I was hoping someone here would have some information on this reel, I was going to get a new Lews Team Pro, $299 retail and I'm sure I could get a better deal but the specs on the Supreme XT look very good and at the $150 price point I could get 2 but it has to be a reliable work horse to do that. My local Cabelas doesn't have these in stock so I'm here asking, how well does the cam locking side plate work? How smooth is it and is there any play in the handle or spool? Is it inline with other reels at that price point or is it better or worse? These are the questions I would hope to have answered, I have the original Pflueger Supreme casting reel that was discontinued after only a few short years but it had a clicking spool tension knob, micro click drag, dual breaks and the best part is I still have it and it works great but it is 8.3oz and now feels too heavy but I do use it for cranking as the rod is pointed down so it isn't too bad but I really would like to replace it with something lighter. Thanks in advance.

You have varying features due to the difference in price but over all quality wise, they are comparable if not identical. It looks like the Pflueger's lost some fat over the older model too.

D. I played with one at Cabelas and the can lock felt loose, weak, and sloppy to me compared to that of a Shimano. The can and spring were very thin. I don't think it would take much to snap it if one wasn't careful.

D. I played with one at Cabelas and the can lock felt loose, weak, and sloppy to me compared to that of a Shimano. The can and spring were very thin. I don't think it would take much to snap it if one wasn't careful.

 

Thanks, that is exactly the info I was looking for, I'm up in the air about getting a high end reel or 2 mid tier reels, the $200 area doesn't leave me enough for anything else I want so I figure it will all go to a reel but then looking at the $130 to $150 market, well those I can grab 2 of as long as they are decent. I can't buy a Shimano, my last one was the Symetre a fairly long time ago and , well it doesn't matter but it is the only brand of reel I will never buy.

I would buy one in a heartbeat. They are great reels.

I don't doubt they are good reels, but the side plate swing mechanism wasn't great. The lock itself was very tight too. Granted it was a display model. Pflueger makes some nice reels. Would have been better if these reels had something a little more substantial to separate them from the Abu offerings.

The new patriarch is a very nice reel, I have the older model and its a great reel ,good luck