Problem with my SLX?

[MediumMouthBass]

Awhile ago i bought a new Shimano SLX reel, spooled up with Power Pro 50lb braid and put it on a heavy rod for frogging and flipping into lily pads.

Before i go any further into details,

Yes i put mono backing on before braid. Yes i know how to use a baitcaster. Yes the braided line was put on tightly. Yes i put the reel on a Daiwa rod.

But out of almost 2 dozen baitcasting reels this is only my 2nd one with braided line, so not sure if its the line or the reel since everything else has mono or YZ hybrid.

When trying to cast a lure of any size/weight i can only cast it very gently around 20 feet. If i try to cast like i regularly do or put any amount of force to it/try to get some distance, the braided line will go insanse and backlash, birdsnest, get knotted up, etc....

Let me rephrase that, the reel can cast way past 20 feet, its just it will destroy the line. If i thumb the line it will backlash, same thing without thumbing the line. If i try going past 20 feet, it backlashes. Ive tried the spool tension on almost every setting, loose, tight etc... Same result.

 

I decided to give another SLX a try, put 12lb hybrid on it and with the same settings i can cast lures very far with no issues, unless a little bit of fluff when throwing spinnerbaits, but it throws them far.

Both reels are the same, only ones a left and the others a right, same gear ratio. etc....

I havent used the reel in awhile out of it not performing correctly, but i was originally thinking maybe it was because i had the braking system on how it came from the factory, well the 2nd one disproved that theory, it came the same from the factory on stock braking adjustment and works amazing.

 

Most of you are probably thinking to adjust the internal brakes, but they are the same the other ones on? So before i dust it off and try it again, can the same brake settings be that much different from using 2 different types of line? And if so please give me your opinion on what they should be on/off so i can use it.

Thank you.

[WRB]

With Shimano casting reels I start off with brakes every other on (3 on 3 off). Braid can be a ***** to cast and backlashes are a beast to pick out. 

A trick that works good is pull off 50 - 60 yards of braid then 1 wrap Teflon plumbers tape to hold the underneath braid tight too prevent back lashing.

Not a fan of braid for long casting.

Tom

[Woody B]

Did you take the side cover off and look at the brakes?  One of my SLX's came with all the brakes clicked on from the factory.  The other came with all of them clicked off.   I'm 3 off, 3 on like Tom mentioned.  I usually have the dial on 2 or so.   I've been using baitcasters longer than I've been shaving.  I can't cast a SLX with all the brakes clicked off.   

[dodgeguy]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

With Shimano casting reels I start off with brakes every other on (3 on 3 off). Braid can be a ***** to cast and backlashes are a beast to pick out. 

A trick that works good is pull off 50 - 60 yards of braid then 1 wrap Teflon plumbers tape to hold the underneath braid tight too prevent back lashing.

Not a fan of braid for long casting.

Tom

I have to totally disagree. Braid casts awesome if using the right braid. Braid is also easier to remove a backlash from. Using the reel against thumb pressure technique I've gotten out some really bad backlashes in 30 years I've fished with braid.Braid is also not damaged by backlash. I hope the op is starting with 50 LB braid . Preferably Sufix832 or Viscious no fade braid.

 

Edited July 8, 2023 by dodgeguy

[Bird]

I throw 20lb braid on every baitcaster I own and perfect harmony.

SLX best performs with brakes set 3 on 3 off as mentioned.

[PhishLI]

8 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I havent used the reel in awhile out of it not performing correctly, but i was originally thinking maybe it was because i had the braking system on how it came from the factory, well the 2nd one disproved that theory, it came the same from the factory on stock braking adjustment and works amazing.

 

Most of you are probably thinking to adjust the internal brakes, but they are the same the other ones on? So before i dust it off and try it again, can the same brake settings be that much different from using 2 different types of line? And if so please give me your opinion on what they should be on/off so i can use it.

Thank you.

Forget about factory settings. Set all the brakes to "on" which means unlocked from the "up" position so they're swinging and not locked. Set your spool tension to eliminate side to side play. Try casting it, then back off brakes as need be. How anyone else sets up their brakes is meaningless. How you set up your brakes depends upon your casting stroke, release point, etc. Not anyone else's. Start there, then post your results.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I set 3 on 3 off and forget them. Adjust spool tension for the bait weight and use required thumb

[BobbyBudnick]

There might be too much oil on the brake race. Rub it with a q-tip so that theres a thin, even coating of oil.

[dodgeguy]

12 hours ago, Bird said:

I throw 20lb braid on every baitcaster I own and perfect harmony.

SLX best performs with brakes set 3 on 3 off as mentioned.

I'm not saying you can't but it's a lot easier to throw 50 LB. When you aren't used to braid.

[JediAmoeba]

17 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

I have to totally disagree. Braid casts awesome if using the right braid. Braid is also easier to remove a backlash from. Using the reel against thumb pressure technique I've gotten out some really bad backlashes in 30 years I've fished with braid.Braid is also not damaged by backlash. I hope the op is starting with 50 LB braid . Preferably Sufix832 or Viscious no fade braid.

