TackleTour

I know they've been available via Australia for a while but did anyone pull the trigger with the USDM release? I have an SLX already and am likely selling it to a friend, so I figured I'd pick up an XT to replace it. I'm afraid the blue on the XT might be too flashy for me but if the reel performs I'm not going to return it just because of a blue spool tension knob.

If anyone has the regular SLX and the XT and can comment on performance, I'd love to hear it. I'm assuming they're basically equal but you can do more risky casts with the XT (e.g. into the wind) thanks to the external brakes. If no one comments, well, my XT should be here this week and I'll take it out for some shore frogging, flipping, and good ol' chuck n wind with a variety of baits, and report back.

Its calling my name but no I haven't yet, It funny because the SLX and the SLX DC get a lot of love but the XT is the best value of the bunch and the best looking IMHO.

I have the XT , it cast just as good as my curado 70.

johnD wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:19 pm

I have the XT , it cast just as good as my curado 70.

So what would be the benefits of buying a Curado 70 today? Better aesthetics? I still don't understand the benefits of smaller spools for various applications so if that's the only other benefit I'd love to know more about when smaller spools are better.

I want to try the SLX MGL but waiting for the prices to come down some first.

bwjay wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 29, 2019 3:29 pm

johnD wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:19 pm

I have the XT , it cast just as good as my curado 70.

So what would be the benefits of buying a Curado 70 today? Better aesthetics? I still don't understand the benefits of smaller spools for various applications so if that's the only other benefit I'd love to know more about when smaller spools are better.

Smaller reel , less spool weight. Curado 70 has x-ship , plus there are 2 bearings on the main shaft , where the slx xt has 1 at the bottom of the main shaft..Curado main shaft support bearings are at the top and the bottom.

Just got my SLX XT and had to take a few glamour shots. It's a very attractive reel. The anodized gunmetal is incredibly sexy.

Enjoy! You can right-click the image and say "open image in new tab" to see them at a larger res than displayed here.

Just got back from the first session with the SLX XT (40lb Sufix 832) and I'm impressed. It feels solid and casts like a dream. I had a few issues with overruns because I needed light enough spool tension to be able to flip a Senko but tight enough to not have rampant overruns. The reel came with 2 brakes on 2 brakes off, and I left that with the external dial on 3. I did bump it up to 5 and that didn't solve the overrun issues, so I may try 3 brakes on 1 brake off and see if that helps. It can really bomb baits and feels great on the retrieve. I actually caught the biggest bass in a few months tonight, probably 2.5-3lbs. I was pumped! The reel handled him like a champ. The retrieve was smooth even with the load of the fish. So far I am very impressed with this reel and I think it rivals reels twice its price (like the Chronarch MGL I'll be returning soon).

I like the color.

Another update on SLX XT performance.

Caught my first frog fish on it, maybe a pound and a half largemouth, and had to tighten down the drag while pulling the fish through a ton of slop. You really gotta lock it down on the standard SLX too... the minimum drag is actually so little that sometimes it won't turn the spool even with no pressure on the spool (from my finger or line tension). Lesson learned there. I am still satisfied with its casting performance so far. Unfortunately, the reel has developed a geary feeling just like the Chronarch MGL I have (and am returning soon). I thought, well it's a cheaper reel, can't expect perfection, but my standard SLX does not have it at all. In fact my standard SLX is quite smooth. This is quite concerning. The XT should be just as smooth. I don't know what the deal is but it has quite a bit of vibration going through the reel. I think I may return it to TW but I am gonna have to clean it thoroughly because it's got a ton of gunk on/in it from frogging. I would take it out again tonight for some frogging but I don't want to get it dirtier or risk damaging it. I'm really disappointed because I have enjoyed fishing with the reel so far, and I like the looks of it a lot. But there is no reason it should have this geary feeling when my standard SLX doesn't. The SLX is HG and the XT is XG but that shouldn't matter. I don't know if it's because of the housing differences or what but the standard SLX feels a lot nicer to reel.

Wondering if anyone else experiences this with their XT, if anyone gets one. I know a lot of people here are all about high end gear but... maybe someone else will take the plunge.

Generally speaking, the higher gear ratios are less smooth than their lower speed counterparts. I had a Tatula SV 6.3 that was glass slick even after a ton of use, but the two 8.1 Tat SV I had were both geary right out of the box. Same with the
8.1 Steez SV TW I bought....way less smooth than my 7.1 Steez.

hoohoorjoo wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 04, 2019 4:52 pm

Generally speaking, the higher gear ratios are less smooth than their lower speed counterparts. I had a Tatula SV 6.3 that was glass slick even after a ton of use, but the two 8.1 Tat SV I had were both geary right out of the box. Same with the
8.1 Steez SV TW I bought....way less smooth than my 7.1 Steez.

While I agree that's generally the case, my 9.1 Zillion SV is ultra smooth. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. My 9.1 Zillion TWS is still pretty smooth after quite a bit of use, but I can definitely feel the gears doing their thing.

hoohoorjoo wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 04, 2019 4:52 pm

Generally speaking, the higher gear ratios are less smooth than their lower speed counterparts. I had a Tatula SV 6.3 that was glass slick even after a ton of use, but the two 8.1 Tat SV I had were both geary right out of the box. Same with the
8.1 Steez SV TW I bought....way less smooth than my 7.1 Steez.

I thought that might be true but hadn't heard of it before. Bummer... so maybe this is normal. But it's a pretty substantial difference between the HG SLX and XG SLX XT. I'm wondering if maybe the XT will improve with time, like it needs to break in, but wouldn't it get worse with time? People talk about their Met MGLs being great in the beginning but turning geary after some use. Still not sure if I will keep the XT even if this is normal, but I also don't want TW to reject my return, so..... maybe I will keep it. Maybe I could mod it. I have zero reel disassembly or modding experience though so prooobably not.

bwjay wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 04, 2019 6:56 pm

hoohoorjoo wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 04, 2019 4:52 pm

Generally speaking, the higher gear ratios are less smooth than their lower speed counterparts. I had a Tatula SV 6.3 that was glass slick even after a ton of use, but the two 8.1 Tat SV I had were both geary right out of the box. Same with the
8.1 Steez SV TW I bought....way less smooth than my 7.1 Steez.

I thought that might be true but hadn't heard of it before. Bummer... so maybe this is normal. But it's a pretty substantial difference between the HG SLX and XG SLX XT. I'm wondering if maybe the XT will improve with time, like it needs to break in, but wouldn't it get worse with time? People talk about their Met MGLs being great in the beginning but turning geary after some use. Still not sure if I will keep the XT even if this is normal, but I also don't want TW to reject my return, so..... maybe I will keep it. Maybe I could mod it. I have zero reel disassembly or modding experience though so prooobably not.

That reel is supposed to have brass gearing, which is typically smoother than aluminum gearing, so I'd contact TW and see if you can still return it.

If it's geary that quick, something is not right. Mine is smooth , the anti reverse bearing was squeaky right out of the box. A little grease fixed that , I also greased the gears and added carbontex washers , that made a huge difference in drag pressure.
Funny you mentioned the chronarch mgl getting geary , mine did the same thing. Never again with a baitcaster that doesn't have a metal frame.