Jamie Kosza

Hi all, i have been using a slx dc a whole season now. 300plus fish on it. mostly bass and pike and a few 30+ catfish using setting 2. 30lb suffix braid lures 1/4 to 1 Oz, all sorts of sizes and types and drop shots etc.. if you set the spool tension like they say (no side to side,) you get wicked distance. (i need this where i fish (100 to 150 ft+ and use this setting 90% of the time) with it set like this you only have to put thumb on spool just before you hit water. that's it. only the last 10 to 5 ft do i touch spool. i run like this for all wind conditions and lure types etc.. never adjusted for 4 months. (only every changed to setting 4 to skip lures or let a new person try reel.) you know how many times i have gone out for the day with just one rod and reel and no spare line. most baitcasting people wont do that due to fear of birds nest and then day would be ruined. if you want true thumbless operation. you have to increase spool tension another 1/8 to1/4 turn. But you loose 10 to 20% of distance. putting you back into conventional baitcasting reel category. i think this is why shimano tells you set up side to side play. because they emphasize on the casting distance on dc reels. and that is the only way to get it. usually casting distance order is spinning then bait caster. i could cast farther with my dc vs my ci4+ stradic