 

I agree with you- Braid is far and away the easiest line to pick a backlash out. I use braid with all my reels and never have a problem casting far.

 

I can't comment on a Shimano though as I have never had one...centrifugal brakes are totally foreign to me

[dodgeguy]

2 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

I agree with you- Braid is far and away the easiest line to pick a backlash out. I use braid with all my reels and never have a problem casting far.

 

I can't comment on a Shimano though as I have never had one...centrifugal brakes are totally foreign to me

I love centrifugal brakes. Especially Lew's 27 point externally adjustable ones.

[MediumMouthBass]

Thank you to all who replied, i appreciate you trying to help me with my reel.

Many of you suggested that the brakes on the problem reel werent adjusted properly and that they should be at 3on/3off.

Heres the problem with that, both reels came out of box at 3on/3off, the SLX with braided line was at 3on/3off and was having the problems casting/backlashing on that setting, but the SLX with hybrid line on the same setting does great.

So if they are both on the same setting, and many of you recommended 3on/3off for the reel, why is one doing great and the other terrible on the same setting?

[dodgeguy]

What lb test braid and brand ?

[MediumMouthBass]

@dodgeguy Power Pro 50lb.

[ironbjorn]

10 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

@dodgeguy Power Pro 50lb.

Could just be the reel. I have several SLX XT reels but I got 1 that just wouldn't dial in no matter what and backlashed constantly if it wasn't set up to get no distance.

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, MediumMouthBass said:

@dodgeguy Power Pro 50lb.

Not a power pro fan but that's not your issue. If you are  backlashing 20 feet into your cast then you do not have enough. Centrifugal brake. Centrifugal stops backlash at the start and backs off as the casts progresses. At this point it's a combo of spool tension and thumb. Also I'd try oiling your spool bearings. Oil will slow down the spool. just one drop each side.

[PhishLI]

15 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Many of you suggested that the brakes on the problem reel werent adjusted properly and that they should be at 3on/3off.

Heres the problem with that, both reels came out of box at 3on/3off,

Are you allergic to changing the factory settings to see if your results change, or are you simply stuck on the factory settings thing just because it works on the other reel with very different line? What do you have to lose?

[MediumMouthBass]

@PhishLI I havent used the reel in several months, took it out yesterday, in order to cast it i had to set the brakes with as many turned on as i could just to make it castable, it didnt backlash but it also couldnt cast past 25-30 feet because of how over braked it is.

Meanwhile the 2nd SLX at the same/lower braking settings casts great.

 

So even if i did change the brakes, it doesnt matter either way it tops out at 25-30 feet.

[PhishLI]

I'd swap line from reel to reel to see if the problem follows. At least you might come to a conclusion. Swapping spools is a half step, but worthwhile to see if the issue follows the spool or not.

[Bird]

@MediumMouthBass

As great a caster as the SLX is I would be curious as to what rod and bait are you throwing.

Also did you adjust the spool tensioner to allow the bait to fall slowly when thumb bar is pressed ?

[MediumMouthBass]

@PhishLI i was thinking today about swapping the spools but the ones a right hand retrieve and the other a left, does the spool fit and work even if its for the opposite side? Havent taken apart or worked on reels much.

@Bird So far ive tried them on a Daiwa Aird X MH, Aird X Heavy, Lews TP1X MH, rod lengths between 7' and 7'3".

For baits 1/2oz Berkley Warpig, i can usually cast this farther than any lure but not on this reel, 3/8oz texas rigs using different plastics, lighter top waters, crankbaits, etc....

I posted a bit ago where i tried changing the braking system yesterday, so far the only way to not backlash it was to tighten the brakes as much as possible, but then only able to get 5-10 feet more on an already short cast distance.

I have tried the spool tension tight where i dont need to thumb it, tried it where i usually have it on most baitcasters where its moving slow and still thumb it, also tried very loose and thumbed it the whole way. Doesnt make a difference for this reel.

[PhishLI]

1 hour ago, MediumMouthBass said:

i was thinking today about swapping the spools but the ones a right hand retrieve and the other a left, does the spool fit and work even if its for the opposite side? Havent taken apart or worked on reels

No problem doing it. It's not directional. The spool pops right out then right back in. Just don't spin the handle like crazy while the spool is removed, and you'll be fine. 

[Aaron_H]

10 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

@PhishLI I havent used the reel in several months, took it out yesterday, in order to cast it i had to set the brakes with as many turned on as i could just to make it castable, it didnt backlash but it also couldnt cast past 25-30 feet because of how over braked it is.

Meanwhile the 2nd SLX at the same/lower braking settings casts great.

 

So even if i did change the brakes, it doesnt matter either way it tops out at 25-30 feet.

 

I would try backing off the spool tension when increasing the internal brakes. Let the brakes and your thumb do the work.

[huZZah]

I once had a bad problem with green power pro sticking on one reel only. I trashed it and respooled from same original and problem gone.  Maybe it’s that simple.  But man I wasted days jacking up my slx before it occurred to me. 

[Pogues2300]

lol I just love how you went out of your way to prevent basic questions by your preemptive description. I’ve also tried very hard but it’s rarely enough.