chelboed

I've been chasing this since I was 14, so I decided to make my first Toad Status fish anglers award hang in style. Award, pics, actual lure hook and knot, & reel. Funny...I only fished that reel around a half dozen times...nonetheless, it's retired.

My experience with the standard Ned set-up is poor. Too many sticks and snags here. If I'm dropping a small jig/worm in the water, it has to be weedless. I've lost more Shrooms than I can afford to buy.

Good point. The Lite is pretty phenomenal with little baits. The Pro G is running a different spool. Fewer ports. Probably heavier.

I don't quite think so. I still think the BB1 has the potential to cast farther because it has a larger diameter spool so it won't have to spin as fast to lose the same amount of line and it also has a lot more capacity so the spool will remain a more consistent speed because it doesn't get down to the core of the spool as quickly. The BB1 will still be more of a bigger bait reel, but the Lite is probably more of a finesse bait reel. This is just physics, engineering, and specs talking. I haven't used a BB1 Pro (yet). From what I've read...the BB1 just starts to come to life with a 1/4-3/8 oz bait. The LFS reels will also cover the spectrum beneath that very well...but I surmise the BB1 will chuck 1/2-1 oz baits much better. Not to mention that Scout said the BB1 will cast braid, mono, & floro equally well. If the LFS reels were made to replace or upgrade the BB1...then they'd be offered similarly configured. As it sets, the BB1 still gets a PS1 multi stop configuration for cranking.

Okay brotha'....it's been 3 months. Spill it. What do you think about the pro?

Assuming you're fishing from a boat with the opportunity to deck multiple rigs, braid would be better. I bank fish a really weedy pond that basically only sees frogs or weightless worms...the occasional spinner or chatter if I can find a clearing. In this application, I use 17# mono on my heavy Bucoo Micro all day long and catch the heck out of them. Walking around a body of water with multiple rigs is a lame pain in the butt, so mono works fine when it needs to.

I've got my original nice rig too. 25y.o. Lew's BB-1 LMG and a 6'6" Medium Abu 2000 IM-6 rod. That rod is still impressively light and sensitive. I caught my old PB on it until I upgraded to a Bucoo Micro / Speed Spool combo last year and bested it by 2#...then upgraded to a Team Lew's combo this year and bested that by another 2#. My original rig is retired. My Team rig is retired only because it's my first award sized fish. I'll be mounting the reel, anglers award, lure, and picture in a box frame. I will say to the OP...I can appreciate technology in reels more than rods. I still prefer my newest rigs over my old stuff, but reels are night and day.

True true. I have the Pro (not Z)...but I officially retired it. I'm going to shadow box frame it with my Master Anglers Award with the lure I used. Funny...I only used it like 10 times. Great reel!

I was throwing Mepps #4's this morning. Caught 11 Largemouth and 3 channel. I also snagged Moby Dick in the tail. It was a 40-50# Grass Carp. Definitely over 3ft long. When it first realized he was hooked, he stripped 20yd of my wimpy 12#mono of my reel. It wasn't really fighting, he was just mosying away from me at a leisurely pace. Either way, he could take any line he wanted. I finally got him close and saw that he was a carp...a humpback orca carp...and he left me again. Took another 10yd away. I finally got him all the way to the bank...he acted totaled...so I figured he was fine. I reached down and grabbed my line. That's it! Party over! See ya later! One thrash of his tail and my line snapped. He was gone. The irony: up until 2 weeks ago, the biggest bass I have ever caught was 5.5-6#. 2 weeks ago, I caught an 8# trophy. Right in the same hole that this huge carp was in.

I've got more than I need for several years I'm sure but I'm thinking about just buying 1 new rig per year now. Maybe I'll take advantage of yesteryear's closeouts...maybe I'll geek out on a brand new rig...dunno yet. I know that you can get a Team Pro Z at Lew's store for $200 now...but these LFS reels are so nice, I might not even bother.

