An Accidental Discovery

[The Next KVD]

So I just got my new Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier in this week and today while cleaning a Lew's Tournament Speed Spool I couldn't help but notice the two reels looked very similar.  Being the curious guy that I am I went ahead and started swapping out parts between the two and found they are compatible with each other.  Looking at the reel schematics, there are a few differences in them, but for the most part they are exactly the same.  Both reels are made in Korea which leads me to believe Bass Pro Shops are having their reels (atleast the Pro Qualifiers) built by Lews.  Other than a few cosmetics in coloring, badgeing, and a few small differences in parts either through additional parts or another version of a part to do the same job, I don't see a difference.  

 

Maybe I'm wrong as I'm more of a Shimano guy and these are the ONLY two reels that I have that are not Shimano.  The only reason I got the Pro Qualifier was because it was on sale,  I needed another crankbait reel, and the new Shimano G5's carry in too much line for my liking for a deep crankbait reel.  Maybe this is old news and someone already knew this but for me it was a discovery.  Which is a good thing because I'm going to order a new handle from Bass Pro Shops to put on the Lews that I have because I HATE THE FLAT HANDLE KNOBS!

[Blues19]

That is interesting. Bass Pro does not sell Lew's Reels though, so I think that makes it even more interesting. I was talking to a guy the other day who was just raving about Lews. Interested in possibly looking into the PQ if its made by Lews

[BassCats]

Lews, Abu, BPS, Pfluegar are all made in same factorys in Korea and now some in China. they are each there own specs and individual brands, but yes most parts are interchangable.

[Hooligan]

Do a search on the topic. Neither company is in the wholly owned manufacturing business.

[Goose52]

As has been said, there are a number of reel "companies", including Lew's, that source their reels from some of the same off-shore OEMs, resulting in the design similarities and parts interchangeability that you noticed.

 

Regarding the PQ being made by Lews...I was buying the current generation PQ before the "new" Lew's company ever shipped a reel.  People seem to forget, or perhaps don't know, that this "Lew's" outfit only started releasing product in late 2010.  Check out:  Lew's Today

[rippin-lips]

Aside from being built in the same factory the guy who bought the Lews name used to work for Bass Pro as a designer if I recall correctly. This is the number one reason bps doesn't carry Lews.

[Jrob78]

Check this site out, it's one the Korean companies that sells reels to be rebranded.  Many of the different reels on the market come from the same place and aren't original designs, or original American designs at least.

 

http://www.doyofishing.co.kr/goods/theme.php?code=2

[0119]

Team DOYO Since 1999!   Kinda puts the value of that Revo MGX right into the crapper.   Ake Murvall (inventor of the original Abu) and Len Borgtrom must be rolling over in their graves.

 

On second thought its gotta make you laugh to realize the mighty Ike ditched quality Daiwa for using a reel from a chinese novelty toy company....  Kinda like putting you match grade Purdy down for a Mossberg pump.  Or your Springfield .45 for a Glock.

[upnorthbassin]

Team DOYO Since 1999!   Kinda puts the value of that Revo MGX right into the crapper.   Ake Murvall (inventor of the original Abu) and Len Borgtrom must be rolling over in their graves.

 

On second thought its gotta make you laugh to realize the mighty Ike ditched quality Daiwa for using a reel from a chinese novelty toy company....  Kinda like putting you match grade Purdy down for a Mossberg pump.  Or your Springfield .45 for a Glock.

Guess what? The springfields are all made overseas. SA isn't even the same company as the one from MA. Their XD was designed by Croations and made there and even their top of the line custom 1911s have all the parts built overseas and are just assembled here. All their non-customs are 100% imported. That's how it goes these days.

[BassCats]

Ike didn't leave Diawa, they fired him. Abu was only company that would pick him up. His antics and poor sportsmanship on air is probably a major contributing factor. Though he is a nice guy and a great instructor.

[Grantman83]

Daiwa also cut Denny brauer too who is nothing but class. I feel it was probably more a market decision than one over antics. Very few people are Daiwa Pro Staff compares to other companies. Shimano used to be Like that until they entered into a partnership with BASS. Now everyone seems to be switch to Shimano/loomis

[tomustang]

That model should have the code name 'AK-47' since there's plenty of different rebadges out there

[0119]

Good to know upnorthbassin. Ive been away from guns for a bit. 

[J Francho]

Who cares if the reel is well made and works?

[Sam]

As J stated above, if the reel functions as promised who cares who made it?

 

You can always impress people with your equipment's brand but the final results in your catch are what matters.

 

And I have discovered that the fish really don't care about your tackle. It is your presentation that matters to them.

 

All this coming from a Shimano and G. Loomis guy!!!

 

I remember back in the 60s and 70s when Sears had contracts with manufacturers to produce their products with the Sears brand. Anything you wanted had the Sears brand. The Sears basketballs for outdoor play were top of the line. And Sears had tires, too. Plus athletic equipment and supplies, clothing, appliances, TVs, radios...you name it and Sears had it in their name.They even had houses that still stand today back in the 30s and 40s.

 

The number of manufacturers are reduced from days gone by so companies have to contract with the same manufacturers to produce their products.

 

Regarding clothes, just send your lables to a clothing manufacturer and they will sew up a mess of your clothing line for you and me and J and Glenn and Road Warrier and Gene and put their individual lables in them. You can sell them for whatever you want under your name.

 

Nice to know the BPS reels are made with the Lew's profile. BPS needs to upgrade their reels so they don't break as fast as they do.

