Johnny Morris Carbonlite Reel 2024
FROST reply :
Should i purchase a johnny morris carbonlite reel? i'm stuck because i have heard good and bad things about the reel. but the cost is really good
ClackerBuzz reply :
I returned mine b/c it felt like junk compared to my other BPS reels (1 Pro Qualifier and 5 PQ Tournaments).
PondBoss reply :
I love my Carbon Lite from last year. My go to flipping and pitching reel.
Sam reply :
Does anyone out there know who manufacturers the Johnny Morris line of reels?
At one time it was Browning.
Just curious.
Thanks.
Fishing Rhino reply :
I had three Johnny Morris Signature spinning reels (not Carbonlite though) and the finish was junk. Within a year the finish started to blister and looked like it had been underwater for years. They worked fine, but I gave them away and replaced them with Shimano Saros reels. No finish problems with my Extreme and Nitro baitcasters from BPS. They changed from a chrome looking finish (titanium deposition) to black and then discontinued that line of reels.
PotomacBassin reply :
Have you every used a BPS Pro Qualifier reel? That's all that I use and from what I understand, everyone loves them. They're cheaper than the JM reels, too.
LgMouthGambler reply :
Get the Pro qualifier instead. Better reel.
Goose52 reply :
I recommend that you read this earlier thread about the JM-CL - there are 86 replies and extensive discussion about the reel: JM-CL 86 Replies
Briefly, some of the first production lot of this reel had a "grinding" feel on the retrieve. One knowledgeable source informed me that the cause of the problem had been found but I have no idea whether a new production lot of reels manufactured after resolving the problem has been made.
I bought two JM-CLs just after they came out at the introductory price of $100 and one of mine is "grindy" as well. I chose the grindy one to fish first and left the other NIB. While the reel feels rough while playing with it in the house, I don't notice that grinding feeling while on the water. I finally mounted the 2nd reel on a rod and have had no problems when fishing that one. While the grindy reel is fishable, I have absolutely no idea whether the condition will result in long-term issues with premature wear. Since I now have 30 BC reels, I may not fish this grinding reel enough in the future to ever know. However, if a JM-CL was to be your only BC reel, or one that you will use often, long-term durability could be an issue for you.
Other observations on this reel: The centrifugal braking system makes a "whrirring" sound on the cast - this may be irritating to some folks. The outside-adjustment for the centrifugal brakes adds complexity that some of us could have done without. The reel does cast VERY well with good distance.
BPS really tried to hit the ball out of the park with this reel - a 5-OUNCE CLASS reel for not much bucks. Too bad this problem with the first batch may sour their sales for what might have been a pretty nifty reel.
Conclusion: A JM-CL offers an incredible feature set (5-ounce class, bearing count, carbon drag washers, etc,.) for the price. Manufacturing issues on the first lot are known and long-term durability could be an issue. BUT, where else can you get a reel this light to play with for this cheap?
You pays your money...and you takes your choice....
Teal reply :
I personally have not had carbon light reel. But I have had problems with every BPS reel I have ever owned. I have never had an issue with Lews reels. I would look at the price of the reel, what the qualities of the reel that draw you to it and research other options in that price range. I'm not saying that bps reels are bad, but I am saying that I wish I would have been given this advice 10 years ago ...would have saved me a lot of money.
BassingNick reply :
I always try to stay away from the first batch on new reels...let everyone else hash out the potential issues. After it seemed like they had been hashed out I picked up a 6.4.1 and its as smooth as silk and casts like a dream. I would say go for it.
21farms reply :
On 1/3/2013 at 1:43 PM, FROST said:Should i purchase a johnny morris carbonlite reel? i'm stuck because i have heard good and bad things about the reel. but the cost is really good
speaking from my own experience, the only reason to buy this reel was for its light weight or to fill a specific niche in your lineup. otherwise, there are much smoother reels out there that are only a little bit heavier. i'm not saying that smoothness is the only thing that matters but a smooth reel does increase your enjoyment of using the gear and a grindy reel can mask subtle bites...in the end, enjoying fishing and catching fish are what it's all about right?
central.PA.bass reply :
On 1/3/2013 at 4:57 PM, Sam said:Does anyone out there know who manufacturers the Johnny Morris line of reels?At one time it was Browning.
Just curious.
Thanks.
Shimano
21farms reply :
On 1/4/2013 at 12:34 AM, central.PA.bass said:Shimano
nope. a korean company called 'dawon' makes the JM carbonlites and the browning reels. another korean company called 'toyo' manufactures a lot of the 'pure fishing' reels (abu, pfluegers) as well as many of the BPS reels.
roadwarrior reply :
On 1/4/2013 at 12:34 AM, central.PA.bass said:Shimano
Good one!