This is exciting. I'm going to get a Pro Mag too. I contacted them to see what exactly the differences are...the internals are the same as the Team Lite. The hook keeper, line indicator, mag frame, and finish are different. So it should be over a quarter oz lighter and bling-bling! The Tournament Pro G definitely has a different spool than my LITE. It also has a longer handle and rubberized knobs. All that equates to a reel that's similar to the Lite, but a half oz heavier. I do however like the longer handle and rubberized knobs. The only reason I'm getting the Mag instead of another Lite (sounds snobby...especially for me) is because I have an HM85 rod just sitting and the black/gold will match it perfectly aesthetically versus the matte silver on the Lite. Though the Team Pro Z is on sale now for$199. The trickle-down technology is cool. As for weight...last year's Top Shelf model (Team Pro) is nearly the same weight as this year's Tournament Pro (G). The best deal in them all right now is the Team Lite for $175 though. That's ridiculous. Aesthetically though...I don't understand them. You'd think they would want to have some continuity across ranges. Now for rods, there's the TP1, Custom, and Custom Lite. For new LFS reels, there's the Tournament Pro G, Team Lite, & Pro Mag. The TP1 and Custom are both white. The Custom Lite (top end model) is some Ti finish maybe? Left to right: Rods-Last year's Team HM85, Last Year's Custom, New TP1, and new HM85 Custom Lite. Reels: Team Pro Z, Team Lite, Tournament Pro G, & Team Pro Mag. Back to snobby: the Pro Mag doesn't match the Custom Lite very well. The Team Lite matches all 3. Not to say that they'll look bad together or anything. Custom Lite HM85: Meh...just me over thinking things at 1 am

PB: 5" Stick-O Previous PB: Bomber medium diving crankbait.

I'll check into those. Thanks. That's the only reason I've not used it on my casting rigs.

I've got 10# on my spinning rod. I truly hate how noisy it is when you reel it in. "Zzzzzzzzzzzz" Matched with a sensitive rod and it's ultra annoying. I'll likely never use it on my casting rigs. The only reason I've got it on my spinning rig is because of line twist. It really shines in that respect.

Don't get too caught up with distance...and don't believe the gassers that brag about casting 100+ yds because they're likely full of it. I've never needed to cast over 65yds. I would never want to set the hook on 65yds of line either. I'd say most of the time, working structures as a bank fisherman...I rarely need to cast farther than 40yds. Get accurate with that distance and you're fine.

No...sometimes I wish I was though. Just been fishing Lew's baitcasters since I was a teenager. I live around two and a half hours from their office and store and took a trip with my parents to check it out.

The hook hanger is done very well. It has a nice positive "click" detent when it locks out and in. I've used it instead of my rod's hanger. It has a closed loop and open loop so you can hook an open hook or closed snap...whatever you want. It's executed very well whether you want it or not. It tucks completely out of the way. The line size indicator is well done too. Whether you want one or not...it's executed very well. The meat and potatoes of the reel is stellar. Casts a mad mile. The gears on my 7.5:1 are even smoother than my old 6.4 Team Pro. Lower ratios are inherently smoother than high ones due to the larger pinion...I can't imagine how smooth the 6.8 will be.

I guess since the iCast cat is out of the bag... I'm in love with my Pro G.

I started using baitcasters at around 14y.o. Never looked back. Prior to that, I casted spinning and spincast reels overhead, sidearm, backhand, etc... so an overhead cast with a baitcaster wasn't a problem and I'm more accurate with it overhead. A couple things: Setup - If you read on your Lew's manual...it essentially says to hold the rod out, release the spool, and drop your lure. When it hits the ground, the spool should only make one complete rotation after. If it spins out more than that, tighten your primary cast control. (spool tension) This is a helpful tool, but eventually you will run it looser than the factory recommendations. Don't get impatient though. Another thing I've noticed especially on the LFS reels is that I don't gain much yardage when I throw my arm out versus just gently tossing the lure out there. I can get impressive distances, but if I back of the brakes and primary...just an easy flick of the wrist will get me darn near the same distance. I somewhat disagree with whomever told you not to try casting stick worms. A weightless 5" Stick-O, Senko, Dinger...is a good, heavy, streamlined bait. It's not a Red Eye Shad, but it's a great thing to practice with. Set a 5 gallon bucket up in your yard / driveway. run a wire through the stick worm with a loop on the end. Tie/snap it on your line. Try to get it in the bucket at around 20yd. If you can't, move it in. When you start hitting 20 on a fairly reg. basis, move it out to 30. Try throwing it out there side arm so the bait flys level in the air...when the bait get's over the bucket...thumb it and stop it so it drops gently into the bucket. Good practice to gently drop a Senko into the water. If it's windy...use more brakes. Nothing wrong with that.

$279

Holy crap dude! You're my new role model, wooo-ha!

Well the new features are very well done (even if you don't need them) and for a $199 reel...the Pro G is pretty incredible. Probably my favorite. Grantman...18? Really? Are you an octopus? Hahaha.

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Given the softer properties of magnesium, I'd say it could have the tendency to dampen unwanted noise and vibration. I can't wait to try one.

(double post)