Tackle Tour Reviews Bps Pro Qualifier

[Montanaro]

They have a Section for enthusiast items. The pq isn't being compared to The 400+ dollar reels.

[Goose52]

I think the takeaway from all this isn't that the PQ rated "Fair" (by .04 points) - but that the TT scoring system is often overly subjective, subject to too much variance based on reviewer, is not consistently applied, etc.  Many reading this thread have already agreed that several of the factors mentioned in the review, that deducted from the score, are probably bogus.  Had those factors not been applied, the numerical score would have been 7.something - perhaps a higher score than the reel deserved. So, the issues are with how you got to the score...not the score itself.   BUT, as just mentioned above, it's better than no review at all.

 

If one were to go back to my original post on page 1 of the thread, you will see that I agreed with the reviewer on several counts. TT's dire warning about the drag warranted mention in my post. It's nifty that TT developed a machine to objectively measure drag performance - can't argue with those results - apples to apples, reel to reel. But, I felt it necessary to point out to the board members that in real world fishing, it has proven not to be as big an issue as one might believe from the review - this based on about 1,000 days on the water and fish caught up to 48 pounds.

 

Regarding a comment about the PQ being one's favorite reel...I can't speak for others on the thread but the PQ isn't my favorite reel. I currently own 47 BC reels, from things like 2012 Antares, Calais DC, PX Type R, Conquests, on down to an H2O Mettle.  I just have extensive experience with the PQ and when I see comments about the reel that I know to be inaccurate, based on my fishing experience, then I tend to take issue with those things.

[Hogsticker]

I don't know. Seemed like a pretty fair review to me. Comments stated -

The reel is constructed well

Tolerances are all fine

Feels nice and solid

Has a short handle

Heavy

Not impressed or disappointed with casting capabilities

Not sure what else people are wanting/expecting from an 80 dollar reel. It got a score of 7, and while the actual review wasn't stellar, it's what I would expect from this reel...average. When the reviewer comments if you are so brave to utilize the lumpy drag system, he is referring to using it at or near the maximum output. Perhaps he could have worded it better, such as explaining how a jumpy drag "can" loose you fish for the more sensitive type. I wouldn't let this review steer you away from this reel if you're shopping on a budget. But come on guys, were you expecting a 10?

TT is an enthusiast site, and I'm not sure why they have chosen to review some of the reels/rods they have lately. It seems to be all Wolbuggers reviews. 

[ChrisD46]

I have considered buying the BPS Pro Qualifier baitcast reel for a while now ...Howver the 6/18/14 Tackle Tour review was less than favorable (i.e. rough , bumpy drag) . My intended application would be dragging a C-Rig , dragging a football jig and occasional pitching / flipping , so the 7:1 ratio retrieve seemed about right if you are mostly looking to retrive line in a hurry (C-Rig , Football jig dragging ) . Lastly - a BPS employee said to expect the Pro Qualifier to go on sale at season end for $79.99 .

* So , for $79.99 would YOU buy a BPS Pro Qualifier 7:1 ratio (warts and all) mainly for C-Rig and Football Jig dragging - or would you save your money and look for something else ? Lastly , I would be especially interested to hear experiences / opinions from those who have bought recent or new Pro Qualifiers ? The fact that Edwin Evers has had such a great run with the Pro Qualifier may be attributed to his reels being several years old and were made to a higher quality level back then ? ...Thanks in advance for the replies .

[Tywithay]

They have a Section for enthusiast items. The pq isn't being compared to The 400+ dollar reels.

A $400 reel is not necessarily considered "enthusiast," and it is compared to those, in a way. They've set a precedent, whatever that entails, and that's the standard by which all of their products are measured. It seems that people that use the PQ got their feelings hurt because a major review site doesn't think the reel is as great as they do. There was nothing bad about the review at all. So it doesn't cast light lures well; it's a workhorse reel, not a finesse reel. It doesn't crank as well as the Zillion, bfd, the Zillion costs $300. It's not real refined, that's because it's a $100 Chinese reel; it's not made from the highest quality materials or with the greatest precision, and the cost reflects that. It's a fair rating for a fair reel. If the review was based on "under $100" as a caveat, it may have scored a 10. You can't expect it to score a 10 against Tatulas, Zillions, Curados, Chronarchs, etc. Those better products come at a premium, but they are indeed better products. That has nothing to do with whether or not any of them catch fish better than one another.

