I bought another Revo STX 6.4:1 a week or so ago.  But I decided I was Revo-heavy and wanted to try something else.   I've had my eye on the Johnny Morris Elite baitcaster for sometime.  I've heard good things about it, so I took the plunge and decided to try it for myself...

I am thoroughly impressed with it, so far.  

The exterior finish is some kind of titanium coating.  It's flawless.  Even the inside of the aluminum brakeside sideplate is coated.   It really looks nice.  

The reel has a dual brake system.  The magnetic brake is externally adjustable.  The knob moves the magnets closer or away from the spool, instead of covering them like on the Revo.  The centrifual brake is the most easily adjustable brake I've seen on any reel.  The plate over the brake keeps you from sticking a finger into the mechanism, and the brakes snap on and off with a satisfying click - very easy to manipulate.

The sideplate comes off by pressing the BPS medallion on the sideplate, and twisting the sideplate down.  Then you lift it off.  

The inside of the reel looks amazingly like the Revos.   The main gear is aluminum, like on the Revo Premier.  Total weight is 8.6 oz.  I don't see anything that suggests it won't hold up as well as the Revo.   The frame looks very much like the Revos.  The reel appears more meticulously finished than my STXs.  I can't get over how good this thing looks inside and out.  

I fished this reel for a couple of hours yesterday, paired up to my Johnny Morris Elite 7' MH/F rod (w/ Recoil guide) and 12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  I hate admit it, but I found it easier to cast than my Revos.  The brake is super effective, the best I've seen on any reel I've owned.   I didn't catch anything (except a few crappie on a different rod/reel).  

If this reel keeps me as happy as I am with it now, I may buy more in the future.  Whatever BPS reels were like in the past, BPS knocked the ball out of the park on this one.  

Just a couple things to look out for on the Morris reels and BPS reels in general.

I've noticed the metallic finish on the Morris reels tend to discolor.  Not all of them but I've seen enough to realize the finishes on those things aren't bullet proof nor consistant from one to another.

The BPS emblems on the side plate release button are usually just glued on and have a tendency to come off.  

Otherwise they're a pretty smooth reel even if they're a touch on the heavy side.

Since no finish is bullet proof, I'm not too worried about it.  If anything goes wrong, I'll exercise the warranty.  As far as weight goes, it's actually lighter than my Revo STX.  

That's a sharp looking reel!  The brakes and sideplate setup remind me of the Pflueger Supreme.  I hope the reel does well for ya.  That titanium deposition finish is supposed to be pretty durable.  Even still, scars from usage add character.  

I bought the regular Johnny Morris about a year ago and I love it! Havn't had any problems with it so far, and I fish with it atleast every other day.  Handles anything from worms to swimbaits with ease!

I like the Johnny Morris reals paired with the rods, they look real good. Dont forgot about those Revos though  .

As far as weight goes, it's actually lighter than my Revo STX.  

The weight about the same

HEY MICRO YOU BE FLOOGERIZED>>>>>>>>>>> Hey i do not know for sure, gotta ask Dodgeguy but I believe  Pflueger makes those, I knew we would get you

There are some curious similarities among them - Pflueger, BPS and Pinnacle.

        I'm rocking out 3 of the Johnny Morris JMP10H reels and I love them. I can only imagine the refinement made to the Elite reels. Nice review on the reel, keep us posted on the reels.

HEY MICRO YOU BE FLOOGERIZED>>>>>>>>>>> Hey i do not know for sure, gotta ask Dodgeguy but I believe Pflueger makes those, I knew we would get you

You are correct Muddy.

JT Bagwell

Thanks JT

I fished with it some more today.  If I had known how sweet that reel would cast, I may have never bought a Revo.   This is the best casting reel I've ever owned.   I have two of the centrifugal brakes "on" and the magnetic brake set to 50%.  I was throwing 4" Yum Dingers with a 1/4 weight.   Just effortless casting and no backlashes.

I have it on my Johnny Morris Elite (w/ Recoil guide) and 12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  Just an awesome set up.   May have to sell a Revo or two to get some more.  

Whats the difference between this reel and a Pflueger Patriarch?  If it is a Pflueger product it sounds pretty close to the Patriarch, which is a few bucks cheaper.  

