Baitcasting reels have undergone significant breakthroughs over the years and have continued to get better.
One of the biggest changes throughout the different generations of reels has been an improvement to the braking systems.
All of the major reel brands have their own braking systems and each of them is light-years ahead of older reels when it comes to casting distance and ease of use.
Shimano, one of the leaders in the fishing industry, currently offers several different braking systems for their baitcast reels, including the SVS Infinity and Digitally Controlled (DC) braking systems.
To break down braking systems, Washington pro Luke Clausen and California pro angler Ken Mah shared their thoughts on the different systems and how they implement them into their fishing.
Mah and Clausen on the Advantages of DC
The DC reels from Shimano feature a digitally controlled braking system that significantly helps with efficiency, according to Mah.
“There are several specific situations where I will always grab the Curado DC. The number one time is anytime I am casting into a stiff wind,” Mah said. “It also shines anytime you are casting lighter lures. You can be much more efficient with a DC reel in those instances.”
Clausen agrees and will also use it in windy conditions, both the Curado DC and the STX DC, but also opts for it based on the lure he is using.
“There are some lures that tend to twirl during the cast and that can always be a pain to cast. Some crankbaits, buzzbaits, glide baits, and other lures spin and become hard to cast efficiently,” he shared. “That is one time when a Shimano DC reel is always going to be better.”
“The Workhorse”
In the world of baitcast reels, the Curado name is legendary. They’ve gone through several generations and Mah believes the current version is the best ever.
He’s fished Shimano baitcast reels for years and estimates that 90% of his current arsenal is made up of Curado K reels.
“I always tell people they are the ‘Glock of reels’ because they can take a beating and keep going. You can’t completely neglect them, but they don’t need to be cleaned all the time and they stand up to everyday use,” Mah said. “They are a workhorse reel and I use them for just about everything.”
The Curado K features the SVS Infinity braking system, which Mah feels is perfect for dialing in his reels and he uses all three reel speeds during his fishing. The 6.2:1, 7.4:1 (HG), and 8.5:1 (XG) all get used heavily by Mah.
Having three retrieve speeds from the same reel is crucial for Mah. “I like everything to feel the same to me on the rods and I can throw a buzzbait with the XG and put the rod down and the next cast can be a crankbait it the 6.2:1. That’s important to me to have the same feel without any readjustment.”
The Curado gets most of his workload, but for flipping, pitching, and punching, he opts for the Chronarch MGL, with the same proven SVS infinity braking system.
“The 150 size just feels perfect in hand and it is very light on a big, heavy rod,” Mah adds.
SLX DC and SLX XT
The Shimano SLX reel burst onto the scenes as a low-cost reel with big features. It is routinely listed as a best seller on major online tackle sites and retails for under $100.
After the success of the reel, Shimano released two more versions: the SLX DC and XT, which cost slightly more but still make them a value. Clausen is a big fan of both of these reels and believes they are worth well more than their asking price.
The original SLX features a VBS (Variable Braking System), but the XT includes the same SVS Infinity system found in more expensive reels from Shimano. The DC version features digitally controlled braking.
“The SLX XT is a reel that I have used a lot and it has the same braking system as the Curado K. You can control the brakes from inside of the reel by taking the side plate off,” he said. “There is also a dial on the outside to control the brakes. I use that for minor adjustments during the day or if I change lures.”
Like Mah, Clausen is a longtime Shimano user and feels the SLX collection is impressive.
“They are a lot of reel for the money and a great value. Even compared to higher-priced reels, they are very smooth and show how far reels have come over the years,” Clausen shared.
There’s no denying that baitcast reels have improved over the years and they continue to get better. The current generation of Shimano braking systems was built with the angler in mind and will allow you to cast better than ever and help you become more efficient on the water.