[masterbass]

I have considered buying the BPS Pro Qualifier baitcast reel for a while now ...Howver the 6/18/14 Tackle Tour review was less than favorable (i.e. rough , bumpy drag) . My intended application would be dragging a C-Rig , dragging a football jig and occasional pitching / flipping , so the 7:1 ratio retrieve seemed about right if you are mostly looking to retrive line in a hurry (C-Rig , Football jig dragging ) . Lastly - a BPS employee said to expect the Pro Qualifier to go on sale at season end for $79.99 .

* So , for $79.99 would YOU buy a BPS Pro Qualifier 7:1 ratio (warts and all) mainly for C-Rig and Football Jig dragging - or would you save your money and look for something else ? Lastly , I would be especially interested to hear experiences / opinions from those who have bought recent or new Pro Qualifiers ? The fact that Edwin Evers has had such a great run with the Pro Qualifier may be attributed to his reels being several years old and were made to a higher quality level back then ? ...Thanks in advance for the replies .

I own a pq, lews ss, tourney ss, tourney mg, revo sx and t-3 ballistic.  I think at $80 the pq is pretty hard to beat and should be perfect for your application.  I don't own any high end reels because I prefer to put more money into the rods.  I want my reels to be dependable and durable.  So far the pq has served it's purpose with no complaints.

[masterbass]

This may be a topic for a different thread, but I've always wondered about why Edwin Evers uses pq's, carbonlites and crankin sticks when he is also sponsored by megabass.  I like my bps stuff, but if I had a chance to have a full arsenal of megabass I'd be all over it.  Maybe I'm missing something.

[Goose52]

Well, one thing for sure - it's a topic that attracts lots of interest - 1,300 views in the first 24 hours!

[Tywithay]

This may be a topic for a different thread, but I've always wondered about why Edwin Evers uses pq's, carbonlites and crankin sticks when he is also sponsored by megabass. I like my bps stuff, but if I had a chance to have a full arsenal of megabass I'd be all over it. Maybe I'm missing something.

It's more cost effective, for sure. Maybe he gets a better deal through bps or something. Good to have options.

[OkobojiEagle]

The big winner from this thread is Tackle Tour.

 

 

oe

[Grantman83]

This may be a topic for a different thread, but I've always wondered about why Edwin Evers uses pq's, carbonlites and crankin sticks when he is also sponsored by megabass. I like my bps stuff, but if I had a chance to have a full arsenal of megabass I'd be all over it. Maybe I'm missing something.

He is sponsored by megabass regarding hard and soft baits, not rods and reels. That is why he used bps rods and reels but megabass hard baits

[21farms]

TT's dire warning about the drag warranted mention in my post. It's nifty that TT developed a machine to objectively measure drag performance - can't argue with those results - apples to apples, reel to reel. But, I felt it necessary to point out to the board members that in real world fishing, it has proven not to be as big an issue as one might believe from the review - this based on about 1,000 days on the water and fish caught up to 48 pounds.

two things i want to say about the drag issue:

 

1) goose52, you are no doubt more knowledgeable about reels than the average fisherman and likely ensure your reels are properly serviced, lubed and set-up when you go out. this alone should prevent most on-the-water problems from ever cropping up in the first place and is likely attributable to your great success with the PQ. from what i've read of their test methodology, TT buys new reels from store inventory and tests the reels as they come (e.g., they don't flush the bearings or evenly spread a thin layer of cal's drag grease on the drag washers, etc.).

 

2) i've owned my fair share of BPS reels over the years and, from my experience, there's a HUGE amount of variability out there, even among the same model and generation of reel.

[Goose52]

The big winner from this thread is Tackle Tour.

 

 

oe

 

You bet - lots of page views and hopefully, clicks on sponsors/advertisers links. 

 

Perhaps this is why TT is testing more lower-end gear - gets more folks on the site, perhaps increases revenue. Good move.

