Testing the Backlash-Proof Shimano SLX DC XT Baitcaster with BFS Lures

[@TheConstantAngler]

Excellent review. This could be the ideal reel for general BFS. I could see it being excellent with fish that run. The ability to have more line on the reel but throw light lures, would be a great attribute. Personally I can see myself using it in Saltwater for fish like Saltwater Bass.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Agreed. If I would have had it with me a month ago in Florida it might have made all he difference when I got spooled by a big snook! :P Overall I was impressed.

[@johnsfishingjourneys]

I really love the sound this reel made when casting. It just sounds fun to cast. Lol. It seems so versatile too. Minor adjustments needed when switching lures, Major plus! Another great vid. I’m really enjoying the editing style. Great story telling🤩

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Thanks. The sound is polarizing - some love it, and some hate it. It's definitely unique! Appreciate the comment and support.

[@jenkofishing]

SLX DC XT inbound for further crappie testing on the Double Down. Great review!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

My Gekkabijin normally resides on the Double Down, but your rod seemed the like the right choice to really push the SLX DC XT. Looking forward to a PB Crappie this year - probably on the Double Down / Gekka combo as it will be my primary rod when I'm fishing for them.

[@PacSalt_TeachMetoFish]

Awesome and informative video! If there were a drag clicker, it would be just perfect.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Agreed. The drag clicker is pretty important in BFS for me.

[@fishinwithish]

It's funny on my fishin trip today my buddy mike was look at my slx xt and was sayin how they made a slx dc now. He commented that it's not all that expensive and looks like its right around 200 and the regular slx looks like about 130-150. I think I see a slx dc in my future! Crazy how light of a bait you were casting and at a good distance!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

There's the SLX DC, and then there's this - the SLX DC XT. Supposed to be a longer-casting reel, but I figured it might excel at lighter weights like I use. Also caught a nice Peacock bass on it - that video is coming soon!

[@fishinwithish]

@@AaronHuntFishing ahhh ok, I know my slx I have now is an xt which if I remember right has the svs infinity breaking system. which IMO is ridiculously good.( I think thats what the xt stood for in my reel, but I could be wrong.)

[@OnlyDigs]

@@fishinwithish Yes, the DC XT is a JDM reel that is sold in Japan, but not locally here in the states. So, a lot of people have never heard of it. It’s essentially an hugely updated version of the regular SLX DC, as it uses the newer IDC5 technology over the older IDC4, plus it has a smaller and lighter 70 size spool that helps with casting lighter lures. Along with a few other added features and improvements over the other reels in the SLX line. Honestly, I’m not sure why Shimano gave this the SLX name at all, to me it seems a tier higher, it’s better than the Curado DC, and extremely similar to the Scorpion DC.

[@fishinwithish]

@@OnlyDigs wow man you know your stuff!!! Thanks for clarifying! At this point shimano is #1 in my book, at least in the baitcaster category.

[@Hoa_G_Pham]

​@@OnlyDigs I have no idea why a lot of finesse baitcasting equipment are JDM only. Perhaps it's the techniques people here in the US are taught along with "the bigger the badder" mindset? Never see a need for a heavy setup unless in a time-limited setting like a competition to get the most fish possible in the least amount of time. Unless I'm expecting to hit fish more than 10lbs or can fight strongly, a light or medium light setup is usually more than plenty if you know when/how to set the hook without yanking it and know how to use the drag properly. Plus it's so fun reeling it it.

[@OnlyDigs]

I have one on a 6’8 medium/fast action Curado rod that I have been using for bass fishing with weightless worms and flukes. Which I guess may already be considered “power BFS” by some, because I know a lot of people typically go for spinning gear for weightless worms and such. But it’s been absolutely amazing for that application! I haven’t considered it for true BFS purposes before watching this though. I was considering getting the Aldebaran to pair with a light action rod for throwing lighter baits for crappie, white bass, and bream. But, now you have me debating on getting another SLX DC XT instead… What are your thoughts on this? I highly doubt I will ever throw below 2 grams. I love the versatility and ease of use with the DC XT. I mainly just want the Aldebaran just to say I have one lol. But is it really worth it?

