13 Fishing Concept Z Slide?

[PBBrandon]

I’m looking for 2 more baitcasters to fill out my lineup and notice that BPS has the 13 fishing concept Z slide marked down from $240 to $99. Anyone have these and like em? Almost all of my baitcasters are Daiwa SV reels and the other 2 are Shimanos. I liked the Lews reels I used to have but have never tried 13. What are y’all’s thoughts?

[dk2429]

Take this for what it’s worth 

 

I’ve been using 13 Fishing Concept reels since 2016. A’s, C’s, Z’s, TX, etc.. They were all great up until the last few years or so. I sold that POS Concept Z and a C that stripped the main drive gear. I never liked the Z from day one. The TX and my two A’s are still good, but the TX is starting to slow down and get a bit tired. I’m not mad though, I’ve used the absolute hell out of that reel from inshore trout and redfish to bass fishing. A fresh set of Boca bearings would probably wake it back up. 
 

With all that said, I’d personally never buy a 13 Fishing reel again. Shimano, Daiwa, and Lews is all I will buy from here on out. This is especially true since Rapala bought out 13. The customer service is complete ass now and you can’t get parts for their reels (why I sold half of mine). 
 

I saw that $99 deal and was tempted at first but then bypassed it. If you think it’s worth it, go for it. The newer 13 reels might be really great. I just wouldn’t bother from personal experience. Use that $99 and get a Shimano SLX or Lews Speed Spool LFS. Just my 2cents

 

 

 

[PBBrandon]

I also noticed the Lews Custom SLP on sale for $120. Might be a better buy.

 

I was planning on grabbing another Alphas  but they aren’t $150 like they were a few weeks ago

[DogBone_384]

I use 1st generation Concept A, C, and Es.  They are workhorses. Like @dk2429, I have a couple 2nd generation Concept reels and would pass on the Z-slide, even at $99.

 

The new generation reels are decent, but don’t see them as durable.
 

I’d spend $99 on a Shimano or Diawa. 

[dk2429]

1 hour ago, DogBone_384 said:

I use 1st generation Concept A, C, and Es.  They are workhorses. Like @dk2429, I have a couple 2nd generation Concept reels and would pass on the Z-slide, even at $99.

 

The new generation reels are decent, but don’t see them as durable.
 

I’d spend $99 on a Shimano or Diawa. 

Yep, all mine are the first generation reels, including the TX. It was the first “limited edition” one they sold with the camo box for $300. As I said, that thing really has been a tank in the grand scheme of things. Only thing I’ve replaced on it was the pawl for the level wind (typical wear component if you ask me, no big deal). I used it like hell in saltwater for trout and reds. I dont saltwater fish much anymore so it’s on my squarebill setup now. 
 

The first gen reels were awesome. Like I said though, I had a C AND a Z that both stripped the main drive gear last year. I repaired the Z and sold it (didn’t like it since the day I got it.) Had trouble getting parts for the C, so I sold it as-is and decided to longer buy their reels. 
 

Only ones still kicking are the TX, two A’s, and one C (it’s on its last leg though). I wouldn’t touch the new reels with a 10ft pole 

[KP Duty]

I have the OG solid orange concept z.  They have been great.  Sad to hear people say the current offerings aren't up to par.  Building a reel brand is tough.  13 did it, and I hope Rapala brings the Concept series back to their former glory.

[MonsterZero]

On 2/9/2025 at 2:06 AM, dk2429 said:

Take this for what it’s worth 

 

I’ve been using 13 Fishing Concept reels since 2016. A’s, C’s, Z’s, TX, etc.. They were all great up until the last few years or so. I sold that POS Concept Z and a C that stripped the main drive gear. I never liked the Z from day one. The TX and my two A’s are still good, but the TX is starting to slow down and get a bit tired. I’m not mad though, I’ve used the absolute hell out of that reel from inshore trout and redfish to bass fishing. A fresh set of Boca bearings would probably wake it back up. 
 

With all that said, I’d personally never buy a 13 Fishing reel again. Shimano, Daiwa, and Lews is all I will buy from here on out. This is especially true since Rapala bought out 13. The customer service is complete ass now and you can’t get parts for their reels (why I sold half of mine). 
 

I saw that $99 deal and was tempted at first but then bypassed it. If you think it’s worth it, go for it. The newer 13 reels might be really great. I just wouldn’t bother from personal experience. Use that $99 and get a Shimano SLX or Lews Speed Spool LFS. Just my 2cents

 

 

 

 

My local DSG recently had a couple of 13 combos on sale for $60, marked down from $100. They are not a brand that I am particularly interested in, but I figured for $60, I can use it as a beater and throw it in the back of the car during the summer, or a loaner. The reason they were marked down is that people keep stealing the spool tension knobs off of them. I figured I could just find a cheap, or even free, replacement and be good to go.

