Lews LFS frame size - BB1 Pro LFS vs Tournament Pro LFS

[badfish79]

Hi guys,

 

I'm looking for a new reel and trying to decide between the new or previous gen BB1 Pro LFS or a new Tournament Pro.

 

I know the BB1s are generally bigger frame-wise, but these newer BB1s have an LFS frame (or so I've read). Anyone know if the BB1 Pro LFS has the same small frame (height off the rod and width) as the other LFS reels? Or is it just smaller for a BB1 compared to the older ones, but not as small as the typical LFS?

 

My current reels are a Tournament MB and a BB1 inshore and they are considerably different in size and palmability for me. The Tournament MB has been my favorite in hand, but is getting a bit geary now and its time for an upgrade.

 

I've been to several shops but none have both in stock for me to do a real life comparison.
Also considering a Shimano 150 sized reel. Anyone with experience know if an SLX XT or Curado 150 compare to a Lews LFS in size?

[dodgeguy]

35 minutes ago, fish_burrito said:

Hi guys,

 

I'm looking for a new reel and trying to decide between the new or previous gen BB1 Pro LFS or a new Tournament Pro.

 

I know the BB1s are generally bigger frame-wise, but these newer BB1s have an LFS frame (or so I've read). Anyone know if the BB1 Pro LFS has the same small frame (height off the rod and width) as the other LFS reels? Or is it just smaller for a BB1 compared to the older ones, but not as small as the typical LFS?

 

My current reels are a Tournament MB and a BB1 inshore and they are considerably different in size and palmability for me. The Tournament MB has been my favorite in hand, but is getting a bit geary now and its time for an upgrade.

 

I've been to several shops but none have both in stock for me to do a real life comparison.
Also considering a Shimano 150 sized reel. Anyone with experience know if an SLX XT or Curado 150 compare to a Lews LFS in size?

It's slightly bigger . I have both. It's not enough to bother me. I bought mine specifically for casting crankbaits far. You can't go wrong with either reel.

[badfish79]

Thanks dodgeguy. When you say its bigger, is that wider or taller? Or both?

 

I really like the idea of having an audible drag clicker. Do you know if the drag washers from the BB1 Pro will fit in other lews reels?

[GReb]

I bought a new model BB1 Pro recently because it was a good deal. I took it apart and the drag stack was very complex compared to Shimano and Daiwa. It really seems unnecessary. The frame is comfortable but noticeably larger than the LFS. It’s roughly the same size as a Curado K

[dodgeguy]

51 minutes ago, fish_burrito said:

Thanks dodgeguy. When you say its bigger, is that wider or taller? Or both?

 

I really like the idea of having an audible drag clicker. Do you know if the drag washers from the BB1 Pro will fit in other lews reels?

It's slightly wider and the front seems slightly higher where the extended line guide is. 

[T-Billy]

I have the new model BB1 and agree with those above size wise. It's feels a bit bigger than the standard LFS but it's very comfortable. It casts a mile and is very smooth.

 I also have an SLX XT. It's more comparable to the Lews SLP frame IMO. It's small and sits very low. I like it alot. I think it's found it's forever home on my 744 Kaden. It was my first modern Shimano purchase. On its second season and still very smooth. Long casting too. I wouldn't purchase another though unless I ran across a really good deal. I'd pony up the extra $$$ for the Curado 150.

[badfish79]

Thanks for the input guys. I've only used Lews baitcasters, even though when I only used spinning gear I was always using Shimano. I guess I should focus more on an SLP frame or give some Shimano's a chance.

[dodgeguy]

47 minutes ago, fish_burrito said:

Thanks for the input guys. I've only used Lews baitcasters, even though when I only used spinning gear I was always using Shimano. I guess I should focus more on an SLP frame or give some Shimano's a chance.

Stick with lews

[badfish79]

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

Stick with lews

 

Up until this year, I was Lews all the way. I have deep cleaned and re-greased this Tournament MB more times this year than any of the other years I've owned it combined, trying to cure the geariness. I'm gonna give it one more shot with a professional in hopes that I can stay happy with it. If I can't get it back to the smooth reeling feeling its held for years, its gonna get shelved as a backup. My BB1 is still smooth as butter thankfully, but I use it less than half as much as the Tournament MB.

 

Unless I can get a hold of a Custom Pro SLP for a discount, I might wander off to Shimano land out of curiousity. Might give a Tranx 150 or SLX XT a shot. I need a small frame saltwater capable reel, and I hear enough about Curado corrosion issues when used in saltwater, that I dont want to drop that much money for one.

[dodgeguy]

Is it still in warranty? Maybe Lew's will send you the main and pinion gears if you call them.

[the reel ess]

Someone on here recommended the Daiwa Fuego to me for a $100 reel. I bought one and didn't care for it. I mean it works but it's noisy. So the next $100 reel I bought was a Lew's LFS. It was so much better than the Fuego I bought another LFS. I've also owned 3 Tournament MBs and I'm still using 2 of them. Lew's is some good stuff.

[Phil77]

If you fish salt water then the tranx is the way to go, I doubt the lews reels you mentioned are any good in salt. Are you flushing and re lubricating your bearings? I have the older MB reels that don't have P2 support and they are still smooth as when I bought them. I don't have the new bb1 but it looks like a pretty good all around reel with more line capacity than the lfs and tourney pro, it's cheaper than the pro and has the ACB system so I would go with that given the reels you listed.

[Re335]

2 hours ago, fish_burrito said:

 

Up until this year, I was Lews all the way. I have deep cleaned and re-greased this Tournament MB more times this year than any of the other years I've owned it combined, trying to cure the geariness. I'm gonna give it one more shot with a professional in hopes that I can stay happy with it. If I can't get it back to the smooth reeling feeling its held for years, its gonna get shelved as a backup. My BB1 is still smooth as butter thankfully, but I use it less than half as much as the Tournament MB.

 

Unless I can get a hold of a Custom Pro SLP for a discount, I might wander off to Shimano land out of curiousity. Might give a Tranx 150 or SLX XT a shot. I need a small frame saltwater capable reel, and I hear enough about Curado corrosion issues when used in saltwater, that I dont want to drop that much money for one.

 

I recently purchased and returned 2 Custom Pro SLP's. Both were extremely clunky to crank out of the box to say the least. After returning those I went to Dicks to try one out there and both the ones they in stock had the same issues.

I was extremely disappointed as I own two Tournament Pro G's from 2016 and two Pro Magnesium's from 2017, all 4 are running smooth as butter after years of use. I winded up trying a JDM Metanium and a Scorpion DC instead, so far I've been very impressed with their quality / smoothness.

I might give Lew's another shot down the road but man the lack of quality in those Custom Pro's left a bad taste in my mouth.

[badfish79]

19 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

Is it still in warranty? Maybe Lew's will send you the main and pinion gears if you call them.

I bought it back in 2015 or 2016. I would be surprised if it was still under warranty.

[dodgeguy]

22 hours ago, the reel ess said:

Someone on here recommended the Daiwa Fuego to me for a $100 reel. I bought one and didn't care for it. I mean it works but it's noisy. So the next $100 reel I bought was a Lew's LFS. It was so much better than the Fuego I bought another LFS. I've also owned 3 Tournament MBs and I'm still using 2 of them. Lew's is some good stuff.

Call them maybe they will send you both gears or sell them to you cheap.