4 Hot New Reels from ICAST
A closer look at the new offerings from Shimano, Daiwa, Abu Garcia and Lew’s
2019 is the year of the trolling motor at ICAST, but it wouldn’t be ICAST without at least a few next generation reels from some of the best manufacturers in the business.
We got a firsthand look at some of the best and newest at this year’s show, including a new DC reel from Shimano and one of the lightest casting reels on the 2019 market.
Shimano SLX DC
Shimano’s Curado DC stole the show last year en route to a Best of Show win in the freshwater reel category. This year’s follow-up, the SLX DC, is in the same mold, and it’s being met with some pretty high praise.
FLW Tour and Shimano pro Alex Davis took one for a spin and says he made an 88-yard cast with a 1/2-ounce lure on an SLX DC. In other words, castability is already a big check and double check.
But what makes the SLX DC such an intriguing reel is exactly what has earned the Curado DC its acclaim in the last year or so. It’s a smart reel with a Digital Control (DC) braking system that allows anglers to fine-tune almost every aspect to account for line size, technique, wind conditions and any other factors that could otherwise limit optimal castability and performance.
At the price point the SLX DC retails for, it’s easy to see hordes of beginner anglers (or those looking for an affordable DC reel) flocking to this reel. It’s listed at $189.99 MSRP, which puts it in the same price range as the non-DC Shimano Curado 200K and about $60 cheaper than the DC version.
The SLX DC will be available in three gear ratios (6.3:, 7.4:1 and 8.3:1), as will the SLX XT, another addition to the SLX line that incorporates the SVS Infinity braking system and a wide spool. Shimano touts the XT as its replacement to the Casitas 150.
Lew’s Custom Lite SLP
One of the easiest ways to drum up intrigue in the casting reel arena is to develop a reel as light as this one. The Lew’s Custom Lite SLP comes in under 5 ounces (4.9 to be exact) and feels even lighter. Between the “TransoTech” carbon fiber frame, the “aircraft-grade anodized Duralumin” spool and the carbon fiber handle, the Custom Lite SLP is both featherweight and surprisingly balanced.
At $279.99 MSRP, the Custom Lite SLP is perhaps the best bargain on the 2019 market for lightweight reels. It also leaves plenty of room for anglers to pair it with a featherlight stick for optimal balance and a setup that will have a hard time fatiguing anyone, even after a full day of use.
Lew’s lightest-ever casting reel features 11 bearings and a six-pin, 27-position QuietCast braking system.
Daiwa Tatula Elite
The Tatula series of reels from Daiwa are among the best-selling casting reels on the market, and the new Tatula Elite probably won’t be an exception. It’s marketed as a premium pitching and flipping reel, thanks in large part to a magnetic Magforce braking system that decreases magnetic pressure as the spool starts to slow. In other words, lower trajectory and a quieter entry.
It’s a great-looking reel at a really nice price ($229.99), even if it’s a little steeper than most of the rest of the Tatula line. The quality is apparent, though, and it’s hard to doubt a new offering from a tried-and-true company like Daiwa.
The Tatula Elite comes in three gear ratios (6.3:1, 7.1:1 and 8.1:1) and a respectable 6.7 ounces.
Abu Garcia Revo EXD
Touted as a reel that offers “extreme casting distance,” the Revo EXD from Abu Garcia certainly looks the part. It’s sleek, shiny and plenty compact, and the X-Craftic alloy frame and C6 carbon sideplates look and feel fantastic.
The Revo EXD features 9 HPCR bearings as well as two EXD bearings on the spool shaft. It will also come with two spool options for maximum tunability for different baits and techniques and will be available in two gear ratios: 5.4:1 and 7.1:1. It retails at $299.95 MSRP.