This may cause a disturbance in the force

[CaughtMeABiggun]

Am I the only one that thinks the SLX line is Shimano's best reel? I have Shimano reels that are more expensive but I just don't see the performance gains as you go up in price. I will say that Daiwa reels do get better with price. I just don't see that with Shimano. Maybe its a testament that Shimano will not put out crap in any of their price points. It's not a bad thing. I also wouldn't say that the SLX competes with a Steez, but it's a lot closer to a Metanium than it has any right to be. Especially the SLX XT.

 

 

[Bird]

SLX is the best bang for the buck. Imo

[Columbia Craw]

The Death Star is hovering over you as I type.

[CaughtMeABiggun]

@Columbia Craw I feel it. Believe me.. I'm waiting for one of the  Tacticalbassin guys to come after me.. I think that If it is a Shimano Malaysia or a Daiwa Thailand reel they can all go in the same bin. They are not bad, but they all feel similar within their own brand and its really just a matter of how much chrome do you want. And then I pick up my Curado D and say "those were the days.." I have decided to order JDM reels going forward because some of the JDM variants are made in Japan while the USDM ones are not. Example - Daiwa Zillion. 

 

[Columbia Craw]

Just to clarify, the SLX series of reels is really good, just not comparable to Steez. 

[king fisher]

Talk like that could barely create a very small disturbance in the force.  I thought you were going to say Luke Skywalker fished an Expride rod, with a Zillion reel.  Now that would cause a disturbance.  If you really have your heart set on causing a disturbance in the force, all you have to do is tell my wife the Zillion reel I bought is no better than the Tatula CT I already have.

[Darth-Baiter]

I had a SLX DC.  Wonderful reel.  Casted far.  Really far.  I used it for huge striped bass.  I felt the reel flex within the frame on occasion but never lost performance.  I broke my brothers SLX rod and gave him the reel from guilt.  The rod sucked imho, but the reel is legit. 

[MiceNReets]

The SLX MGL from 2019 is an awesome reel.  It punches away above its price point  and so does the jdm 2022 slx dc xt.   

[casts_by_fly]

Value for money sure. But you can’t hold a met and slx in hand side by side and say that the slx is better. 

[GreenPig]

The SLX is no doubt impressive for the price. 

[MediumMouthBass]

The SLX isnt their best reel, its their best reel series for the money. (Same goes for Daiwa's Tatula line) SLX A $80-100. SLX XT $100-125. SLX 70 $125-150. SLX DC XT $180. Price points anyone can afford, paired with a nice fit and finish, along with quality and matching performance. The last gen SLX MGL 70 made many guys jump ship from the much more expensive Curados, it in my opinion is the best reel money can buy for under $200 in the American market.

 

The SLX/Tatula lines will never be a Steez, Zillion, Metanium, Bantam, ETC, but thats not the point. The point is to give you a reel you can afford to buy many of, which for the above isnt doable for most bass fisherman. That has the tech, and features the bigger names do trickling down into them each year. The mid tier reels keep getting better upgrades, while the higher tiers arent getting cheaper, do the math.

 

For most people a high end reel is too far past diminishing returns, because most people (myself included) just want a reliable reel, that casts far, and wont fail. Paying $200-300 for a reel because its lighter or smoother is a want, not a need. And its a need for the few not the many.

[islandbass]

@CaughtMeABiggun Oh no, you’ve turned off your bait monkey targeting computer, lol. 
 

There’s nothing like bang for the buck that  Shimano offers. 
 

I haven’t personally fished with an SLX since I don’t need any reels at the moment. 
 

I have the curado 201bsf, curado 101d, curado dhsv or something like that, a Cardiff 301a and a 2500 shimano symetre that are used to this very day.

 

If anyone is curious as to why I use 201s, it’s because my reels need to pull double duty against salmon and steelhead. Their line capacity also has greater potential to “keep me in the game” if I’m forced to break off a long snag. I am a shore angler. 
 

Battle of Yavin

 

[CaughtMeABiggun]

@casts_by_fly I have held my Metanium in one hand and my SLX in the other and I can't tell a difference. Then I grab my Steez and the other two get put down very quickly. To the point that other than more SLX reels I won't be purchasing anymore Shimano Reels. My Tatula 100s beat the crap out of my Curado MGLs all day long. My next reel purchase will be a JDM Zillion. 

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, CaughtMeABiggun said:

@casts_by_fly I have held my Metanium in one hand and my SLX in the other and I can't tell a difference. Then I grab my Steez and the other two get put down very quickly. To the point that other than more SLX reels I won't be purchasing anymore Shimano Reels. My Tatula 100s beat the crap out of my Curado MGLs all day long. My next reel purchase will be a JDM Zillion. 

sounds like daiwa reels speak to you better than shimano.  Glad you like them.