will954 Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 Wanted some opinions from fellow Lews baitcast lovers on the new tournament pro g and pro magnesium. let me start by saying that I absolutely love my team golds and team pros. I also love my bb1 Pros and inshores. I was disappointed to see them discontinue the team gold. I got an email this morning from Bassmaster about the new products being released at Icast this year. if anyone wants to check out the two new Lews baitcasters there are about 215 items in the Icast review from Bassmaster so to shorten your time scrolling they are numbers 111 and 112 I believe. the tournament pro g is basically a tournament pro with their new external braking system. the pro magnesium has a magnesium frame and c45 side plates and also the new external braking system. the pro magnesium also has the combination cork/ foam grips. also is C45 metal or not I have had trouble getting a straight answer? both new releases have two new features which are kind of pointless in my opinion they have built in hook keepers and a Dial for line size. As long as both of those new features are quality-built I don't really mind them but IMO they are pointless. the thing that does scare me though is the release of a high-end flagship magnesium reel. I really hope that Lews is not going to go down the road of an Abu Garcia or Shimano. and I am NOT bashing those brands this is my opinion. I actually use Shimano Stradic fjs for spinning reels and just bought a Revo beast for umbrella rigs. but I hope they are not going to make the mistake that Abu made after the gen 2 revos. Abu went away from all solid durable aluminum and in my opinion performance suffered because of it. and Shimano has gone to almost strictly magnesium on their higher end offerings. I really hope this new pro magnesium does not replace the Lews Team Pro. I really like solid aluminum frame and side plates so I really hope they are not going in the direction that almost every other major reel manufacturer is going. for me 6.1 ounces is light enough. I do not want a 5.3 ounce reel if its sacrifices durability and smoothness. hopefully they are just expanding their lineup. magnesium framed reels are not for me but as long as they keep on making solid aluminum frame / side plate Pros I will be happy. but I would much rather have seen them release maybe a 50 size team pro still all aluminum with the new braking system. any thoughts on the two new reels from Lews? Quote
will954 Posted July 10, 2015 Author Posted July 10, 2015 and just to add, the new tournament pro g I do not have a problem with because it still has the aluminum frame like the original tournament pro. I like my bb1s as well because they have aluminum frames but there is nothing like the team golds and team pros. Quote
bootytrain Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 The big difference in the gen 2 vs gen 3 revos was the main gear material. Brass vs hardened aluminium. It made the reels much lighter but also took away from the smoothness on the retrieve. I'm not sure the gen 2 revos had both side plates made of aluminium. The sx and revo ib I have certainly did not. C45 is just their marketing term for fancy graphite/carbon. That new magnesium reel is going to be their new flagship I'm pretty certain. As the owner of a few magnesium reels, if they are engineered right they make fantastic fishing gear. 1 Quote
will954 Posted July 10, 2015 Author Posted July 10, 2015 I spoke to a rep at Lews just now and they were unclear whether the team pro would be discontinued. The answer I got was "it depends on what happens before and after Icast". so I'm assuming that means it's going to depend on professional and public opinion. if they do discontinue the team pro maybe then I will give the new Pro magnesium a shot but until then I am happy with my current team pros. but you are probably right bootytrain that they are probably going to make that new Pro magnesium their flagship. Quote
bootytrain Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 They may be shifting everything to the LFS style frames Quote
Grantman83 Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 Always excited for their new releases. The team pro is a beast and all aluminum. A mag style reel won't have the same feel so I would be hesitant to dc them right off the bat Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted July 10, 2015 Super User Posted July 10, 2015 They may be shifting everything to the LFS style frames I really like the way the LFS fit into my hand. I love my first Gen Lew's but also enjoy the LFS fit a little better. As for magnesium, I don't think it will hurt the quality or smoothness overall of the reel. My only gripe is that it will hurt my wallet Magnesium ain't cheap. Quote
will954 Posted July 11, 2015 Author Posted July 11, 2015 I agree grantman83 a mag frame reel will not have the same feel in my opinion. Im no scientist but my cousin has manufactured machine parts for 30 years using all sorts of materials and the basic rundown he gave to me was, magnesium will always be lighter than a comparable sized aluminum part. but magnesium is definitely softer than aluminum and also magnesium is extremely susceptible to corrosion so a special coating is needed on any magnesium part to prevent it from corroding quickly. I'm sure that's also why you almost never see a magnesium salt water reel. Quote
chelboed Posted July 11, 2015 Posted July 11, 2015 They're very very nice! I think of the Team Pro Magnesium, team lite, and tournament pro g as a car with basic versus two more levels of upgrade options. They will all be cast monsters. They will all be smooth. Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted July 11, 2015 Super User Posted July 11, 2015 I agree grantman83 a mag frame reel will not have the same feel in my opinion. Im no scientist but my cousin has manufactured machine parts for 30 years using all sorts of materials and the basic rundown he gave to me was, magnesium will always be lighter than a comparable sized aluminum part. but magnesium is definitely softer than aluminum and also magnesium is extremely susceptible to corrosion so a special coating is needed on any magnesium part to prevent it from corroding quickly. I'm sure that's also why you almost never see a magnesium salt water reel.You'd be correct in your final statement. Saltwater EATS magnesium Quote
chelboed Posted July 13, 2015 Posted July 13, 2015 Given the softer properties of magnesium, I'd say it could have the tendency to dampen unwanted noise and vibration. I can't wait to try one. Quote
bootytrain Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Just saw the Team Pro Magnesium is only going to be $280. That's a freakin steal. Quote
Grantman83 Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 It actually seems like a stolen idea from the ardent edge series. There is a dial with different numbers so you can label what lb test line you have on... Quote
hatrix Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 It actually seems like a stolen idea from the ardent edge series. There is a dial with different numbers so you can label what lb test line you have on... Are you kidding? Is that really a problem for people? I mean I don't have like 20 combos I use but even so it's not that difficult to know what is on each one. Maybe if everyone had the same rod and reel it might get confusing. I mean if that is a problem for some people they might have Alzheimer's or need to sell off a few reels Quote
Grantman83 Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 If you have several combos with near the same line it can be confusing. I am OCD so I can tell you every line on all 18 of my combos. If you have a boat full of 30 combos I can see this being something good. The quantum smoke rods have this option as well. Quote
chelboed Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 Well the new features are very well done (even if you don't need them) and for a $199 reel...the Pro G is pretty incredible. Probably my favorite. Grantman...18? Really? Are you an octopus? Hahaha. Quote
Grantman83 Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Well the new features are very well done (even if you don't need them) and for a $199 reel...the Pro G is pretty incredible. Probably my favorite. Grantman...18? Really? Are you an octopus? Hahaha. Ha! And that's down from 40....a guy with no boat no less...yea, I got a problem Quote
chelboed Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Ha! And that's down from 40....a guy with no boat no less...yea, I got a problem Holy crap dude! You're my new role model, wooo-ha! Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted July 17, 2015 Super User Posted July 17, 2015 Looks like the Pro Magnesium will be $249. That is very good for a magnesium framed reel. We shall see. Quote
chelboed Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Looks like the Pro Magnesium will be $249. That is very good for a magnesium framed reel. We shall see. $279 1 Quote
chelboed Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 I guess since the iCast cat is out of the bag... I'm in love with my Pro G. 1 Quote
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