Shimano SLX or Casitas?

[TBAG]

I'm looking to grab another ~$100 reel for a backup CB rod I have and narrowed it down to these two. Rod is a St. Croix Avid MM and I'll be throwing squarebill 1.0, and 1.5's mainly.  I'm anxious to try the SLX because of the Curado handles and small size but I see people praising the Casitas which of course is what the SLX is replacing. I see lots of people upset that it's going away. 

I'll be getting a LH retrieve and have found several sites with the Casitas for less than $100.

 

I'm leaning towards the Casitas because I can get one now, while I have to wait until December or later for a LH SLX. So thoughts on the Casitas, pros? cons?

 

[Stephen B]

SLX easily!

[burrows]

Casitas is a sweet reel but it’s a bit clunky on the retrieve it’s not horrible but it’s not buttery smooth, cast very well and dials in pretty easy but I would definitely recommend the slx it’s just a solid reel and you get more for the money.

[TBAG]

Thanks, going to hold off and get a SLX when the LH retrieves get released.

 

Meanwhile, picked up a new Fuego CT off the bay with a coupon code for $50. It's my first Daiwa reel and I'm anxious to test it this weekend.

[Beetlebz]

The SLX seems like it's going to be hopefully a new direction for shimano. I've read a few different places now that the SLX is noticeably smoother than the casitas. With that said the casitas has more adjustable brakes and was never a *bad* reel. Someone mentioned it was geary, mine was 100% not at all geary. I loved the one I had, I sold it to make room for a tatula because I prefer the brakes. I sold it to a forum member here, I'm sure it's still going strong. 

 

The SLX might be a slightly more refined reel but it's certainly not a more feature-rich reel. Casting comparisons on YouTube are leaning the same way. Just because the new civic looks neat doesnt mean it's a better car than last year's accord.

[burrows]

1 hour ago, Beetlebz said:

The SLX seems like it's going to be hopefully a new direction for shimano. I've read a few different places now that the SLX is noticeably smoother than the casitas. With that said the casitas has more adjustable brakes and was never a *bad* reel. Someone mentioned it was geary, mine was 100% not at all geary. 

I’m not sure if you’re saying I said it was Geary but I never did say that I said it’s clunky on the retrieve and it is I still have one and I still use it all the time I really like it! But it is clunky on the retrieve in other words what I’m trying to say is the handle has a lot of play in it. And I also never said it was a bad reel. It’s a kick ass little reel actually but I do believe the slx will be a much more solid reel.

[Beetlebz]

33 minutes ago, Burrows said:

I’m not sure if you’re saying I said it was Geary but I never did say that I said it’s clunky on the retrieve and it is I still have one and I still use it all the time I really like it! But it is clunky on the retrieve in other words what I’m trying to say is the handle has a lot of play in it. And I also never said it was a bad reel. It’s a kick ass little reel actually but I do believe the slx will be a much more solid reel.

@BaitFinesse said it was geary.

 

I'm hoping that the SLX is what we can expect from the next generation casitas though. I'm curious to get my hands on one to see how it represents for myself. 

[burrows]

1 hour ago, Beetlebz said:

@BaitFinesse said it was geary.

 

I'm hoping that the SLX is what we can expect from the next generation casitas though. I'm curious to get my hands on one to see how it represents for myself. 

@BaitFinesse  doesn’t like shimano it’s pretty evident in a lot of his post.

 Yeah I agree not geary at all.

[sdsc357]

Get the SLX if you are using it for specific reason. Get the Casitas if you like to adjust on the fly. I already have a Casitas but will pick up a SLX to play with when they have the lefty available.

[burrows]

If the casitas had an aluminum frame then Their would be no need for an slx but then of course the casitas price would have to be at least 200$. 

[DINK WHISPERER]

9 minutes ago, Burrows said:

If the casitas had an aluminum frame then Their would be no need for an slx but then of course the casitas price would have to be at least 200$. 

Double the price for an aluminum frame?? The Fuego CT has that at the same price as the casitas. 

[TBAG]

42 minutes ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

Double the price for an aluminum frame?? The Fuego CT has that at the same price as the casitas. 

Yeah, I'm a self proclaimed Shimano fanboi but really anxious to get some line on this new Fuego CT and fish it this weekend. In hand it seems like a really quality reel, especially when you can buy them off the bay for ~ $50. 

[FishTank]

What I have seen/heard of the Castisas, has been mixed.  I think I would wait for the STX but if you got to have it now.....  The Caenan, which is a cheaper reel, has been great for me and a few others I have talked to.  It just feels a little cheap in hand but works just fine.  It isn't buttery smooth nor does it cast a mile but it gets the job done.

 

https://www.sierratradingpost.com/shimano-caenan-151a-casting-reel-left-hand~p~532mn/?filterString=s~shimano%2F

[burrows]

1 hour ago, BaitFinesse said:

My Casitas MGL is geary.  You can feel and hear the gears mesh.  Every video I have seen of a Casitas under load makes the same sounds mine does and I assume the same vibration associated with those sounds. If you turn the handle and reel vibrates in your hand then it is a geary reel.  

I have never experienced this I’ve never heard teeth meshing or any vibration? I pulled in a number of quality fish here in California let me tell you in the 3 to 6 pound size with that specific reel with absolutely no problem whatsoever and it was an absolute pleasure to fish with aside from some play in the handle and  for it being a plastic reel it has held up very good in my opinion. I’m not calling you a liar Really im not I believe you believe this but I just have a different experience with the reel and you seem to have a history of being very bias diawa of course being your favorite brand.

[burrows]

4 hours ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

Double the price for an aluminum frame?? The Fuego CT has that at the same price as the casitas. 

Well the reason I say this is because the braking system on the casitas is basically what is in the k or the 70 and it’s compatible with an mgl spool so it wouldn’t make sense for shimano to make it an aluminum frame and charge 100 buck because then it would cut into their sales of their other products in the higher end. This is my theory and it makes a lot of sense I believe.

[Backroad Angler]

I use the casitas almost every time I go fishing and I absolutely love this reel! Havent had any problems with it and have had it for almost a year now.