With the i-DC5 system, there are two areas of adjustment. For the 21 Scorpion DC, you begin by removing the non-handle sideplate and setting an arrow located at the top of the DC unit's outer ring (just inside the sideplate) to either F (fluorocarbon), N (nylon), or P (braid) depending on the line you have on your spool. From there, you close the reel back up and use the external dial (located at the front, bottom of the non-handle side) for one of five settings: 1 = baits over 3/4oz, 2 = ~1/2 - 3/4oz baits, 3 = ~3/8oz - 1/2oz baits, 4 = ~1/4 - 3/8oz baits, and finally W = windy conditions or most brake force. I just think of it as a 5 step braking system with 1 being the least amount of brakes and W being the most.

Nothing like being surprised by an aggressive bass while swim testing a new-to-me bait. This is a Pizz Swimbaits Beast Glide

Once the brake settings are dialed in, it's just a matter of winding up with your cast and letting go. These days, I do so mostly through a big sweeping motion of my rod rather than a forceful snap of my wrist or forearm. With the current generation of casting reels, I find little to no effect on distance with how forceful I make my casts. Additionally, I have far less issues with professional overruns when employing this nice, easy casting motion. This approach evolved, in part, from Shimano's MGL tuning. The more I fished MGL equipped reels, the more I found myself wasting energy with forceful casting motions. With an MGL equipped reel, smooth swings and easy pitching motions are rewarded with surprising distance and better accuracy.

Handle length varies between models, but the XG comes with a 90mm handle (HG & standard = 84mm)

Contrary to popular belief, Shimano's DC technology does not add distance to your cast over their centrifugal systems (currently SVS Infinity) but it does add consistency and the ability to better control your line during the cast. There are times where, in the middle of a cast, my thumb isn't even on the spool until the very end. I do this a lot with my DC reels. I rarely do this with a reel not equipped with DC. I'm also less inclined to do this if I make a forceful cast - DC equipped reel or not. But with the combination of MGL and DC, the percentage of times I make a forceful cast has dropped dramatically. Casting with this combination of Shimano's technology is so easy, it's almost to the point where you can simply aim your rod where you want your bait to go, say, "Scorpion cast bait," then watch your bait fly - almost.

Scorpion has come a long way in terms of refinement

Retrieve: With all these new technologies, Scorpion really does get better with each iteration. An area where this is very obvious is when you turn the reel's handle. These days, Scorpion is pretty refined. Whether it really is the micro-module gearing or double bearing supported pinion (X-Ship) or something else, I find myself pleasantly surprised each time I pick up a new Scorpion reel. This is not to say I'm going to replace all my Antares reels with Scorpion. I mean, there's refinement and then there's Antares, but given their differences in price, that cost benefit ratio has definitely narrowed.

While certainly not as smooth as Antares, the micro-module gears and X-ship really heighten this reel's performance while turning the handle

Speaking of ratios, this latest DC equipped Scorpion is available in the same three speeds as the '19 MGL model, 6.2:1, 7.4:1 (HG), and 8.5:1 (XG). The XG (tested here) comes with a 90 millimeter handle where as the two slower speed models come with an 84 millimeter handle. I'm unclear whether or not the knobs are the same between models, but the XG comes with Shimano's Power Grip knobs that are flat (as opposed to round), contoured left or right hand, with slightly wider ends. The material is a soft rubber compound found on the majority of their casting reels. I feel a lot of manufacturers over think this component trying too hard to be different and ultimately coming up with something too thick, too wide, strange in texture, and just plain wrong. Shimano continues to get it right with their contoured, ergonomic grips.

Not part of an official write-up because it's been discontinued, the Pizz Swimbaits original Creep is a fun bait to swim, but I had to slow my retrieve way down with this XG reel

Power: Traditionally, high speed reels are not the first choice if you need something with the torque to pull deep diving cranks or even a crankdown big bait with a lot of resistance. This '21 Scorpion 151XG does a decent job with these duties, but nothing beats a reel with a slower retrieve. Fortunately, that option is available with this reel, but of course, I only tested the high speed. That having been said, what I can attest to is even the 151XG has sufficient power to handle the majority of situations. It certainly had no issue handling the big baits I threw with it, namely Bull Shad Swimbait's Shad Glide, Pizz Swimbaits Original Creep and Beast Glide, CooperB8's 2N Shad, Dock Rat Lure's eight inch Shad Glide, and probably a few other baits I slip my mind.

The Scorpion 150/151 DC sits nice and low in the reel seat

Dependability from cast to retrieve through hooksets and the ensuing battles was very good and I never really had to think twice about the 151XG not having enough power to help me get through the task at hand. It could be the benefit of that longer handle, but I did not experience any unexplained lockups with the reel, nor did I ever feel the reel wasn't picking up line due to insufficient torque.

Shimano rarely fills the entire inner surface of the main gear with drag washers

Drag: Of course the latter would probably be more about the drag than actual power issues. If your drag is set too loose, you won't pick up any line. For it's part, the Scorpion 151XG DC's non-audible drag performed flawlessly, but then again, I can't recall a time I've ever had an issue with how a reel from Shimano performed in this department. Granted, there are some who may find the 12lb rated max drag insufficient for their needs, but I've never been one to fish with a "locked down" drag. Smooth and consistent performance is what I'm after, and this Scorpion delivers on that front.

But their washers usually extend from the outside edge towards the center, so this configuration surprised me a little. Performance was fine

What did surprise me, however, is how Shimano designed the drag for this reel. Opening the Scorpion up, I found a cross carbon drag washer, typical of today's reels, sitting within the main gear. That certainly didn't surprise me, but the size of this washer did. It measured 27.5mm in diameter where the space within the main gear would allow a drag disc up to 38.5mm in diameter. Perhaps a larger disc would provide more maximum stopping power? Granted, the keyed, aluminum washer on top of the cross carbon material is the same size, so both washers would require an upsize if this were to occur.

The reel's gear box is very large but it did not interfere with the way I hold or palm the reel, so I didn't even notice

Thinking back, Shimano has never been one to take full advantage of all that "reel-estate" within the main gear. Their more traditional drag washer layout is one that has an outer diameter matching that of the gear's cut out, but does not fully extend on the inside, to the drive shaft. Those reels typically came with roughly 11 pounds maximum pressure. Given this reel's rated max drag is 12 pounds, perhaps this design is a little more efficient. Whatever the reasoning, out on the water, I had zero complaints.

Oversized knobs are usually not my thing, but Shimano does it the right way with their power knobs on the Scorp DC

Next Section: Scorpion Design and Ergonomics