Lew's and Doyo

[dodgeguy]

So a lot of guys don't like Doyo reels for some reason. I have been doing research and found that Rather Outdoors Corporation holds the patent for the ParaMag brakes in the new Elite reel built by Doyo. This would confirm that Lew's has a lot of input on what goes into their models and that they are built to Lew's specs. I've also read that Diawa and Shimano both use parts made by Doyo on some reels.  This would not surprise me at all. It's very common in the automotive field and others. As I've said there are great reels under a lot of brands. I'm an admitted Lew's fan boy but I try not to knock other brands. It's good to see Lew's marketing a super high end reel. Don't know if I will ever afford one but I would like to. Gotta start working on my daughter's for Christmas.

[Woody B]

Use stuff you like.  I'm sure, (just like autos, but probably not quit as much) the major reel makers just assembly reels made from parts that are made by common suppliers.   I don't put much thought into where my reels are made or where the parts come from.  

[dodgeguy]

4 minutes ago, Woody B said:

Use stuff you like.  I'm sure, (just like autos, but probably not quit as much) the major reel makers just assembly reels made from parts that are made by common suppliers.   I don't put much thought into where my reels are made or where the parts come from.  

I do. It's just that there are plenty who knock the brands they don't use.  Quantum reels have great reviews by most who use them. On a lot of forums they get no love. The smoke is supposed to be a good reel.

[Tatulatard]

Make up whatever head canon you need.  We all have our ways of coping with things that bother us.  I would say just don't let it bother you that they are doyo with their name on the outside.  They were owned by bass pro of all companies for years and effectively dead.  It's good that the brand is back selling competent reels.  

[FrnkNsteen]

I don't know that most people dislike doyo reels. I have a bunch of different reels that were probably made by Doyo. I've got Lews, BPS, and Revo reels. Never really cared enough about who makes what reel to investigate which reels are made by who.

 

I think part of the issue some people have with them is that since they contract manufacture so many models for so many different manufacturers that they all kind of blur together. Doesn't mean they are bad,... Just kind if blah. I actually like my Lews Custom SLPs. Tournament MB, and older Pro Qualifiers. 

 

I just like how Daiwa and Shimano kind of set their own path,... Nobody else has the Daiwa brake system or Shimanos DC system. But the truth is even they are starting to blur the lines a bit. The new Zillion looks a LOT like a Shimano... and vice versa.

[PhishLI]

1 minute ago, FrnkNsteen said:

I don't know that most people dislike doyo reels.

Most people don't have a clue who Doyo is. Some people just like to make noises on fishing forums. "I am discriminating, therefore I'd never buy a rebadged... blah blah blah. When others hear those noises they think they should chirp along with them. The pearl clutching is funny to say the least. Pay no attention to any of it, and don't feel dirty or ever apologize in advance for using what you like using. This happens from time to time because of the noisemaker's influence, and it's ridiculous.

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

So a lot of guys don't like Doyo reels for some reason.

Not a lot at all. Read above.

[FrnkNsteen]

4 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Most people don't have a clue who Doyo is. Some people just like to make noises on fishing forums. "I am discriminating, therefore I'd never buy a rebadged... blah blah blah. When others hear those noises they think they should chirp along with them. The pearl clutching is funny to say the least. Pay no attention to any of it, and don't feel dirty or ever apologize in advance for using what you like using. This happens from time to time because of the noisemaker's influence, and it's ridiculous.

Agreed! My point was just that the most common comment I hear is "They are the same as X, Y, or Z brand reels. Between the different 5 or 6 SLP and LFS models. ... I don't dislike any of them.

 

Bottom line,... They all maje good reels. Fish the ones you like!

[ska4fun]

Doyo is able to produce high end reels, on par with Daiwa and Shimano. Most people who complain about Doyo are the same ones who are blind and deaf to Shimano's pathetic gear problems in these past 10 years, like infamous metanium buzz.

Actually some Daiwa reels are made by Doyo, like the CC, CR and CG series.

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, Tatulatard said:

Make up whatever head canon you need.  We all have our ways of coping with things that bother us.  I would say just don't let it bother you that they are doyo with their name on the outside.  They were owned by bass pro of all companies for years and effively dead.  It's good that the brand is back selling competent reels.  

I have never found any proof that Lew's was owned by bass pro shops. 

 

https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/business/2016/12/02/springfield-based-fishing-product-supplier-no-not-bass-pro-acquired-private-equity-firm-lews-fishing/93129532/

 

So Lew's was not owned by bps. It was bought by a bps employee.

[Glenn]

Rather Outdoors owns Lew's, Strike King, Quantum, and Zebco.

[Deleted account]

33 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Rather Outdoors owns Lew's, Strike King, Quantum, and Zebco.

Rather is Lew's and the other outdoor brands, BDT "owns" them.

[dodgeguy]

Who is BDT ?  Found it.

[suzuki2903]

It will be interesting to see how the two new top tier models do and if they are worth the price !  I don’t care who makes the reels for Lews  as long as it works and lasts a good amount of time ! Plus Lews typically has amazing customer service which is a huge bonus! I’ve used it twice and was amazed with them..  my only issue is the price and if they are worth it or not .  I use mostly all Lews rods and all of my spinning setups are Lews as well but baitcaster reels I feel they fall short. I had several pro ti reels and they worked and never gave me any issue but I jumped on the shimano metanium band wagon and instantly bought more and sold all but one pro ti. They are in the same price range but Lews falls short over fit and finish along with ease of setup. Plus they are kinda clunky feeling .  So now that I’ve ruffled some feathers, I’m simply saying I’m hoping these new ones will be up to par for their price. I might give one a try who knows! And yes I have some diawa reels as well as other shimano reels !

