rangerjockey

Sorry he worked for BPS . The lew's brand wasn't being used until Reeves left BPS and got the rights to use it. I'm sure he already had all the contacts overseas.

Lynn Reeves was a reel designer for BPS before he started the Lew's resurrection.

I remember my Dad and his buddies fishing the original Lew's reel back in the day. They were marketed as low profile and I guess compared to the Abu's they were. I may still have one in the man cave but they are a brick by todays standards. I broke one out to use as a crankbait reel about 10 years ago and put it right back.

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.

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.

If you are looking at the medium cranker just be advised it's a pretty soft rod. I have the older version when they were actually green in color . It's a great Wiggle Wart / RK crawler rod and I also throw 1.5 squarebills and Bandit 200's on it. I wouldn't try something like a 5XD or Deep Little N on it.

Yes It would... I'm just not that mad at 'em.

If you want the Falcon actions in a American made rod check out Virtus. They are made by Ark Rod. I have 2 and have been really pleased, But I don't know if they will ever be interested in getting into the $ 100 price point.. At least not yet. They start at 200 and go to 290.

No Stretch and yes , It casts really well. I throw the WP a lot around flooded bushes in the spring. I just reel into them and don't stop turning the crank until they are in the boat. To me, the old pulling the hooks out deal gets repeated over and over and maybe had some truth back in the day. With the hooks today I don't agree with it. Also. it floats so well it makes a so so running wake bait like the Red Fin better. I personally have gone to the Costal Camo color . I like the looks of it in the clear water here on Table Rock.

30lb Braid no leader for the 90 and 110 .

Rick, Yes I own the Finesse jig rod in the red Diamond series. I think it's a little more crisp than the T7 . It's a great rod. And with mono it's a nice topwater rod also , A little tight with braid. My guess is that Ark Rod still had the mandrels for the Cara's when they made them at their shop. Virtus was started by a couple guys on Bull Shoals . Now Jewell is handling the distribution. There are dealers all over the Ozarks and I see now Tackle Warehouse. They have James Watson working with them now and I'm certain he will have a couple signature rods, a spoon rod and a buzzbait rod that I know of.

I think some of Falcon's actions have kind of evolved over the years. The finesse jig came about because the Eakins boys were looking for a rod to fish their signature Jewell 5/16 ball head jigs on Table Rock and the Ozarks in general. In Fact, it was called the Eakins jig rod when Falcon first released it. Alot of folks including some at Falcon thought the rod was too soft but I think folks tried to do more with it than it was designed to do. It made a great squarebill rod though. Falcon tightened it up and it became the finesse jig rod . The Head Turner was designed to be a short flippin rod. I always liked it to pitch jigs and worms in flooded bushes and around docks. It's gotten popular as a moving bait rod also . I personally think it's a bit too short for a Chatterbait rod . Anyone who likes Falcon should check out the new Virtus rods . Made in Harrison AR. in the same place the made in USA Falcons were and the models mimic many of the old Falcons. The first 2 models I saw was the Finesse jig and Wiggle wart rods. No surprise around here

Spook., Sammy ,Vixen, Repo Man.

I'd go with the Amistad.

I don't think your never going see anywhere near 10 feet of stretch in actual fishing. Maybe if you had 100 ft of line tied to a fixed object instead of a fishes mouth and pulled on it with something with no bend instead of a fishing rod you'd see some. I don't think Tatsu stretches much at all , Maybe you just had a bad day with it. I can tell you that I fish Football Jigs and spoons 40 plus feet deep here. If one gets hung up and I get over the top of it with the boat and try to pull it loose there's no way I can stretch it 4ft. That's with 12lb. Shooter

Probably the club level would be the place to start. There used to be a few options. Back in the day we had the Central Pro Am but now the team derbies are a partner deal. You could always fish the Ozark division of the BFL's.

I use Carolina keepers rather than the swivel/leader deal. Straight 14 lb. Flouro.

For the slab spoons and Dixie Jet flutter spoons I use a finesse jig rod. It's easier to flip in the docks and not hit the roof , railing ect. Off Shore like that Talon Spoon I would go with a longer heavier rod.

I've seen them sold at Boat shows. I'm sure it's a decent rod and Billy has been around a while. He's had All Star was involved in Castaway and I'm sure others. When you have rods in that price range your up against some stiff competition, but the most important thing is that you like it.

It's a popular deal around here. I don't fish them out deep much other than when I can see them suspended in tree tops but I love to flip them in docks. They will get into the stalls and lifts and under the walkways once the sun gets up in the summer. I like the War Eagle 3/4 oz and Dixie jet slab spoons the Dixie jet flutter spoon and the R2S James Watson spoon. The Watson spoon falls away from the flip and makes it great to get back under the boat lifts. If the spoon has a swivel I usually cut it off. You have to cut the line back fairly often because of the line twist but I think the fish like to see it spin.

So, you are saying 100 + Brownies and none under 3 pounds? If you can replicate that you could make a fortune guiding on Bull Shoals.

The name of the box in front of Ol' Bill in that pic escapes me. But they, along with the possum belly Umco's were what most guys used. Of course, bass boats didn't have the storage like today so they needed a suitcase. Today I'd buy a soft side and 3700's.

Well, In that price range the Z Bone in the LMH is sweet. I kinda think it's overkill for a moving bait and I personally use a blended blank but none the less the Z bone is about as good as it's going to get.

The Amistad has always been one of my favorite Falcons. I have both the T7 and the newer, made offshore models and really can't tell much difference. I think 3/4 might be pushing it but for up to 5/8 oz. jigs, 5 inch paddle tails ,spinnerbaits ect. it's a super versatile rod. Falcon's in general fish a touch more moderate . Virtus also makes a version of the Amistad. They are made where the USA falcon's were in Harrison AR. I have their version of the finesse jig or, as it was called back in the day Eakins rod. Super build quality and the blank is plenty sensitive .

After 40 years of fishing stickbaits I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter much. Back in the day we fished them on the old salt water Trilene. Whatever suits your style. KVD fishes a stickbait faster than anyone I've ever seen so the bait isn't sitting still long enough for the flouro to pull the nose down. For whatever it's worth, the guy who is known for being one of, if not the best stickbait fisherman around here and a heck of a guide in the Table Rock/ Bull Shoals area throws them on 10lb. Invisx. The light flouro deal got started in a effort to get the 110's deeper. Now with the +1 and +2 ect. there's no need to take the chance IMHO.