Shimano SLX DC issues

[Danny1213]

Hi everyone! Just found this forum and boy do I need your guys' help. 

 

I bought a SLX DC and got it all spooled up yesterday. I'm using Seaguar Red Label 15lb. I have been using casting reels for a long time now and I just wanted to try out the DC technology. The main thing that drew me to this is the noise and all of the videos showing people bombing casts out and not using their thumb and getting no backlash at all. 

 

When I went to cast, I kept my thumb off and it was backlash galore! I've got everything set up just like Shimano said (just to where the spool movement stops) I messed around with making it tighter and more loose and nothing worked. This was with the brakes set at 3. Even on max brakes (setting 4) it backlashes a good amount. 

 

Is it normal to still have backlash? I bought this reel because I wanted to be able to teach others, as well as not have to worry about ever getting a backlash. If it's normal, then I don't see a reason to have a DC reel at all. 

 

Thanks for your help!

[Efishin]

So you have the spool tensioner set as well as the DC module? Make sure both are set and it should help minimize.

[Danny1213]

1 minute ago, Efishin said:

So you have the spool tensioner set as well as the DC module? Make sure both are set and it should help minimize.

Exactly! Everything is set per Shimano recommendations. I also tried to fiddle with it more (set tensioner more tight or more loose) nothing helps. I still get a good sized backlash when I leave my thumb off. 

[Glaucus]

The best explanation of DC reels that I've seen is that they're not a replacement for the thumb but an assistant. I see no purpose in them either. An experienced angler has good thumb control and an inexperienced angler won't learn much on a DC reel. Pointless.

[Danny1213]

1 minute ago, Glaucus said:

The best explanation of DC reels that I've seen is that they're not a replacement for the thumb but an assistant. I see no purpose in them either. An experienced angler has good thumb control and an inexperienced angler won't learn much on a DC reel. Pointless.

That's what I'm getting from it too. I just don't know why I see people on youtube casting and not putting their thumb on it and having zero issues. Most of them are using braid though, does braid not backlash as much?

[Tywithay]

14 minutes ago, Danny1213 said:

That's what I'm getting from it too. I just don't know why I see people on youtube casting and not putting their thumb on it and having zero issues. Most of them are using braid though, does braid not backlash as much?

Braid is a lot lighter than fluorocarbon. A heavier spool will spin faster at top speed, and it's harder for the module to slow it down. Always good to make sure you don't overfill the spool at all with fluoro as well. 

[Danny1213]

2 minutes ago, Tywithay said:

Braid is a lot lighter than fluorocarbon. A heavier spool will spin faster at top speed, and it's harder for the module to slow it down. Always good to make sure you don't overfill the spool at all with fluoro as well. 

I feel like Cabelas spools up my reel too full. You think if I take some off I should be fine with leaving my thumb off?

[Tywithay]

40 minutes ago, Danny1213 said:

I feel like Cabelas spools up my reel too full. You think if I take some off I should be fine with leaving my thumb off?

I would never suggest casting a baitcaster with no thumb. If you don't need it, great, but it's nice to be able to slow it down before disaster strikes. Taking some line off may help though, especially if it's too full.

[Danny1213]

7 minutes ago, Tywithay said:

I would never suggest casting a baitcaster with no thumb. If you don't need it, great, but it's nice to be able to slow it down before disaster strikes. Taking some line off may help though, especially if it's too full.

I just don't see why others can cast and not use their thumb at all and have zero backlash, but when I do it, Its backlash galore. Mine must be defective. I bought a $180 reel for a reason, not just the noise, but for simplicity and the ability to teach new fisherman. Without that I just don't see a need for DC tech.

[Tywithay]

6 minutes ago, Danny1213 said:

I just don't see why others can cast and not use their thumb at all and have zero backlash, but when I do it, Its backlash galore. Mine must be defective. I bought a $180 reel for a reason, not just the noise, but for simplicity and the ability to teach new fisherman. Without that I just don't see a need for DC tech.

