Looking for new baitcasting reel

[dodgeguy]

Sportsmans Outfitters has the lowest prices I've seen on Lews. Service is awesome.free shipping and no tax.

[Eric 26]

11 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Unabashed self-promotion.  

 

I have a such-a-deal Lew's Tournament Pro in the Flea Market classifieds that's begging for a fair offer.  

 

If I was in the market for another reel I’d jump on this offer. I’m really having a hard time holding the bait monkey back ?

[WRB]

12 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Unabashed self-promotion.  

 

I have a such-a-deal Lew's Tournament Pro in the Flea Market classifieds that's begging for a fair offer.  

 

$135 is a good deal!

Tom

[bulldog1935]

56 minutes ago, WRB said:

$135 is a good deal!

Tom

Thanks Tom - someone else figured this out, and it sold...

 

[PressuredFishing]

2 hours ago, CrankFate said:

I specifically have modern rods with all metal guides for my father to use. He will break any other material in about 10 minutes. They fish all braid. Never had a problem.

lol, yeah those zinc oxide or ceramic due crack and break easily, maybe braid has come quite a long ways and is alot smoother, I just remember it cutting through my guides of my favorite rod like a saw but when it first came out, never used braid sense

[JustJames]

On 6/11/2021 at 1:56 PM, Socalfishier said:

yeah,  I have personally never owned a shimano but I have a tatula and it is smoother than my abu garcia. Id say im really just looking for something super durable, and something that wont slip on harder hooksets.

If you never own a Shimano, you should give it a try. You might like centrifugal brake from Shimano more than mag force. The SLX XT 4 bearing, 115-129 bucks. Smaller than Tatula, more comfortable at least for me to palm. Once dial in it will cast a long way, may I say better than Tatula? I think SLX come with felt drag but you can upgrade to carbon tech for not much more. To me though the felt drag is enough, I’m not worry about drag slip, I’d rather it slip than broke off on hook set. If you want solid hook set and you know you line can handle it, use your thumb.

If you notice from this video, I used my thumb all those hook set because I use 12lb Izorline, and didn’t want those bass to run into cover. I use SLX along side my Bantam just fine. Btw in case you wondering, those were 4” Senko.

 

[WRB]

5 hours ago, CrankFate said:

I specifically have modern rods with all metal guides for my father to use. He will break any other material in about 10 minutes. They fish all braid. Never had a problem.

The frame maybe SST but the guide rings are not. Most guides today for fresh water use SIC ( silicone carbide) guide rings, are usually titanium oxide coated to be compatible with braids.

Tom

[new2BC4bass]

Here is a $180 reel for $100.  Soon as I post this I am headed back downstairs to finish spooling mine up with some 14# Sniper on my new Falcon Expert Amistad. Hopefully I can post the link.

 

https://vandamwarehouse.com/kvd-smoke-s3-pt-baitcast-reels-by-quantum/

 

EDIT:  Got out with the reel for a few minutes today at the river boat ramp where I usually go to try out new gear.  I did not set up the reel as I usually do.  Instead I followed the instructions that came with it.  Glad I did.  Pretty sure I would have badly backlashed my first cast had I set spool tension the way I normally do.  Left outer dial at the 10 it came set at.  Another good decision.

 

Reel seems very smooth while cranking.  Didn't hear any noise either.  Did forget to put my hearing aid in this morning.    I'm thinking the reel may need cleaning.  Used it directly from box.  Disengaging the spool was not consistent while holding the rod at 45 degrees.  Sometimes the lure dropped immediately.  Sometimes it didn't move without shaking the rod tip.

 

Normally I use a spinnerbait for testing so I don't lose lures for no reason.  This time I used a 1 oz. Bass Stalker jig.  Weighed .85 oz.  What??!! 

 

Reel worked perfect as set up.  Hopefully with time I will be lowering either/or/and spool tension and brakes.  Not apples to apples as already stated I normally use a spinnerbait while testing.  I expected casting distance to be greater with the jig.  It was (by several yards) and I wasn't trying for max distance since this was the first time I've been out in a few months due to health issues.

 

Only used it for a few minutes, but am pleased with my purchase so far.  Looking forward to spending more time on the water with it.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said:

https://vandamwarehouse.com/kvd-smoke-s3-pt-baitcast-reels-by-quantum/

great business 

[MyKeyBe]

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Here is a $180 reel for $100.  Soon as I post this I am headed back downstairs to finish spooling mine up with some 14# Sniper on my new Falcon Expert Amistad. Hopefully I can post the link.

 

https://vandamwarehouse.com/kvd-smoke-s3-pt-baitcast-reels-by-quantum/

 

I just bought another one last night. Great reel for a hundred bones. 5 year warranty too.

