xDirty Posted December 12, 2015 Posted December 12, 2015 So i went fishing with a friend who was nice enough to let me try out his rod and reel combo. The rod was great but what seriously impressed me was the reel he was using. It was a Lew's BB-1 Pro Series Speed Spool Casting Reel. It cast smooth as butter, i even loved the sound it made when it cast and all it was using was mono. It was a big step up from my abu garcia black max. Now im not quite sure if im willing to drop 214 for the Lew's BB-1 Pro Series Speed Spool Casting Reel but i was looking at the slightly cheaper options. I asked my friend if the less expensive versions of lews cast as well and he said yes. Which left handed lews reel do you recommend for bass fishing, preferably 6.4.1 that wont break the bank ? maybe a budget of 150 or less ? Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted December 12, 2015 Super User Posted December 12, 2015 Tournament Pro Speed Spool. I believe you can find it for $149.99. Amazing reel, worth every penny. Quote
desmobob Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 Tournament Pro Speed Spool. I believe you can find it for $149.99. Amazing reel, worth every penny. I whole-heartedly agree with this! ^ I just picked up another one (the old style; not the new "G" version) from Cabelas on sale for $119. I have four of them and really like them a lot. Tight lines, Bob 1 Quote
xDirty Posted December 13, 2015 Author Posted December 13, 2015 what do you guys think of this one http://www.lews.com/casting-bb1.php ? Quote
desmobob Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 what do you guys think of this one http://www.lews.com/casting-bb1.php ? Check the big auction site... you can get a Tournament Pro for five dollars more. Tight lines, Bob Quote
xDirty Posted December 13, 2015 Author Posted December 13, 2015 Check the big auction site... you can get a Tournament Pro for five dollars more. Tight lines, Bob Are we talking about ebay ? sorry im still new around here Quote
desmobob Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 Are we talking about ebay ? sorry im still new around here Yes sir. Bob Quote
long island basser Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 So i went fishing with a friend who was nice enough to let me try out his rod and reel combo. The rod was great but what seriously impressed me was the reel he was using. It was a Lew's BB-1 Pro Series Speed Spool Casting Reel. It cast smooth as butter, i even loved the sound it made when it cast and all it was using was mono. It was a big step up from my abu garcia black max. Now im not quite sure if im willing to drop 214 for the Lew's BB-1 Pro Series Speed Spool Casting Reel but i was looking at the slightly cheaper options. I asked my friend if the less expensive versions of lews cast as well and he said yes. Which left handed lews reel do you recommend for bass fishing, preferably 6.4.1 that wont break the bank ? maybe a budget of 150 or less ? I have 3 different lews. Tournament pro, bb1 , and tournament MB. There all good reels, but my favorite is the MB which also happens to be the least expensive. The tournament pro would be my second choice with the BB1 third. Quote
Evan K Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 I have the Speed Spool LFS and the Tournament MB. The LFS is fantastic, but the MB is a huge improvement. In taking them apart and cleaning them recently I was able to notice some differences in the innards, such as multiple stacked drag washers in the MB. I would definitely recommend it. Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted December 13, 2015 Super User Posted December 13, 2015 American legacy fishing did have all their Lew's on sale. Could get a a higher tier reel for the cost of the MSRP of the tier below it Quote
xDirty Posted December 13, 2015 Author Posted December 13, 2015 I have the Speed Spool LFS and the Tournament MB. The LFS is fantastic, but the MB is a huge improvement. In taking them apart and cleaning them recently I was able to notice some differences in the innards, such as multiple stacked drag washers in the MB. I would definitely recommend it. the problem i have with the Tournament MB is the gear ratio, they dont have 6.4.1 at all and they only have 6.8.1 in right hand version. I need a left handed version Quote
Evan K Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 the problem i have with the Tournament MB is the gear ratio, they dont have 6.4.1 at all and they only have 6.8.1 in right hand version. I need a left handed version Yeah, I've just trained myself to use RH bait casters, since they're the most commonly available. Quote
long island basser Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 the problem i have with the Tournament MB is the gear ratio, they dont have 6.4.1 at all and they only have 6.8.1 in right hand version. I need a left handed version I use all left hand retrieves. The MB is 7.5:1 which is 31" ipt. A 6.4 or 6.8:1 is 28" ipt. Three inches per turn is nothing IMO. I use all higher speed reels, it's really not that much of a difference. 1 Quote
xDirty Posted December 13, 2015 Author Posted December 13, 2015 I use all left hand retrieves. The MB is 7.5:1 which is 31" ipt. A 6.4 or 6.8:1 is 28" ipt. Three inches per turn is nothing IMO. I use all higher speed reels, it's really not that much of a difference. Im doing research on each lews reel that i like, and im making a list with pricing and features but im gonna need help picking one that suits my needs. When i have my list ready,would it be okay to private message you ? Quote
Robert Riley Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 An old friend said "the biggest mistake Lew's ever made was making their lower level reels so good." It's a true statement, the regular speed spool is an awesome reel and comes in at a great price. The Tournament Pro is a great reel, and you can usually find it for a good price. Go check the Flea market forum here, there are frequently LH Lews reels. Quote
clh121787 Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 I've been fishing the 85 dollar lews speed spool for the last 4 years. It's held up longer than the veritas, I put it on (broke a guide somehow, probably bouncing around the bed or my jon boat). Its great for the price. Ive been wanting to get my hands on a high end lews. But I've come to be a very loyal to shimano. 3 chronarchs, 2 scorpions, 7 curados, and a core later. Ive had no buyers remorse. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted December 13, 2015 Global Moderator Posted December 13, 2015 I've also had a Speed Spool for 3-4 years and have been very happy with it. Only thing I didn't like was the handles but I swapped those out with a handle from BPS and it was fine. I use mine for fishing my bladed jigs in the 6.4:1 ratio. Quote
mrpao Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 The tournament MB is a great value for the money. I have two of them and they are as good as my higher priced Lews. Is there a certain reason u need a 6.4:1 gear ratio? There is not much difference in that and a 6.8:1. Quote
Robert Riley Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 The tournament MB is a great value for the money. I have two of them and they are as good as my higher priced Lews. Is there a certain reason u need a 6.4:1 gear ratio? There is not much difference in that and a 6.8:1. The gear ratio is different, but the inches per turn is still the same. It's just because the spool is a different size. Quote
long island basser Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 Im doing research on each lews reel that i like, and im making a list with pricing and features but im gonna need help picking one that suits my needs. When i have my list ready,would it be okay to private message you ? Absolutely, while not a professional, I'm always willing to help a fellow member. You best bet is when your list is complete just post it here and you'll have many members willing to help with suggestions/opinions. Quote
JTFisherofMen Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 I learned how to use baitcasters with an original Lews bb1 from the 70's that my grandfather gave me. Since then I bought two more from the 70's era and used heavily for about 2-3 years. I keep them in a display case now. I now use the bb1 from 2012. I think I paid about 175ish and use two of the bb1 pro that I got for 200 a piece. You can't go wrong with any Lews products. Even those 70's era Lews compete with the new ones. Quote
cottny27 Posted December 13, 2015 Posted December 13, 2015 I just ordered a LFS on Amazon for $79 and have heard nothing but good things about them. That would be a huge step up from a Black Max. I think I saw the Tournament MB on Amazon as low as $105. Quote
Super User Senko lover Posted December 13, 2015 Super User Posted December 13, 2015 Look for a used Tournament MG speed spool. Quote
WPCfishing Posted December 14, 2015 Posted December 14, 2015 I like the Tournament Pro, I have two of them. There are deals available so do some searching. I saw them somewhere for $119.00. That's a score. Quote
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