Is there anything a DC reel can't do?

[jimanchower]

I started bass fishing not quite a year ago with a $50 Ugly Stik combo. Fast forward to this summer and I have a half dozen baitcasters and a few decent spinning setups. All of my baitcasters are Shimano SLX DC reels. Looking towards my next combo (isn't that what we all do?) I'm curious what techniques might be better suited to towards a reel with a traditional braking system.

 

Are there techniques for that you find the DC brakes are a liability? What about techniques where the lower weight and bulk of a lower-profile reel are really beneficial? I love my SLX DC reels and I don't know that I would buy anything different if I had it to do over, but I'm curious how others approach it.

[ATA]

Since I start with Metonym Dc,I start to get Dc reels always, Honestly two of my large Swimbait (not swimsuit ?). reels are not DC.

Couple month ago I got a 13 fishing reel for saltwater and to be honest with you even if it is not high end Shimano DC reel but I am really happy when I am using it, Lets not to forget that I am using 1Oz plus plug and lure for ocean, So I dont have experience with lighter lures Lin 11/4oz like I have with my bass fishing reels.

So try to find out what application and how you going to use it and after that decide.

In my case I am done with my fishing tackle and unless I loose them or break them I dont need to buy anything anymore and I am arm to the teeth with DC reels to be specific  I have metanium DC and SLX DC and curado DC as well. But four Antares DC. 

 

So it will be all about you and what make sense for your lifestyle.

 

Edited July 30, 2021 by ATA
Typo

[NorthernBasser]

Make breakfast? If they get to that point, I'll buy one. ?

[ironbjorn]

Yep, they can't educate you properly, specifically your thumb.

[garroyo130]

I hear the DC systems wear out every thousand years or so ... so there's that

[JS8588]

Saltwater 

[paultio]

throwing weights lighter than 1/4oz

[bulldog1935]

You'll find a large group on this forum for whom a DC reel will never be on their want list, and such a bold opening premise might gain you some snide replies.  

At least a few of us were casting weightless rigs to 2-oz spider weights plus that much meat on Ambassadeurs 40 years ago.  

 

Consider DC to be a trade-off between ease of use and distance, especially with light lures.  

It works by adjusting brakes 1000 times/s.  

I watched Shimano's video, and the number of incipient backlashes it showed corrected over one cast can't be efficient compared to a fast spool with linear mag properly adjusted for the one point in the cast it's needed    However, you have to start that cast properly, and you have to stop the non-DC reel with your thumb.  

 

DC may be the easiest way to initially get distance with limited thumb skill, not the best rod habits, and limited knowledge of how to set up a reel to cast a range of baits.  

So yeah, one thing a DC reel will never do is cast 2 g to 130' - you can prorate it from there.  

 

More recently, I'm more impressed with Daiwa SV.  With that brake system, you can set up for your light bait end, and it takes care of the heavy end start-up for you without another adjustment.  

[Bluebasser86]

Not make that annoying whining noise every cast?

[JustJames]

To make it lighter and smaller ?. If you don’t mind the weight and size, DC reel should do fine compare to any out there. You might not get the longest distance but you have a lot more control and less frustration.

[NHBull]

I have a few DC'S and lime them especially  for extreme wind.  

 

They also help a novice BC'er have a better day

 

I find that short cast......flip and pitch to be better on traditional reels.

 

The topic of distance also comes up, but truth be told my hook up ratio really drops on my longest cast, so I just don't make them.  

[jimanchower]

 

6 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

You'll find a large group on this forum for whom a DC reel will never be on their want list, and such a bold opening premise might gain you some snide replies.  

At least a few of us were casting weightless rigs to 2-oz spider weights and that much meat on Ambassadeurs 40 years ago.  

 

Consider DC to be a trade-off between ease of use and distance, especially with light lures.  

It works by adjusting brakes 1000 times/s.  

I watched Shimano's video, and the number of incipient backlashes it showed corrected over one cast can't be efficient compared to a fast spool with linear mag properly adjusted for the one point in the cast it's needed    However, you have to start that cast properly, and you have to stop the non-DC reel with your thumb.  

 

DC may be the easiest way to initially get distance with limited thumb skill, not the best rod habits, and limited knowledge of how to set up a reel to cast a range of baits.  

So yeah, one thing a DC reel will never do is cast 2 g to 130' - you can prorate it from there.  

 

More recently, I'm more impressed with Daiwa SV.  With that brake system, you can set up for your light bait end, and it takes care of the heavy end start-up for you without another adjustment.  