[PressuredFishing]

5 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Here is a $180 reel for $100.  Soon as I post this I am headed back downstairs to finish spooling mine up with some 14# Sniper on my new Falcon Expert Amistad. Hopefully I can post the link.

 

https://vandamwarehouse.com/kvd-smoke-s3-pt-baitcast-reels-by-quantum/

 

oh didnt think of this reel, ill look into it! thankyou!

18 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

If you never own a Shimano, you should give it a try. You might like centrifugal brake from Shimano more than mag force. The SLX XT 4 bearing, 115-129 bucks. Smaller than Tatula, more comfortable at least for me to palm. Once dial in it will cast a long way, may I say better than Tatula? I think SLX come with felt drag but you can upgrade to carbon tech for not much more. To me though the felt drag is enough, I’m not worry about drag slip, I’d rather it slip than broke off on hook set. If you want solid hook set and you know you line can handle it, use your thumb.

If you notice from this video, I used my thumb all those hook set because I use 12lb Izorline, and didn’t want those bass to run into cover. I use SLX along side my Bantam just fine. Btw in case you wondering, those were 4” Senko.

 

Wow this is truly great information for me, and the video showed off the real really nicely. the shimano SLX is definitely a contender for sure, and I do love centrifugal  breaks a lot, its nice that shimano throws them in on their 100 dollar reel. the SLX XT is probably the one I would get over the normal because you can dial those centrifugal breaks in even more for only 30 bucks. the SLX actually sounds way smoother than my reel, I think  one of my ABU's bearings are shot, and I have cleaned them really well.  One final question if you don't mind is, how long have you had it, and how is the durability?

18 hours ago, WRB said:

The frame maybe SST but the guide rings are not. Most guides today for fresh water use SIC ( silicone carbide) guide rings, are usually titanium oxide coated to be compatible with braids.

Tom

which ones do you perfer? I have stainless steel on a rod I love that is older, but I feel like the SIC hold up better to braid and are more durability to line wear. I personally like the stainless steel rod guides because they are usually cheaper than the SIC guides, and im really hard on rods and break em alot so I buy $50 dollar rods alot

[WRB]

10 minutes ago, Socalfishier said:

oh didnt think of this reel, ill look into it! thankyou!

Wow this is truly great information for me, and the video showed off the real really nicely. the shimano SLX is definitely a contender for sure, and I do love centrifugal  breaks a lot, its nice that shimano throws them in on their 100 dollar reel. the SLX XT is probably the one I would get over the normal because you can dial those centrifugal breaks in even more for only 30 bucks. the SLX actually sounds way smoother than my reel, I think  one of my ABU's bearings are shot, and I have cleaned them really well.  One final question if you don't mind is, how long have you had it, and how is the durability?

which ones do you perfer? I have stainless steel on a rod I love that is older, but I feel like the SIC hold up better to braid and are more durability to line wear. I personally like the stainless steel rod guides because they are usually cheaper than the SIC guides, and im really hard on rods and break em alot so I buy $50 dollar rods alot

Don’t use braid!

Tom

[PressuredFishing]

Just now, WRB said:

Don’t use braid!

Tom

yes yes lol, I sadly learned the hard way and it cut through like a saw

[JustJames]

I had mine about two years fish it hard, jig, topwater, chatterbait you name it. I use SLX more than bantam and it still works flawlessly. 

[PressuredFishing]

Just now, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I had mine about two years fish it hard, jig, topwater, chatterbait you name it. I use SLX more than bantam and it still works flawlessly. 

nice! thats awesome to hear about the durability, I do fish quite alot so this is nice to hear!

[Luke Barnes]

I own two Lews Speed Spool LFS and one Shimano SLX XT. I like them both but the LFS gets my vote obviously, since I have two. But both are very nice. I use the SLX XT for frogging and its an 8.2-1 and loaded with 60lb braid so it's hard to compare side by side because of the braid being kinda rough, but its still smooth, strong, just cant tell if its quiet haha. Either is a great reel. Do you like mag break or centrifugal brakeS? Thats a big difference between them. 

[PressuredFishing]

3 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I own two Lews Speed Spool LFS and one Shimano SLX XT. I like them both but the LFS gets my vote obviously, since I have two. But both are very nice. I use the SLX XT for frogging and its an 8.2-1 and loaded with 60lb braid so it's hard to compare side by side because of the braid being kinda rough, but its still smooth, strong, just cant tell if its quiet haha. Either is a great reel. Do you like mag break or centrifugal brakeS? Thats a big difference between them. 

I have fished both and  I love both, to be honest the only thing I dont like about some cintrifugal breaks is you have to open the sideplate sometimes on the water. but I feel like I get better castability with cintrifugal as well. I think both are good breaking systems and I would think of both as equal.