[@AaronHuntFishing]

I love the Aldebaran. It's got better distance, is smoother, and casts easier. Therefore it will probably be more accurate as well. The alde is harder to dial in, for sure. But the Aldebaran and Gekkabijin will still be my go-to reels for light-weight lures for now. I'm just impressed the SLX DC XT is capable of 2 grams on the right rod. For me, if you have the budget, it's worth the extra. But until I get another rod, the Alde might be out of the bass rotation - just because I'm enjoying the SLX DC - and it's on the Alde's Expride!

[@letufamily]

Simply great video 😉👏 missing your videos 😁

[@AaronHuntFishing]

More to come! The trip and the change in editing slowed me down a bit.

[@letufamily]

@@AaronHuntFishing i'm waiting for more 😉

[@bxcloud104]

Did you adjust the line type on the internal brake adjustment? Crazy how light it can throw, I just got it early winter last year and it's the most compact DC reel ever!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Indeed. It's set on PE. Did that in the unboxing video. I'm thoroughly impressed.

[@joepicasso69]

Hello, Cool video! Just wondering what pound line you are using and is it braid, mono, flouro? And if you are using braid, do you have backing and ratio from backing to braid. What number do you have the brake dial set at for BFS? I have the Curado DC, you think I could possibly use it for BFS like the SLX DC you'r using?

[@AaronHuntFishing]

that was 10 lb braid. Daiwa J-braid Grand. I don''t run backing. Ever. Brake dial was set to whatever it needed to be to cast the weight lure. Curado DC has different braking and spool at a minimum, so no. The SLX DC XT is a different model optimized for casting distance. I bought it specifcally to see how low it can go - thinking it would b a good "power BFS" option. And it was capable. But much better reels out there for the application. I did a series of 3 videos: here's the final review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pobKmalnjbmnqq8

[@onesjourney6323]

What kind of distance on 2.1 gram lure u thinking u getting looking forward to see future video to see it’s limits great job

[@AaronHuntFishing]

60-70 feet? In that ball park. not bombing it, but long enough to fish most of the places I fish.

[@onesjourney6323]

How much line did u have spool

[@AaronHuntFishing]

@@onesjourney6323 Mentioned it in the video - about 100 yards.

[@jacobjimbat3240]

What rod spec you use at the video aaron??its light rod?i think if use the UL rod such like 2-8g spec more distance can throw..thnks for the video..bcause im looking the vdeo that slx dc xt testing for light lure!good job aaron!!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

First rod was the Expride BFS rated at 5-15grams. The second was the Jenko Double Down rated at 1-6 grams.

[@anyaforger2021]

Yea not gonna lie being able to throw 2g lure is impressive. But I have a different opinion on bfs. I usually use ul setup on small stream or river n use 5g n below lure. But when I'm out in the open wether a larger river, lake or sea I tend to use something heavier maybe a light or medium light 6ft6 or 7t rod and 5g and above lure for the maximum distance. I did so because in small river or steam we don't often need to cover large area. While in more open water we need to cover larger area to increase the strike chance. I'm still using bfs but personally that's how I usually fish n I believe a lot of bfs angler in asia do that. We tend to use something slightly larger but not above 10g for open water n something lower than 5g for small steam or river. Hope this'll help some of you guys who suffered with long distance casting with bfs

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Agreed. And that's primarily where I used this reel - in larger bodies, with 5g+ lures. I have a very similar approach to what you described. Definitely not a small stream reel for me....

