DC or non DC

[DinkDreams]

Looking at casting reels, I noticed that a surprising amount (to me) in the $200~$300 don’t have digital brakes. As someone who has never used a DC reel, I’m thinking my next reel upgrade is going to be the SLX DC. I just found it weird that some “higher end” reels that cost significantly more than the SLX don’t have digital controlled brakes.

 

is there a reason for that? Am I simply overhyping the digital braking systems? Or is there a reason you wouldn’t want it on a higher end reel?

[Fishingmickey]

Hello Dink,

     I figured I'd share my thoughts on DC reels.  I have fished several DC reels and really unless you're really new to bait cast reels or looking for something specific to use for skipping or have to cast into the wind a lot. I've found a educated thumb will work as well. 

    I have three DC reels right now. Two Curado DC's and a Exsense DC. I had a 17 Scorpion DC that I liked a lot too and so did someone else much to my consternation. 

    Braking systems have come a long way. The Diawa SV and Shimano's brakes do very well for me without the "DC".  So it is kind of your call. If you have a trouble with back lashing and want to give DC a try go for it. It isn't a cure all and you can still backlash a DC reel despite what You Tubers will try to show you.  So in summation. They are very nice but I wouldn't go in with super high expectations from a "DC" reel.

Regards,

Fishingmickey

[DinkDreams]

That makes sense! I don’t backlash too often so that doesn’t sound like something “necessary”.

 

Is it more of a “you get what you pay for” situation, where if you have a non dc and a dc reel at the same price point the non dc is going to be “higher quality”? I’m not familiar with the $200-$300 price point so I don’t really know what I’m looking for.

 

thanks for the help!

[Finessegenics]

Awesome reels for sure, I used to speak of my Curado DC as the end all be all but as time went on and I became more proficient with baitcasters in general, I was less and less impressed with the whole digital braking system. I now realize it is not worth the extra money to me if I'm going to be getting a new reel. It's great for chucking heavy-ish baits in wind but other than that, I don't think the DC gives you advantages compared to any other reel if you're comfortable with baitcasters already. 

[The Maestro]

At first DC was only on the highest model(s) and slowly it's trickled down. I think they're primarily aimed at people who are new to baitcasters.  I don't own any and I backlash but a few times a year and it's almost always from being careless in some way. For that reason I'd never buy one.

[newmanme]

50 minutes ago, DinkDreams said:

Looking at casting reels, I noticed that a surprising amount (to me) in the $200~$300 don’t have digital brakes. As someone who has never used a DC reel, I’m thinking my next reel upgrade is going to be the SLX DC.

  

29 minutes ago, DinkDreams said:

As someone who has never used a DC reel, I’m thinking my next reel upgrade is going to be the SLX DC.

The DC reel is just a 'yuppie' hype.

 

I am new to baitcasters, so I let someone talk me into a Curado DC, on a St Croix Avid X 7' MH rod. With taxes just over $500 for the combo. A guaranteed setup for any kind of Bass fishing I was told...

 

Long story short, the DC has to be constantly readjusted to keep your casting consistent. If you do not, one cast will go 40 yards and the next 30 yards. Makes it near impossible to be accurate.

 

You are thinking, "Newbie". Nope, I decided to disengage the DC braking and guess what. I can cast the crap out of that rod (now that I am not snapping my wrist during the cast) accurately and without much effort. I am using my thumb in place of that $100 brake and loving it.

 

I received a tip last week about why spinning reel anglers have issues with baitcasters and birdsnest is the snapping of the wrist during casting. At the beginning of last week I was willing to sell that combo, now I am going out at least once a day and practicing in the retention pond behind my house and enjoying the learning aspect for accuracy. Not giving up my spinning reels, just expanding my horizons  .

 

Here is my suggestion: Buy the reel online via Amazon or some other store, but make sure you have 30 days or more to return it. I would never tell someone not to try out something new, you might find a way to get that DC to work great for you. It does prevent birdnests, but always feels like my cast is being held back and I tend to overpower my casts with it, my personal experience.

 

Good Luck !!

[Blaine Donders]

I have owned the Curado DC and the SLX DC. For me? I don’t see the point. I’m learning to skip, and have had way better luck with a Daiwa SV. I can blow up a DC spool for sure. 
 

I’d get an MGL if you want a Shimano.

[Choporoz]

I don't own a Shimano, so I have no experience or actual value to add.

 

If I were to hazard a guess, it would be because manufacurers/marketers believe that the targeted consumers of top end reels feel that they don't need DC....and/or don't like to think they'd be perceived as needing 'special assistance'..

