Capt.Bob

Those were way better than their price suggest. Back then up till the FI they were primarily a Stradic inside and out, which use the same gearing and bodies as the Stradics, Sustains, and first Stellas of the time, give up a bearing to the Stradic. Then with the FI they quit using the same spool oscillation gearing, and went to the type used on there less expensive, then with the FL they quit using the one piece bail and went with a graphite body again, the first models used graphite then they upgraded them to Aluminum in my opinion a better frame material, till now, not the carbon of the CI4, they are good reels do now have X-SHIP which is a plus, but at the cost of an indestructible bail and a solid frame, but another model Shimano keeps cheapening up more and more to widen the gap between it and the Stradic, which were at one time up the the FH series practically the same as far as parts and bodies. No more like the Curado, they are hearing about it. Keep you FG and FH's they wont be built like them again.

Yes please do read all of it, I did not say my other reels were bad, quite the opposite as I said they were great, but we all see the fanboy post that just because someone is posting positive results on a brand they don't use, probably never owned, they draw a conclusion they can't be, did not say that at all, and why for the past 15, to 20 years loved the performance of the Curado Calcutta and Chronarchs, did not say there are others that wont hold up, as today I haven't fished a lot, and never said they are the best, although that opinion I will keep to myself, and say for the money I will say they can't be beat!! I have 4 Team reals the Original and 3 Gold's, for less than $170.00 buck's a piece! I can't buy a better reel for twice that. and anyone willing to pay over $330.00 for a baitcaster this size range outa be getting more than twice the reel and if it don't hold up better or run and feel better, well you call it what you want. I'm cheap, but the point is it work's! remember the reel I am telling my results with is one I bought new for $105.00!!! hard to beat!

I personally think $100.00 would be an insult for both, and @ $60 bucks a piece think ot borders a steal, that is a great price if thier anywhere near the conditionm you stated! two words,,,,,,,,,,,BUY THEM!

They usually discontinue a reel because it needs improved or can't be and needs it, I honestly believe you were one of the lucky ones!!

Shoalamfishin in response to a lot of these fanboy fisherman, the kind that have fished few models but know whats best??? I have been accused of this. Probably because since the SUPER SPEED MASTER, and then the SYMETRE! I was shimano all the way for over 20 years, 2 years ago I went from Stradic and Symetre spinners and Calcutta, Curado, Castiac, and Chronarc, I had over 22 outfits ready, with only 2 Abu 5500c's I was not a fan boy, I proved them. Trust me Francho and Chromedog, I don't judge equipment in my reel shop, or on the family pond! I tried all other brands in these conditions and over the year's these reels I have used over the past 20 years prove to hold up to the rough treatment when other make's and models would not! I have been there, I have done that, and I refused to assume anything, these were HANDS ON RESULTS.! I was, (now retired) a lake Erie Charter boat owner and Captain, and a registered Ohio fishing guide. I know what conditions are, lake, river, stream pond, from the Great Lakes, to the largest flooded tributary to the Great Lakes, you name it, and will assure anyone nothing, not even normal river fishing takes into account the conditions this gear is subjected to for 6 to 12 hour's a day 5 and 6 day's a week, 6 to 8 weeks a season, Trust me, after 40 years fishing this extreme fishing fonoma, I have destroyed less expensive brands from all makers in these conditions in less than a season, and have none of the mid to top tier reels from any hold up for more than a year till I found the Symetre and Calcutta. My first reels I could clean when I was done with the run and lube and back to like new. These are extreme conditions you have to experience to understand. there are days that the river is low, but this whole season, the I prefer it easy fisherman are crying the blues, it is very hard on fisherman when you have to contend with extreme flood conditions every day, but I for one LOVE IT!!!, I took time years ago to figure it out, the sissy's are home crying it's to high it's to fast, it;s to tough, they need a local stocked pond to be successful cause they don't want to work at it! That means I don't have to put up with know it all jerks that can't catch a cold but want to screw 20 other people up, and now I have it much more peaceful and very few arrogant people to contend with, with most at this time being reel fisherman that know how to fish without screwing up everyone around them, as I say "fish hard or go home"! I have fished this run in these extreme rocky and turbid flood water conditions and throwing up to 1 1/2 oz. weight's on no stretch Synthetics and many times locked down drags just to keep from being stripped of 20 lbs. class braid. Believe me when you snag as many fish as you legally catch with the river full of egg suckers like Qillback, Carp, Buffalo, Suckers, Shad, you name it, many 20+ lbs. Carp, Buffalo, and Cats, in water riddled with rocks and boulders to tie up and smash into, running hard enough that a fellow acquaintance with a new 15' Lowe john boat and a 25 horse Mercury w/jet drive can't run up it, trust me these conditions test equipment in less time with more abuse than most can put them through in 10 years! These are bass size reels for the most part.and like I said there will be those that say that ain't that big a deal and means noting, of course they are the ones that haven't seen flood stage conditions on this river in these waters the Walleye spawning ground's, but they know these conditions mean nothing they don't need to "be there do that", THEIR PSYCHIC! Trust me folks I have fished most all better models by most makers over the years and why I now own over 25 outfits, (just got 2 more Team Gold's) all Shimano spinning Symetre to Sustain), and Lew's casting Tournament to Team), The mid quality tournament and BB1 are what I chose to test the lew's line, a mid level, and the second year, and why the last three Shimanos are getting sold, 2-400B Calcuttas, and one 200GTB Calcutta, I just got done receiving their replacements the two Team Gold and a BB1! These and my previous Shimanos are great reels and will give years of good service, so that should tell others the results I got from Lew's were,,,,, well maybe,,,,,,,,,been there done that?????????

