Johnny Morris Carbonlite Reel

[FROST]

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]

I returned mine b/c it felt like junk compared to my other BPS reels (1 Pro Qualifier and 5 PQ Tournaments). 

[PondBoss]

I love my Carbon Lite from last year.  My go to flipping and pitching reel.

[Sam]

Does anyone out there know who manufacturers the Johnny Morris line of reels?

At one time it was Browning.

Just curious.

Thanks.

[Fishing Rhino]

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]

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]

Get the Pro qualifier instead. Better reel.

[Goose52]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Does anyone out there know who manufacturers the Johnny Morris line of reels?

At one time it was Browning.

Just curious.

Thanks.

 

Shimano

[21farms]

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]

Shimano

Good one!

 

 

[Goose52]

Good one!

 

 

 

Hey RW - THIS is the reel that you were thinking of the other day....

[LgMouthGambler]

Shimano

not funny

[Goose52]

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]

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]

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]

Pure Fishing makes BPS.

[FROST]

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]

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]

According to their site, its 8.8 oz.

[tnriverluver]

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]

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.