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Recommend Me A Lews Baitcasting Reel 2024


fishing user avatarxDirty reply : 

So i went fishing with a friend who was nice enough to let me try out his rod and reel combo. The rod was great but what seriously impressed me was the reel he was using. It was a Lew's BB-1 Pro Series Speed Spool Casting Reel. 

It cast smooth as butter, i even loved the sound it made when it cast and all it was using was mono. It was a big step up from my abu garcia black max.

 

Now im not quite sure if im willing to drop 214 for the Lew's BB-1 Pro Series Speed Spool Casting Reel but i was looking at the slightly cheaper options. I asked my friend if the less expensive versions of lews cast as well and he said yes.

 

Which left handed lews reel do you recommend for bass fishing, preferably 6.4.1 that wont break the bank ? maybe a budget of 150 or less ?

 

 

 
fishing user avatarJar11591 reply : 

Tournament Pro Speed Spool. I believe you can find it for $149.99. Amazing reel, worth every penny.


fishing user avatardesmobob reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 7:56 AM, Jar11591 said:

Tournament Pro Speed Spool. I believe you can find it for $149.99. Amazing reel, worth every penny.

 

I whole-heartedly agree with this!  ^

 

I just picked up another one (the old style; not the new "G" version) from Cabelas on sale for $119.  I have four of them and really like them a lot.

 

Tight lines,

Bob


fishing user avatarxDirty reply : 

what do you guys think of this one

 

http://www.lews.com/casting-bb1.php ?


fishing user avatardesmobob reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 8:02 AM, xDirty said:

what do you guys think of this one

 

http://www.lews.com/casting-bb1.php ?

 

Check the big auction site... you can get a Tournament Pro for five dollars more.

 

Tight lines,

Bob


fishing user avatarxDirty reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 8:05 AM, desmobob said:

Check the big auction site... you can get a Tournament Pro for five dollars more.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

 

Are we talking about ebay ? sorry im still new around here


fishing user avatardesmobob reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 8:05 AM, xDirty said:

Are we talking about ebay ? sorry im still new around here

 

Yes sir.

 

Bob


fishing user avatarlong island basser reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 7:53 AM, xDirty said:

So i went fishing with a friend who was nice enough to let me try out his rod and reel combo. The rod was great but what seriously impressed me was the reel he was using. It was a Lew's BB-1 Pro Series Speed Spool Casting Reel. 

It cast smooth as butter, i even loved the sound it made when it cast and all it was using was mono. It was a big step up from my abu garcia black max.

 

Now im not quite sure if im willing to drop 214 for the Lew's BB-1 Pro Series Speed Spool Casting Reel but i was looking at the slightly cheaper options. I asked my friend if the less expensive versions of lews cast as well and he said yes.

 

Which left handed lews reel do you recommend for bass fishing, preferably 6.4.1 that wont break the bank ? maybe a budget of 150 or less ?

 

 

I have 3 different lews.

Tournament pro, bb1 , and tournament MB.

There all good reels, but my favorite is the MB which also happens to be the least expensive.

The tournament pro would be my second choice with the BB1 third.


fishing user avatarEvan K reply : 

I have the Speed Spool LFS and the Tournament MB. The LFS is fantastic, but the MB is a huge improvement. In taking them apart and cleaning them recently I was able to notice some differences in the innards, such as multiple stacked drag washers in the MB. I would definitely recommend it.


fishing user avatarHoosierHawgs reply : 

American legacy fishing did have all their Lew's on sale. Could get a a higher tier reel for the cost of the MSRP of the tier below it


fishing user avatarxDirty reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 8:36 AM, Evan K said:

I have the Speed Spool LFS and the Tournament MB. The LFS is fantastic, but the MB is a huge improvement. In taking them apart and cleaning them recently I was able to notice some differences in the innards, such as multiple stacked drag washers in the MB. I would definitely recommend it.

 

the problem i have with the Tournament MB is the gear ratio, they dont have 6.4.1 at all and they only have 6.8.1 in right hand version. I need a left handed version


fishing user avatarEvan K reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 10:07 AM, xDirty said:

the problem i have with the Tournament MB is the gear ratio, they dont have 6.4.1 at all and they only have 6.8.1 in right hand version. I need a left handed version

 

Yeah, I've just trained myself to use RH bait casters, since they're the most commonly available.


fishing user avatarlong island basser reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 10:07 AM, xDirty said:

the problem i have with the Tournament MB is the gear ratio, they dont have 6.4.1 at all and they only have 6.8.1 in right hand version. I need a left handed version

I use all left hand retrieves.

The MB is 7.5:1 which is 31" ipt.

A 6.4 or 6.8:1 is 28" ipt.

Three inches per turn is nothing IMO. I use all higher speed reels, it's really not that much of a difference.


fishing user avatarxDirty reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 10:51 AM, long island basser said:

I use all left hand retrieves.

The MB is 7.5:1 which is 31" ipt.

A 6.4 or 6.8:1 is 28" ipt.

Three inches per turn is nothing IMO. I use all higher speed reels, it's really not that much of a difference.