I have a buddy that 2 weeks ago bought a Lew's Spinning reel, this morning we were fishing and he hooked about a 4 pound Quill Back while Walleye fishing, about three cranks and the reel stem broke in half about 1" from the reel seat. I have heard other's complain about the quality of the Lew's spinning reel's, and would never recommend one. But this was right beside me and absolutely not in a serious stress situation. Look's like there spinning gear is no where near the quality they are putting into their baitcaster's! He was on his way to Cabelas where he bought it to exchange it for a Stradic when I headed home with my fish.

some pretty sound advice! Unless you turn to live bait these guy's have you pretty well covered! If it is truly plentiful with Walleye, and your catching fair numbers of Smallies, you'll score share of Walleye.

Thanks all!!,,,,,and I agree Hootie, always one, probably never owned either and definitely never owned both or would no that statement mean squat, as they would be educated enough after a year to see the definite difference, and definitely don't have a clue what specs and tolerances are, and aint willing to spend the time to discover the difference. But have infinite wisdom in there the same cause,,,,,, they came from the same manufacturer??? Shimano uses the same size spool bearings (all 3) as the Lews, the abec 7's in SS I purchased and installed, helped my Calcutta, put em in the Lews and saw no gain! those who know just cause parts interchange, or will fit don't mean there the same!! Napa sells starter's that fit you chevy for a couple different prices, they both do the same thing but one is half again as much and has a much better warranty, trust me,,,,,,,they aint the same!!!! Tolerances are another thing that many manufacturers change depending on what each buyer requires, yes the quality of the material and tolerances you are willing to pay for will determine the difference, and I can assure you Lew's is willing to pay for that climb to the top, but if your not willing to investigate the difference let your eyes do the shopping. Like I have been told, time will tell!!

Yes it is!!!! Last year I called rick after loosing a yoke return spring and letting him know since I service reels I ought to have a couple spares as the older these eyes get when I drop something I usually loose it, till I don't need it any more then I find it. His reply was no problem, and said we have your address in the data base don't we, when I said yes all he asked was where I was calling from and said I'll get you a couple right out. I asked if he wanted a credit card and his reply was the the same, not necessary he would get them right out!! These folkes are here to please, and there popularity shows it in every poll I have seen lately. Like I said in my thread the big two better wake up, there is a new company in town and they are taking anglers by storm!! Shimano used to be that way with small parts, but even their friction rings that they know are high replacement parts, the times they are a changing!!!

