SLX DC casting distance

[Joseph Baggs]

In regards to casting distance,  curious what the impressions are of those who own SLX DC reels. I just put on an SLX DC 151 6.3:1 reel, on a 7ft rod with a 1/2oz bait, and it seems like the casting distance is terrible. I put 10lb mono on as I do with any new BC reel until I decide what rod it will stay on.. I tried casting on every setting down to the lowest (1. Minimal Braking), and it just seems like it doesn't cast very far at all. Maybe 50-60ft tops. Just feels like it is being held back. I have other SLX reels and Curado, but this is my only DC.

[a1712]

Something is seriously wrong in the setup of your reel or it's defective. I own 5 DC Reels, 2- Scorpion 150's, 2-Scorpion 100's and a Calcutta. They all can bomb. My Bud has a slew of Curado 150 DC's, his all can bomb. Brian.

[1984isNOW]

I find my line is always dry when I get it, gotta lube it up first  

 

Yeah, I would hit up the store you bought it from or Shimano, probably just start with the store.

[Aaron_H]

3 hours ago, Joseph Baggs said:

In regards to casting distance,  curious what the impressions are of those who own SLX DC reels. I just put on an SLX DC 151 6.3:1 reel, on a 7ft rod with a 1/2oz bait, and it seems like the casting distance is terrible. I put 10lb mono on as I do with any new BC reel until I decide what rod it will stay on.. I tried casting on every setting down to the lowest (1. Minimal Braking), and it just seems like it doesn't cast very far at all. Maybe 50-60ft tops. Just feels like it is being held back. I have other SLX reels and Curado, but this is my only DC.

 

Is this your first DC reel? It sounds like your tension knob may be too tight.

[Darth-Baiter]

my DC is set on full training wheels (full electric brake).  i run the tension knob on the looser side and my reel can send them flying.  i can drain what seems like half the spool casting a 3/4 Kicknocker.   i sometimes feel the brake isnt working right because it will lash at #3.   back to 4 it goes..

 

i wont overthink it.   mine is loaded with 40lb braid.  maybe 30.  i forget.  

[Joseph Baggs]

29 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Is this your first DC reel? It sounds like your tension knob may be too tight.

It is my first DC reel. I the tried with it falling slowly,  and have even tried letting it fall quicker then I usually would on other reels, but it doesn't seem to make much difference.

2 hours ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

I find my line is always dry when I get it, gotta lube it up first  

 

Yeah, I would hit up the store you bought it from or Shimano, probably just start with the store.

This is my first Shimano that did not come with the oil, and it does seem like it may be a little dry. 

I actually ordered it online, so I will have to return it if I can't figure out what's going on with it 

[Aaron_H]

14 minutes ago, Joseph Baggs said:

It is my first DC reel. I the tried with it falling slowly,  and have even tried letting it fall quicker then I usually would on other reels, but it doesn't seem to make much difference.

This is my first Shimano that did not come with the oil, and it does seem like it may be a little dry. 

I actually ordered it online, so I will have to return it if I can't figure out what's going on with it 

 

Gotcha. Reason I asked is because the setup is a little different on a DC reel than you may be used to. For spool tension, it should be tightened just enough to eliminate side-to-side play in the spool, not with regards to the fall rate of the lure. Then set your brake dial on the side to w/e line you're using (2 for braid/mono, 3 for fluoro, 1 for least braking, and 4 for wind/max braking).

 

If that doesn't get it right, then there's definitely something up with the reel, but as of right now it just sounds like the spool tension is too tight to let the DC work.

[Joseph Baggs]

4 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Gotcha. Reason I asked is because the setup is a little different on a DC reel than you may be used to. For spool tension, it should be tightened just enough to eliminate side-to-side play in the spool, not with regards to the fall rate of the lure. Then set your brake dial on the side to w/e line you're using (2 for braid/mono, 3 for fluoro, 1 for least braking, and 4 for wind/max braking).

