Reel

[CatchinBass333]

I am looking to get a new reel and I’ve looked at 2 would you guys recommend the lews mach crush bait caster or the shimano slx dc bait caster more, and why? or if you have another reel around that price range that is better please let me know! thank you and tight lines 

[Reel]

If you don't like the DC take a look at the SLX ST.  I have one and I really like it.

[CatchinBass333]

2 minutes ago, Reel said:

If you don't like the DC take a look at the SLX ST.  I have one and I really like it.

I don’t not like the dc i haven’t tried it just wondering what reel i should get 

[CatchinBass333]

30 minutes ago, CatchinBass333 said:

I am looking to get a new reel and I’ve looked at 2 would you guys recommend the lews mach crush bait caster or the shimano slx dc bait caster more, and why? or if you have another reel around that price range that is better please let me know! thank you and tight lines 

also is the mach 2 any better than the mach crush 

[Jar11591]

I haven’t used the SLX but I can definitely recommend the Lew’s Mach Crush. I have a Gen 1 that I absolutely love. Powerful

workhorse of a reel. 

[MediumMouthBass]

I have several lews reels from $100-$200 and they are all great, but the Mach series reels feel very cheap, they are priced at way more than they are worth. Dont have a SLX DC but alot of people like them, since you are interested in those 2 reels im guessing then your price range would be between $175 and $200, there are alot of very good reels from Lews, Shimano, and Daiwa in those price ranges and even as low as $100-$150. 

In Shimanos line up the SLX at $100 is very good but the SLX XT is supposed to be fantastic for $150.

For Lews the BB1 Pro for $200 is excellent if you can get one on sale, it holds a ton of line and casts extremely far.

The Daiwa Tatula CT is $150 and is a very good reel and is pretty much a do all type of reel, the Tatula SV TW 103 is $210 a little more than the SLX DC but is a really nice reel, it can cast light lures far and without much backlash, and also is supposed to be great for skipping, pitching, and flipping.

I dont know how good you are with a baitcasting reel, but the SLX DC is more for people who dont want to backlash much or are beginners, if that is what you want the Tatula SV TW 103 is the way to go, the SV spool in that reel does a great job of being able to go from casting light lures far to heavy lures even farther with almost no backlashing.

 

I have alot of reels from cheap budget walmart reels to some of the nicer Lews and Daiwas, whether you get a Shimano SLX/Lews LFS at $100, or a SLX XT/Daiwa Tatula CT at $150, or get a more expensive Lews BB1 Pro/Shimano SLX DC, at $200, or Daiwa Tatula SV TW 103 at $210, all of these reels are great reels that fit a wide variety of budgets and would be good for alot of different purposes.

[ironbjorn]

I find DC to be completely unnecessary. Get an SLX XT. I've bought several and I love them, they're my very first thought when I need a new reel right now. 

[Cbump]

That Mach crush is an ugly reel. There are nicer Lews reels. 

[FrnkNsteen]

I personally wouldn't get either of those. I have an SLX DC and Curado DC that I bought at the same time for my wife and I. Not impressed with either of them and wouldnt buy either again. Not a fan of the Lews M iach series at that price either.

 

If you are looking at that $150 - $200 price range, I'd go with a Daiwa Tatula SV, Shimano Curado MGL. Or if you like a Lews,... There are other models that don't start with "Mach" that I would look at. Tournament MP, Custom, or Tournament Pro spring to mind.

[NYWayfarer]

I have the SLX DC and the gen 1 Mach Crush. No contest the SLX DC is the better reel. Besides the DC braking system it has an aluminum frame. 
 

The Mach Crush has a graphite frame with Winn Grip knobs and dual brakes. I feel the Mach series is overpriced for what you get. If you go Lew’s stick with the LFS or the Tournament MP. Both are superior to the Crush and cheaper.

[Darth-Baiter]

I just got back from a trip where I only had my SLX-DC. I might have even thought it was my least favorite reel. It feels kinda plasticy.  It even scratches easily.   I had thought of using it and then leaving it with my brother.   I did bring a 200k, but it is spooled w 14lb flouro.  I wanted braid so the DC was up to bat. 
 

I was flat out flinging 3/4 oz baits against the wind with it.  Far!   I honestly have the nanny setting at 4 (Max braking) and never touched it again. I seem to backlash at lesser settings.   My first cast was a tester and it flew fine.  All my other cast were almost out of anger-like. I put my back into it and fired for the horizon.  It would zing and I could see my spool diameter shrink.  I don’t know what distance I was getting, but it seemed like half the spool was in the water.  I was throwing further than a spinning rig throwing a 5/8 oz wave bait.  It was amazing.  
 

I would be lying if I didn’t think to myself, “hmmmm, I wonder what the Curado would be like?”  
 

in the end I brought the reel home with me and didn’t give it to my brother.  Another friend at fish-camp asked about my reel and ordered the Curado 150DC just by watching how well mine casts.  He is 100% spinning, so I I think he made a decent “1st caster” choice. 
 

get the SLX DC.  It’s pretty sick.  Cheaper felling in the outside, but the guts are sick.  

[FishTank]

Between the two, the SLX DC would be the obvious choice.

 

[newapti5]

Isn't the lews mach crush a graphite-frame reel?  Personally, I would never pay more than a hundred dollars for a graphite reel, unless the inflation had gotten to certain point. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

SLX DC, for sure.  AL wont flex like graphite under stress.  The DC system wasn't developed for beginners, it was developed for max casting distance.  The nature of the system, particular the iDC-4, is simple and happens to be ideal for beginners, but that doesn't mean its a reel that an experienced angler wouldn't use.  Ive had mine since it came out and I love it.  It does really well with baits that are 3/8 and up when paired with the right rod, which makes them ideal for baits that cover lots of water.  If you want to concentrate more on throwing lighter baits or are want a reel would perform better at short distances, then Curado 150 MGL would be my next choice followed closely by a Tatula SV if casting distance wasn't a concern at all.  

[Lead Head]

In my opinion, the lews tournament mp/mb is FAR superior to the crush. 

 

Shimano dc braking is nice, but not nice enough to justify the cost over a mgl.

 

SV spooled daiwas are the most user-friendly, hassle-free casting reels out there, and while they don't typically get the distance most centrifugal reels will, they don't fall as short as many people would lead you to believe.

 

Again, this is all just my opinion. My suggestion would be a Shimano Mgl or Daiwa SV in your price range. If you want Lews, go with one of the models suggested above and avoid the Crush.

[Catt]

Graphite framed reels get a bad reputation for no reason...there I said it. Na, na-na, boo-boo!

 

Lew's LFS, best reel on the market in that price range. 

Lew's Tournament MP, rock solid work horse, capable of doing anything you want.

Lew's Tournament Lite LFS, 5.3 ozs ?

[Jrob78]

If you want a Lew's in that price range I would go for the Speed Spool LFS or the Custom SLP (on sale at TW). The SLX would be my choice of the 2 you listed but I would also check the JDM sites for a Shimano Scorpion, SLX or one of the Daiwa Tatula models. There are a lot of good reels in the <$150 range, I just don't think the Lew's Mach series is one of them.