rod & reel set-ups

[looney4largemouth]

Interested in seeing you guy's bass fishing set-ups...  I'm becoming more and more interested in the lew's lineup of reels.

[Nitrofreak]

I got a laser speed spool from Walmart and started with that, at 75 bucks I was impressed with what it could do, I used it for a year trying everything I use one for, great casting distance with braided line, smooth pitching performance with braided line as well, it really showed off with fluorocarbon, I use Seaguar red label 15lb test for a lot of techniques and that reel really made an impact with what I needed from a reel, I purchaced 2 tournament lite reels since then and really have no desire to look elsewhere, not that other products aren't as good or better but I'm just sold on the performance, durability and flexibility, so much so that I now want to switch everything over to all Lews, all I have to do now is come up with some cash LOL ! 

[looney4largemouth]

I can understand that.  every store that I go into, people tell you to give lew's a try.  I bought a laser mg mcs from field and stream and I love it.  Works fine whenever I have it out!  I love that bps now sales the full lineup of lew's reels!

[S. Sass]

I use these 2 regularly with no issues. 

Lews LFS Speed Spool 7:1 on St Croix MBC70MHF 7' MHF
Lews LFS Speed Spool 6.4:1 on Fenwick HMG GT72M-F-CB Crankbait Rod 7'2" MF 

I also started with a Lew's from Walmart I think it was $50. It has been flawless once I learned how to use a baitcaster.  Oh and I just received a Tournament I bought here out of the Flea Market. I'm rod hunting for it. 

Honestly my stuff is junk to many here I know. But this is the most I have ever spent on fishing anything.  

[buzzed bait]

Last week i just picked up my 4th team lew's pro z in 7.1:1 ratio.  bought one and after i used it a few times, immediately bought 2 more.  then found a deal on one last week and had to get another!!  if you want to see some people's gear, check out this thread:

 

[j bab]

The first baitcaster I actually bought myself was a lews tourney MG. I have 2 now, they are both awesome. Obviously their newer stuff is even better, hence "lighter, faster, stronger." I have used their high end Pro Magnesium, it's excellent. I also own a bb2 pro and a bb1 pro for crankbaits, they are great as well, especially for the price. I would recommend lews stuff. I'm not saying they're the best in the business, but they are good reels that I enjoy.

[new2BC4bass]

No pictures.  My last 2 reels were Lew's...a Pro Z on sale and a Tournament MB.  MB not spooled yet.  Pro's been out once for practice.  Have one of the original Tournament Pros that a grandson grabbed for his.  Won't be going all Lew's.  Nice reels, but I don't see them being so much better than others.  Casting distance?  About the same as many others I have.  Never backlash?  Apparently I am a much better caster than many of you because I can overrun a Lew's just as easily as some others........all others?    Of course I am not acclimated to the Lew's yet so am hoping for some improvement in distance and casting mishaps once I get use to the reels and get them fine tuned for my style of casting.

It seems this quickly became a Lew's thread.  Slightly over half my reels are Daiwas so guess I am in a minority.  Don't see that changing.  However, I am not a Daiwa fanboy.  Own several other brands and enjoy them all.  Two reels that have impressed me lately...more so than the Lew's...are the Primmus and Helios Air.  I set 3 brakes on, adjusted spool tension and haven't touched the Primmus since then.  Light, very smooth, excellent casting distance, overruns few and far between (and my fault obviously) and a nice looking reel to boot.  First cast with the Helios Air and I said "Wow.  This thing can cast."  Also set with 3 brakes on.   I'm not as good as most so need more brakes.

Fishing set ups require more than a reel.  Some favorite rods are Fenwick (HMG, Smallmouth and Aetos), Endurance, Falcon and Tatula.  Recently acquired a Diablo Spec R and 704CB Glass from a fellow member.  Thanks Mitch.  Very nice rods and expect them to be two of my favorites.  Believe it or not, but I picked up a 7' ML Redbone a couple years ago at a very good price, and like the rod a lot.  It stays in Florida for visits so I don't get to use it as much as I would like.

[roadwarrior]

The Pinnacle Primmus and Okuma Helios Air are GREAT reels, especially at their pricing point.

 

[S. Sass]

8 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

It seems this quickly became a Lew's thread.

