Just wanted to post up about my first trip out with my Lews BB1. Its my dedicated cranking reel, with a 5:1 ratio, multi stop anti reverse, and spooled up with 12# Yozuri Hybrid. The rod is a 6'6" medium Berkley Lightning Rod Shock series.

Out of the box, the thing casts like a dream. Cranking the handle is smooth as silk, running a KVD 1.5. I haven't touched the centrifigul brakes. Not sure if they come from the factory on or off, but this thing was bombing that KVD a country mile, with NO backlash. The only time I had an overrun was when i snagged a bush behind me on a cast.

I did manage to hook into a nice size 2 pounder. Only 2 pounds in weight, but this girl was LONG. Spawn time Im sure she'd be around 4-5 pounds. She was longer than my PB of 5 pounds by a few inches.

Anyways, back to the reel, the drag performed smoothly. I had it set low at first, and she took a run and pulled a little bit, leaving me cranking with no retrieve. A quick tightening of the drag brought her right in to the bank with no issues.

The reel could use a good cleaning. From the factory its packed with grease pretty good. Theres even some overrun of grease on the body where the handle enters. Can't wait to give it a proper flush and cleaning to see how it performs with good oil and grease.

LC

Awesome info, Im going to buy a baitcaster very soon since im a spinning guy, and this actually helps me, i would be considering one those reels. hope you keep catching those big females. tight lines

Awesome info, Im going to buy a baitcaster very soon since im a spinning guy, and this actually helps me, i would be considering one those reels. hope you keep catching those big females. tight lines

I would probably recommend something with a little more control for a beginning baitcaster, either dual brakes or at least an external mag control. The Lews Tournament MG is what I fished on all season, and love it. Its what I "cut my teeth on" i guess you could say. I dont think the BB1 5:1 would be a very versatile do it all baitcaster, but they do come in 6.4:1 and 7.1:1 ratios too, with infinite anti-reverse.

LC

I would probably recommend something with a little more control for a beginning baitcaster, either dual brakes or at least an external mag control. The Lews Tournament MG is what I fished on all season, and love it. Its what I "cut my teeth on" i guess you could say. I dont think the BB1 5:1 would be a very versatile do it all baitcaster, but they do come in 6.4:1 and 7.1:1 ratios too, with infinite anti-reverse.

LC

You seem like you're new to baitcasters possibly.

Braking doesn't matter. It's preference really. Shimano's have cent brakes. Your high end Daiwas have mag brakes. Some reels like the Lews tournament pro have both. The tourney mg is crap when compared to the bb1. The bb1 in 6:4:1 would be a great casting reel for a beginner or advanced user.

I would probably recommend something with a little more control for a beginning baitcaster, either dual brakes or at least an external mag control. The Lews Tournament MG is what I fished on all season, and love it. Its what I "cut my teeth on" i guess you could say. I dont think the BB1 5:1 would be a very versatile do it all baitcaster, but they do come in 6.4:1 and 7.1:1 ratios too, with infinite anti-reverse.

LC

I would keep that in mind, i will get the 7 ratios, i like super fast burners. thanks for the advise 

You seem like you're kinda new to baitcasters possibly yourself.

Braking doesn't matter. It's preference really. Shimano's have cent brakes. Your high end Daiwas have mag brakes. Some reels like the Lews tournament pro have both. The tourney mg is crap when compared to the bb1. The bb1 in 6:4:1 would be a great casting reel for a beginner or advanced user.

You could say that. I was only making the suggestion based on what I've read, and limited personal experience. I just think a more adjustable brake control would allow a little more room for error from a beginner, with easily adjusting the brakes without having to remove the side cover every cast until they get a feel for it. I agree that there are many brake sytems that work great, both centrifigal and magnetic, I just think the mag brakes are a little easier to learn on.

LC

How do you like the Berkley lightening shock rod?

How do you like the Berkley lightening shock rod?

Love it. I think its a great rod for the price. Sensitive, and plenty of strength to spare.

LC

Thanks for the review! I've been window shopping for my first baitcasting setup and have narrowed it down to a BB-1 matched with an *** MH. Following this thread with great interest...