  Or maybe design or weight required for DC are too much of a compromise in some higher end reels

 

  I did also drop in to say..'Wow.  I was today years old when I leaned that the 'D' in DC was for Digital.....i had no idea.

[Logan S]

DC does a great job in specific scenarios.  Good example - Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits that have lots of air resistance and can flutter/helicopter suddenly.  Another one is frog fishing big open water mats, where you use a ton of power launch the frog so need heavier braking upfront, but at the end of the cast it needs to lighten up to keep the bait flying further for max distance...DC's ability to vary braking is great for this.

 

I have 5 DC reels and this is my personal opinion based on the last 10 years or so of fishing with them. None of mine are the current US offerings though and I have no plans to purchase any further DC reels.

 

IMO DC was never designed or intended as a way to learn baitcasters, it was actually designed for the other end of the spectrum (already experienced anglers).  But...once that DC whine got popular they realized they could get people to pay 50% more for a basic reel just have that sound.   

[newmanme]

56 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Hello Dink,

     I figured I'd share my thoughts on DC reels.  I have fished several DC reels and really unless you're really new to bait cast reels or looking for something specific to use for skipping or have to cast into the wind a lot. I've found a educated thumb will work as well. 

    I have three DC reels right now. Two Curado DC's and a Exsense DC. I had a 17 Scorpion DC that I liked a lot too and so did someone else much to my consternation. 

    Braking systems have come a long way. The Diawa SV and Shimano's brakes do very well for me without the "DC".  So it is kind of your call. If you have a trouble with back lashing and want to give DC a try go for it. It isn't a cure all and you can still backlash a DC reel despite what You Tubers will try to show you.  So in summation. They are very nice but I wouldn't go in with super high expectations from a "DC" reel.

Regards,

Fishingmickey

You are right on !!

 

I am a new to low profile bait casters, and the DC serves newbies more than seasoned baitcaster pros.

[Dogface]

I  agree with Fishingmickey. I have a Curado DC and a number of none DC reels. I had more trouble getting the DC tuned in than any other bait caster.

 

Mine did have some problems and went back to Shimano for repairs. It works fine now but if I had to replace it I would buy another standard Curado because I do not see a big advantage with the DC. 

 

 

 

 

[Reel]

I've got 4 Shimano DC reel and like all of them.  They range in price also.  I've got a Calais, a Calcutta, a Curado an a SLX.  Different prices =different systems.  Like it has been said a DC reel performs very well with large, wind resistant lures like a Buzzbait, a frog, a spinnerbait or a jerkbait.  If you fish large lakes with wind, they give you an advantage (distance) even if you have an educated thumb.  They skip  well also.  But there is room for other breaking systems.  If that system was the best for every situation, Shimano would be making only DC reels.  That's not the case. 

[AmmoGuy]

I've been throwing baitcast reels for a long time. I don't think I remember the last time I had to pick out an overrun. 

 

I recently purchased a Curado DC because I figured I should at least try it. I fished it quite a bit this weekend throwing medium cranks on a ALX Ikos Hustler rod. 

 

I wouldn't say I'm impressed. It works fine I guess? But I picked two backlashes this weekend because I tried "trusting" the DC a little too much. As far human input, I couldn't tell much difference between it and my SV reels. I could tell that it was a lot heavier though. I think I'd rather have a 150 MGL. 

[Jaderose]

I have no opinion on DC reels other than I am old enough to think..."Batteries in a fishing reel?  LOL....no thanks"

[QED]

15 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

I have no opinion on DC reels other than I am old enough to think..."Batteries in a fishing reel?  LOL....no thanks"

The system is powered by the spinning of the spool.  Closed loop servo controlled braking might be the casting reel future, but we're not quite there yet.

[bigspirit]

I’m with the others. Bought an SLX DC and only kept it for a few months. I did find it very helpful when casting into wind, but other than that I’d prefer a reel without it. Plus, after a big of use I got tired of the sound of it

[islandbass]

I think the main reason Shimano does this is because they know that some people don’t or won’t care to ever use a reel with the DC system. If they exclusively made say their curado as an exclusive DC reel, they’d probably lose a lot of people who don’t want or care for the dc version. 

They would have lost me if curados were dc only. They lost me on their spinning reel, lacking the AR, lol. 
 

You reach a point in your reel acquisitions where there is a certain level/class of reel that once you’re there, it is nearly impossible to go “backward” for most cases. From this point forward this is all me… my personal problem, lol. 
 