I would say that was because of the interest the opstated in his post.  

"I'm becoming more and more interested in the lew's lineup of reels."  

[new2BC4bass]

33 minutes ago, S. Sass said:

I would say that was because of the interest the opstated in his post.  

"I'm becoming more and more interested in the lew's lineup of reels."  

But that wasn't the title of the thread.    The subject title was "rod & reel setups".  Hope no one got upset because I mentioned something other than Lew's after the OPs original comment on Lew's reels.

A few of my setups....for the OP

Curado 51E and Smallmouth 6'10" MF

TD-Z 105H and older 7' ML HMG

Fuego and Cumara 7' MHF

PXL Type R and Falcon Expert Light

Curado 201E and Endurance 723

Zillion 50th and Diablo Spec R

Primmus and 704CB Glass

Purple Alphas and 7' MLR Tatula

Helios Air and 7'3" MHF Hammer

Chronarch 100B and 6'10" Quantum Tour Edition

Unmentionable A and 7' MHF RX7 Rainshadow

Morrum SX 1601C and Falcon Expert 7' Medium

TD-Z 103HL Type R and 7'6" HF Zillion

T3 1016 SHL and 7' MHF Aetos

 

[buzzed bait]

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

A few of my setups....for the OP

just a few, eh?  nice lineup!

[new2BC4bass]

Thanks.  Been buying gear for the past 7 years.  Actually have too much now, but it is tough to quit.    Bait Monkey has a choke hold on me. 

 

[S. Sass]

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

But that wasn't the title of the thread.    The subject title was "rod & reel setups".  Hope no one got upset because I mentioned something other than Lew's after the OPs original comment on Lew's reels.

No way I'm upset about anything. Except maybe not winning the lottery tonight. 

[Fishes in trees]

Lews are ok reels.   I have some buds that use them.  Me - I'm a Shimano guy - have been for almost two decades.  Last time I got talked into/talked myself into a brand that was "just as good and less expensive" than Shimano, I was ultimately disappointed.   Never again, when I decide that I'm entitled to a new reel, I get another Shimano.   Bait casting - spinning - I don't care.   When I decide I need another reel I get another Shimano.

[lmbfisherman]

4 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

Lews are ok reels.   I have some buds that use them.  Me - I'm a Shimano guy - have been for almost two decades.  Last time I got talked into/talked myself into a brand that was "just as good and less expensive" than Shimano, I was ultimately disappointed.   Never again, when I decide that I'm entitled to a new reel, I get another Shimano.   Bait casting - spinning - I don't care.   When I decide I need another reel I get another Shimano.

My sentiments exactly.   I felt the same way, I found myself over time that other brands were ok to fish does the job fine for their purpose, but i fish my Shimano reels far more.  Curado E,G,I - Citica Gs - Chronarch 50 MG, E, CI4 - Stradic FJs, Symetre and now my Metaniums. I'm in the process of selling off my tried a different Brand reels.  Not bashing them, just find I'm not using them as much.

[Yudo1]

I started with Lew's but made the switch to daiwa and shimano.  I think Lew's makes some really good reels but just prefer daiwa/shimano.  My buddy fishes Lew's exclusively.  I'm not sure if he's just not tuning them in correctly but he backlashes a lot.

[edfitzvb]

I have "several" rods and reels... enough that I sat down and created a database file for insurance purposes. I have Shimano, Abu Garcia, Lew's, Daiwa, pretty much everything. My favorites are Lew's, followed closely by Shimano and the my Revo STX. All of my reels are pretty much at the 200 price point, but because I buy 90% of my stuff used, I generally buy them at around $50.00 each. My absolute favorite for comfort and quality combined is the Lew's Tournament Pro. Because I have plenty of reels I haven't bought many recently, but my Shiman BCs are all Curado 200 series reels. I use all of them, but like I said, my preference is for Lew's.

I don't have a vested interest, BUT... I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once...

[Raul]

I don´t have predetermined setups, I have a bunch of rods ( GLoomis, Shimano, GraphiteLeader, Berkley ) and a bunch of reels ( AbuGarcia, Daiwa, Shimano ), I mix and match as I find fit for certain baits/techniques, I´m not remotely interested in Lew´s reels, I have several Daiwa & Shimano reels that haven´t even been spooled with line.