[kadas]

Who cares if the reel is well made and works?

X2

[BobP]

5 or 6 years ago, I bought a Shimano JDM spinning reel and found it was manufactured in Malaysia.  Just like everything else, reel manufacture has been internationalized.  Get over it!  There are good reels, great reels, and so-so reels.  The quality has no relation to where the parts are made or assembled.  As long as the branding company designs the reel and oversees the manufacturing process to insure quality, they seem to be making their customers happy.  

[upnorthbassin]

Who cares if the reel is well made and works?

 

I agree. Remember a few decades ago when everyone thought if it said "made in japan" on it, it was junk? Just look at what people think of all the japanese tackle these days...they'll pay double for it or more! Chinese manufacturing is not what it was before.....now they basically do what you pay them to do. If you want a bc reel to retail for $25....they can make it happen. If you want one made from the highest quality parts known to man, they can do that for you too. The reason they are known to be cheaper is because companies are generally looking to save money and have them make a product for the lowest possible dollar. You'd have a tough time making a bc reel that retails for $25 in the US. There's less of a reason to outsource when it's a top dollar niche product (well...even VS did it on their reels too so maybe I'm wrong). As long as you get a good product for a good price....in the end that's what matters most as a consumer.

[CountBassula]

Team DOYO Since 1999!   Kinda puts the value of that Revo MGX right into the crapper.   Ake Murvall (inventor of the original Abu) and Len Borgtrom must be rolling over in their graves.

 

On second thought its gotta make you laugh to realize the mighty Ike ditched quality Daiwa for using a reel from a chinese novelty toy company....  Kinda like putting you match grade Purdy down for a Mossberg pump.  Or your Springfield .45 for a Glock.

 

Now I take offense to your last statement! Say what you want, Glock 9mm (17 and 19, but 19 especially) is one of the best 9mm pistols ever built. The simplicity and reliability of it can hardly be matched! now, my XD45 is probably the best double stack .45 ever built! and my SA 1911 is just a beauty, but a flaky at times beauty :-)

[0119]

To each his own. Thats the point you are making? Who cares where somethings made at? Same point so many have tried to make here for so very long whenever the shimano posse rides into a thread about a different maker.

But to each his own. I prefer to make an effort to not buy chinese made anything. An impossible feat but its my thing. Not that I think made in the U.S.A has ever meant quailty either.

[The Rooster]

I don't give a fart where it's made as long as it works like "I" want it to (whether it works like it is supposed to or not). I don't let "made in U.S.A.", "made in Japan", or even "made in China" influence me at all. Could completely care less. It also has to be affordable to my budget. I'm just a punk like that, I expect, nay, I demand quality that rivals more expensive reels, for less, and it is out there. I know, because I have found them. I enjoy my Shimanos and will buy more, but they wouldn't be my first choice now, mostly because I like extra features in a reel for less money than what you pay to get that in a Shimano. I believe more bearings do make a difference, and I don't believe that non-Shimano reels that have more bearings just have inferior ones that won't last, or work well while they do. Now, I do believe that Shimano baitcasters can get me just a bit further cast due to their bearings, but we're talking about 80' vs 100' in most cases, and 80' is all anyone even needs, and any baitcaster out there will do that. I'll trade the extra 20' of cast for nice, slick handle bearings to enhance my user experience while fishing.

[Hooligan]

The primary difference in most reels, such as in the case you're speaking, is longevity. Most manufacturers reels simply will not last as long as a Shimano or Daiwa because of the way they're engineered. Yes, grades of bearing and components come in to play, but one of the biggest is longevity. I know firsthand, this issue. Having been sponsored by two companies at two different times, I continue to return to reels that I don't have to replace or rebuild on an annual basis. As a point of reference, there are several of my old Cheonarch SF reels Still floating around, and this is after more than ten years o my hard use.

[Trailer]

If I find out where everything is made I'm gonna cry. Ignorance is bliss. I don't want to know where it's made. I just want to know if it works.

[0119]

I agree with you Hooligan but dont no longer see that masterful engineering coming from shimano.  They are just as lame as all the other manufacturers even the models made in Japan.  Its the new business model that imitates what american business college teaches.  Planned obsolescence, poor customer service, make your profit and run with it.  If shimano, maybe even Daiwa, kept the Japanese business model at heart it would be a different matter entirely.

[Fishwhittler]

I agree with you Hooligan but dont no longer see that masterful engineering coming from shimano.  They are just as lame as all the other manufacturers even the models made in Japan.  Its the new business model that imitates what american business college teaches.  Planned obsolescence, poor customer service, make your profit and run with it.  If shimano, maybe even Daiwa, kept the Japanese business model at heart it would be a different matter entirely.

These companies are only responding to the demands of the American fishing market. Both Shimano and Daiwa produce better, more refined reels for the Japanese market than for the market in the US, and there's a reason. The average fisherman in the US wants cheap gear, not necessarily good gear. It has been said that those who prefer JDM tackle are in the minority. Well, so are all of us who are on Bass Resource or any fishing forum! We represent a very small percentage of the market. Look at the gear sold in Walmart. Walmart sells to practically everyone in the US, and they stock what sells. That's why you see all those cheap spincasters and spinning combos, and the $20 baitcasters that fall apart within a month. The fact is that the American market simply has not been able to support high-dollar offerings from tackle companies. That appears to be changing, and perhaps we'll see more change in the marketing strategies as well.