For example, I started with the curado bsf and as result, I could never get myself to buy a Citica or other Shimano reel “below” the curado. 
 

For spinning reels, I started with the symmetry which is now discontinued. And for me $99-$100 is my cap for spinning reels,basically what I want to spend. That would mean I’d be looking at a nasci. However, it does not have the AR and neither do reels above it. It is so irksome, lol. I forgot what lower than a nasci Shimano reel has the AR, but I cannot “go that low” due to mental block, disconnect and sheer foolishness on my part, lol. 
 

Therefore, they’ve lost me for spinning reels now and I refuse to go up to the Stradic or ci4 whatever reel or whatever is higher up. The name, Vanford? Kiss my… lol. Why? Because every time I see myself fishing with one, I know full well that the theme song from Sanford and Son will be playing in my head like a broken record over and over again. Seriously! I do like the theme song but too much of anything, you get the point. 
 

$100 buys a heck of a lot for a spinning reel and I see absolutely no need or reason to spend more than that even though I can. 

 

So it makes sense to me why they offer both regular and DC versions. I don’t see the need for the DC option for myself and I am glad Shimano offers it — or else they would have lost me on the workhorse of a reel, the curado. 
 

things Shimano has lost IB on:

1) Spinning reels 

2) Road bike shifters - Never, Shimano! I love you but Campagnolo shifters suit me better, lol. 

 

[Deephaven]

I backlash my DC reels more than any others that are not my skipping reels.  To be fair I mostly cast spinner baits and frogs with it, but still....false confidence isn't always your friend and when that confidence fails it FAILS 

[QED]

16 minutes ago, islandbass said:

[stuff deleted]

2) Road bike shifters - Never, Shimano! I love you but Campagnolo shifters suit me better, lol. 

 

 

Word!

[PressuredFishing]

Its one more thing to break.

[RDB]

I use mostly Diawa reels but bought a DC because I have to try everything…it’s my sickness.  They are fine reels, just not for me.  I personally didn’t experience any of the “benefits” claimed and ended up selling.  Unless you have everything cranked down fairly tight, you are going to get the occasional backlash.  Follow any pro for a day on the water and you’ll see them pull out multiple backlashes.  I keep my settings super loose to get good distance with minimal effort.  IMO, with a little thumb education, you don’t really need fancy braking systems outside of strong winds or skipping where there is some benefit.

[Logan S]

9 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

Its one more thing to break.

The DC units are self contained and very reliable, in about 10 years across 5 DC reels I've never had an issue with the DC unit.  The regular mechanical parts of the reels will fail before the DC unit.  

 

Maintenance is a little more challenging, because some models have one of the spool bearings behind the DC unit so it needs to be removed to access it.  The DC unit itself is maintenance-free.  

[newmanme]

19 hours ago, Jaderose said:

I have no opinion on DC reels other than I am old enough to think..."Batteries in a fishing reel?  LOL....no thanks"

They seem to want us to put batteries in everything these days, just saying  

19 hours ago, QED said:

The system is powered by the spinning of the spool.  Closed loop servo controlled braking might be the casting reel future, but we're not quite there yet.

The last time I heard the word servo it was in a weapons system ??

[Tatulatard]

I just realized that DC is older than SV.  Not that it matters at all but we seem to think that DC is somehow new.  

[newmanme]

22 hours ago, Blaine Donders said:

I’m learning to skip

I have a quick question. I know that when I skip river rocks, I snap my wrist when throwing but there is more of a stop action at the wrist. How do you repeat that action with a rod? 

 

I tried skipping from shore yesterday with the DC engaged and I now need to respool my reel  

22 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

Hello Dink,

     I figured I'd share my thoughts on DC reels.  I have fished several DC reels and really unless you're really new to bait cast reels or looking for something specific to use for skipping or have to cast into the wind a lot. I've found a educated thumb will work as well. 

    I have three DC reels right now. Two Curado DC's and a Exsense DC. I had a 17 Scorpion DC that I liked a lot too and so did someone else much to my consternation. 

    Braking systems have come a long way. The Diawa SV and Shimano's brakes do very well for me without the "DC".  So it is kind of your call. If you have a trouble with back lashing and want to give DC a try go for it. It isn't a cure all and you can still backlash a DC reel despite what You Tubers will try to show you.  So in summation. They are very nice but I wouldn't go in with super high expectations from a "DC" reel.

Regards,

Fishingmickey

Do you think there is any reel (  ) difference between the SV and the DC past the prices?