BPS Pro Qualifier Adjusting?

[MikeOGNR]

So about 2 years ago I bought 2 BPS pro qualifier reels. Now they work amazing reel smooth and everything but my biggest problem is I cant seem to get the casting distance as some of the other bait casting reels ive seen. Even my pflueger spining reel with a heavy enough lure casts further. Now I use a decent amount of weight with this reel about 1/2 oz so I dont think it is the weight issue. I have messed around with the dual breaking system too even putting it on no breaks and only 2 breaks still doesnt get the casting distance. Reason why I would like more distance is because I like to cover water with my swimbaits and jigs so any inside help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks 

-Mike

[fishnkamp]

I would suggest two things. Check with you local tackle shop and see if they know of a good reel repair center nearby. Often the local tackle shop will have a guy nearby.  If not, we have Delaware ValleyTackle as a board sponsor. Now I am not thinking that your reels are broken, but rather they may be caked with grease from BPS. It happens. Have them professionally cleaned and checked.  Next lets talk rods. What rods do you have them on. I mean Brand, model, action, taper (tip is it moderate, fast, extra fast) and lure weight specified. Now lets talk what you are throwing on them.  Maybe it is simply the rod you are using will not produce the success no matter what reel is on it. I would not want you to buy a more expensive reel and have the problem be the rod. I know there is a legion of guys that love that ree,l so I would not expect that to be the problem

i would send one reel off and get it serviced. Then see how it casts when that is done. If you do not see an improvement borrow a buddies rod install your reel and see how it does.  Also you could go to your local tackle shop (not a big box store just a local shop) and ask to try casting your reel on their rod. Most good shops will help you out.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

For sheer casting distance spinning tackle can't be beat. That's not a good comparison. The Rod has more to do with casting. A good deep cleaning will do a lot for a reel and the PQ is a good one. 

[fishnkamp]

Thanks DVT for jumping in. I have seen a "new" reel come packed so badly it would not get distance. After a little cleaning and proper grease and oiling the reel was totally different. It happened to a friend of mine.  

[papajoe222]

It happens more often than you would think. If MikeOGNR knows how to remove the side plate to access the spool, he should check out its shaft. If it's covered in grease, that (being packed with too much grease from the factory) is likely contributing to the distance concern. 

[kickerfish1]

I had one a few years ago. I thought the retrieve was smooth but like you it never casted that great for distance even after a good cleaning. Don't get me wrong they are good well built reels for the money, but I never thought the reel was a distance caster.

[S. Sass]

I only have one BPQ reel 7:1. I can't say it doesn't cast as well as my other reels. It always seems to reach out there on par with my fishing partners reels and my other equipment similarly setup on similar rods. 

As some have said if I was you Id send it to DVT he will know if it's casting properly. If it is then you will know it's most likely your technique or rod holding you back. At the very least it will eliminate the reel being the problem. 

On that note the fact you have two and I presume both are performing the same I would bet it's operator error. 

[MikeOGNR]

6 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

It happens more often than you would think. If MikeOGNR knows how to remove the side plate to access the spool, he should check out its shaft. If it's covered in grease, that (being packed with too much grease from the factory) is likely contributing to the distance concern. 

I'll look today I gained a little more distance I didn't realize that the centrifugal brakes were turned on when pushed out towards the casing I thought when you pushed them in it was on which helped a bit, but I'll take a look at the grease today 

6 hours ago, S. Sass said:

I only have one BPQ reel 7:1. I can't say it doesn't cast as well as my other reels. It always seems to reach out there on par with my fishing partners reels and my other equipment similarly setup on similar rods. 

As some have said if I was you Id send it to DVT he will know if it's casting properly. If it is then you will know it's most likely your technique or rod holding you back. At the very least it will eliminate the reel being the problem. 

On that note the fact you have two and I presume both are performing the same I would bet it's operator error. 

The rods in throwing them on are 2 7ft medium heavy bps Johnny Morris tournament special rods with 10lb mono line. So I think the rods are good. It may be just greased too much I'm gonna try that and see. 

[Molay1292]

Spool tension and magnetic brake settings on that reel are also going to have a large impact on casting distance.

 

[MikeOGNR]

4 minutes ago, Molay1292 said:

Spool tension and magnetic brake settings on that reel are also going to have a large impact on casting distance.

