chelboed

As a bank fisherman...I need a good versatile rig. I don't have the luxury of going out and bringing the variety of shorelines to me...I have to move to the fish. So I have a good versatile rig for everything. I have another good versatile rig for windy days with more brake options. My next thought process is that of summer on into fall when crankbaits are getting it done. I will be looking for a good versatile crankbait rig...like a BB-1 Pro on a 7' Medium moderate rod. So I approach it as a need that gets filled. That said...I also have a beautiful reel sitting in a box. I get it out and play now and then but it will mostly live in the box because it's pretty.

They should call those Pixar's. And I want one.

Those are Team Pro, Team Red, and Team LITE.The old one on top is a BB1 LMG

Best kind.

Hahaha...didn't I just say that?

I thought maybe Lew's marketing was just trying to split the gap and create new gear ratio standards, but I'm happy I was wrong: The new LFS platform is physically smaller than before. It palms better. The smaller profile called for a slightly smaller spool thus decreasing your IPT. To combat this, they increased the gear ratios from 6.4 to 6.8 & 7.1 to 7.3. The previous reels were: 6.4 28" / 7.1 31" LFS: 6.8 28" / 7.5 31" Also, the forward line guide on the BB-1 Pro is now standard on LFS reels. The longer distance reduces friction and increases casting distance. The lower profile also brings the line down more in line with the stripper guide. Even the bare bones Speed Spool ($99) has audible click star drag. Lew's Speed Spools - Lighter Faster Stronger

Independence MO had a ton of PQ's still at 4:00 Saturday

Ahh...cool to know. But I guess really doesn't change the purpose of the statement. Why have the SS if you have a Pixy? Or why have an alphas if you have an SS? Or any combination of the question really. My opinion is...I love having choices. If they made a Team and Pro available at the same time, I still wouldn't mind having both. My 6'6" M feels incredible with my 5.7 oz reel...but my 7' MH is slightly more nose-down. But with my 7 oz reel on it...it feels all balanced out again. So in some cases, I like heavier, some cases I want lighter. Sometimes I like red, sometimes I like gold. Whatever pushes the sport to the next productive level works for me.

I was at the pre sale event with food, prizes, etc... The only thing that was not available at the pre event was the $49 PQ. They said that they were going to go fast and when they were out of stock...that's it. Which makes me think they are going to change that model next year.

Thinking back about this post...Daiwa does this with their finesse reels. The Pixy, Alphas, ss air 8.1 Pixy SPR. There's not a huge difference between these. They already had the Pixy, yet the decided to make the Alphas and SPR...and still keep the Pixy. Life is choices, I suppose.

I wondered about that

What do you think about this rod compared to something like a Bucoo Micro or Tournament SL Speed Stick?

$69!????!!!!#####

Wow, palming is so much easier now days!

I read about Academy blowing out the Team Lew's prior to discontinuing it... in-store $129 Man I wish I would have been there for that. The price tag on mine says $249.99 but I got a good eBay deal on that and my Pro.

Only 2 at a time as far as I can tell. I think the Team came by itself. Gold replaced it. Then possibly the Pro was offered toward the end of the gold's availability. I imagine the overlap occurred due to getting rid of the supply of previous models. The $300 pro rendered the $280 Gold obsolete basically because it's the same reel but lighter. Why not pay $20 more to drop an oz with an all-metal reel, right?

Good catch, Grantman. I'll add that above. Delco: I'll know tomorrow, hahaha. It's on the way.

