What rod for a SXL 70 8:1?

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

I picked up a shimano SLX 70 in very good condition for fairly cheap. The only issue is that it’s a 8.2:1 gear ratio. I wish it had been a seven speed so it’d been better for throwing small crankbaits like I was picturing. I’m not exactly what to use it for now, maybe put it on a curado  6’10 for jerkbaits? Would I wreck it if I used it for something like pitching and punching? 

[casts_by_fly]

Use it for whatever you want. Throwing moving baits you might need to slow down but then you might not. Burning a crankbait isn’t the worst thing. 
 

I tend to use my faster reels for bottom contact or topwaters. 

[Jig Man]

I use that speed for shaky, Ned and swim baits.

[Reel]

I find an 8 ratio to fast for anything but bottom baits.  I would put it on a 7' 2'' MH Curado and go skipping under docks with a scat.

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

Should I put it on a braillist for jigs? I guess the combination of high speed and low line capacity isn’t great 

[Dan N]

For Texas rig, jig, Swimjig, a lot of stuff. 
when do you ever use more than 25 yards of line??? Usually only using the first 10 yards.(when flipping or pitching a jig or Texas rig)When you break it off a few times  , just replace the 50-75 yards you use. Half the line on all my reels never gets used.

Braid with swim jigs would be perfect. Mh or even medium rod. No stretch in the braid, and typically not bombing swim jigs out there.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Good for pitching jigs/ t rigs, senkos, jerkbaits,  squarebills, weightless plastics and im sure much more.  The only thing I wouldnt use 8 speeds for are chatterbaits/ spinnerbaits or coldwater/deep cranks.

[WRB]

Not the MGL reel?

The small spool looses IPT quickly so the higher 8:1 compensates.

For larger size deep diving crank baits the 70 size reel is too small IMO, 1/2-5/8 oz sizes would be OK if you don’t go over .012D line.

Good for jerk baits.

Tom

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

4 hours ago, WRB said:

Not the MGL reel?

It’s the mgl 

[FrnkNsteen]

I use mine for pitching jigs and worrms, as well as topwater poppers and jerkbaits.

[Rockhopper]

6'8" jerkbait rod is what I have my 71 curado in that speed on

[r83srock]

I fish Texas rigs and swim jigs with mine. I’ve also thrown jerkbaits, and crank baits, just turn the reel handle slower. They are great reels, I like 30lb braid on mine.

[new2BC4bass]

On 7/20/2024 at 3:59 PM, Dan N said:

when do you ever use more than 25 yards of line???

Vast majority of the time. 

 

OP:  As long as you use the equivalent of 10# mono (or smaller) you should have plenty of line.  Unless you are one of those guys capable of making 100 yards or longer casts.  As stated previously IPR won't be all that great on long casts.

 

For me line equivalent of 12# mono takes this reel out of the running as an all around reel.  My Salamandura is rated for 75 yds. of 12# mono.  10 yards less than the SLX 70.  I didn't fill the spool to the engraved line, but to the spool bevel so don't know how many yards of 12# mono is spooled.  A 5/8 oz. lipless crankbait on a 6'10" MH-Mod.Fast rod barely leaves any line on the spool with long casts.  You can see the arbor through the line.

[Dan N]

I do agree to a point. I guess what I meant was when flipping or pitching a jig or Texas rig around , for me at least it’s always very short , and the drag is locked down, so for those methods, I only use a very short section of the line. 
Swim jigs can definitely be different, but I also rarely throw long casts with them.

I replace line a lot, so only doing about 50 yards works for me   , for my rods designated to those methods.

Different for me with cranking rods. 
I would do 100 yards on those

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

On 7/23/2024 at 9:18 PM, new2BC4bass said:

Vast majority of the time. 

 

OP:  As long as you use the equivalent of 10# mono (or smaller) you should have plenty of line.  Unless you are one of those guys capable of making 100 yards or longer casts.  As stated previously IPR won't be all that great on long casts.

 

For me line equivalent of 12# mono takes this reel out of the running as an all around reel.  My Salamandura is rated for 75 yds. of 12# mono.  10 yards less than the SLX 70.  I didn't fill the spool to the engraved line, but to the spool bevel so don't know how many yards of 12# mono is spooled.  A 5/8 oz. lipless crankbait on a 6'10" MH-Mod.Fast rod barely leaves any line on the spool with long casts.  You can see the arbor through the line.

Yeah I have sufix 832 30lb which is 0.011 I believe and I’ve bombed a frog to the point that it’s just the knot I tied on the spool that’s holding on the line. I was thinking about putting 50lb on it for frogs but that’s kind of out of the picture I guess 

On 7/21/2024 at 5:52 PM, WRB said:

Not the MGL reel?

The small spool looses IPT quickly so the higher 8:1 compensates.

For larger size deep diving crank baits the 70 size reel is too small IMO, 1/2-5/8 oz sizes would be OK if you don’t go over .012D line.

Good for jerk baits.

Tom

So the low IPT kind of cancels out the high gear ratio on a long cast? Is the IPT measured with a full spool?

[new2BC4bass]

12 hours ago, August said:

Yeah I have sufix 832 30lb which is 0.011 I believe and I’ve bombed a frog to the point that it’s just the knot I tied on the spool that’s holding on the line. I was thinking about putting 50lb on it for frogs but that’s kind of out of the picture I guess 

So the low IPT kind of cancels out the high gear ratio on a long cast? Is the IPT measured with a full spool?

I know some people are thrilled to have the skill to empty the spool.  Personally I like line left over.  1) More than once I've had a fish hit the lure as soon as it hit the water, and 2) of much less importance is the loss of IPR.

[WRB]

15 hours ago, August said:

Yeah I have sufix 832 30lb which is 0.011 I believe and I’ve bombed a frog to the point that it’s just the knot I tied on the spool that’s holding on the line. I was thinking about putting 50lb on it for frogs but that’s kind of out of the picture I guess 

So the low IPT kind of cancels out the high gear ratio on a long cast? Is the IPT measured with a full spool?

IPT is based on fully spooled line (pi x d)

Most anglers never fully spool line on their reels, usually about 1/16” to 3/32” below full spool. Mfr’s stated IPT is rarely true because we don’t fill the spool to the rim.

After making an average 30 yard cast the spooled line diameter is reduced using small bait casting reel about 1/3rd of line capacity reducing the IPT significantly. The higher gear ratio helps to off set the IPT loss,

Tom

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

7 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Personally I like line left over. 

So do I, I never want to fight a fish with no line on the spool even if my drag is all the way locked down.