I love a good deal. I used to think that if something cost a lot of money that it was, simply, better. But I ran into a little 5-foot-2-inch Floridian a few years back who had her finances way more in order than I did. I learned a lot from her in a short period of time and made my move to lock her in as my ride or die for life. My wife has taught me a lot indeed, in part about myself, about the love of Jesus, and about being on the lookout for a good deal. And that’s what I found in the Shimano SLX XT. Let’s talk about it.
With three gear ratios (6.3:1, 7.2:1 and 8.2:1) and right and left hand versions of this reel, there’s something for every angler and every technique.
At 7.2 ounces, this reel is light while still having a solid feel in your hand, thanks to the aluminum HAGANE Body. And the SilentTune Technology makes for smooth and quiet operation of the reel. Surprisingly, this reel has only five bearings in it, which I couldn’t have told you without reading the specs on it; it’s as smooth as any I’ve used with more bearings.
Shimano SLX XT A Specs
Retrieve: Right and left
Gear Ratio: 6.3:1, 7.2:1 and 8.2:1
Weight: 7.2 ounces
Bearings: 4+1
Line Capacity: 12/110 (pound test in mono/yards)
Features
- SilentTune Technology
- Externally controlled SVS Infinity Braking
- Aluminum HAGANE Body
A Rich History
Shimano is one of the premier brands producing quality fishing gear, and it has been for a long time; their rods and reels are legendary. I still remember drooling over the Curado 200E7s in our local tackle shop back in the day. I bought a few of them nearly 20 years ago and they lasted me for a decade or more, and then still sold for a pretty penny when I reluctantly chose to get rid of them. That reel may very well be the best ever made.
From this rich legacy, the budget friendly Shimano SLX Casting Reel series was born, which includes two best sellers on Tackle Warehouse: the SLX 150 A and the original SLX XT ($129.99).
The latter of these reels was recently revamped and the updated version was re-released at ICAST 2024 as the Shimano SLX XT A. Like its predecessor, this reel comes in at $129.99.
Remember this reel’s cool uncle, the Curado 200E7, that I bragged on so much? I don’t recall ever picking up any other reel that reminds me so much of the Curado as the SLX XT A.
From the feel of the body in the palm of my hand, to the knobs between my fingertips, and to the reel’s capabilities on the water — not even the new Curados really feel as much like that old Curado as this reel does, in my opinion. Also, it’s a heck of a deal, considering the 200E7 was $189.99 back in the day. Adjust for inflation and that reel would cost around $300 today. Again, the Shimano SLX XT A is priced at a mere $130.
Shimano SLX XT A: First Impressions
I received an SLX XT A reel to test a couple months ago after it was unveiled at ICAST. When I slid this reel out of the box, I noticed a few things right away. First, I noticed the feel that I mentioned before and the flood of memories it brought back from those glory days spent chasing big bass with the old Curado 200E7s.
The reel handle and knobs were a big part of what sparked this nostalgic journey down memory lane. This is a powerful handle, one that suggests right away the Shimano SLX XT A is built for power fishing presentations. But there was something else I noticed that really keyed me into how this reel could be even better than its predecessor.
SVS Infinity Braking System
Like many Shimano reels, the old Curado had an internal braking system — one that you could only access and adjust by removing the side plate. The SLX XT A however has a hybrid system that incorporates an internal brake control with brake pads, plus an external brake control that can be used to really dial in the reel, all without having to remove the side plate. It’s called the SVS Infinity Braking system.
This is one of the features that Shimano says is part of its “trickle down technologies:” features and systems that were developed for their high-end reels that have been incorporated into their more budget-friendly products in an effort to provide fantastic gear to the budget-minded angler.
This dual-braking system is much easier to use than internal braking systems. Taking the side plate off to adjust the brakes can be a cumbersome and confusing process, especially for beginners. The ability to adjust at least some portion of the brakes from the outside is a big plus.
I do still suggest removing the side plate initially to set the brakes in whatever configuration you like best. I prefer two brakes on and two off. The brakes are “off” when they’re locked in place towards the center of the reel and “on” when they are pushed out and able to flop around loosely.
Fortunately, this reel’s side plates are easy to remove — some of the easiest I’ve seen. Unlocking the sliding mechanism on the back is simple, and the plate pivots out of the way while staying connected to the reel so you can’t lose it in the water if you have to adjust the brakes on the fly, unlike models where the side plate comes off completely. Dropping a side plate is a mistake that’s easy to make and hard to come back from.
As for the external portion of the brake system on the Shimano SLX XT A, this may be the best design I’ve used. Even though the dial is accessible from the outside of the reel, it’s recessed and shielded by the side plate with only about half of the dial exposed. This greatly minimizes the chance of the dial getting bumped if the reel gets bounced around.
On top of that, the dial is pretty stiff and unlikely to get knocked out of tune. When you do want to adjust it, there are tiny grooves that allow you to smoothly turn the dial with your fingernail. The dial ranges from 1 to 6. I’ve found that setting this one on 4 and then adjusting it from there is a good place to start, as long as two of the internal brakes are on and two are off.
On The Water Performance
I spooled the SLX XT A up with 15-pound fluoro so that I could do several things with it. I’ve primarily fished a ChatterBait and spinnerbait on it, and in doing so, I found this reel is accurately positioned (price and capability-wise) a tier above its sibling, the SLX 150 A, which is a fantastic all-around reel for the money at $99.99. But the SLX XT A is a touch better for power fishing in particular, for $30 more.
While you can also throw lighter baits on the Shimano SLX XT A, I think there are ultimately reels that are better suited for the finesse side of things. As for baits like swim jigs, buzzbaits, ChatterBaits, squarebills, jigs, and the like, this is the best power fishing reel at this price point that you can find.
On day one I caught several fish with the reel in a recent tournament, skipping a ChatterBait around and under docks and also chucking it down the bank periodically way out in front of me. The wind blew like crazy that day, sustained at 10 to 15 mph for about five hours. Even in that wind, I could cast my bait pretty well and a good distance without the reel backlashing.
This proved to be a great reel for skipping that day, too, with the SVS infinity Braking System picking up the slack for me in both situations to minimize overcasting and backlashes.
On my most recent trip with the SLX XT A, I finally caught the good picture fish I’ve been looking for. I was ticking a Z-Man Sling BladeZ spinnerbait through the edge of some water willow on one of my home lakes and one about four pounds came out of the grass and sharked my bait.
A beautiful battle ensued in which the bass carried me to the back of the boat where I was able to lip it and bring it aboard.
She put up quite a fight and the SLX XT A performed flawlessly. It was my first core memory made with this reel that will no doubt be accompanied by more memorable moments and fish in the future.
Final Thoughts on the Shimano SLX XT A
At the end of the day, the Shimano SLX XT A is an easy one for me to recommend for the angler looking to purchase a quality power fishing reel at a great price point.
I really like this reel’s overall versatility, affordability and capability. Anyone from a touring pro to a newcomer to the sport could benefit from owning and using the SLX XT A.
Its predecessor reached bestseller status during its tenure, and I have every reason to believe this one will do the same in time.