This is going to be an informational thread containing data on the Team Lew's genre of baitcasting reels. I am only writing this because of the lack of comprehensive data on the .net in one single location. I had to look in multiple places for information on these reels prior to buying mine. If any of the data is in question, let me know. I'm just hoping that when people see a NOS Team reel for sale, Google will take them here for comprehensive data. The Reels: Team Lew's (2010/2011?) Team Lew's Gold (2012) Team Lew's Pro (2013) Team Lew's Pro Z (2014) Similarities: -All 3 lines have metal frame AND side plates with shiny titanium deposition finish. -All 3 are 10+1 bearing reels. (4x handle, 3x spool, 2x levelwind, 1x drive shaft, 1x instant anti-reverse roller on the drive shaft) -All 3 utilize dual cast control "MSB" (Multi Setting Brake) with a 4-position on/off centrifugal and variable magnetic brake. -They all have carbon fiber handles though the original Pro was 80mm. The newer "Z" labeled Pro is 85mm. (Grantman85) -All available in 6.4 & 7.1 gear ratios. -Same capacity 120/12 -All have Duralumin gears, worm, spool and crank shaft. Differences: -Drag: the Team and Team Gold were offered in 14# drag. The Team Pro was 10# drag until the newly released Pro Z version with the "Z" indication on the model number. (Ex: TLP1H vs TLP1HZ) They are now 14#. -Handle Knobs: though they all share a carbon fiber handle, the Team & Team Gold are spec'd with Lew's Rubberized paddle knobs while the Team Pro use EVA foam. The Pro and Pro Z can be quickly identified by the name on the palming plate and the side plate release. The original Team Pro (as labeled on the side plate) had an older style screw-in palming plate retainer. The new Pro Z (also labeled on the side plate) has a quick release "pull-button". -Color: What looks obvious at first, becomes confusing if you have to shop on the web like me. Depending on the website image you see, there are several pictures floating around out there of the Team Gold with inconsistent representation of the appearance of the reel. Some images make the reel appear a creamy-grey color, while others are shiny titanium. The creamy grey color is an illusion due to reflection in the picture. See below: I have some pictures of my Team that make the thing look like bright silver chrome...but it's just reflecting all of the light above it. My Dad came over today and I threw this one on a Speed Stick so he could palm it. Before he left, he asked "Where is that silver reel you sent me a picture of?" Hahaha...the finish is so smooth and shiny that it reflects the Heck out of the white sky, but the Team is really a neutral gloss titanium finish. See below: Looks a little more "Ti" here: Here's the Team next to the Pro...without a ton of ambient light to skew the image: The Team Pro looks most like black chrome to me. The Team is more of a super shiny titanium. The Team Pro and Team Gold have gold accents and the Team is dressed up with red anodization. There is a random picture floating around of the Team Pro that eludes me. (generally an eBay image) The non-drive side plate just reads: "Team Lew's" with no Pro / Gold designation, yet it's accentuated in gold. The star drag is ported on the arms. The spool appears to be silver and gold instead of black with gold lines. It almost looks like a Team Lew's Gold with some aftermarket EVA knobs photoshopped on. If you zoom the image, is obvious that the knobs are Photoshop hacked. They look like BPS knobs. I have asked around about this pic, but really gotten nowhere. See pic below: -Weight: All 3 reels differ in weight, though the Pro is by far the lightest. Team: 7.1oz Team Gold: 7oz Team Pro: 5.9 oz Team Pro Z: 6.1oz Pricing: As far as I can tell, MSRP on the 3 reels was: Team-$249 Team Gold-$279 Team Pro-$299 At the time I'm writing this (1/2015) Team availability is nearly gone. Occasionally one will pop up in the $150 range on auction sites. Gold reels have been discontinued, but new ones are readily available for $200-220. Original Pro reels are scarce, but can be found occasionally for the low-to-mid $200's. The Pro Z is available anywhere from the upper $200's to $300. (Crazy deals can be found, but not often) Regarding "MSB": I asked the tackle shop in Springfield associated with Lew's about the new ACB reels versus MSB. ACB is the 27 position centrifugal cast control versus the aforementioned ACB with on/off centrifugal plus magnetic. Obviously, magnetic is mid to end cast control whereas centrifugal is beginning to mid cast control. The reply I received was very helpful: "The dual cast control is more forgiving and will cast better in adverse conditions. The externally adjustable centrifugal system will cast farther." No matter which one you end up with, they are smooth as silk on the retrieve and cast well with little effort. I prefer the MSB for casting light baits especially in the wind. Little bitty weightless 4" Senko's, Mepp's 1&2, and 1/10oz Ned Rig's are actually pretty doable with this setup. The Rat-L-Traps, Spinners, Tx Rig 5-6" Senko's, etc...cast a country-mile with the ACB setup. Compared to the new (at this point) Team Lew's LITE, the Team Lew's, Team Lew's Gold, Team Lew's Pro, and even the Tournament Pro still have a place in my arsenal. I actually have all 4 Team Models including the LITE, and love them all. It really just depends on where/what I'm fishing as to which one I prefer. To be continued...

I get that...and it's a great reel for the blue collar fisherman like myself...but if 8+ is going to be the new candy...why only offer it in the SD and MB? Conversely, if 8+ really doesn't matter and it's just preying on the "faster is better mindset"...maybe that's why they offer it in the MB instead of the Pro. Maybe the Pro's actually know that 7.5 is plenty fast enough and 8 is overkill and does more harm than good. I don't know that there is any real wrong answer to the question...just perspectives. It's just an odd pair to be the only 2 in the lineup for 8+ ratio's. You'd think they'd offer it in the Pro or the Team LITE as well. Side note: What do you think component wise is better in the Tourney Pro over the MB besides the obvious. (handle, levelwind bearing, spool, gears) Are any of the other internals different? Drag? Yolk? etc? Also...if the MB has brass gears and aluminum handle...and the Tourney Pro has Duralumin gears and carbon handle...why are they both 6.7oz? New LFS format on the MB, I suppose.

I would hold out. I'll bet next year they make a TPro in 8+

Lew's has 2 new hyper speed reels this year...the Super Duty in 8:1 and Tournament MB in 8.3:1. Looking at the tournament bass fishing industry from the outside-in as a bank fisherman...I see the Tournament guys needing a product...the wannabe tournament guy's using the same product because that's what the big boys are using...and marketing a product to the hoardes of small time guys because that's where the money is. So what's up with the Tournament MB? Who is it designed to please? I hear most of the house boys are switching to the Team Lite for the next tourney season. 7.5:1 is plenty for pitching and flipping. Heavy cover pitching and flipping will be no doubt handled by the Super Duty in 8:1. So why make the MB in 8.3...and why not also make the Tourney Pro in 8.3? Thoughts?

Detour: are ceramic bearings noisier? (I heard they are)

Funny how people are saying you can find "X" reel for $130 and "X" for $100 on eBay and they are better reels...but fail to mention that you can get a Speed Spool for 1/2 to 1/3 that cost. And the $130 Lews that you can find in eBay will blow the doors off "X" reels, haha. Not to start anything...just being fair. Heck man...I got a brand new in box Team Pro for $150. That will blow the spool right out of a most $150 reels. (IMO of course)

1- lower start up inertia I can buy if you're casting light lures...but above 1/4 oz...I'm less likely to bite. FFF: I would think you would have more consistent casts with your magnet than your thumb. Thumb-draggers would be difficult to be perfectly consistent even if only due to varied outside shape of your lines spool due to line overlap. (Not being argumentative at all...just discussing the engineering of it all) So how bout raw data. How many yards can I expect out of super zoot bearings? (This is a good topic, I'm diggin' it)

I would think the best place to increase casting performance would be longer spool to levelwind distance (BB-1), T-wing, KR Concept...or maybe line type.