Lew's is no fad, they are here to stay!!, and the big two, speaking of Diawa and Shimano better take heed! I have given these reels over a year and a couple I have beat the livin crap out of in big rivers, mud sand snags big fish in fast water, Buffalo Carp to 20 lbs. and medium Cat's to 12 or 15 lbs. not to mention the 100's of walleye and smallmouth. I am confident I can make an honest evaluation on at least the cheapest model I own,,, the Tournament, (TS1H). I have been about a year and a half since my first Lew's reel, a Tournament. I sold all my Shimanos a year ago and have been 100% Lew's since. After a year of fishing the Tournament in river's and Streams mainly, I have been pounding it daily again this spring in the Largest tributary in all the great lake for a second season. I am very impressed the way this reel has held up, not one hitch. I throw literately 100's of cast a day with it and a new BB1, with the Tournament getting the bulk of the use. This a great test because the river is at or near flood stage every day, and with the boulder and timber flooded bottom it takes a toll when throwing 3/4 to 1oz. weights to keep your jigs on the bottom where the fish are, and you have to throw relatively heavier than needed to slow there travel through the extremely turbid and fast current, so the fish have time to react in the murky water. This puts bolting stops on the gears and anti reverse system, and with 20 lbs. test braid and 15 to 20 lbs. test leaders its like stopping a cable driven winch instantly. I have seen and used many many reels over the 40 years I have fish this extreme fishing finomina, very few are built to withstand a full season under these conditions, but I will assure you these Lew's reels are built to last. The Tournament has been my test reel, I have only torn it down flushed and lubed it once, when it first came. It is as smooth as the day I got it, and still cast farther than any spinning reels being used around me. If I don't catch a limb or brush behind me,(which happens often when wade fishing a flooded river) no backlashes, even when tossing as hard as I can to reach a distant spot that hasn't been covered. I opened it up last night finally and all I did, even after being submerged in the murky river at times, is wipe it off, add one drop of oil to three spool bearing's and buttoned it back up. Now I am not saying other reels I have had wouldn't hold up, but I am saying they would not perform as well doing it! My Curado with it's anemic drag would never stop an 8 lbs Walleye in some of the turbid waters the Lew's did easily. Even the might Calcutta 200GTB I am so fond of would have required a lot of help from my thumb to turn that big Buffalo that was snagged in the tail, the Lew's did it with drag power to spare, a quick few clicks on the drag star and he was tamed! So this is why 2 more Team Golds are on the way to be delivered tomorrow, and my beloved Calcutta is going to auction to be replaced by the BB1, which is my favorite of all for throwing heavy gear, and will assure you, this reel will handle enough line and have the balls to fish for and tame Pike and Musky, it will as the others tame any freshwater species in any water way. I am usually anal in my shopping for gear, and I would after owning nothing but Shimanos for years Spin, low profile, and round baitcaster's included, because they have in the past held up the best in these conditions. But when I decided to change I looked hard and long.before deciding to try the Lew's. I am so happy with these reels I am selling my 200GTB in favor of the BB1. I now own 1-Team, 1-Team Gold, 1-Tounament Pro, 1-BB1, and 1-Tournament. I will have a 6.4-1 and a 7.1-1 Team Gold delivered tomorrow, because after over a year with the reels mentioned some used severely, and some used lightly, have had not one single complaint, or one single hiccup from any of them. They have displayed there strength by landing 20+lbs. Buffalo Carp in turbid flood stage rivers, and the drags and power of the gearing are as good as any reel I have ever owned, and superior to my beloved 200GTB, which cant compare to the stopping power of the Lew's drag. Sorry to say that those that have the idea there the same as the other reels that the company that produces these reels make, it ain't so! The guy's that own those other reels and have fish around and with me have all agreed, there is a difference, and they see and feel it, not one has failed to be surprised. These reels are for "REEL" and thats no pun!!