Goose52 reply :
On 1/4/2013 at 12:56 AM, roadwarrior said:Good one!
Hey RW - THIS is the reel that you were thinking of the other day....
LgMouthGambler reply :
not funnyOn 1/4/2013 at 12:34 AM, central.PA.bass said:Shimano
Goose52 reply :
On 1/4/2013 at 12:48 AM, 21farms said:nope. a korean company called 'dawon' makes the JM carbonlites and the browning reels. another korean company called 'toyo' manufactures a lot of the 'pure fishing' reels (abu, pfluegers) as well as many of the BPS reels.
I don't know anything about 'dawon' but for 'toyo' I have a feeling that you mean "Doyo Engineering Co., Ltd." If you google a bit, you'll find that Doyo is the patent holder of the BPS dual-braking system as used on a number of reels (RC, PL, PQ, CL Gen1) and also holds the patent for the side-plate release mechanism as used on the PQ and CL-1.
21farms reply :
goose52, you caught my typo...you are correct, i meant 'doyo' with a D, not a T. here's their website: http://www.doyofishing.co.kr
and here's the website for dawon: http://www.xn--c20bq6o5sh.kr/ you can see the browning reels pictured on the front page, along with the JM CL's unique brake setup.
jhoffman reply :
On 1/3/2013 at 4:57 PM, Sam said:At one time it was Browning.
Just curious.
Thanks.
I think it still is, if you look at the browning reels they look identical
LgMouthGambler reply :
Pure Fishing makes BPS.
FROST reply :
appreciate all the comments and info, i currently own all abu garcia bc reels and one lews bc reel, i hate to stray away from abu but cost and weight of the reel is what im actually determined to get. does anyone know how many ounces the bps pro qualifier is?
Ratherbfishing reply :
I have a pro qualifier and a "previous generation" Carbonlite reel. Apart from the latter being a few ounces lighter, I can't tell much of a difference. I'm happy with both.
Teal reply :
According to their site, its 8.8 oz.
tnriverluver reply :
BPS has some of the Extremes on sale for $39 on closeout 5.4:1 ratio only. Looks like they have redsigned the Extremes and the new price is $89.
redboat reply :
I have three of the Carbonlite reels and one older similar one with an aluminum case. They've worked well for me for the last couple of years. From time to time Bass pro puts them on sale for $70 or so - I got the last three on sale.
There is an article here about supertuning baitcasters. I polished the brass ring that the centrifugal brakes run on as suggested. It didn't do anything for the rattling but made the brake adjustment more sensitive: Where I almost exclusively used two brakes I now use two, three, or four depending on lure weight and wind.
I also upgraded the spool bearings to abec7's - $30 for two bearings - and lubed them with 321 as the article suggests. I also polished and lubed the drag washers. The result is four really sweet casting baitcasters. I use Abu Veritas rods, two 7' medium for crankbaits, one MH which works well with jigs and spinners and one heavy which I use for C rigs.
IMO, with the polishing and bearing upgrade these reels work as well as much more expensive equipment. I would not disagree that Abu, Shimano, Daiwa, etc. make quality reels but for the price you won't find a better deal than the Carbonlite reels.
Dramer77 reply :
i thought about trying them, but i went with the new revo3 SX
Knightiac reply :
I had a PQ early on and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately had to get rid of it but when I got back into it I got a johnny morris signature series 2. I've had that one for a year and another for 8 months. They've actually gotten smoother and cast further now than the day I bought them. They are GREAT reels in the $160 range. They are a little bigger than the typical low profile reel, but not by much.
I then needed a third reel so I purchased a Lews Tournament MG at Dicks for $130 I believe. It was a spur of the moment purchase. I like the reel, very low profile and its smooth, but I wish I would have either bought another signature series or just bought a PQ instead.
kickerfish1 reply :
Goose52 had an outstanding post in this thread that pretty much touches on most advantages/concerns with this reel. I purachased mine back in the spring and fished it through early December. A fee notes...
1. The dual breaking system has two separate dials literally within the same dial. It is a bit tricky to get it dialed in but the nice thing is that the reel doesn't have to be opened to adjust the brakes. The reel casts very well with a variety of baits.
2. The reel is very small and easy to palm. It was very comfortable to fish for extended periods of time.
3. I love the clicking cast control knob and drag. These make adjustments quick and painless.
4. The gears on this reel area grindy and can become annoying. I think mine got better as the season went on but I would still not consider it smooth regardless of if the reel is without lime or spooled up and being fished on the water.
