DaveT63 Posted February 29, 2016 Posted February 29, 2016 Looking for a new cranking reel in the 5.x:1 ratio area. Mostly what I see are the Revo Gen 3 Winch and the Lews BB1L. Any thoughts on one over the other? Any other suggestions? Thanks, Dave Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted March 1, 2016 Posted March 1, 2016 6 of one half dozen of the other. The PQ is also on that platform and comes in 5.?:1 and 4.7:1. All the major players make a cranking reel. 2 Quote
Robert Riley Posted March 2, 2016 Posted March 2, 2016 I've used both and I genuinely like the feel of the BB1 and feel it casts more smoothly. I tend to think that the Revo line feels and looks cheap. Quote
ibobpeb Posted March 3, 2016 Posted March 3, 2016 I'll give a slight edge to the BB1L but honestly I like them both equally. I used mine for 2 to 3 oz swimbaits, spooled with 15-17 lbs Mccoy Mean Green because those reels can hold a lot of line. They are great alternatives from the round reels everyone else recommends for swimbaiting. I don't do a lot of deep cranks so I can't comment on that. Another reel is the Orra Winch, a step below the Revo Gen 3. Model name is ORRA2WINCH-L for lefties. Those are about the only 5 gear ratio lefties that I know of that are low-profile baitcasters. Every company seems to put out 6 gear or higher these days. Tough to find now. Quote
desmobob Posted March 25, 2016 Posted March 25, 2016 I have a couple of the Orra Winch reels and although they feel a little on the cheap side, they function very well and I'm happy with them so far (I have very little fishing time on them). I have a Lew's BB1L on the way right now. The BB1L has an old-school anti-reverse mechanism, not the typical instant anti-reverse that seems to come on everything these days. I remember some discussion of why some folks might prefer that type instead of the instant type, but I don't recall the reasons.... Tight lines, Bob Quote
Nick S Posted March 25, 2016 Posted March 25, 2016 On 2/29/2016 at 9:51 PM, PitchinJigz said: They're made in the same factory. So are impalas and camaros... Quote
DaveT63 Posted March 25, 2016 Author Posted March 25, 2016 I ended up getting a really good deal on a used Winch, so went with that. Thanks for the input everyone! Quote
hookset on 3 Posted March 27, 2016 Posted March 27, 2016 On 3/25/2016 at 6:10 PM, Nick S said: So are impalas and camaros... I was thinking along the same lines. My opinion on the two reels in question, is that Lew's uses higher quality components and has tighter tolerances. In addition, Lew's Quality Control is very stringent compared to Abu Garcia.s Quote
Incheon Basser Posted March 27, 2016 Posted March 27, 2016 1 hour ago, hookset on 3 said: I was thinking along the same lines. My opinion on the two reels in question, is that Lew's uses higher quality components and has tighter tolerances. In addition, Lew's Quality Control is very stringent compared to Abu Garcia.s You know they are made in the same factory in Korea and quality control is therefore the same right? Quote
desmobob Posted March 27, 2016 Posted March 27, 2016 1 hour ago, hookset on 3 said: I was thinking along the same lines. My opinion on the two reels in question, is that Lew's uses higher quality components and has tighter tolerances. In addition, Lew's Quality Control is very stringent compared to Abu Garcia.s 1 minute ago, Incheon Basser said: You know they are made in the same factory in Korea and quality control is therefore the same right? This is all speculation, of course, unless you know for sure what the materials and specifications for both brands are. Made in the same factory does not necessarily mean produced on the same production line, built with the same tolerances, etc. I have reels from Abu and Lew's, and they do not feel even slightly close to something that rolled off the same production line. For some reason, instead of celebrating the fact that we have such a great variety of excellent reels brands to choose from, folks seem to want to pick their personal favorite and then run all the other brands down. Tight lines, Bob Quote
Incheon Basser Posted March 27, 2016 Posted March 27, 2016 Just now, desmobob said: This is all speculation, of course, unless you know for sure what the materials and specifications for both brands are. Made in the same factory does not necessarily mean produced on the same production line, built with the same tolerances, etc. I have reels from Abu and Lew's, and they do not feel even slightly close to something that rolled off the same production line. For some reason, instead of celebrating the fact that we have such a great variety of excellent reels brands to choose from, folks seem to want to pick their personal favorite and then run all the other brands down. Tight lines, Bob Hi Bob. Both good brands not tearing anyone down. Been to the factory several times. Not a big factory. Only one production line. Most components are Doyo IP for both brands. Cheers Quote
desmobob Posted March 27, 2016 Posted March 27, 2016 4 minutes ago, Incheon Basser said: Hi Bob. Both good brands not tearing anyone down. Been to the factory several times. Not a big factory. Only one production line. Most components are Doyo IP for both brands. Cheers Sorry to seem to be accusing you of tearing anyone down... I guess I get tired of hearing the "made in the same factory" stuff all the time; usually by people bashing those brands. But now, someone who has been to the factory sets me straight on the production line/QC situation! Very cool, actually. Thanks for the insight. Holding a Lew's reel in one hand and an Abu in the other, I'd never guess they came off the same line and that the majority of the components come from the same supplier. Looking at the innards, I very well might guess that, but by the feel, not at all. So far, I have a big pile of reels from Shimano, Daiwa, Lew's and Abu, and I love each one of them. :-) Tight lines, Bob 1 Quote
Incheon Basser Posted March 27, 2016 Posted March 27, 2016 2 minutes ago, desmobob said: Sorry to seem to be accusing you of tearing anyone down... I guess I get tired of hearing the "made in the same factory" stuff all the time; usually by people bashing those brands. But now, someone who has been to the factory sets me straight on the production line/QC situation! Very cool, actually. Thanks for the insight. Holding a Lew's reel in one hand and an Abu in the other, I'd never guess they came off the same line and that the majority of the components come from the same supplier. Looking at the innards, I very well might guess that, but by the feel, not at all. So far, I have a big pile of reels from Shimano, Daiwa, Lew's and Abu, and I love each one of them. :-) Tight lines, Bob Obviously they come out of different molds and have different product managers. But QC is going to be pretty much the same. Doyo is a great factory. The owner is a control freak! Lol Quote
desmobob Posted March 30, 2016 Posted March 30, 2016 My Lew's BB1L came this week and I must say I'm impressed. I picked it up for $123, shipped. I put it on a Kistler KLX 7' MHMF "Crank, Rip and Twitch" rod and spooled it up with Yo-Zuri Hybrid 8 lb. test line (>12 lb. breaking strength). I started with the Lew's recommendation of all four spring brakes activated and the two speed brakes off. I clipped on a 3/8 oz. practice plug and gave it a toss in the back yard. It ended up across the yard and in the trees. That reel likes to cast. :-) It feels every bit as smooth and solid as the Lew's Tournament Pros I'm used to using. Same strong drag, too. The only drawback I can see is the lack of an external braking adjustment, but the side cover is very easy to remove if you need to adjust the braking on a windy day. I don't have a Revo Winch, but I have two of the Orra Winch reels and I'm thinking I really prefer the Lew's BB1 over them. Tight lines, Bob PS- Darn it! I just realized I used my 1000th post for some uncompensated product endorsement! ;-) Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.