 

If that doesn't get it right, then there's definitely something up with the reel, but as of right now it just sounds like the spool tension is too tight to let the DC work.

 I will give it a shot regarding the side to side movement of the spool.  I tried so many different vargations with the tension knob this morning that I thought for sure if I made it any looser, then it would be an issue, but I will play with it shortly and try that. 

I have mono on it so I know it's supposed to be on 2, But eventually I tried every setting and even trying to do it between 1 and 2. It seemed like 2,3,4 gave me very close to the same distance, but 1 gave me an increase, but nothing substantial.

[webertime]

The DC4 braking isn't as fine tunable as DC5.  I found it to be overbraked then under-rated waaay too easily.  DC5 on Scorpions and up is way better.

[WRB]

I pick up, a Curado 150 DC reel on 7’6” rod my friend was using with a 1/2 oz swim jig to use a few minutes. Casting wasn’t easy to get distance as the reel slows down the spool before I would. Using enough rod speed to cast 10 yards further with my own tackle was frustrating. Tried to loosen the spool tension knob a little with negligible improvement. DC reels are design to slow down the spool to reduce backlashing, works the novice angler anglers I guess.

Tom

 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Most of them cast pretty well, but I have noticed some SLXs and curado DCs have a little variance in the braking IMO.  Some run tighter then others.

The variable that is a constant between all reels regardless of which braking system them use is the rod.  If you have a rod that doesn't recover well, you're not going to cast anything very far.  

I like to run my reels with as little spool tension as possible.  With the DCs I've found that too much play in the spool actually hurts distance.  It seems like the IDC 4 needs a little more spool tension then I like to normally use, to work efficiently.  

[Big Hands]

First thing I would try is to clean and lightly lube the bearings. They're not ultimate bomb casters, but they're certainly good for more than 50-60 feet.

[Smirak]

I have a slx dc and depending on what I am throwing, I can get it to where I want it. I don’t often try and throw as far as I can because I mostly kayak fish and can maneuver to where I want. 
 

On topic, I didn’t find the Curado DC $70 better than the slx dc, so I got rid of it and just bought a Curado 150mgl. That thing will bomb whatever I want (within reason).

[Joseph Baggs]

6 hours ago, Smirak said:

I have a slx dc and depending on what I am throwing, I can get it to where I want it. I don’t often try and throw as far as I can because I mostly kayak fish and can maneuver to where I want. 
 

On topic, I didn’t find the Curado DC $70 better than the slx dc, so I got rid of it and just bought a Curado 150mgl. That thing will bomb whatever I want (within reason).

I love the SLX MGL. Wish I had got another MGL over the DC. 

 

[Joseph Baggs]

18 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Gotcha. Reason I asked is because the setup is a little different on a DC reel than you may be used to. For spool tension, it should be tightened just enough to eliminate side-to-side play in the spool, not with regards to the fall rate of the lure. Then set your brake dial on the side to w/e line you're using (2 for braid/mono, 3 for fluoro, 1 for least braking, and 4 for wind/max braking).

 

If that doesn't get it right, then there's definitely something up with the reel, but as of right now it just sounds like the spool tension is too tight to let the DC work.

I tried what you suggested.    I loosen the tension knob To where spool would move side to side, then I tightened it just to the point where spool would stop the side to side movement. When I did this, I notice the fall rate of my bait is super fast. If I was to let it fall to the ground, the line would definitely overrun and come loose, but I didn't allow that. So, then I go to cast and it increased the distance on setting 2 for mono. But I noticed once my castbis complete, if I take my thumb off rhe spool at all (with thumb bar engaged), the spool would turn and line would start to fluff up. So basically I have to keep thumb on it throughout the entire cast and until I disengage the thumbar, otherwise the line would loosen and fluff up. If this is supposed to be how it's supposed to be, the tension knob  seems crazy loose to me and if I take my thumb off the line at all, even with the rod being still and not moving, it's so loose that the spool just keeps turning.

