PQ2, The new "best $100 reel"?

[nameiztaken]

Has anyone checked out the new BPS Pro Qualifier 2? I know the original was a hit with the under-100 market. How is this one? Quality wise, better or worse? How does it compare to other reels at the same price point? 

 

[Fun4Me]

I can't imagine it's any better than a Tatula CT for $100 on the Ebay. I imagine it's a good reel though.

[fishnkamp]

BPS PQ2 is not likely going to compare to the Daiwa Tatula CTs. If the old ones were so good they would have never had them on an annual sale. I am sure they copied somebodies work in order to build this new design, but I doubt it is equal to the CTs.

[CTBassin860]

Not with the Tatula CT on the market

[JustinJ]

I'm digging the new fuego ct for 100 bucks

[NYBasser]

Tatula CT or Casitas. Both are awesome reels

[lmbfisherman]

Not saying the Tatula CT isn't  better, probably is...but are you all basing on your experience with the PQ 2?  Or just because it says Daiwa and Shimano on the reel.  I really think you shouldn't make claims unless you used the reel too.

[d-camarena]

^^^ bingo

I have both, i dont see any one better than the other. Both are just average. Although the tatula looks nicer, doesnt mean it fishes nicer. I think diawa really knows how to sell a reel by making it look really nice. 

[CTBassin860]

54 minutes ago, lmbfisherman said:

Not saying the Tatula CT isn't  better, probably is...but are you all basing on your experience with the PQ 2?  Or just because it says Daiwa and Shimano on the reel.  I really think you shouldn't make claims unless you used the reel too.

Let me ask you this.Have you ever used the Tatula CT or the PQ1?

[new2BC4bass]

Never used a PQ.  Although the CT can be had for $100 or less (and the original for $95) you have to remember you are comparing a $130 reel to a $100 reel (list).  It should be a better reel based on list price.  I can say the Tatula is a very nice reel probably worth more than what it sells for.  Some house reels also fish better than their price.  Take the older grey colored Prodigy (made by Daiwa for Cabela's).  A reel I feel was worth more than the $100 asking price.

 

Not a "new" reel, but I'd guess the best $100 reel on the market at the moment is the Diawa Exceler for $37.48 at TW.  Reviews are good for the most part.  No doubt someone fishing hard several days a week would find it not as smooth sometime down the road.  But that is to be expected.

 

As I said, never used a PQ, and at the price I can get a Tatula model, never will.  Admitedly I like Daiwa reels.

 

However.........I would never choose a reel just because it had a Daiwa or Shimano nameplate.  Absolutely love my Primmus Xi HS and Helios Air reels.  These are not reels many on here would even consider owning.

[fishnkamp]

I have fished original PQs, EXtremes, even BPS special edition Ricky Clunn reels for years ( the purple ones). Then I started converting over to Curado Es and Chronarchs. All of my Shimano and most of the BPS reels are gone from my inventory. Their replacement was made due to the major upgrade the 1 Exceler, 4 Tatula Type R reels and the 2 Tatula CTs provided me. MY Exceler, and Type R reels have had several years of hard fishing on them, the CTs one year of use. I do not expect the PQ2 to be much of a competitor in actual use. I have 6 more Extremes I will slowly upgrade from and most of those replacements will be more CTs and CT SVs. Their braking system is just far superior.

Go cast one and then let us know what you think. I will not buy any of Johny's reels, when I can get top of the line stuff from Daiwa.

[lmbfisherman]

3 hours ago, MassBassin508 said:

Let me ask you this.Have you ever used the Tatula CT or the PQ1?

Yes I do have 3 PQ 1s and they are rock solid.  Never fished a CT.  Do you own a PQ 2?  Comparing it to the CT?  I'm trying to understand the relevancy of your question to me.  I don't believe I said one was better than the other.  I just see people making a judgement call without using.

[CTBassin860]

@lmbfisherman The only difference between the PQ1 and 2 is the weight reduction.The PQ2 comes in at 7.3 and the Tat CT at 7.4 which is a wash.Ill take the effortless Magforce-Z braking system over the dual braking system on the PQ all day long.I also love the TW system.Its a no brainer which is the superior reel.Not saying the PQ isnt a good reel,because it is.I am saying its not in the same conversation as the Tat CT for the same price.

[lmbfisherman]

15 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

I have fished original PQs, EXtremes, even BPS special edition Ricky Clunn reels for years ( the purple ones). Then I started converting over to Curado Es and Chronarchs. All of my Shimano and most of the BPS reels are gone from my inventory. Their replacement was made due to the major upgrade the 1 Exceler, 4 Tatula Type R reels and the 2 Tatula CTs provided me. MY Exceler, and Type R reels have had several years of hard fishing on them, the CTs one year of use. I do not expect the PQ2 to be much of a competitor in actual use. I have 6 more Extremes I will slowly upgrade from and most of those replacements will be more CTs and CT SVs. Their braking system is just far superior.

Go cast one and then let us know what you think. I will not buy any of Johny's reels, when I can get top of the line stuff from Daiwa.

Sounds like you have a preference good that it works for you.  But again you are making a claim and assumption that the PQ 2 without using yourself isn't well made or good.  Ironically this reminds me of the Kastking thread in a way.  