[Goose52]

two things i want to say about the drag issue:

 

1) goose52, you are no doubt more knowledgeable about reels than the average fisherman and likely ensure your reels are properly serviced, lubed and set-up when you go out. this alone should prevent most on-the-water problems from ever cropping up in the first place and is likely attributable to your great success with the PQ. from what i've read of their test methodology, TT buys new reels from store inventory and tests the reels as they come (e.g., they don't flush the bearings or evenly spread a thin layer of cal's drag grease on the drag washers, etc.).

 

2) i've owned my fair share of BPS reels over the years and, from my experience, there's a HUGE amount of variability out there, even among the same model and generation of reel.

 

Sure - could be a lot of variation. Not saying they all have world-class drags, but they have adequate drags for bass fishing.  People will read the TT comment about the drag and perhaps take it as a fatal flaw.  My real-world fishing experience says that it's not a fatal flaw.  For most bass fishing, drag performance is an overrated factor anyway.  Many times in this forum, knowledgeable anglers have commented that drag beyond 3-5 pounds is overkill for bass anyway. Many folks use 30-60 pound braid, or 12, 17, or even 20 pound mono or flouro - having the drag stutter a bit isn't putting you in danger of line breakage.  And for those that want to haul fish out of slop with heavy braid, they are locking the drag down anyway (and perhaps breaking rods at the same time... )

 

I'm not challenging the results of their testing machine, just offering a counterpoint, based on quite a bit of experience.

 

Also regarding the drag issue.  Five of my PQs still have stock drags, run dry. No special lube, cleaning, or any magic. The PQ 5-Year Challenge test reel did have carbontex washers installed at the 40 month point...mostly because the stock washers were getting paper thin from use and there was getting to be lateral play in the driveline.

 

Still, with a stock drag, on a reel that that had never been opened, the drag on this PQ worked well enough to reel in some nice fish - but as I mentioned earlier, it must be because I use that ultra-strong 10 pound test line to winch the fish in...

 

[Raul]

I don't know. Seemed like a pretty fair review to me. Comments stated -

The reel is constructed well

Tolerances are all fine

Feels nice and solid

Has a short handle

Heavy

Not impressed or disappointed with casting capabilities

Not sure what else people are wanting/expecting from an 80 dollar reel. It got a score of 7, and while the actual review wasn't stellar, it's what I would expect from this reel...average. When the reviewer comments if you are so brave to utilize the lumpy drag system, he is referring to using it at or near the maximum output. Perhaps he could have worded it better, such as explaining how a jumpy drag "can" loose you fish for the more sensitive type. I wouldn't let this review steer you away from this reel if you're shopping on a budget. But come on guys, were you expecting a 10?

TT is an enthusiast site, and I'm not sure why they have chosen to review some of the reels/rods they have lately. It seems to be all Wolbuggers reviews. 

 

My thoughts exactly.

[Hogsticker]

Anyone who read the review thoroughly would conclude that the drag comment was directed toward using the reel while the drag pressure was at the top of being maxed out. I feel any reel that can provide 20 plus pounds of drag pressure is going to shutter at top ends. I really don't think he was stating that the drag was like this at all settings.

[aavery2]

Anyone who read the review thoroughly would conclude that the drag comment was directed toward using the reel while the drag pressure was at the top of being maxed out. I feel any reel that can provide 20 plus pounds of drag pressure is going to shutter at top ends. I really don't think he was stating that the drag was like this at all settings.

I'm not sure that is exactly correct, this is a statement from the review.  "The drag is quite bumpy and jerky, even at the lowest settings. This reel is far from being ideal if you intend to target species that require a smooth drag system." 

[Goose52]

True...but folks will remember the statement:  "if you are so brave to actually utilize this lumpy drag system" more than they will remember any other comments about the drag or the figures in the drag chart...    I couldn't help but grin when I read that statement and it made me think back to April 26, 2012. I caught two of those big carp that same day - one scaled at 48 pounds (illustrated on page 1 of the thread), the other at 44 pounds (photo below).  The 48 pounder took 53 minutes to land, the 44 pounder was 1 hour, 9 minutes. Over two hours for both fish, drag being pulled MANY times, in some cases for 10-20 yard runs.  I had more drag pulled on those two fish than I will in my remaining lifetime with bass.  Drag seemed to work OK and I didn't feel brave at the time...I just felt tired

 

 

I read the review again this morning. It's not bad as many have said.  I stand by my comments up on page 1 however. I have issues with consistency and subjectivity re the scoring system, and issues with some of the narrative comments in the review.

