DC reel users?

[learnin]

My nieces son has decided he wants to try bass fishing with a baitcaster.  He's never used one but seems to think the digital control will eliminate backlashes and the need to learn to use his thumb for spool control.  I've got my doubts but I've never used a DC reel or fish with anyone who does.  My guess is he may be right to a degree but he should learn to cast with a non DC reel first.  Am I wrong on this? 

[Eric 26]

Although I’m not trying to say what is right or wrong as I don’t own or anticipate owning a DC reel my thought process is parallel to learning to drive a car. If  you have a chance to learn stick shift when you’re learning to drive why would you pass up the chance. I feel the same about learning how to cast a bait cast reel although I will say and have said before on here I feel the Daiwa’s from the Fuego on up have some of the easiest brakes for beginners imho.

[new2BC4bass]

I'm only familiar with the older Exsence DC reel.  I'd been using a baitcast reel for several years before buying a used one.  I don't know if they can be backlash proof for a beginner.  Whenever I visited relation in Florida, I had to make minor adjustments to my reels, because my casting stroke had to be changed as I went from standing on shore to sitting in a Gheeny with another person in the boat.

 

The Exsence was one of two reels that didn't need minor adjustments.  Your son can use a DC reel (if the others are like my Exsence) to learn how to use his thumb because there is a position that allows you to change the amount of braking force.  Mine can be set from 1-4 if I remember correctly.  This is where I could easily backlash if not careful once I started lowering the braking amount as spool tension is set to remove side-to-side play.

[TheSwearingAngler]

I backlashed(minor) my 17 Scorpion DC at lunch. Not all DCs are the same either. 
 

I got a used 17 Daiwa Tatula SV on eBay from Japan for $95 to my door.. I think Daiwa SV spool is the most forgiving for someone starting out. Just my 2 cents.

[learnin]

In my OP I should have included the question,  will a DC reel actuallly minimize or eliminate backlashes?

[WRB]

No but the DC does reduce casting distance.

IMO learn with baitcasting reel properly adjusted to reduce backlash and promotes correct casting motion.

Start with a Medium power fast action rod using 1/2 oz casting practice plug, 12 lbs Big Game mono line and med range reel like Shimano SLX 70 MGL or Daiwa Tatula SV TW.

Tom

[GPtimes2]

41 minutes ago, learnin said:

In my OP I should have included the question,  will a DC reel actuallly minimize or eliminate backlashes?

I have One original Calais DC and three current Antares DC's. I also have two Calcuta Conquest, One Calcuta Conquest BFS, One Aldebaran, and a Revo Beast. I sold a Revo STX, Revo Rocket, and Curado DC. (just to show I have and tried a variety). The DC reel will greatly reduce and most of the time eliminate backlashes. Especially the Antares DC's which Shimano claims to be their most sophisticated to date. Look on Digitaka.com and see if the price is in your budget because that will be the best for what he wants to accomplish.

[NavyToad]

You’re not wrong, but let the kid make his own decision. I assume that your neice’s nephew is a young man and has plenty of time to learn what works and what doesn’t. Heck, you don’t really have any skin in the game. Personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead using a DC reel. 

[Woody B]

The Daiwa reels with the SV spool are the hardest to backlash of any reels I've used.   I have 2 DC reels.  I keep them set on "1" most of the time and they're pretty much like any other reel.  They shine in the wind when I put them on 2.   I get more distance with them at pretty much any setting than a Daiwa SV reel.   

[new2BC4bass]

2 hours ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

I backlashed(minor) my 17 Scorpion DC at lunch. Not all DCs are the same either. 
 

I got a used 17 Daiwa Tatula SV on eBay from Japan for $95 to my door.. I think Daiwa SV spool is the most forgiving for someone starting out. Just my 2 cents.

If the boy doesn't mind used, then a Daiwa T3 version is better than either for backlash proof casting.

 

EDIT:  I have Exsence DC, T3 1016SHL (2), T3 MX, T3 Ballistic, Daiwa SV103HL (2), Tatula SV103HL and SV103HSL, SV105HSL, Coastal TWS SV, and Steez SV103H.

 

IMO, any T3 would be the best choice for a backlash proof reel.  However, one would not be a good reel to learn thumb control on except for a couple different conditions.  1) Casting very light lures.  2) High winds.  Then you could learn some thumb control.  Maybe others could add to those two conditions.

[Craig P]

I made a post about learning on a DC in another thread.  I went to a Curado DC reel to give me some confidence as I was doing very poorly with a $60 Rod/Reel Combo I bought from Dicks.  Hindsight being what it is, yes DC gave me confidence but reality is the learning curve was achieved because it was simply a higher quality reel.  Any Curado I bought after (too many!) are not DC, I do not need it.

 

In summary, there is no reason to not buy a DC, it won't hurt his learning curve, it will help.

[MediumMouthBass]

There are a few reels that would be great for beginners that rarely backlash and are easy to cast.

2 spools come to mind, Daiwa SV and Shimano MGL, i never had anything DC and dont have a need for it. They are great reels and people love them but im already very happy with the reels i have.