Finally time to take a day or two off. I have been pounding the Walleye on the world's largest river run for about 3 1/2 weeks now and the new school of fish is entering the river as the old school is exiting. Yesterday it was hard to find a fish over 17" and many were under 14", this just means the river is filling up with new young jacks from another huge school of fish getting ready to enter the river. The small jacks are the workers and come in first to ready the spawning grounds, and the larger jacks will start in as the females are ready to spawn, they are the breeders for the most account. I have had a great year and still have a couple weeks of stellar fishing before it's time to hit the lakes and streams inland. Pretty soon the white bass will enter with the same agenda, breeding. They are a ball on light and ultra light tackle. I usually make the drive a couple days a week just to bend the rod, as the freezer is full of tasty Walleye for the year by then, and don't care for most bass as edible to my palette. Most days with doll fly's or spinners, you can catch these white bass till your sick of catching them, over 100 a day is common when your in the right spot. They can range from 10" or so to over 16" with 12" to 14" the most common. Great on my 6'3" L.E. MXF w/1000 Stradic or my Loomis LF IMX with the same size reel. I seldom use my 6' UL Avid with a 1000 size reel as once in a while you will pickup a straggling Walleye that can be a hand full with the light rods let alone an UL, when this happens it's water to table that night. Well anyway with the late spring and late mushrooms this year the river has been my daily agenda, and limits like the picture below are why. I will get some homework done today and be after em again tomorrow, FISH ON!! 23" triplet Jacks, and their 26" sister "shes a hog" , I seldom take the Hen's but once in a while I will to keep for the grill, the thicker backs are great on the charcoal and stay moist where the smaller ones are a little dryer. The 23" jacks are the perfect size for the deep frier, I like to keep the 20" to 23" fish for the table, as the larger ones hold to much moisture and make the breading soft, when I deep fry I prefer crisp breading and seldom ever mix a batter. The thicker backs on the fish over 23" are great baked in recipies also. It is truly a blessing to be able to decide what you will keep for your stringer of 4, as there are so many fish to choose from. I think I have probably caught an average of a dozen fish a day and as many as 25 to 30 on some rely good ones so far, but limits are almost always assured. It is hard to keep track and then there are the ones you snag. GREAT FISHING!

I agree with TeaI, I would go with a Shimano FJ series for under $150.00 online, I would get the Shimano 1000FJ, but if you want the extra drag tension (not needed for your application) or more line capacity you can get the larger 2500FJ but that would be the only reel I looked at if I was spending more that $75.00. Like flyfisher said, a good St. Croix in MXF or MLXF at 6'8" to 7' would be great!! For the rod,,,, well I only buy St. Croixs after over 50 years fishing them all I think the make the best rod's on the planet, and have a series to match any price range, if you watch you can snag a 6'10" MLXF or 7' MF Avid both would be great for around your $150.00 limit. I sent you a PM.

I use hand made and tied floating jigs, you are limited to one single hook, on one single line, and the hook can be no larger than 1/2" from point to shank. Walleyes have incredible sight, and when rigged properly they just roll down the bottom, excellent feel is required to keep them from hanging up and on the move. Many use plastic grub type tails, I prefer the Bucktail. They do work, as I just got back home tonight with limit #11 this year. That freezer is starting to look quite good!!

Gorgeous!!! Very Nice! Congrats!