[Axle]

I think all the big names sell a good solid reel for around the $100 price point. The big differences come down to the style of brakes and how they feel in your hands.  I would recommend holding them in the store if you can, because they all feel a little different. The Lews lfs feels a little smaller to me then the shimano slx, which feels a little smaller then the diawa tatula/fuego. 
 

I like the mag force brakes on the Daiwas. They are easy to use and pretty forgiving. 

[PressuredFishing]

1 hour ago, Axle said:

I think all the big names sell a good solid reel for around the $100 price point. The big differences come down to the style of brakes and how they feel in your hands.  I would recommend holding them in the store if you can, because they all feel a little different. The Lews lfs feels a little smaller to me then the shimano slx, which feels a little smaller then the diawa tatula/fuego. 
 

I like the mag force brakes on the Daiwas. They are easy to use and pretty forgiving. 

yeah I really should go to a bass pro and hold them and test them in my hand, do you think with COVID they will let you hold them and try them out? I would love to feel the differences

[Axle]

They have reels out like usual at my local Cabelas-but your store may be different 

[PressuredFishing]

11 minutes ago, Axle said:

They have reels out like usual at my local Cabelas-but your store may be different 

oh okay, I live in california so they are kind of getting ridiculous about this covid stuff but I will have to check, I am two hours away from the nearest one but will have to see

[Luke Barnes]

3 hours ago, Socalfishier said:

I have fished both and  I love both, to be honest the only thing I dont like about some cintrifugal breaks is you have to open the sideplate sometimes on the water. but I feel like I get better castability with cintrifugal as well. I think both are good breaking systems and I would think of both as equal.

Which is true. I have the SLX XT so it has four brake pins and then the SVS brake system where the regular SLX has six brake pins and no svs. So they are a different animal too, but i like that I can get the brakes dialed and adjust the SVS system externally on a dial. Which when I took the side plate off its like a brass collar that goes around the spool shaft it looks like. 

 

But I still like Lews brakes because I have them dialed to the point I dont need to feather the spool with my thumb and can just fling it. 

[bulldog1935]

18 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I own two Lews Speed Spool LFS and one Shimano SLX XT. I like them both but the LFS gets my vote obviously, since I have two. But both are very nice. I use the SLX XT for frogging and its an 8.2-1 and loaded with 60lb braid so it's hard to compare side by side because of the braid being kinda rough, but its still smooth, strong, just cant tell if its quiet haha. Either is a great reel. Do you like mag break or centrifugal brakeS? Thats a big difference between them. 

 

I can tell you with Lew's centrifugal brake, they work best with heavy lures, and Lew's mag brake works much better with light lures.  The mag brake gives better distance and wind control.  Big spool capacity, linear mag brake - seems like it should go against it, but Super Duty astounds with cast distance and wind control - even 1/8 oz jigheads.  

The centrifugal brake is extremely reliable, but it costs distance.  

 

  

 

The only bait reels I own in pairs are Lew's Super Duty (mag), Daiwa SV TW, and Abu CT customs (centrifugal + fixed mag).  With 1/4 oz and more, the CTs out-distance everything, and they're supposed to...

[desmobob]

 

 

I'm glad to have a good number of the older Lew's Tournament Pros that have both centrifugal and magnetic brakes.  I haven't fished one of the newer ones...

 

I've always thought my Lew's BB1 might be my longest-casting reel.

[PressuredFishing]

3 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

Which is true. I have the SLX XT so it has four brake pins and then the SVS brake system where the regular SLX has six brake pins and no svs. So they are a different animal too, but i like that I can get the brakes dialed and adjust the SVS system externally on a dial. Which when I took the side plate off its like a brass collar that goes around the spool shaft it looks like. 

 

But I still like Lews brakes because I have them dialed to the point I dont need to feather the spool with my thumb and can just fling it. 

Ah yes, I think I would get the XT as well over the slx because I do like svs more as you can get it fine tuned and more options for adjustment on different baits

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

I can tell you with Lew's centrifugal brake, they work best with heavy lures, and Lew's mag brake works much better with light lures.  The mag brake gives better distance and wind control.  Big spool capacity, linear mag brake- seems like it should go against it, but Super Duty astounds with cast distance and wind control.  

The centrifugal brake is extremely reliable, but it costs distance.  

 

  

 

The only bait reels I own in pairs are Lew's Super Duty (mag), Daiwa SV TW, and Abu CT customs (centrifugal + fixed mag).  With 1/4 oz and more, the CTs out-distance everything, and they're supposed to...

This is good information for me, I do like throwing lighter lures so it's something to think about 

On 6/11/2021 at 5:29 PM, dodgeguy said:

Sportsmans Outfitters has the lowest prices I've seen on Lews. Service is awesome.free shipping and no tax.

Will check them out thanks ?