Have any of you picked up both the new Tournament Pro G and the Team Lews Magnesium? Notice any differences besides the reduced weight and cosmetics?

I've narrowed my new reel choice down to these two and wondering if the Team Lews is worth the $80 price difference. Weight is not usually a factor for me as I seldom get to fish long enough for it to be a factor.

Those cork hybrid handles and gold accents do look quite sexy though :evil grin

LC

sent you a PM

I have the team lews magnesium and absolutely love it. In fact, it is probably my favorite reel. Smooth casting, can't seem to get it to backlash if I try, and feels very ergonomic in my hand. I do fish for extended periods and the lighter weight makes a difference to me. 

How do you like the Speedcast (ACB) braking vs. the old Dual Braking System?  I have a half-dozen of the old Tournament Pros with the centrifugal and magnetic braking and I really like that system.

Tight lines,

Bob

Lew's has too many models.  I've got three different models yet don't have either of those.  I am liking the Pro Z.  I like the dual braking system of the original Tournament Pro, too.

I don't have to have light, but it is always nice. 

I have 2 pro g's and absolutely love them! The acb brake system is so easy to use I wish all my others Lews had it. One of my pro g's is on my senko rod and let me tell you it will cast a weightless senko a mile!

Good replies here.

I think I may just go with the team pro magnesium. I'm really digging the looks and the lighter weight can't hurt, plus there is a 15% bonus points for using the cabelas club card on that reel.

LC

5 hours ago, loudcherokee said:

I'm really digging the looks and the lighter weight can't hurt,

I picked one up a few weeks ago and it's extremely lite. You can cast it all day with no problems. 

I'm a daiwa/shimano fan, but I have to admit those Lew's look amazing.  They sure seem to pack a lot of features into their products.  I wish daiwa/shimano put carbon fiber handles with 4 bearing knobs.  

16 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I am liking the Pro Z. 

is it too early to say i told you so?  

1 minute ago, buzzed bait said:

is it too early to say i told you so?  

Stopped again on the way home from work for a few minutes casting practice.  It was one of two I had with me.    Got it on a Techna AV.  The Patriarch XT was on a Falcon Expert...both 7 footers.  Both reels with 12# mono...tho not the same brand.  Both casting spinnerbaits, but not the same brands.  Distance on the water seemed about the same.  Maybe slightly better with the Lew's and maybe a bit easier to achieve.  Still getting use to it.  Didn't make any adjustments to it yesterday.

I was a bit skeptical of the new braking system, but after ordering an 8.1:1 for my flipping stick and moving the older Tournament Pro to my chatterbait rod, I really like the new system and almost wish my other six Tournament Pro reels had it.  They are really nice reels and the braking system is effortless to set up. 

I  own 3 older tp and love them. Got to try out a tournament pro g for a few days, the breaking system is great if you like to change lures often no more opening up side plate(tough I rarely do so on the tp models just kept one break pin engaged most of the time) didn't notice much difference on distance. My tp was more accurate when doing short roll cast but that's because of the ceramic bearings. Overall I think it's a sweet reel especially when you can find it on sale for around 150 a lot of times.

Well, I ended up going with the Team Lews Tournament Pro Magnesium.

I know in my OP I said weight doesn't make a difference to me, but now after receiving the reel and fishing with it today, all I can say is WOW.

This thing is LIGHT. I ended up putting the reel on my 7'1" MH Fast rod, replacing my original Tournament Pro. The combo together is very well balanced and light as air.

The ACB braking system works flawlessly. It took me a couple of times to get it dialed in, and it backlashed twice, but after I had it setup properly it handles amazingly. Still doesn't cast quite as far as my original TP, but I think once I get accustomed to the weight difference, it will be better. I have the brakes set for a buzz bait right around the 2 mark, and I think once I get used to the weight I will be able to turn them down even further.

I still can't believe how much difference an ounce and some change makes in the weight of the reel. Completely blows my mind.

I'm now thinking of replacing my TP with either a Tournament Lite or another Magnesium. I just wish the BB1 came in a featherweight version. That thing is a tank at 7.1 ounces compared to the magnesium at 5.3 ounces. The BB1 Pro is almost an ounce lighter than the BB1. Hmmm.

LC

 

I've got a TProG, and I can't imagine a  better reel! haha. I will be picking up a Magnesium in the next couple months though.

I've got a new pro g and like it. I already knew I'd love the brakes because I have 4 bb1 pros with the same system. I'm using the pro g for my heavy punching setup, so no long casts with it. My bb1s cast a mile.

 

One thing about the pro g is that its tiny compared to all of my other lews.

On 5/11/2016 at 2:15 PM, Oklahoma Mike said:

I have the team lews magnesium and absolutely love it. In fact, it is probably my favorite reel. Smooth casting, can't seem to get it to backlash if I try, and feels very ergonomic in my hand. I do fish for extended periods and the lighter weight makes a difference to me. 

I can't seem to get my Lew's to backlash either. Even when I set it too loose. Next time I need to replace a BC reel, it will be a Lew's.

On 5/11/2016 at 2:15 PM, Oklahoma Mike said:

I have the team lews magnesium and absolutely love it. In fact, it is probably my favorite reel. Smooth casting, can't seem to get it to backlash if I try, and feels very ergonomic in my hand. I do fish for extended periods and the lighter weight makes a difference to me. 

 

On 5/12/2016 at 8:14 AM, FrankN209 said:

I picked one up a few weeks ago and it's extremely lite. You can cast it all day with no problems. 

 

56 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I can't seem to get my Lew's to backlash either. Even when I set it too loose. Next time I need to replace a BC reel, it will be a Lew's.

Okay guys.  I am obviously a better caster than any of you because I can get my Lew's to backlash almost effortlessly. 

OP.  Doesn't bother me to fish with a "heavy" reel all day either, but have to agree it is awful nice fishing with a light combo.