Pencil Pusher

That is not a factory made rod. Fenwick rod builder blanks were yellow, factory made rods were reddish brown in color. I had a custom made fly rod on a "Grizzly" blank back in the 70's. Looking at the wraps, etc. that is definately a custom rod.

Funny you should mention the Lew's. That's what I had my reel mounted on!!

I had one these, or one very similar, that I bought in 1971 or 72 at the Woolco store. It does have a drag and some what of a free spool (the handle does not spin when you cast). Look at picture 1: the drag star is on the outside of the handle. The black button in the middle of the handle (with the screw in the middle) is the "free spool" release. You push it in and the reel is in free spool. I am no expert on the inner workings but looking at the other pictures, I would think that every thing other than the handle is still engaged when casting. There is no picture of the other side of the reel but if it is the same as the one I had, it has a large (about the size of a half dollar or a little bigger) that is the cast control knob. It actually was a pretty good reel in its day; not as good as an ambassadeur but not as costly either.

You locate the reel where you want it on the handle then slide the rings onto the reel foot on each side. The reel and rings won't move while you are fishing. This used to be (long time ago) the standard spinning rod set up. Now, it is only found on ultra light rods.

PM Sent

I looked at the Bass Pro website yesterday and they ae no longer calling this reel a Johnny Morris SIGNATURE reel, it's just the Johnny Morris reel. So, now they show the JM Elite, the JM Signature and the JM reel. BTW, the real JM Signature is on sale for like $134.99 (could be $139, not sure).

I am 99.9% sure that the low profile baitcasters are primarily made by Pinnacle (or whoever makes reels for Pinnacle). The dual braking system is a dead giveaway. I am also fairly certain that the BPS round baitcasters are made by Okuma. The spinning reels are in all likelyhood made by Okuma also.

Some one in Korea.

I live ten minutes from a BPS store, so I check these sales out all the time when I get a flyer in the mail. I was going to jump on this deal. When I got to the store, I compared the on sale JM Signature reel to the "regular" JM Signature reel that was on display: not the same. I looked at the Pfluegars and that is where that comparison comes from. I thought it was probably a prior year's model, so when I got home, I pulled the BPS catalogs for 2005, 2006 and 2007 and looked at the JM Signature reels: none of them were the same as the reels on sale. That's how I drew my conclusion (along with the fact that BPS has a history of doing this). I'm not saying that this reel is no good or that it isn't worth the money, just that it isn't what most people will think it is.

The JM Signature reel that is "on sale" for $79 is not the JM Signature reel that is in any BPS catalog from 2005 to 2008. My opinion after going to BPS and looking at them is that BPS had these reels made to sell for $79 with the JM Signature logo so that an unknowing buyer would think that they are getting a $169 reel for $79. In fact, the left side plate is exactly the same as the Pfluegar Trion plate (not knocking the Trion but it is a $99 reel).

Where do you think LMB lived before the Corps of Engineers, TVA and other agencies started building all the reservoirs that we call "lakes"? Creeks and rivers.

It's Loomis. All G. Loomis authorized retailers sell for the same price.

Sportsman's Warehouse, NOT Bass Pro.

The 6500 has a slightly higher retrieve ratio than the 6000.

"D" series have magnetic brakes, most "C"'s are centrifugal.

$179.99 shipped, then $50 back by mail from Shimano.

The Shimano rebate form specifically states "Retail sales only, no auction sales". This may not be the exact wording but seems to directly point to Ebay sales.

I have the same rod with a Browning Midas reel. My line of choice for this set up is McCoy Mean Green 10 lb.

Let The Wars Begin!!!!!

The only reason any manufacturer, reels, rods, cars, electronics, etc., gives rebates is to move inventory.

Falcon Low Rider LFS-4-1610 Shakey Head Special, about $110.

I bought three reels at the Garland, TX BPS this summer that they price matched the internet sale price with no questions. If someone told me that I had to pay shipping, I would demand to speak to someone a little higher up the food chain.

Here is link to Rebate form. http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/fish/sac/us/en/rebate/rebatepad.html

"Home Office" is in Springfield, not Branson.

Got my info (the latest) from a tackle shop owner on Lake Amisted.