Even though I gained some casting distance, it still doesn't seem as far as it should be. I'm able to cast just as far with a 1/4oz lipless on an Abu RevoX which cost like $80-100. 

[Catt]

22 hours ago, Joseph Baggs said:

a 7ft rod with a 1/2oz bait,

 

It amuses me when casting distance is discussed with no mention of the rod being used. 

 

Rods cast...reels hold line

 

A rod that is to stiff or to soft will greatly effect both distance & accuracy.

[Tatulatard]

36 minutes ago, Joseph Baggs said:

I tried what you suggested.    I loosen the tension knob To where spool would move side to side, then I tightened it just to the point where spool would stop the side to side movement. When I did this, I notice the fall rate of my bait is super fast. If I was to let it fall to the ground, the line would definitely overrun and come loose, but I didn't allow that. So, then I go to cast and it increased the distance on setting 2 for mono. But I noticed once my castbis complete, if I take my thumb off rhe spool at all (with thumb bar engaged), the spool would turn and line would start to fluff up. So basically I have to keep thumb on it throughout the entire cast and until I disengage the thumbar, otherwise the line would loosen and fluff up. If this is supposed to be how it's supposed to be, the tension knob  seems crazy loose to me and if I take my thumb off the line at all, even with the rod being still and not moving, it's so loose that the spool just keeps turning.

Even though I gained some casting distance, it still doesn't seem as far as it should be. I'm able to cast just as far with a 1/4oz lipless on an Abu RevoX which cost like $80-100. 

Yes and that's how all your reels should be set up.  Spool tension knobs are training wheels.  

[Joseph Baggs]

7 hours ago, Catt said:

 

It amuses me when casting distance is discussed with no mention of the rod being used. 

 

Rods cast...reels hold line

 

A rod that is to stiff or to soft will greatly effect both distance & accuracy.

My bad. The 7ft rod is a Dobyns Fury 705CB. I also tried on a 7'2" Lews TP MH, fast. Got a little more distance on the Lews which is stiffer, but same line and bait on that same Lews rod using a RevoX, I got the same distance as the SLX DC

[Aaron_H]

8 minutes ago, Joseph Baggs said:

My bad. The 7ft rod is a Dobyns Fury 705CB. I also tried on a 7'2" Lews TP MH, fast. Got a little more distance on the Lews which is stiffer, but same line and bait on that same Lews rod using a RevoX, I got the same distance as the SLX DC

 

This is interesting to me; my SLX DC is on a Fury 705CB as well, spooled with 30lb PowerPro to a 15lb mono leader. My brake setting is set to 2, and I get great distance out of mine throwing a 1/2 oz lipless. Nothing mind blowing, about the same as what I get with other reels that are set properly, but certainly more than the 50-60 feet you're describing.

 

Could be the reel, but without having it in front of me it's hard to say.

[Woody B]

I keep the spool tension just tight enough to eliminate side play on all my reels, not just the DC's.  I keep my DC brakes on "1" most of the time.  I'll change them to "2" at night or casting into the wind.  

 

The mistake I see most people make is casting too hard.  If the lure and rod are matched 75 feet should be an easy flip.  DC brakes get really aggressive if you cast something really hard.   For most people less effort, with less brakes equals more distance, and better accuracy.  

[Joseph Baggs]

On 5/11/2023 at 2:38 PM, Aaron_H said:

 

This is interesting to me; my SLX DC is on a Fury 705CB as well, spooled with 30lb PowerPro to a 15lb mono leader. My brake setting is set to 2, and I get great distance out of mine throwing a 1/2 oz lipless. Nothing mind blowing, about the same as what I get with other reels that are set properly, but certainly more than the 50-60 feet you're describing.

 

Could be the reel, but without having it in front of me it's hard to say.