 

Boy was I wrong. Came to find out that not only does Rapala not sell or distribute parts, but no one even had aftermarket parts for these reels. I would have to send the reel to Rapala for the $40 service to have the part replaced on the otherwise brand new reel. After shipping and any other nonsense they wanted to tack on, it would have cost me more than the combo cost new and intact. Luckily Dick's was cool about it and accepted the return. I will never even consider one of these rods/reels/combos again, and frankly, it has soured me a bit on Rapala as well.

[dk2429]

19 minutes ago, MonsterZero said:

 

My local DSG recently had a couple of 13 combos on sale for $60, marked down from $100. They are not a brand that I am particularly interested in, but I figured for $60, I can use it as a beater and throw it in the back of the car during the summer, or a loaner. The reason they were marked down is that people keep stealing the spool tension knobs off of them. I figured I could just find a cheap, or even free, replacement and be good to go.

 

Boy was I wrong. Came to find out that not only does Rapala not sell or distribute parts, but no one even had aftermarket parts for these reels. I would have to send the reel to Rapala for the $40 service to have the part replaced on the otherwise brand new reel. After shipping and any other nonsense they wanted to tack on, it would have cost me more than the combo cost new and intact. Luckily Dick's was cool about it and accepted the return. I will never even consider one of these rods/reels/combos again, and frankly, it has soured me a bit on Rapala as well.

Exactly the reason I decided to not buy anymore of their reels. I was trying to get a drive gear for a gen 1 Concept C and Rapala told me the same thing. Only way to get it is to send it in for $40. That is asinine. I wrote them back a nasty email and sold that reel for $50 as-is. 
 

Before the Rapala buy out, I got a few parts from 13 and they were great. Sent me a new handle for my KP and the level wind pawl for my TX free of charge. 

[Bigbox99]

The 1st gen reels were good.  The current ones are not as well liked and use a plastic frame in many of the models that were aluminum on the 1st gen reels. 

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, MonsterZero said:

I will never even consider one of these rods/reels/combos again, and frankly, it has soured me a bit on Rapala as well.

I wont be buying anything else from Rapala anymore, i loved 13 Fishings lures.

Truly amazing lures, the paint on them was unmatched too.

I cant understand how they are keeping the (honestly) garbage rods and reels that many will not buy. Look at the reviews, these things offer Amazon house brand quality at Daiwa prices.

But they got rid of the lures, the only thing the brand had going for them😂

 

The way they are conducting themselves for reel parts and replacements isnt too surprising, since they are now owned by Sycamore Partners (private equity), the same company driving Abu, and the other Pure Fishing brands into the ground.

 

Really thought private equity wouldnt get into fishing, as they ruined video games, aftermarket performance car brands, and numerous other things..... But here we are.

[MonsterZero]

5 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I wont be buying anything else from Rapala anymore, i loved 13 Fishings lures.

Truly amazing lures, the paint on them was unmatched too.

I cant understand how they are keeping the (honestly) garbage rods and reels that many will not buy. Look at the reviews, these things offer Amazon house brand quality at Daiwa prices.

But they got rid of the lures, the only thing the brand had going for them😂

 

The way they are conducting themselves for reel parts and replacements isnt too surprising, since they are now owned by Sycamore Partners (private equity), the same company driving Abu, and the other Pure Fishing brands into the ground.

 

Really thought private equity wouldnt get into fishing, as they ruined video games, aftermarket performance car brands, and numerous other things..... But here we are.

 

That is unfortunate. I am not going to dip into my thoughts on the equity/buyout matter, as I do not trust myself to stay within forum limits, but I hate to see these brands bought out by companies who do not actually care about the sport or the people taking part. I have to believe that the people who started companies like Rapala, Penn, AG, etc, genuinely enjoyed what they did and wanted to contribute to to the sport. It is a shame to see them fall. I hope we never see the day when the holdouts finally succumb.

[PBBrandon]

Well I snagged a like new 7.3 Tatula CT off of FB marketplace for $75. Probably gonna end up on my 7’2” H+F BLX for Magdrafts and Cullshads

[dk2429]

On 2/10/2025 at 7:52 PM, PBBrandon said:

Well I snagged a like new 7.3 Tatula CT off of FB marketplace for $75. Probably gonna end up on my 7’2” H+F BLX for Magdrafts and Cullshads

You dodged a bullet. Good choice. I'm a recent Daiwa fan and will never mess with that 13 **** again