[Glenn]

1 hour ago, Deleted account said:

Rather is Lew's and the other outdoor brands, BDT "owns" them.

Close.  Rather owns those brands.  BDT is a merchant bank that partnered with Rather Outdoors to provide investment funds.  BDT does not own Rather Outdoors.  I know, it's confusing.

 

More details: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190605005752/en/Lew’s-Holdings-Corporation-and-BDT-Capital-Partners-Announce-Partnership

 

[dodgeguy]

Thank you Glenn

[Phil77]

I'll wait for someone else to try the Para mag, I've got to have one of the new Pro TI's and a hyperspeed. I've had zero problems with my lews/doyo reels, so I'll continue to buy them.

[Columbia Craw]

Proven products deserve consideration. Unproven products must earn that consideration over time.  It’s pretty simple.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

8 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

I do. It's just that there are plenty who knock the brands they don't use.  Quantum reels have great reviews by most who use them. On a lot of forums they get no love. The smoke is supposed to be a good reel.

No great review from me just no love for the 2 duds I had/have. The Tour S3 sent back Smoke S3 is in its box most likely wont get used again.

[rangerjockey]

When Lynn Reeves left Bass Pro and Started selling rods and reels branded with the Lew's name it caused some bad blood with 'ol Johnny and it took him forever to get the products in BPS.

 When they had their headquarters and tackle store in Springfield Mo. you could walk in and buy a few reels and also come out with a new wardrobe. Not to mention a great tournament rewards program. 

 Now all that is gone with the new ownership. Personally, I think they have a odd way of marketing and release so many reels I don't know how those who like them can keep track. But Really, Lew's never made anything even back in the day when Lew Childre was still alive, Shimano and Ryobi made the reels and I believe Fuji made the rods.

When I fished them I never had a problem with any of them but I no longer own any. 

Just personal preference.

[JMac603]

Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge, 30.06 vs .308, steel frame vs polymer frame...you name it, people argue over it. There's not one aspect of my life that I own something for "the Jones'" to be impressed. My F250 serves a purpose. My 30-30 does me just fine. Tell me how much you hate either of those things or how much they suck and I'll give you a thumbs up and sleep like a baby. 

 

You catch fish with Lews and enjoy doing so? Who cares what the gear geeks have to say. You geek out and like to trick you your Shimano or Daiwa? Who cares what us simpletons have to say? 

 

I couldn't care any less who owns what company and what they produce as long as I don't get a POS for my hard earned money. 

[roadwarrior]

42 minutes ago, JMac603 said:

 I couldn't care any less who owns what company and what they produce as long as I don't get a POS for my hard earned money. 

 

The argument for "brand names", whether it's fishing gear or cereal, is consistency. Reputations

are built over time.

[Tennessee Boy]

15 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

I have been doing research and found that Rather Outdoors Corporation holds the patent for the ParaMag brakes in the new Elite reel built by Doyo. This would confirm that Lew's has a lot of input on what goes into their models and that they are built to Lew's specs.

A patent would suggest that they are doing some of the design work or at at a minimum they are buying design patents.  Can you share what you’ve found?  I was only able to find where they trademarked ParaMag.

[Tatulatard]

13 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

I have never found any proof that Lew's was owned by bass pro shops. 

 

https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/business/2016/12/02/springfield-based-fishing-product-supplier-no-not-bass-pro-acquired-private-equity-firm-lews-fishing/93129532/

 

So Lew's was not owned by bps. It was bought by a bps employee.

It was owned by browning which was owned by bass pro and the brand was dead in the water.  Story goes that the bass pro employee worked with doyo to source bass pro reels and was upset that bass pro was switching to a cheaper chinease oem for their house reels and left the company but managed to take the lews brand as part of the deal and then brought the dead brand back to life using doyo reels.  There was some bad blood between lews and bass pro after this and lews reels were blacklisted by bass pro for some time. 

 

To me its a great story of resurrecting a brand and working to bring the best doyos to the US market.  Some of the early halo reels they had made were pretty cool.  They were taking very good doyo platforms and specing them out to me strongly reminiscent of the origional lews reels with a non instant antireverse cranking reels and reels with a lews medallion on the center of the side plate which i thought was cool.  

 

[rangerjockey]

I don't think Browning ever owned Lew's . The Name was held by Zebco of all people when Reeves and I think one of Lew Childre's sons convinced them to either turn over the brand or sell it.

They had a nice tackle shop in Springfield before the buy out. The good news is some of the guys opened another great tackle shop call Bait Wrx down the road .

Much easier than fighting the tourist madness at BPS.

 

 

 

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, Tatulatard said:

It was owned by browning which was owned by bass pro and the brand was dead in the water.  Story goes that the bass pro employee worked with doyo to source bass pro reels and was upset that bass pro was switching to a cheaper chinease oem for their house reels and left the company but managed to take the lews brand as part of the deal and then brought the dead brand back to life using doyo reels.  There was some bad blood between lews and bass pro after this and lews reels were blacklisted by bass pro for some time. 

 

To me its a great story of resurrecting a brand and working to bring the best doyos to the US market.  Some of the early halo reels they had made were pretty cool.  They were taking very good doyo platforms and specing them out to me strongly reminiscent of the origional lews reels with a non instant antireverse cranking reels and reels with a lews medallion on the center of the side plate which i thought was cool.  

 

No place on a Google search ever shows up that browning purchased Lew's.

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

 

The argument for "brand names", whether it's fishing gear or cereal, is consistency. Reputations

are built over time.

Agree. And Lew's has constantly produced quality reels. When kastking came out people ragged on them also. Now they are producing better and better products from what I see. I never used one so I can't give an intelligent review. I would bet that  a lot of people who knock them haven't used one either.