 

As has already been mentioned, it's a topic with a lot of interest as we are coming up on 1,600 views. And, as already mentioned, it's probably a good thing for TT - generating lots of page views!

 

 

[TrippyJai]

The only reason why I bother to look at TT reviews is to get information like whether or not there are bearings in the handle knobs, what the reel is made out of, etc.

 

Take the Curado I for example. I did not read through it all and found out the following useful information to me.

-There are no bearings in the handle, 2 bushings that can be replaced.

-The drag star is in fact aluminum.

-The gearing teeths are smaller than the previous generation, but they are not micro gears.

 

I also like seeing pictures of the reel taken apart. It's a review and it's by one person so take it for what it's worth.

[TorqueConverter]

I have considered buying the BPS Pro Qualifier baitcast reel for a while now ...Howver the 6/18/14 Tackle Tour review was less than favorable (i.e. rough , bumpy drag) . My intended application would be dragging a C-Rig , dragging a football jig and occasional pitching / flipping , so the 7:1 ratio retrieve seemed about right if you are mostly looking to retrive line in a hurry (C-Rig , Football jig dragging ) . Lastly - a BPS employee said to expect the Pro Qualifier to go on sale at season end for $79.99 .

* So , for $79.99 would YOU buy a BPS Pro Qualifier 7:1 ratio (warts and all) mainly for C-Rig and Football Jig dragging - or would you save your money and look for something else ? Lastly , I would be especially interested to hear experiences / opinions from those who have bought recent or new Pro Qualifiers ? The fact that Edwin Evers has had such a great run with the Pro Qualifier may be attributed to his reels being several years old and were made to a higher quality level back then ? ...Thanks in advance for the replies .

 

I would save my money and look for something else.   I already have a PQ and I don't want another one.  Not because I think it's a bad reel, but because there are a lot of reels to be had for a little more, such as the Tatula that I have more interest in.

 

I purchased my PQ at the BPS spring classic this year.  I can't imagine older models being any better unless they were Korean built Doyos in stead of a Chinese built Doyo we see today.

[Goose52]

........................ such as the Tatula that I have more interest in.

 

The Tatula is a game changer at the "deal" prices that it can be purchased at. I fished my Tat reel and 7'7" Tat rod just today - this combo will likely replace the PQ 5-year Challenge test reel as my primary open-water lipless crank combo at the conclusion of the PQ 5-year test period...

[Hogsticker]

A Tatula at 105 bucks on that auction site is a no brained Imo.

[DogBone_384]

Here's a better review of the PQ:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/126636-bps-pro-qualifier-bc-reel-–-5-year-challenge-–-4-years-down-1-to-go/?hl=%2Bpro+%2Bqualifier+%2Btest

[K_Mac]

The Tatula is a game changer at the "deal" prices that it can be purchased at. I fished my Tat reel and 7'7" Tat rod just today - this combo will likely replace the PQ 5-year Challenge test reel as my primary open-water lipless crank combo at the conclusion of the PQ 5-year test period...

 

I've handled the Tatula enough to know that as much as I like my PQs, it will be the next reel I buy. It is amazing the quality of both rods and reels available in the low to mid-range on today's market. For the price of a tank of gas in my truck I can buy a rod or reel that will serve me well as long as I will need it, and probably my grandkids...

[smalljaw67]

TT does a very good job with reviews, my only problem with them is they do have a bias when it comes to Daiwa or Shimano and I'll tell you why I feel that way and the PQ review is part of the reason. The minute they mention a reel being heavy as a bad thing, I don't like heavy reels either, I immediately think of the Zillion and the Metanium, great reels but neither ever got knocked on the weight issue and to me they are bricks. Both those reels are 8 oz, the same weight they knock other branded reels as being heavy, and I've asked about this and I was told that everything else is so good that they look past the weight because it really isn't an issue with these reels. Well is the weight isn't an issue with high end reels then it shouldn't be with any other reel and that is my only problem with their reviews otherwise I trust everything they report. Myself, when I picked up a Revo Premier 2nd generation and then a Smoke and finally a Tourney Pro, that was it, I was done with reels over 7.5 to 8oz, I don't care if the reel is said to be better than sliced bread, if it weighs more than 7oz it is a brick.