When you say can cast a mile, how much yards are you talking about? I have the bb1 in 6.4:1 and can cast 30-32 yards on average. I know it can cast further than this but just having trouble setting it right. Right now casting 3/8 oz jerkbait and settings are 1 brake on (not 1 pair) and spool tensioner tight.

Spool tension should never be tight. That's hurting you right there. On my BB1 I ran 2 brakes on and was ok with everything I threw.

I just got the same reel. I like it. The ratio is a little scary if a fish is swimming towards you lol. The anti reverse takes a min to get used to but isn't bad. The rubber on my paddles is peeling after two trips out though. Works great for the deep divers.

Spool tension should never be tight. That's hurting you right there. On my BB1 I ran 2 brakes on and was ok with everything I threw.

Yea but I've tried 2 and 3 brakes on with spool tensioner loose where lure hits the floor and no over run. I still get the same distance. Just don't know what to do. I've contacted lew's asking for help and that's what they suggested. (1 brake and tight spool tensioner. Plus a couple of other tips)

I just got the same reel. I like it. The ratio is a little scary if a fish is swimming towards you lol. The anti reverse takes a min to get used to but isn't bad. The rubber on my paddles is peeling after two trips out though. Works great for the deep divers.

If you haven't already contact lew's cause the rubber paddles peeling is a known issue. They'll take care of you.

I just got the same reel. I like it. The ratio is a little scary if a fish is swimming towards you lol. The anti reverse takes a min to get used to but isn't bad. The rubber on my paddles is peeling after two trips out though. Works great for the deep divers.

Call Lews and tell them. You'll get 2 new ones in the mail free of charge. I had the same thing happen on one if mine.

Yea but I've tried 2 and 3 brakes on with spool tensioner loose where lure hits the floor and no over run. I still get the same distance. Just don't know what to do. I've contacted lew's asking for help and that's what they suggested. (1 brake and tight spool tensioner. Plus a couple of other tips)

Take it apart and soak the stock bearings in acetone and then add 1 drop of oil to each 1. Sounds like it's over lubed/greased from the factory. Which is very common. I had the 5:1 and 7:1 models. Both casted great for me. I did a test for another member cause he was having issues with a bb1x. 1/4oz swim jig, no trailer I was getting about 82-85ft on a normal sidearm cast.

The BB1 W/5:1 gear is the only one with multi-step anti-reverse, the two faster reels both have instant anti-reverse. 

 

As  for the hybrid 6 pin centrifugal brake, it is not like the Shimano! It is a 4 pin auto like other Lew's but has an adition of two manual brakes like the Shimano!! the two blue pins stay out and are slowly adding less braking as the spool slows,,,,,,the four whit pins are retracted with pre set springs when the reel slows, and have no braking at lower spool speed's.

 

The BB1 is capable of longer cast with heavier lures, (3/8 and up) because of the longer distance between the line guide and the spool, this creates less friction because of less extreme angle of the line feeding from the spool at the far right and left edge of the spool during cast, as well as the slightly heavier spool fully loaded. The later makes it less efficient with lighter lures as it takes more to get the spool started up, but when a heavier spool gets going (with 3/8 and heavier lures) it has more momentum to keep spinning.

 

The way I set my reel up is to use 2 (white - automatic) pins for normal casting, witch stop's braking as the spool slows, and when the wind picks up I turn 1 automatic pin off and turn 1 (blue manual) pin on this lets breaking continue thru the entire cast to control the spool as it slows, but still allows heavier braking on the beginning of the cast. After some time with the reel I have finally went to one automatic pin for all fishing. Great reel, I like mine! 

i can not say enough about the BB-1 reels.  I use all three gear ratios reels.  I have 6 total right now, three for cranking, one for jigs, one for soft plastics, one for swim baits.  On my crankbaits, i average at least 10 yards longer per cast then i have with other reels.  With heavier cranks i would say it is closer to 15 yards longer.  i mean it is a huge difference.  I have mine setup with two white pins out and one blue pin out for everything but deep cranking.  deep cranks i only have two white pins engaged.  i just love these reels and can't say enough about the casting distance and how smooth of a reel they are.