What are you trying to cast? Most of the YouTube videos are casting plugs to get as much distance as possible to get more views. You don't really have to thumb any spool casting a bait with no resistance. Casting plastics, spinnerbaits, and other stuff that catches wind, that's another story. No reel tech can completely eliminate the need for the angler. 

[browne762]

For it to work as you are expecting it (no backlash with no thumb whatsoever) you'll need to the the spool tension much higher then the instructions suggest. You want it so the lure/plug/whatever just stops moving if you push the button and then maybe a little more. Then you should be able to cast without backlash on #4. It needs to be reset to every lure/plug/whatever each time you put something new on. 

 

If you want to maximize distance as use it more as a normal baitcasting reel, set the tension to where it just eliminated side to side play and you will need need to use your thumb, but it makes casting without backlash less of a problem. Beyond that, the DC reels help you cast into the wind without backlash or skip as well.

 

They do make teaching people how to cast a baitcaster easier for sure. If you are teaching somebody to not use their thumb, then that isn't really how you'd use a normal baitcaster. It is like crutch or training wheels persay for the learning process. I have tought three people how to use baitcasters with a DC reel now and it goes much quicker and smoother then starting without the DC feature. 

 

So ultimately if you want to cast and never use your thumb, a DC reel should do that, but it limits its distance potential and the usefulness for the reel in my opinion. 

 

Like said above about "slowing down before disaster strikes", that's pretty much how I see the DC reel doing their duty.

[Finessegenics]

I still use my thumb on my Curado dc. The thumb is needed a lot less but the DC isn’t completely fool-proof especially when using fluorocarbon. Those guys you see on YouTube probably have their brake tension knob set really high. I bet if you set it higher you’d see the casts would go a lot better but your distance would suffer. Play around with it a bit and hopefully you can find a solution. And it’s also very possible that your spool is overfilled, so I’d check that out too. 
 

Also wanted to add that @browne762 really hit the nail on the head with his response

[Danny1213]

30 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

I still use my thumb on my Curado dc. The thumb is needed a lot less but the DC isn’t completely fool-proof especially when using fluorocarbon. Those guys you see on YouTube probably have their brake tension knob set really high. I bet if you set it higher you’d see the casts would go a lot better but your distance would suffer. Play around with it a bit and hopefully you can find a solution. And it’s also very possible that your spool is overfilled, so I’d check that out too. 
 

Also wanted to add that @browne762 really hit the nail on the head with his response

Do you think that if I use braid I will get less backlashes? I think my spool might be a bit overfilled. I really don't put a ton of line on any of my spools, I find it harder to manage and I end up getting backlashes and cutting it out anyways so I don't see the purpose. The manual says that if you have less line on the spool the brakes might be set to hard (which is a good thing I would imagine because it would actually stop the reel).

[Finessegenics]

9 minutes ago, Danny1213 said:

Do you think that if I use braid I will get less backlashes? I think my spool might be a bit overfilled. I really don't put a ton of line on any of my spools, I find it harder to manage and I end up getting backlashes and cutting it out anyways so I don't see the purpose. The manual says that if you have less line on the spool the brakes might be set to hard (which is a good thing I would imagine because it would actually stop the reel).

I use straight fluoro on my casting reels (I don’t frog fish) and I haven’t had any reel issues. They always say braid is more manageable and that is true because it has no memory at all. Before cutting off all that fluoro I’d try figuring it out. I just think you need to find that sweet spot setting and use your thumb at least a bit.
 

When the Curado DC first came out I think some people actually bought defective reels because lots were complaining. So don’t dismiss the fact that you may have a defective reel. If you know anyone at all who has a DC reel, I’d ask them to take a look at your reel and see if they can adjust it to the way you’d like it. 

[Smells like fish]

I've casted the slx dc on maybe 3 trips with braid and on all settings with no thumb and no backlash. But that's my only use of a dc reel. 

 

Post a pic of your spool. Maybe overfilled?