[CTBassin860]

2 minutes ago, lmbfisherman said:

Yes I do have 3 PQ 1s and they are rock solid.  Never fished a CT.  Do you own a PQ 2?  Comparing it to the CT?  I'm trying to understand the relevancy of your question to me.  I don't believe I said one was better than the other.  I just see people making a judgement call without using.

Never said you did.What you did do is imply we were basing our claims out of ignorance and not personal experience.We're not all "Daiwa fanboys" on here.

[CTBassin860]

Also how do you see people making "judgement calls" without using? Have you seen any of our setups or are you simply assuming we dont own the reels in question?

[bigturtle]

based on my experience with the previous PQ, I would not be buying the new one if the only thing thats different is the weight. Tatulas have a smoother drag, better brake system and feels more solid in hand when fighting a fish.

[Jason Penn]

2 hours ago, MassBassin508 said:

@lmbfisherman The only difference between the PQ1 and 2 is the weight reduction.The PQ2 comes in at 7.3 and the Tat CT at 7.4 which is a wash.Ill take the effortless Magforce-Z braking system over the dual braking system on the PQ all day long.I also love the TW system.Its a no brainer which is the superior reel.Not saying the PQ isnt a good reel,because it is.I am saying its not in the same conversation as the Tat CT for the same price.

they changed the frame of the reel.  i have the carbonlite 2.0 and it's definitely a smaller reel than the gold carbonlite & pro qualifier tournaments i have.

 

i haven't had any problems with the older cl/pqt. granted i haven't fished them as hard as some probably would.  i haven't used a tatula at all, but i have no doubts they are fine reels.

[CTBassin860]

41 minutes ago, Jason Penn said:

they changed the frame of the reel.  i have the carbonlite 2.0 and it's definitely a smaller reel than the gold carbonlite & pro qualifier tournaments i have.

 

i haven't had any problems with the older cl/pqt. granted i haven't fished them as hard as some probably would.  i haven't used a tatula at all, but i have no doubts they are fine reels.

The smaller frame is the reason for the weight reduction on the PQ2.Nothing else has changed.Same reel,just smaller

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Just like the prior pq the gen2 is a good value at retail and even better on sale. Probably not going to unseat any name brand models from their current spot in the marketplace. 

[CTBassin860]

Its literally called the Pro Qualifier 2.Not sure you can get any more accurate than that.

[fishnkamp]

Bass Pro Shops itself is calling their new reel "The PQ2" right on their website.  It says right in the description that  "it is a smaller framed aluminum housing, and still has the same dual braking with click adjustable magnetics and a 6 pin centrifugal cast control". That is essentially the same system it has had for quite some time.

 

I dislike that cast control as compared to that of the Daiwas. It is the same reason I sold my Curados and Chronarchs. The Shimanos are beloved by many,  just not me!   This is what my fishing experience from using many reels has taught me. I make my comments based on that experience only.  If Bass Pro Shops had said it had an improved cast control, than I would have had to test one for comparison. I could care less about 1 ounce of weight on a reel. I love my original Type Rs and they weigh 7.9 ounces, so that is .6 more than a PQ2. That is irrelevant.   

 

My preference is based strictly upon my experience that has come from actually fishing the braking system that Daiwa developed and uses in all of the different versions of the Tatulas. It is called Magforce Z.  In my opinion, until Johnny Morris has a truly new reel designed (or like always he buys someone out so he can steal their technology) then BPS sell nothing that compares to the Tatula family.  The Daiwa Tatula CT is the least expensive of the Tatula lineup and it shares almost all of the goodies that the more expensive versions offer.  As the price goes up, so do the extras each version offers. Some versions offer a weight reduction and a size reduction, some offer lighter weight "sv" spools and better bearings etc. They all add up to reels I can enjoy fishing with and rely on for years of service. They also offer the ability to easily obtain aftermarket parts to customize them with. This is also an area many Diawa and Shimano users share.

[Chance_Taker4]

I don't understand how you can compare a PQ2 to a Tatula CT. These reels are in two different price points. Yes you can get a CT for $100 on eBay but that is below MSRP. When doing comparisons you must compare in same MSRP price category. To give a PQ a fair comparison it should be against a Fuego CT, Apex Ranger, Orra SX, LFS, Caenen, or Cerros. 

 

Anyway I am excited to try a pq2 I really liked the first gen one.

[Fun4Me]

16 minutes ago, Ohio Bassin said:

I don't understand how you can compare a PQ2 to a Tatula CT.

 

For me, it's because the CT is readily available on the Bay most all of the time. I don't tend to compare reels at MSRP, because I rarely buy reels at MSRP. If I have $100 to spend on a reel, I'm going to look for the best deal.

 

 

[Chance_Taker4]

6 minutes ago, Fun4Me said:

 

For me, it's because the CT is readily available on the Bay most all of the time. I don't tend to compare reels at MSRP, because I rarely buy reels at MSRP. If I have $100 to spend on a reel, I'm going to look for the best deal.

 

 

I understand that, I tend to do the same thing. But the features of a PQ2 are to compete with other $99 reels and Tatula CT features compete with other $129 reels. The consumer wins with getting the Tatula CT for under MSRP. But degrading (not you but the other posts in is topic) a reel because it is in a lower MSRP price point because the other reel has deals on them is unfair and doesn't give a true assessment on reels.