 

Well I just fixed out so I only have 2 and 2 on for mag and centrifugal. Now I'm casting a little better anywhere between 30-40 yards is this adequate I'm throwing a 4.8 in keitech swimbaits with 1/4oz swimbaits hook 

[Molay1292]

In my mind 35-40 yards is a good cast.

 

 

 

[MikeOGNR]

31 minutes ago, Molay1292 said:

In my mind 35-40 yards is a good cast.

 

 

 

Well I haven't measured the distance of the cast accurately I was just judging when I get home I'm gonna measure and see how long it goes. Roughly when I casted it looked about 30 and some good ones I even got 40 

[Molay1292]

Looks can be very deceiving when it comes to casting, might want to walk it off to make sure.  The setup of a dual braking reel is a little different than others.   If you do a little searching around there should be some good videos and posts on how to properly setup a reel like this.

 

 

[Jaderose]

40 yards?  That's a pretty good cast.  Here I was thinking that MY PQ's are good for about 40 yards and I consider that a pretty good launch

 

[S. Sass]

Yeah 40 ain't to bad. I haven't actually measured my cast distance but I would imagine that would be plenty for fishing. 

You might get a little more distance with a medium rod. I seem to be able to with my stuff. 

Bait casters are so adjustable it would be impossible to say your getting 90% of what it will do. However as long as you have any brakes or tension on the spool your leaving distance on the table. I can't shut all mine off without a problem lol but the really good guys can cast the spool empty. What I'm saying is the rest of the distance might be you just need practice? 

[tstraub]

I've never measured my casts either but 30-40 yards sounds about right to me.  Some days with the right lure and the wind at my back I feel I can reach out much further.  Other days with different lure and wind I struggle to get 1/2 that.  I just make a few casts and if I'm off by a few yards I'll adjust the brakes.  If I'm off by several yards I adjust the boat.

[fishnkamp]

That casting distance is better. Check the specs on the rod. A lot of the JM rods that are MH spec 3/8 to 1 oz.  So if that is the case try this. Back off the magnetics to zero, loosen the spool tension till the spool has lots of side to side play. Now tighten the spool tension just till the side play is gone now bring the magnetics back up high. Tie on a 1/2 ounce worm weight or jig.  Check how fast that lure drops, if it is not too fast cast it. If it is just too fast then tighten the tension knob up a little.  As you practice casting the idea is to get your thumb educated enough that you can back off the magnetics some, with the tension control set to just eliminate the side to side play without terrible backlashes of course.  That is when maximum casting distance will be achieved.  I do not own a PQ but I do own two of the Bass Pro special edition Rick Clunn reels. They were made with the same gearing,and double braking set up.  It took a bit of getting used to it, but that is how both of them are setup.  Your rods are good quality rods but you may be trying to cast a bait that is too lite for them. Testing with the 1/2 ounce jig puts the weight of the bait closer to the middle of the spec of the rod. If it casts well you may need to pick up the same rod in a medium to throw that specific lure/jig weight combination. A medium rod in any of the JM series should be 1/4 to 5/8 and the MH spec as 3/8 to 1 oz.

[WIGuide]

Sounds like you fixed your problem. The brakes were probably the hold up. With too many on you won't get jack squat for distance. The DBS system on that reel is designed for the centrifugal brakes to do the most under high spool rpm's so at the beginning of the cast. The magnetic breaking is to feather the end of the cast. Knowing how it works should help you as you dial it back to gain distance. You can start cutting back on the brakes until you start getting a little over-run. Take note as to where it's happening during the cast. You can train your thumb to overcome that, or adjust the brakes accoringly

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

I use mainly the PQ and higher BPS reels on my setups. Never had an issue like that till the last reel I purchased. The guys are right check the reel to see if its packed with grease. The last PQ I bought was smooth and felt good but just didn't seem to get out like my others I have. I opened it up and sure enough it was PACKED. I mean slammed with grease. A little cleaning by local reel guy and flushing and boom right as rain

[chadmack282]

If the reel is 2years old it definately needs to b cleaned internally.  If u send to someone (dvt) to have this service done i would go ahead & upgrade bearings, that will help your distance a little also.