Iv'e had them attack a fish basket hanging over the side of my boat more than once when it was full of bluegill, so what I do when I want the grandkids to have a thrill is put a 3 or 4 inch blue gill on a large hook and a big bobber and they allway's work, they come tearing them up. The grand kids think its great and it keep's me in #1 grandpa status!! sorry grandpa T----r

The river has changed and for the better. This is the same veiw today as the first picture I posted in my first post. Water is are friend, it pulls more fish. When you learn the river, you find the fish, even if it is a little tough gettin to them. Only had 3 here but will go back after a short break and a visit to the little boys room, the only hassle getting there and back out when you need to take a break. then there are days like yesterday when they come quick, we were done in 1 hour, time for a cigar and a trip to DEET"S!!! Best Southern Style barbeque in the world,,,,,,,Low and Slow, a full belly before the cleaning starts. This Raging River will test your equipment and it is no lightweight tackle on this trip, 6 to 12 lbs. fish average and as you can see the current you have to get them in will show real quick what is built to take it and what won't, raging fish in calm water is no real test other than what kind of drag you have. This boiling river is full of rocks boulders stumps and much tougher on equipment when your hangin 10 pounders than the open water with no current hangin 30 to 50 pounders.

Cal's drag grease anywhere grease is used. Great stuff, Shimano drag grease is excellent also, the only two I use when I service reels, spinning or casting.

Just the most used for Bass and Walleye, no fly rods or specialty equipment. Baitcasting 1) St Croix XC72MHM Lew's Team Gold 6.4 w/20lbs. 832 2) St Croix XC610MXF Lew's Team Gold 7.1 w/20lbs. PP White 3) St Croix TBC68MXF Lew's Tournament Pro 7.1 w/20lbs. FL Trace Braid 4)St Croix AVC70MHF Lew's Team Gold 6.4 w/20lbs FL Braid Crystal 5) St Croix AVC70MF Lew's Tournament 6.4 w/14LBS FL crystal 6) St Croix AVC70MM Lew's Team 6.4 w/20lbs FL Tracer Braid 7) St Croix PC60MHF Lew's BB1 6.4 w/ 20 FL crystal Spinning 1) St Croix AS70MHXF Shimano stradic 4000FJ w/20lbs PP 2) St Croix LES66MF Shimano Stradic 3000FJ w/15lbs FL Braid 3) St Croix LES63MXF Shimano Stradic 1000FJ w/10lbs F.L. Tracer Brade 4) G. Loomis IMX 6' LF Shimano 2500MgFB w/10lbs. FL 5) B.P. Bionic Blade 6'6" MH Shimano Sustain 3000FE w/15lbs F.L. Tracer Brade 6) B.P. Bionic Blade 6'6" MH Shimano Sustain 3000FE w/15lbs F.L. Tracer Brade Trout Perch and Panfish Spinning 1) St Croix AS60ULF Shimano Stradic 1000MgFB w/6lbs FL 2) St Croix AS50ULF Shimano Saoros 1000F w/6lbs FL These are my limited Musky & Pike setups, as I am fazing these out as it is harder and harder on the neck and shoulders to pound these big lures hour after hour. I use these on my vacation in Florida also with the 7'MHXF Croix AV and the FJ4000 1) Bass Pro Extreme Musky 7'6" Heavy W/ Shimano Calcutta 400B w/65lbs FL Braid 2) St. Croix AVC610MHFT w/ Shimano Calcutta 400B w/65lbs FL Braid and 1) Bass Pro 6'6" M Jig Creature Extreme Musky series Shimano Stradic 4000FI w/20lbs FL I keep a few Symetre's on BP Extremes(3) and Bionic blades(2) for friends and grand kids to use.

I personally prefer the aluminum frame which went by the wayside with the introduction of the FL, graphite frame, then they shed the one piece bail that the stradic and Sustain uses for a stamped out ???? I have three Symetres and all are aluminum framed models, for all intent purposes the FH was the last year they shared everything the Stradic had (minus one bearing for a bushing, after it they went to a double geared main gear, meaning one side was as usual and drove the pinion while on the other side of the pinion was a small set of teeth that ran a cam that sat on a pin cast into the frame that had a pin on it that oscolated the spool up and down, far inferior to the worm gear used on Stradics, Sustains, and Stellas, I am sure they didn't upgrade the Symetre and Sahara and leave the top three reels out, and the graphite body and stamped bail was the last draw for me. The FJ Symetre is the newest model I would recommend, sorry but they do keep gettin cheaper and cheaper built, they just keep seperating them further and further from their top three. I agree 247!! or Sustains, just cant justify the Stellas,

