Understanding Braking Systems

[hunterduke]

I'm still debating on which baitcaster and I really want the Lew's Speel Spool for $100 and I keep hearing that the PQ is a dual braking system which is really good.  Doesn't the Speed Spool have dual brakes?  So what are the brakes?  Both have a knob on the side with numbers on them I know that is a brake.  The other knob on the opposite side of the reel is the spool tension, is this considered a brake too?  When setting up a new baitcaster are these the only two knobs I have to worry about or is there another brake after you take the side plate off?

[Alpha Male]

I'm still debating on which baitcaster and I really want the Lew's Speel Spool for $100 and I keep hearing that the PQ is a dual braking system which is really good.  Doesn't the Speed Spool have dual brakes?  So what are the brakes?  Both have a knob on the side with numbers on them I know that is a brake.  The other knob on the opposite side of the reel is the spool tension, is this considered a brake too?  When setting up a new baitcaster are these the only two knobs I have to worry about or is there another brake after you take the side plate off?

 

The lews reels that have dual brakes are the tournament speed spool and the tournament pro. the PQ is a decent reel, nothing wrong with it. the knob your talking about is the spool tension knob and not "really" what they're talking about when talking about brakes. check youtube and the manufacturer site for the best description for each reel. they can explain it better than I can type it.

[fishguy613]

The reels by Lews with dual braking are bb1 pro, tourney pro, team lews gold, team lews pro

The reel youre looking at just has the external magnetic brakes

Reels like the bb1 speed spool only have internal centrifugal brakes

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The spool tension knob is an adjustment that affects casting but is not referred to as a brake. For the most part casting reel brake systems fall into one of two categories: Magnetic or Centrifugal. Dual systems obviously use both. Personally, I prefer Cent brakes. They are set it and forget it and their effect changes with the spool speed which I find provides better backlash control. There is no system that takes the place of an "Educated thumb" (the ability to feather the spool and control backlash). You'll have to experiment to see what you own preference is. The PQ is a value especially on sale and very similar to the Lews internally.

[Tywithay]

The reels by Lews with dual braking are bb1 pro, tourney pro, team lews gold, team lews pro

The reel youre looking at just has the external magnetic brakes

Reels like the bb1 speed spool only have internal centrifugal brakes

BB1 Pro does not have dual brakes.

[fishguy613]

sorry it has external centrifugal braking**

[hunterduke]

So the Centrifugal is the external one that has like 0-10 or something like that?  When I buy one I will want to set that pretty high closer to 10 and then I use the spool tension knob ONLY when changing baits.  When I change baits I always have to adjust the spool tension knob, correct?

[roadwarrior]

So the Centrifugal is the external one that has like 0-10 or something like that?  When I buy one I will want to set that pretty high closer to 10 and then I use the spool tension knob ONLY when changing baits.  When I change baits I always have to adjust the spool tension knob, correct?

 

No, that's magnetic. Centrifugal usually has six little plastic weights on spokes..

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Externally adjustable Cent brakes are a relatively new feature. Most dials will be for Mag brakes like RW said. A new reel should come instructions on how to use the features. Cent brake tabs can be snapped into locked position to deactivate them. I'd start with 3 on and 3 off alternating every other one to keep things balanced. If a reel has Mag brakes always turn them off before setting the spool tension then back on. 

[hunterduke]

I assume the mag brakes are easier and more user friendly?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Just the opposite in my experience. Mag brake reels tend to be more finicky over all. Some guys love them though. I'm not trying to scare you away from one or the other, just sharing.

[roadwarrior]

The main difference in my experience is that centrifugal brakes are basically one and done.

Magnetic brakes usally need some adjustment every time out and sometimes while fishing!

[Tywithay]

Magnetic braking systems are far more forgiving for the way I cast. I hated baitcasters at ome time because I had only used Shimano's with centrifugal systems. I've since gotten better with both, but still prefer magnetic.

I set the tension to remove side to side movement in the spool, just a hair past that point. Then I start at full magnets, and work my way down until it starts to flare up; click it back up one and you're good.

[roadwarrior]

Well, there you have two completely different views. Obviously it's boils down to personal preference.

[Alpha Male]

I prefer the reels that have both. the centrifugal brakes work the strongest during the acceleration on the spool at the beginning of the cast, while magnetic brakes work during the whole cast. thats the shortest i can make it.  You definitely need to do some research.

[BobP]

In my experience, mag brakes used to be a lot less reliable than centrifugal brakes but that generalization didn't apply to all reels and mag brake engineering has improved a lot over the last decade.  Different manufacturers implement mag brakes in different ways so you have to judge them on a case-by-case basis.  Today, I'd still choose centrifugal brakes over mag on a low end reel but for reels in the $100+ range, I'd feel pretty comfortable with either system.  I know that doesn't help if you're new to baitcasting and are wondering whether a reel will work for you.  I suggest you pick out a couple of candidate reels and ask the question again as it pertains to them.  After using centrifugally braked Shimanos for a decade, I bought an early series Revo SX with mag brakes a few years ago and it has worked great with the mag brake set to medium, over a wide range of lure weights and types.  It was as "set-it-and-forget-it" as any centrifugal system I've used.  So I can't say one system is better than the other - just that you have to look at a specific reel and get feedback on how that one performs. 

[WIGuide]

I'm still debating on which baitcaster and I really want the Lew's Speel Spool for $100 and I keep hearing that the PQ is a dual braking system which is really good.  Doesn't the Speed Spool have dual brakes?  So what are the brakes?  Both have a knob on the side with numbers on them I know that is a brake.  The other knob on the opposite side of the reel is the spool tension, is this considered a brake too?  When setting up a new baitcaster are these the only two knobs I have to worry about or is there another brake after you take the side plate off?

 

The DBS system was designed to give you the best of both worlds. Centrifugal breaks operate most effectively when the spool is moving at a high RPM which will be at your initial part of the cast. Magnetic brakes work more effectively at a lower spool RPM so they will feather the end of your cast better. The spool tension knob ( the one that on the handle side of the reel) puts pressure on the spool shaft adding or decreasing the resistance on the spool making it either easier to harder to spin. I own a handful of these DBS reels and I really like them. The dual brakes work very effectively.

[jtesch]

To go even farther, Daiwa's magforce system is a hybrid magnetic system. You have external adjustment that moves the magnets closer  for more break and also a sort centrifugal system that adjusts the magnet distance depending on spool speed. Great system

[David D.]

I have a Garcia Revo STX that has the dual system and then I have the Lew's that you are wondering about (magnetic brake only). While I enjoy both, I do prefer the Revo. I set the centrifugal brake and then pretty much leave the magnetic on zero and don't worry about a thing. With the Lew's I have to do some adjusting depending on what I'm throwing and how I'm throwing it, but after using it a little it is simple.

For the price, I really like the Lew's that I've got. But my next reel will most likely be centrifugal only.