you would take it the way you did. But hey its all just oppinon i guess just like cars. Honestley for the most part the big 4 dont make too much junk. I just personally think that lfs while looks pretty plain. It is a little work horse. I just think lews is hard to beat. $1 for $1. But i also want to tell you man you really do a great job on these videos. Probably the most professional ive seen. Thanks
I actually agree with you 100% the handle and build is on point. Its like a curado k without the dial. But for some reason i didn't understand the first time i watched youre video what you meant. I thought you said it was the best $99 reel. This was the first video i watched of yours. Now that iam a hudge supporter of youre channel i went back and watched again and there were some parts i missed. I guess the first time i assumed you were a fan boy. But i know youre not now. You actually have the same exact views i do mostly on fishing gear. P.s. i still need you to review the Lew's tournament pro lol? When?