 

Im doing research on each lews reel that i like, and im making a list with pricing and features but im gonna need help picking one that suits my needs. When i have my list ready,would it be okay to private message you ?


fishing user avatarRobert Riley reply : 

An old friend said "the biggest mistake Lew's ever made was making their lower level reels so good." It's a true statement, the regular speed spool is an awesome reel and comes in at a great price. The Tournament Pro is a great reel, and you can usually find it for a good price. Go check the Flea market forum here, there are frequently LH Lews reels. 


fishing user avatarclh121787 reply : 

I've been fishing the 85 dollar lews speed spool for the last 4 years. It's held up longer than the veritas, I put it on (broke a guide somehow, probably bouncing around the bed or my jon boat). Its great for the price. Ive been wanting to get my hands on a high end lews. But I've come to be a very loyal to shimano. 3 chronarchs, 2 scorpions, 7 curados, and a core later. Ive had no buyers remorse.


fishing user avatarPitchinJigz reply : 

Curado I...that's Lew's right? ;)


fishing user avatarBluebasser86 reply : 

I've also had a Speed Spool for 3-4 years and have been very happy with it. Only thing I didn't like was the handles but I swapped those out with a handle from BPS and it was fine. I use mine for fishing my bladed jigs in the 6.4:1 ratio. 


fishing user avatarmrpao reply : 

The tournament MB is a great value for the money. I have two of them and they are as good as my higher priced Lews.

Is there a certain reason u need a 6.4:1 gear ratio? There is not much difference in that and a 6.8:1.


fishing user avatarRobert Riley reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 2:28 PM, mrpao said:

The tournament MB is a great value for the money. I have two of them and they are as good as my higher priced Lews.

Is there a certain reason u need a 6.4:1 gear ratio? There is not much difference in that and a 6.8:1.

 

The gear ratio is different, but the inches per turn is still the same. It's just because the spool is a different size. 


fishing user avatarlong island basser reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 12:19 PM, xDirty said:

Im doing research on each lews reel that i like, and im making a list with pricing and features but im gonna need help picking one that suits my needs. When i have my list ready,would it be okay to private message you ?

Absolutely, while not a professional, I'm always willing to help a fellow member.

You best bet is when your list is complete just post it here and you'll have many members willing to help with suggestions/opinions.


fishing user avatarJTFisherofMen reply : 

I learned how to use baitcasters with an original Lews bb1 from the 70's that my grandfather gave me. Since then I bought two more from the 70's era and used heavily for about 2-3 years. I keep them in a display case now. I now use the bb1 from 2012. I think I paid about 175ish and use two of the bb1 pro that I got for 200 a piece. You can't go wrong with any Lews products. Even those 70's era Lews compete with the new ones.


fishing user avatarcottny27 reply : 

I just ordered a LFS on Amazon for $79 and have heard nothing but good things about them.  That would be a huge step up from a Black Max.  I think I saw the Tournament MB on Amazon as low as $105.  


fishing user avatarSenko lover reply : 

Look for a used Tournament MG speed spool.


fishing user avatarWPCfishing reply : 

I like the Tournament Pro, I have two of them.

There are deals available so do some searching.

I saw them somewhere for $119.00. That's a score.


fishing user avatarhawgenvy reply : 

I got the Lew's Team Pro Speed Spool Casting Reel when it went on sale for $100 off at TW, because the new magnesium one is coming out. Anyway, it's been Lew's top of the line, it's only $199.87, it weighs a mere 6.1 oz, comes in 6.4:1 and 7.1:1, and it's a gorgeous masculine looking reel that adjusts nicely, casts far, and is smooth as silk. So far it's been durable, quiet, rigid, and it's a pleasure to muscle in those bigguns with.  And it feels nice in your palm. Mine is spooled with 20 lb. Seaguar Tatsu fluoro. Bird's nests are rare once you got it adjusted right. I think ya can't go wrong!


fishing user avatarbootytrain reply : 

Get the cheapest one with the ACB system (the external adjustable centrifugal brakes)


fishing user avatarAndyNegus94 reply : 

I have one of the new tournament pros in the 8:1 ratio and it's an awesome reel and casts a mile but I just can't seem to put down my Abu's.


fishing user avatarQUAKEnSHAKE reply : 
  On 12/13/2015 at 9:23 AM, HoosierHawgs said:

American legacy fishing did have all their Lew's on sale. Could get a a higher tier reel for the cost of the MSRP of the tier below it

 

they have BB1 Pro left hand 7.1:1 high speed ratio reel for around $161 shipped.

 

http://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/lew-s-bb1-pro-speed-spool-casting-reels.html


fishing user avatarjignjake reply : 

Lews Laser MG reel is only $80 and twice as nice as your Abu Garcia Black Max. I've owned mine for over 3 years and it's a workhorse of a reel. I have used it for all kinds of techniques before I bought 3 more Lews baitcasters. Also for $100 the Lews Speed Spool will be the closest thing to the BB1 your buddy was using while still being in your price range.


fishing user avatarcarlm01 reply : 

All my reels are Lews  on GLoomis rods I have the tournament pro ,the bb1 pro, Team lews lite  and the LFS  all are great reels Rods.JPG.022b005e0a217f43c6eaf87e6307957


fishing user avatarPAGreg reply : 

Tournament MB will be a great introduction to the Lews products. I use one for pitching. I am a huge Bb1 Pro fan. I own 3 now and will probably add another and a Tournament Pro G in the offseason.


fishing user avatarWdyCrankbait reply : 

Yes, I have the SS Tournament Lite with the ACB controls.  AWESOME controls, totally external and exact.  Much better then the Curado 200E 6-pin centrifugal braking system as a point of reference.  


fishing user avatarcottny27 reply : 

WdyCrankbait, did you not have any luck selling that reel?  Eventually I will get that model.  


fishing user avatarWdyCrankbait reply : 

Nope, I still have it.  


fishing user avatarBig Bait Fishing reply : 
  On 12/23/2015 at 1:32 AM, WdyCrankbait said:

Yes, I have the SS Tournament Lite with the ACB controls.  AWESOME controls, totally external and exact.  Much better then the Curado 200E 6-pin centrifugal braking system as a point of reference.  

i also have a Tournament Lite , very lite and strong , and yes , the ACB braking system works flawlessly !!! gonna get another one soon !!!




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