Beats me.  But my understanding is that Johnny Morris reels are made by Silstar.  Silstar markets their own reels under the Pinnacle name.  They are also an OEM maker for BPS, and probably Pflueger.  

Hey Micro, from your pictures , that looks like the Supreme set up! Sweet reel, You might want to look at a President on sale at BPS for 90 bucks!

I'm a bit Revo-heavy at the moment and am considering selling a few.  I'm going to check out Floogers.  I may get another JM.  I'm smitten at the moment.  

What a coincidence I lost a smitten in the snow just last week

Beats me. But my understanding is that Johnny Morris reels are made by Silstar. Silstar markets their own reels under the Pinnacle name. They are also an OEM maker for BPS, and probably Pflueger.

Unless something has changed since the last time I asked this question at the company level, Silstar does not produce Pflueger reels and BPS reels are produced by Pflueger. Someone posted that on here a year or so ago so I asked when I called in to my PR guy there.

JT Bagwell

As it stands, neither Pfleuger, BPS, Browning nor Abu Garcia (talking about the Revo) are built in their own companies' factories. All these companies contract out to Korean tackle manufacturers to build their reels to their specs. AFAIK, Pflueger no more builds BPS reels than Pfleuger builds their own reels.

Silstar does build reels, and it's probably the major Korean manufacturer of reels. Silstar markets its own brand under the name Pinnacle. The guys who run Tackle Tour have reported that Silstar/Pinnacle is the largest OEM manufacturer of reels and that they produce OEM reels for BPS. Since Pflueger contracts out the production of their reels, and since the similarities are so great, I suspect there is more than a casual relationship between Pflueger and Silstar/Pinnacle.

Point is, whoever builds BPS, it isn't Pfleuger, because Pflueger OEMs out it's own reel production.

As it stands, neither Pfleuger, BPS, Browning nor Abu Garcia (talking about the Revo) are built in their own companies' factories. All these companies contract out to Korean tackle manufacturers to build their reels to their specs. AFAIK, Pflueger no more builds BPS reels than Pfleuger builds their own reels.

Silstar does build reels, and it's probably the major Korean manufacturer of reels. Silstar markets its own brand under the name Pinnacle. The guys who run Tackle Tour have reported that Silstar/Pinnacle is the largest OEM manufacturer of reels and that they produce OEM reels for BPS. Since Pflueger contracts out the production of their reels, and since the similarities are so great, I suspect there is more than a casual relationship between Pflueger and Silstar/Pinnacle.

Point is, whoever builds BPS, it isn't Pfleuger, because Pflueger OEMs out it's own reel production.

All I know is I have been working with Pflueger (Shakespeare) for about 5 years and I was told that Silstar has nothing to do with prouduction of Pflueger reels. And another thing, not all Pflueger reels are made in Korea. I was also told in the same conversation that Pflueger produces the reels for BPS. It is kind of hard for me to argue with a person that works at the company headquarters. To be honest with you, I don't care who makes what, as long as they work when I use them.

JT Bagwell

I agree it only matters that they work. But which Pflueger reels AREN'T OEM'd out (to somewhere)? AFAIK, Pfleuger doesn't make it's own reels becasue it no longer has a reel manufacturing capability (except through whoever they contract with). Their top-end baitcast reels, AFAIK, are built in Korea - just like the JM reels for BPS, and the Revos. If they had some of their other offerings made in China, I wouldn't be suprised.

WHO makes BPS, Pflueger, or whoever's reels is rather secondary to the fact that none of these compaines build them for themselves.

Hey Micro, are you having any trouble setting the brakes, they can be a big PITA until you get the hang of it!

Hey Micro, are you having any trouble setting the brakes, they can be a big PITA until you get the hang of it!

Actually, no.  I actually found them less of a PITA than on my Revos.  I started out with just two of the centrifugal brakes on, and the mag brake set at 50%.  Never looked back.  

This reel is on my "dedicated" plastics rod.   I think I'm going to leave it as is.  It's working too good to go and mess with now.

I will say that I set the reel as I have always set baitcasters - with the spool tension knob set so that the lure falls with a little jiggle.   The manual says set it so that the lure falls on its own and the spool continues to spin 2 more times before it stops.   I tried that and got a helluva birdsnest (the only backlash I got).  I immediately went back and set it my way and it works great.