When I put a 1/2oz lipless on the DC, which is on the same Dobyns 705CB rod, it definitely casts further then some other baits, I'm guess because of the aerodynamics of the lipless, whichni definitely get more then 50-60ft. But like you said, it's about the same distance as other reels. Maybe I was just expecting the SLX DC to get better distance then my other reels. I do however feel like regardless of what bait I put on the DC, at the end of the cast, it seems like the bait stalls and drops because of the DC feature. I will launch a bait, and about 75% of the way thru the cast, it seems like the spool slows down really quick, significantly, and the bait just drops. Almost as if the spool was to just gradually slow down without the DC, the bait would keep sailing even further. Hope that makes sense. 

Have you noticed at the end of rhe cast where it shows down so much that your bait stalls mid air and just drops? My buddy was next to me while I was casting, and he even noticed right away. Said it seems like it stalls towards the end of the cast. He doesn't own an DC reels, but he is a big Shimano fan, with at least 6 or so of the higher end Shimanos casting reels.

[WRB]

DC digital control reels are design to slow down the spool speed to reduce over running the line and that reduces casting distance. No breaks and a skilled caster can cast lures further comparing apples to apples, same rod, line and lure. The Shimano MGL system can cast further the the DC.

Tom

[Tatulatard]

45 minutes ago, Joseph Baggs said:

When I put a 1/2oz lipless on the DC, which is on the same Dobyns 705CB rod, it definitely casts further then some other baits, I'm guess because of the aerodynamics of the lipless, whichni definitely get more then 50-60ft. But like you said, it's about the same distance as other reels. Maybe I was just expecting the SLX DC to get better distance then my other reels. I do however feel like regardless of what bait I put on the DC, at the end of the cast, it seems like the bait stalls and drops because of the DC feature. I will launch a bait, and about 75% of the way thru the cast, it seems like the spool slows down really quick, significantly, and the bait just drops. Almost as if the spool was to just gradually slow down without the DC, the bait would keep sailing even further. Hope that makes sense. 

Have you noticed at the end of rhe cast where it shows down so much that your bait stalls mid air and just drops? My buddy was next to me while I was casting, and he even noticed right away. Said it seems like it stalls towards the end of the cast. He doesn't own an DC reels, but he is a big Shimano fan, with at least 6 or so of the higher end Shimanos casting reels.

That's normal for DC reels.  Magnetic brake reels also behave similar. If you want a braking system that lets go and goes into free spool at the end of the cast then you want centrifugal.

[Aaron_H]

4 hours ago, Joseph Baggs said:

When I put a 1/2oz lipless on the DC, which is on the same Dobyns 705CB rod, it definitely casts further then some other baits, I'm guess because of the aerodynamics of the lipless, whichni definitely get more then 50-60ft. But like you said, it's about the same distance as other reels. Maybe I was just expecting the SLX DC to get better distance then my other reels. I do however feel like regardless of what bait I put on the DC, at the end of the cast, it seems like the bait stalls and drops because of the DC feature. I will launch a bait, and about 75% of the way thru the cast, it seems like the spool slows down really quick, significantly, and the bait just drops. Almost as if the spool was to just gradually slow down without the DC, the bait would keep sailing even further. Hope that makes sense. 

Have you noticed at the end of rhe cast where it shows down so much that your bait stalls mid air and just drops? My buddy was next to me while I was casting, and he even noticed right away. Said it seems like it stalls towards the end of the cast. He doesn't own an DC reels, but he is a big Shimano fan, with at least 6 or so of the higher end Shimanos casting reels.

 

I have never had this happen with mine. I'm not that sold on DC truthfully, if I had to replace the reel I'd probably get a Curado 150 MGL, but I'm glad I tried it out; I definitely don't feel disadvantaged casting versus my other reels and I do like it on windier days.

[FishTank]

I have the Curado DC and I have had no real issues with it. It's a great caster.  Is it greatest long distance casting reel? Not really but it excels at casting into the wind. I would say I could get 120' easily with 10lb mono, 1/2 oz crankbait, and a 7'4'' moderate-fast rod.