In summary BPS likely rushed this products out too soon. The casting, features and weight are great hits but the gears are big disappointment. If you can find one that doesn't feel geary I would say by all means go for it. If not it is your call. I snagged mine for $90 and I feel the reel was a solid purchase for my phenix recon. Total weight of the outfit is below 9 ounces and they look sharp together.
Hooligan reply :
On 1/3/2013 at 4:57 PM, Sam said:Does anyone out there know who manufacturers the Johnny Morris line of reels?At one time it was Browning.
Just curious.
Thanks.
No, it wasn't. Browning has never been a reel manufacturer, regardless of what you may have been told. BPS reels are manufactured at two facilities, the same two facilities that manufacture the vast majority of OEM manufactured reels in the world. One facility is in Korea, one is in China. BPS holds the manufacturing rights to all of their reels, providing design, engineering, and tooling, just as companies like Pure Fishing, and Lews. Few reel companies other than Ardent, Daiwa, Shimano, and Okuma make their own reels in their own factories.
craww reply :
You definitely want to handle it before you buy, I will say the one I ended up with isn't going anywhere. The light weight and ability to cast lighter lures are big pluses. Something also that doesn't get discussed is these reels have great drags, really smooth and strong. As someone who's spent a lot of time throwing walking baits my wrists appreciate the lightweight. It ain't no core, or 50E even but considering if you shop smart it can be had < $100 NIB its a great value.
central.PA.bass reply :
I still think the Carbonlites are Shimanos.... 
*Hootie reply :
On 1/4/2013 at 11:51 PM, central.PA.bass said:I still think the Carbonlites are Shimanos....
Whoa!!.......LMG, did ya hear that?..........lol
Hootie
*Hootie reply :
On 1/4/2013 at 11:51 PM, central.PA.bass said:I still think the Carbonlites are Shimanos....
Whoa!!.......LMG, did ya hear that?..........lol
Hootie
LgMouthGambler reply :
Never happen. Shimano makes Shimano. If Shimano made it, it wouldnt have problems, lol.On 1/5/2013 at 1:37 AM, hootiebenji said:Whoa!!.......LMG, did ya hear that?..........lolHootie
MrSwimJig reply :
I have 2 of these reels that I got at the Spring Classic last year. I fished them all summer long and had no problems with them at all. If they are on sale at the Spring Classic again then I would recommend them definitely.
BradH reply :
I've got one and it's a good reel. Very light with a strong drag. I just can't get past that stinkin' screw going into plastic! The Curado has a similar way of attaching the sidecover but they put a metal insert in the plastic, which I really like.
OnthePotomac reply :
Here is my Jm reel story and still going strong since July, 2002. No junk here.
The reel is a JMX 1000H
- Anodized aluminum frame and side plates (still like new)
- 9.6 oz
- 10 SS bearings
- 6:3.1 and 28" IPT
- 6-pin centrifugal brakes
- Titanium Nitride coated Zirconium line guide
- Quik removal side plate.
- Custom JM reel cover
tylerwyp reply :
From what ive heard there is an internal manufacturing issue on all of them. Because of this if you are ok spending 30 bucks more get the signature. If not, go for the pro qualifier its great!
solo_bro reply :
I heard it was a Lews Reel that made BPS stuff and it you look it has that same button as the skeet reese reel for the side plate removal. I'm a shimano fan boy and deff not a Shimano.
iceintheveins reply :
The PQ is the one to go with.
Hooligan reply :
On 3/30/2013 at 12:25 AM, solo_bro said:I heard it was a Lews Reel that made BPS stuff and it you look it has that same button as the skeet reese reel for the side plate removal. I'm a shimano fan boy and deff not a Shimano.
You heard wrong.
I swear I need to hardcopy a response to these.
solo_bro reply :
On 3/30/2013 at 8:13 AM, Hooligan said:You heard wrong.
I swear I need to hardcopy a response to these.
The Lews Speed Spool was licensed by BPS, and it kind of favors that BPS Carbon Lite Reel. I not saying all BPS reels are lews, some are pinnacle and pflueger.
Hooligan reply :
On 3/30/2013 at 9:54 AM, solo_bro said:The Lews Speed Spool was licensed by BPS, and it kind of favors that BPS Carbon Lite Reel. I not saying all BPS reels are lews, some are pinnacle and pflueger.
You couldn't be more incorrect.
11justin22 reply :
Yeah.... not right. Some are built in the same 3rd party plant which is why u see similarities. They are built to each company's own specs.
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