Lews Vs Shimano

[mixermarkb]

I'm probably going to start with a BB-1 for my falcon cara deep crank rod. If I like it, I may try some tournament pros in the 7:1 speed for Crigs and pitching. I love my old Shimanos, but it may be getting retirement time for a few of them...

[soxpac]

You won't be let down. The BB-1 is an outstanding reel. It's what I throw my squares with. Greatness!!! Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

[abkeenan]

Love my Lew's and you can't go wrong with them. That being said I love my Curado 200E7 a little more.

[Bill Babler]

I would probably rethink the BB-1. This reel is a monster for distance and is very capable of throwing a very lite bait, if paired with the correct rod. It is not a Curado.

Go with the breaking system on the Tournament Pro and you will be much happier. You would be coming way down on price fro the Curardo to the BB-1 and expecting as good or better performance, and it is not there. Was not meant to be that.

No one here is a bigger Lews fan that I , but keep it as close as possible to Apples to Apples when comparing products.

Good Luck

[Mitch f]

FWIW, I was a Shimano guy my whole life and kind of got off course when they stopped making the Curado that I like. Recently bought 2 of the cheaper Lews SH1SH 7:1 and am very impressed with the drag and braking. The only thing I don't like is they sometimes have kind of a hollow sound, but it certainly doesn't affect the performance. Time will tell if they hold up ,I sure expect they will.

[eyedabassman]

Hands down,go with the Lew's!!!!!

[Jozark]

I currently own several Curados and Chronachs, and just recently bought two Lews Tournament Pros and absolutely love them. The Shimano's I have range from a couple years old to ten or so years old. These are built very well and have been great reels, but Shimano cheapen the Curados last year. They started using plastic parts instead of metal on the Curado G's. So I bought the Lews and Shimano has probably lost a long time customer for awhile. The Tournament Pro is probably one of the nicest and smoothest reels for the price point I have ever held in my hands. I have used them several times now, and they outcast any reel I have ever thrown to date. The BB-1 from my understanding is also a great reel but was intended for crankbait fishing, for the handle has play in it so feel the crankbait better. I know that is very specific for a reel, but also I know you can throw everything with a BB-1 and catch fish. I would suggest you buy a Tournament Pro for your all around fishing, and the BB-1 for cranking and possibly throwing a spinnerbait. Hope this helps!

[abkeenan]

I currently own several Curados and Chronachs, and just recently bought two Lews Tournament Pros and absolutely love them. The Shimano's I have range from a couple years old to ten or so years old. These are built very well and have been great reels, but Shimano cheapen the Curados last year. They started using plastic parts instead of metal on the Curado G's. So I bought the Lews and Shimano has probably lost a long time customer for awhile. The Tournament Pro is probably one of the nicest and smoothest reels for the price point I have ever held in my hands. I have used them several times now, and they outcast any reel I have ever thrown to date. The BB-1 from my understanding is also a great reel but was intended for crankbait fishing, for the handle has play in it so feel the crankbait better. I know that is very specific for a reel, but also I know you can throw everything with a BB-1 and catch fish. I would suggest you buy a Tournament Pro for your all around fishing, and the BB-1 for cranking and possibly throwing a spinnerbait. Hope this helps!

^----THIS. Well said. I know Shimano is probably regretting their decision big time on the G series Curados. They aren't selling well and it is well known how they "cheapened" the reel with parts/bearings/etc. Wouldn't surprise me if they scrapped the G's after just a year or two on the market and went back to something more like the E's.

[rps]

^----THIS. Well said. I know Shimano is probably regretting their decision big time on the G series Curados. They aren't selling well and it is well known how they "cheapened" the reel with parts/bearings/etc. Wouldn't surprise me if they scrapped the G's after just a year or two on the market and went back to something more like the E's.

^----THIS. Well said. I know Shimano is probably regretting their decision big time on the G series Curados. They aren't selling well and it is well known how they "cheapened" the reel with parts/bearings/etc. Wouldn't surprise me if they scrapped the G's after just a year or two on the market and went back to something more like the E's.

They lost me with the E series. I had two self destruct. I have tried a number of alternatives since. In my boat now: Pre E series Shimano Curados on my walleye rods for trolling and worm dragging. Revo SX on my big jig rod (It will be the next replaced) Lews Tournament Pro on my crank bait and Mikey Jr. rod. Okuma Helios on my ex fast tip small jig rod. (This is an experiment based on a Tackle Tour very positive review) Revo MGX on my Top Dollar and popper rod. As I use the Okuma more often I will report what I think. As for the tournament pro, it is the one that keeps pace the best with the Revo MGX - at about half the money.

[abkeenan]

They lost me with the E series. I had two self destruct. I have tried a number of alternatives since. In my boat now: Pre E series Shimano Curados on my walleye rods for trolling and worm dragging. Revo SX on my big jig rod (It will be the next replaced) Lews Tournament Pro on my crank bait and Mikey Jr. rod. Okuma Helios on my ex fast tip small jig rod. (This is an experiment based on a Tackle Tour very positive review) Revo MGX on my Top Dollar and popper rod. As I use the Okuma more often I will report what I think. As for the tournament pro, it is the one that keeps pace the best with the Revo MGX - at about half the money.

That is a shame on your Curado E's RPS. Mine has been just an absolute joy and built like a tank and wouldn't trade it for anything. Maybe you just wore them out with all that nutty walleye trolling you do? You walleye guys just don't know how to treat your equipment like us bass guys....hahaha. I thought about giving Okuma a shot a year or two ago but decided against it and my fleet now consists of mostly Lew's.