I would go with the 6'6" MF for a one rod outfit, regardless of spin or cast. It is a kind of trade off both ways, length most boaters will use 7' or 7'6 but if on shore where obstacle can interfere with your ability to cast the 5'6" and 6' is popular. Then the power Medium is ,,,,,, well mid way most use MH, M or ML, a few use Heavy for very specific applications and a few use Light for very specific applications, so I guess with what you have said so far the 6'6" MF would be right down the middle for everything and will do most applications well.

My newest Extreme's or Elites are 2012 models, but never heard of one coming without a hookeeper. As far as using the guide, I have done this on rods without a hookeeper, but not in the eye, I use the foot between the eye and the rod, never worry about the insert that way and works great. The last two I bought were an XC72MHM and a XC610MXF, they had hookeepers but only had half the handle, their was a chunk of cork missing in the middle, But my Rod builder is taking care of that. Unless you are getting a fabulous discount on the Legend Extreme, Legend Elite, Tournament, or Avid, I go with the blank I want and have it Built, usually less than the price of a factory model, and you get it your way. When I spend this kind of money I want what I want the way I want, it realy isn't more expensive, you just can't have it the same day, well worth the wait.

I believe you, but I will assure you if you stand to eat a fish sandwitch from Mc Donalds and think Walleye is not fantastically better, has never had Walleye. Even farm raised Walleye would more than match that. As for eating fish I didn't catch, it has been years and years since I ever bought fish, in a restaurant or a store, I just couldn't imagine that ever happening. Sea food from a gourmet seafood restaurant once and a while maybe, and would have to believe then it was not what they were advertising most of the time. It is kinda like buying Costa Del Mar sunglasses new for $75.00, you defiantly aint getting what they are telling you you are!!

You can bet if you had Walleye in a restaurant it was farm raised, half cleaned and feed pellet food for fast weight gain. I won't eat any kind of fish in any restaurant, chances are you very likely were feed white fish! I never had a single person tell me they didn't care for my fresh caught and cleaned frozen fish filleted, as a mater of fact I have never had anyone that never had walleye before tell me it anything except it is the best fish they ever had. One other tip to restaurant fish eaters, if it is any color other than snow white, it was never properly cleaned, and I have never seen properly cleaned fish in any restaurant, fish I eat don't have streaks of dark or brown meat in them. If I don't catch it, it aint worth eatin to me.

Yes it is a tributary, and not just any tributary, the Maumee River is the largest tributary in all the Great Lakes, and this is the largest river Walleye run in the world, and with up to 3" of rain predicted over a large area the next 48 hours, it should pop well out of it's banks, this will really pull the fish and test your equipment, until now it has been pretty easy for the novice fishermen on the river but when levels rise and flow increases like it is about to, those who know the river will be the only ones smiling and the numbers of fisherman will decrease, till it drops to lower levels. During this time it is the best time of the run for big fish and big numbers of fish. I keep my limit daily but only in the 20 to 23" range, they eat the best and are by far my favorite for the table, but the 8 to 10 pounders are fun on the end of the line and will test any equipment with the ability to clean your reel of as heavy as 20 Lbs. test if they get in the right curent and decide to go, plus all the rocks and boulders make it more than interesting, about 3 to 4 more weeks of fun, then it's over for another year. why I always come back, year after year!!

I ran it tough today in the rocks and the one thing I don't like about it, it cuts into the spool on my BB1 worse than other 20 Lbs. lines I've used in the past. It continues to cast and run through the guides smooth as silk. I think it is fairly sensitive but I think it is a little lacking in the sensitivity dept. compared to other super lines in the 20 Lbs. range, I believe this could be due to it's larger diameter in the swift current of the river, I will continue my testing through the weekend!