 

Yeah, apologies for the clickbait-y subject line. I like my reels but I understand that others have their own preferences. I don't throw a lot of baits under 1/4oz on my casting rods but I can see where that would be advantageous.

 

I haven't tried any Daiwa baitcasters yet. I appreciate the nod towards the SV. I'll check it out.

 

37 minutes ago, NHBull said:

I have a few DC'S and lime them especially  for extreme wind.  

 

They also help a novice BC'er have a better day

 

I find that short cast......flip and pitch to be better on traditional reels.

 

The topic of distance also comes up, but truth be told my hook up ratio really drops on my longest cast, so I just don't make them.  

 

I have noticed the same as I have tested my flipping and pitching skills. I appreciate the feedback.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

DCs are nice, but they aren't the end all be all that some people make them out to be.  In normal conditions I wouldn't consider using one if I didn't have too.  Unfortunately weather doesn't always cooperate and the wind blows.  Its the windy days where the DC reels really make a difference, especially with flat cranks. 

I can only speak for the lower end DC system found in the SLX and Curado, but they don't have good performance with lighter weight baits.  The heavier spool can make pitching and flipping a little more labored where an MGL or SV spool would do a better job.   

[Darth-Baiter]

I have the SLX DC. I bought it thinking that it would be the silver bullet to my backlash problems. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Unless mine isn’t working right or something, it will still knot up angrily on me.  I have it set at #4 max brake.  At #3 I have to be on my game or it will b-lash. 
 

my other baitcasters. A Lews, Curado, and AbuG work just as well with respect to birds nest. I seem to be more careful and actually rarely screw the pooch on those reels. 
 

it’s a fun reel but I just treat it normally.  I can’t get thumb free casting like I see on the tube. 

[FishTank]

Is there anything a DC reel can't do? 

 

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, FishTank said:

Is there anything a DC reel can't do? 

Be affordable enough for us budget anglers?

[jimanchower]

39 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I have the SLX DC. I bought it thinking that it would be the silver bullet to my backlash problems. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Unless mine isn’t working right or something, it will still knot up angrily on me.  I have it set at #4 max brake.  At #3 I have to be on my game or it will b-lash. 
 

my other baitcasters. A Lews, Curado, and AbuG work just as well with respect to birds nest. I seem to be more careful and actually rarely screw the pooch on those reels. 
 

it’s a fun reel but I just treat it normally.  I can’t get thumb free casting like I see on the tube. 

 

I set the spool tension pretty light and I definitely still have to use my thumb to at least slow the spool as the lure enters the water. You can certainly get thumb-free casting by tightening the spool up but accuracy and distance suffer. The thumb-free stuff is just a party trick.

[The Maestro]

For the price of a DC reel you're better off jumping up a model and getting a better reel.

[HaydenS]

My buddy uses a scorpion dc on a 7'5" heavy green ghost duckett rod, 20 lb fluoro, to throw a ned rig with a little bit of cheese on it for big channel cats, at a private pond near me.  

[jbsoonerfan]

22 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Not make that annoying whining noise every cast?

LOL! When I read the title, my first thought was, be quiet.

[newapti5]

On 7/26/2021 at 10:33 PM, jimanchower said:

I have a half dozen baitcasters and a few decent spinning setups.

 

You are still keeping your spinning setups, right? So there's your answer. 

[islandbass]

On 7/26/2021 at 8:13 PM, NorthernBasser said:

Make breakfast? If they get to that point, I'll buy one. ?

Ha! I was going to say it doesn’t do dishes or windows, lol. 

[Deleted account]

They can’t be taken off like training wheels can...

[CrankFate]

On 7/26/2021 at 10:52 PM, ATA said:

Honestly two of my large swimsuit reels are not DC.

 

[jimanchower]

I thought I'd revisit this thread now that I've purchased and fished a non-DC reel: an SLX MGL 70.

 

I get it now. A Keitech 2.8 on a 1/8oz underspin casts effortlessly and accurately. Need to do a one-handed backhand cast to get around a dock or a tree? No problem; just a light flick of the wrist. I realize that these aren't great feats, but they're certainly easier with the MGL than the DC.

 

The learning curve coming from only DC reels was not at all difficult, but I'm sure I'll be glad I have the DCs available in the windy winter and spring. I would absolutely still steer a novice towards a DC (just my opinion), but I'm glad that I've got multiple tools for the job at hand. Thanks to all who provided input.