The New Concept Z SLD Baitcaster: This season 13 Fishing is redesigning their line of Concept baitcasters, and rather than blow up their original design and build a new one from scratch they wanted to expand on what anglers already liked about their current line. While we will delve into all the specifics of the newly launched Concept Gen II A and C Series reels in another article we wanted to first dive deeper into the most innovative new Concept reel, the Z SLD.

The new Concept Z SLD baitcaster is quite unlike any other baitcaster, and is designed to push boundaries in terms of design, materials, and features, starting with a "SLIDE" magnetic cast control system that gives anglers the ability to make on-the-fly adjustments between casts. 

As with previous generation reels anything branded as a "Concept Z" platform is designed to be a showcase for 13 Fishing's latest technologies. The company describes the series as their "innovation platform," and the reels that are designed to challenge the status quo.

The original Concept Z was the first reel to debut the somewhat polarizing CZB bearing technology, and while some anglers call them fancy bushings others have embraced the design, and the unique performance and feel characteristics that they provide. The Concept Z SLD will continue to leverage CZB bearings (6 CZB + 1 Dead-Stop Anti-Reverse) and a slew of new improvements including an advanced polymer drag system rated to 20lbs., a carbon hybrid frame that actually makes use of a cast iron blend for strength and low-weight, and the SLIDE cast control system.

The single biggest differentiator in the Concept Z SLD is the SLIDE magnetic cast control. This new reel actually makes use of two cast control systems, the traditional 6-way centrifugal braking system found on other Concept reels hidden under the "Beetle Wing" rapid access side plate, and an externally adjustable magnetic system positioned on the opposite side of the spool.

It is no secret that we have knocked 13 Fishing in the past for their lack of externally adjustable cast control systems in their Concept reels and head of reel design, Matthew Baldwin, made sure to point out to us that this new SLIDE feature takes things to the next level.

We spoke to Matt to learn more about the design and intended use of the SLIDE feature, as well as more specifics about the new reel's construction.

Zander (TT): The Concept Z SLD's hybrid centrifugal and magnetic slide braking system is interesting in that it allows anglers to adjust the settings on the fly. Can you tell us more about the idea behind creating this feature?

Matt (13 Fishing): The idea behind this feature was to create an “outside adjustable” system for braking control…but why stop there. I listened to all the anglers tell me that the outside systems from competing reels that were user friendly and that they didn’t require opening the side-plate. After using all of them I determined that the outside adjustments were good, but no matter what you still have to stop fishing for a minute and make the adjustment. I wanted to create one in which you could truly make the adjustment without a single hesitation… you just never know when you see a blow-up, a tail, or a wake upwind and you can’t afford that extra few seconds.
 

Zander (TT): What are the target anglers, and applications, that 13 Fishing feels would benefit most from the Concept SLD's SLIDE magnetic cast control feature?

Matt (13 Fishing): I think both freshwater anglers and saltwater anglers could benefit from how easy this is to adjust. It’s adjustment truly at your fingertips. It just makes sense, and that’s why we filed a patent for it.

Next Section: Casting and a Cast Iron Carbon Frame