Well it came this morning, BBI with the 6.4-1 gear ratio in right hand. I didn't have any braid but did have enough 20 lbs. fireline smoke on a spare spool to fill it up and give it a try. So this afternoon I took it out and threw some jigs on my 7' MF Avid. I started with a 1/2 ounce and set it up the way I always do, no brakes turned on, with heavy tension where I have to shake the rod to get the lure to fall. After several cast I was to the common free fall with no over run when the jig hit the ground. I then went to one brake on, the the rest off, and never tried the 2 blue aggressive brakes. By doing this I had it where the tension was 2 clicks looser and the line would over run when the jig hit the ground, my normal thumb control to avoid overuns at the end of the cast. I used 1/2, 3/8, and 1/4 ounce jigs with all of them casting as good as anything I have ever used, I did this with all these weights and never changed the tension or brakes after I made my last adjustment with the 1/2 ounce jig, one break only is all I had on. I was out for about 2 hours and am again "VERY IMPRESSED" with this BB1HZ. I am glad I got the instant AR, I don't know if it would make any difference in the casting, but as far as I am concerned the Lew's line is as good as it gets for any baitcaster even close to their cost!  I see no reason why anyone would have a problem with this particular reel that was used to using a baitcasting reel.  

I won one of these on Ebay today. I wasn't paying attention when I did because I meant to bid on the TP model but $100 shipped for a $160 reel works for me.

NICE! I hate ebay, I always get zap at the end. I would have bought one in a heart beat at $100. PM me the seller if you don't mind.

Man I'm gonna have to re read the manual to make sure I full understand this real lol.

 

Still enjoying mine.  Only using it for cranks atm because of the low ratio but I might have to pick up another one for a spinning rod.