[@anyaforger2021]

@AnglingwithAaron tbh in asia we use slx dc xt for fast paced long distance open water situation. Usually for giant snakehead game. We use dc reels because we can cast fast , far and accurate with zero backlash. Also to skip the lure fast . Usually 70 size reels are paired with medium light rods. U could see the official shimano team paired the slx dc xt with their medium light zodias rod. They upload the vid on KZbin. So that's roughly how we usually used the reel to it's full potential here

[@timothythompson6549]

Did Shimano update the digital braking? I have an original SLX DC, and frankly I'm not in love with the braking. I feel like it's over braked in the braid setting. I can and do fish it on the minimum braking setting, but I have to be super vigilant with my thumb with all but the most aerodynamic lures. It struggles to cast for good distance below 3/8 oz. Really almost any baitcaster can be adjusted for thumb free casting, but that much braking will lose casting distance.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Definitely an updated version from the SLX DC. IDC-5 vs IDC 4. The SLX DC XT does not get the same distance as my best BFS reels, but it's still pretty good considering how much line is on the spool and the additional mass. I haven't adjusted it down to sacrifice distance - that's an important part of some of the fishing I do.

[@paco7011111]

What’s the difference between the slx xt, mgl, and the normal dc??

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Well, the XT is a 70 size - haven't really looked at the others because I'm a BFS guy - and while the mgl might be able to be modified for some BFS use, there are muchg better options IMO.

[@frankoliveira189]

Value information!!

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheLaptopreviewer]

Did he mention what line he has on it?

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Di who emntion it? I had Daiwa J-braid Grand, 8 pound line on it. Pretty much my go-to line for BFS these days. amzn.to/44V9b9J

[@F.A.R.T]

It's a nice reel but not sure if I would pay that kind of money for it. for light lures, you can get something that works better and cheaper.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Agreed. But for a DC reel, it's pretty amazing how light it can throw. Missing the drag clicker though...

[@F.A.R.T]

@@AaronHuntFishing Those DC reels have that sound to it that I love when you cast.

[@Sanotsuke]

What line and rod type u using for this test? Try going bfs and lighter line?

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Rods are both BFS - Expride ML BFS and the Jenko Double Down. The line is 9# daiwa J-braid. There's more to squeeze out of this reel for sure, but It performs remarkable well.

[@Sanotsuke]

@@AaronHuntFishing I thought bfs rod is always ultra light ... Lol

[@AaronHuntFishing]

@@Sanotsuke Well, now you know it's not! :) There's an entire range of BFS tackle - but all of it probably seems UL to traditional bass gear. The Double down would qualify as UL - rated down to 1/80 of an ounce.

[@Sanotsuke]

@@AaronHuntFishing how many lb is that line ? XD i duno what 9# is haah

[@AaronHuntFishing]

@@Sanotsuke # = pound. Just the symbol for pound. So it's 9 pound / 9# line. ;)

[@stjester]

Whatever time you spend dealing with the line is time you don't spend fishing....taking into consideration that even the pros do backlashes having that extra thing you can count to avoid those situations is a win. The rest of the hate is just plain bragging thumb skills nonsense.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Great point. It's been fun to fish so far, for sure.

[@aripenik]

I love Shimano but i don't get them sometimes. Not having a clicking tension knob is ood enough and now they don't have a clicking drag star!!! The fact of the matter is, i have a original slx dc and stupid tension knob tend's to loose down during fishing because it doesn't have a clicker.

[@AaronHuntFishing]

The lack of a clicking drag is the only down side of this reel for me so far....

[@MountainManThan]

I have an Aldebaran 2016 BFS. Do you think this would be an upgrade?

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Yes BUT - if you constantly throw lures down in the 2-gram range OR want maximum distance with light lures, the Aldebaran will perform better. I was basically trying to find the limits of this, and so far most of my use (as I had planned) has been in the 5-12 gram range. When I'm throwing lighter lures my 22 Aldebaran or the Gekkabijin will be my go-to reels for now.

[@factsforlife0O0]

People think they need a 500$ DC reel when you dont this 200$ DC reel is the best why because of the price who wants to spend 500$ on a reel I mean 4R

[@AaronHuntFishing]

I haven't tried the higher end DC reels, but I do know as you move up in higher end BFS reels you tend to get mroe refined performance. But for BFS - this is about the only DC reel you can find.

[@brenthumphriss4528]

Ok,, didn't see skipping a bait with it,,,so not sold to me

[@AaronHuntFishing]

Fair enough. I'd rather you not buy it if you're not convinced it can do what you need it to do.