 

Heres a few reel suggestions i own and have experience with.

The Shimano SLX MGL (70 or the new A model) are currently running from between $100-150

for the price its unbelievable. Easy to cast regardless of skill level, excels at the lighter lures too.

The Daiwa Tatula SV TW and Zillion 21 (between $150-210 for the Tatula and above $200 if you get the Zillion from Japan). The SV spools also cast ridiculously easy (like the MGL's) very hard to backlash too.

Any of the above reels i would let my parents fish with them and be completely sure they would do fine and not ruin the line.

 

But you really dont want to let the reel do all the work for you, ill often turn my brakes down very low just to keep practicing using my thumb. Always gotta be learning and improving.

 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

No reels are backlash proof, but DCs and SVs are close.  The DC will excel in distance where the SV will excel in close/mid range and lighter baits.

Hes going to need his thumb, it's the primary brake, same with fingers on spinning reels.  You can tighten any reel down, to where the spool won't blow up if you don't thumb it after splashdown, but it's going to dramatically decrease performance.  

What's nice about DCs are they're very simple systems, only 4 settings, 3 corresponding to line type and the last for foul weather which would be essentially max brakes.  

Tatula SV lacks the range of a DC, but is better with lighter baits out to medium range.

If I could only 1, I lean to the SLX DC, because it fits the way I fish and much prefer its ergonomics and it just continues to work as good as new. 

Both reels are winners, but don't forget the rod needs to be correct as well.  If it doesn't load, then you likely won't be happy with performance of either reel.

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

GetFishorDieTryin  Glad to see your last sentence.  Saves me the trouble. 

 

[Deephaven]

I wouldn't buy a DC for anyone, definitely not a beginner.  I don't hate it enough to sell mine, but won't invest in more.  As for new users, I have a 12 & 14 year old and what I had them start with is a tightened up Daiwa with thick line that is easy to pick the eventual birdsnest out of.

[ABU is overpriced]

SV spools from Daiwa are much better for a beginner than anything DC.

DC is very cool when you get your first reel. Use it for a year, and you'll see that its nothing but a fad. Even the noise isn't "cool" anymore when you've heard it for some time.

[jdr99a]

I’ve got 3 DC models - the SLX, Curado, and Metanium. Where they excel for me is in the wind and with non-aerodynamic lures like spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. 
 

They are not backlash proof, and they aren’t God’s gift to casting reels, but they have their niche. 
 

Like others have said, an SLX mgl would be my choice to start with. 

[Deephaven]

On 4/23/2024 at 6:24 AM, jdr99a said:

I’ve got 3 DC models - the SLX, Curado, and Metanium. Where they excel for me is in the wind and with non-aerodynamic lures like spinnerbaits and buzzbaits.

Exactly where mine is now.  Spinnerbait rod.  I hate that I give up distance when not tossing in big wind, but it is helpful in that situation for sure.  Outside of that I'll take a conventional reel everytime.

[Jig Man]

I find all of these comments interesting.  I only have 2 Curado 150 DCs but I wouldn’t mind having 10 more.  I have them on Gloomis 843c rods with 12# fluorocarbon line.  I haven’t noticed any decrease in casting distance, in fact after Cadman cleaned them they throw like rockets.

[dodgeguy]

almost any reel can be set up to be mostly backlash proof. IMHO lews 27 point brakes is the best. It can be set so the only place u need to thumb it is on splashdown.preety much the only way to backlash is on the back cast if u hook something behind u. No need for DC IMHO.

[Big Hands]

I have:

• 2017 Daiwa SV TW
• Shimano SLX 150 DC
• Shimano Curado 150 DC

If I am being honest, they are three of the most expensive baitcasters that I own, yet they are my least favorite reels to use that are in my starting rotation 'first string' casting combos. Mostly because they don't cast as far as my other reels that cost less.

 

Where I fish and how I fish, casting distance is a high priority. They are not terrible, and they are otherwise every bit as nice as anything else I own, but I just can't cast them like I can the others. And, they are prone to backlashes; maybe only slightly less than my non-digitally controlled reels.

 

I'd pay less, and be happier with a Curado or SLX 70 MGL, and I think even a novice would too. I'd put some 10 or 12 lbs Big Game or Ande monofilament on there are let him hammer on it. An o-ring pick makes a great tool for picking out backlashes.

[Koz]

Make him pick out his own backlashes. He’ll learn very quickly to thumb the spool.

 

I have a couple of Curado DC’s that I like to use when fishing in pitch black darkness.

[ATA]

I have around 10 or more DC reels, What I can say is they are making difference in high wind. he can start with SLX or Curado DC, Both will do the job.

[MickD]

For learning to cast a baitcaster, IMO, the slower actions, like moderate, and mono linie of about 15 pound test are the most forgiving.  My teenaged granddaughter picked up very fast using a Daiwa Fuego reel.  I've never owned a DC reel, but from the posts here, one gives up distance with them, which I'd rather not do.