Centrifugal Vs. Magnetic Breaking

[abkeenan]

This was very insightful, Bill. Thanks!! Maybe I need to just up my game and expand the amount of money I am willing to spend on a reel. Im cheap...whatever you think cheap is, I am cheaper than that. So a $200 reel to me is just gross...especially when I have 4 baitcaster rods. Maybe a Christmas present request or something. I have heard a lot of good things about Lews, and since they have a reel with both Centrifugal and mag breaking, it will draw my interest and confidence in a strong way.

If you are on a budget and looking to fill 4 bait caster rods then the Lew's Speed Spool would be the one to go with in that case. They are $99.99 but can be had on Ebay and other online sellers for around $80 a pop. Bass Tackle Depot has 20 and 25% off sales pretty often on Lew's reels so its good to get in on that. They are only magnetic but they are one badazz little reel. I have 4 of them and then one of the 79.99 (from BTD with 25% off was like 60 bucks) Laser Speed Spools I bought just to try but I wouldn't recommend saving the $20 on that reel because the graphite frame has flex in it that I don't like. Stick to the all aluminum frame. Another budget reel is the BPS Pro Qualifier I mention before which at on sale for 79.97 right now and has both the centrifugal and magnetic braking systems built in and is great for the price. Another that I will throw into the mix is the H2O Express Mettle made/sold by Academy Sports. I have NO experience with them but I have heard LOTS of people that praise the heck out of them for the price. Over on BBC one of the members there that is a reel tuner/cleaner/etc that breaks down reels and sees everything from high end Shimano, Daiwa, Quantum, etc and said that when he took apart the H20 Mettle that he was shocked at how nicely it was made relative to the cost and that most of the gears and parts were all metal and not plastic like other reels at that price or even a lot higher. They go on sale pretty often at Academy for like 29.99 but have this year just updated the model and are a tad more expensive that the previous model and I have yet to see them on sale YET. I want to pick one up just to try. Good luck in your search.

[jerry241]

Just started fishing a baitcaster this fall after much consideration I went with a lews speed spool based on advice from mr. Babler and Aaron at hook line and sinker. In rogers. I have had zero issues with the reels and they are not difficult at all to use. They are well worth the money and recommend them to anyone on a budget.

[Bitethis]

If you are on a budget and looking to fill 4 bait caster rods then the Lew's Speed Spool would be the one to go with in that case. They are $99.99 but can be had on Ebay and other online sellers for around $80 a pop. Bass Tackle Depot has 20 and 25% off sales pretty often on Lew's reels so its good to get in on that. .... Another budget reel is the BPS Pro Qualifier I mention before which at on sale for 79.97 right now and has both the centrifugal and magnetic braking systems built in and is great for the price.

Another that I will throw into the mix is the H2O Express Mettle made/sold by Academy Sports. I have NO experience with them but I have heard LOTS of people that praise the heck out of them for the price.

Funny you mention the last two, I have 2 BP qualifiers, and 2 H20 Mettles (which I got for $29.99 in December:-)...I like them both very much. I use the pro qulifier for my A-Rig, and I find i can caster lighter lures (3/8 oz and up) better with the Mettle than I can with the BPQ.

I did look at the Speedspool from Lews, but was hesitant because it was Mag only, which I have not had good success with in the past. If I have to stick to one break or the other, I would rather have centrifugal. I can featehr the spool fine, once my cast is half way out there. I struggle more with the initial cast and "whipping" it to get the lure out there, where I feel the centrifugal supports my lack of expertise more than magnetic in that aspect of my cast.

[Guest]

The Revo SX & Lews have dual braking systems, I believe. I hate these reels when the wind is blowing. I just seem to backlash to crap out of them. But, it sounds like operator error to me. Anybody want to take a stab at how to adjust the centrifugal brakes for lighter lures like a wiggle wart? 

[Bill Babler]

Set your magnetic brake to full 10 or full brake and then adjust the centrifugal to the desired level of spool speed for your lure and line weight.  If you are throwing into a wind, try as much cross wind as possible.  When adjusting the reel on the water like that instead of letting the bait drop to the deck to see if you spool is very tight, just let it fall at about 1/2 speed.  You can adjust from there.

Please correct me If I'm wrong but I believe that Daiwa invented the duel braking system, in 1997.  It has been around a long time and has always been at the top of the price market, with the Steez being up until this year the lightest production freshwater baitcaster on the market.  Lew's new titanium lite has set the table now as it is .3 oz lighter.

Another tip is instead of casting to the water, project your cast at a higher plain and allow it to fight into the wind rather than be pushed down by it.  Might have to use Kentucky windage a bit, but it really helps to let it rip

 

[Champ188]

37 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

Set your magnetic brake to full 10 or full brake and then adjust the centrifugal to the desired level of spool speed for your lure and line weight.  If you are throwing into a wind, try as much cross wind as possible.  When adjusting the reel on the water like that instead of letting the bait drop to the deck to see if you spool is very tight, just let it fall at about 1/2 speed.  You can adjust from there.

Please correct me If I'm wrong but I believe that Daiwa invented the duel braking system, in 1997.  It has been around a long time and has always been at the top of the price market, with the Steez being up until this year the lightest production freshwater baitcaster on the market.  Lew's new titanium lite has set the table now as it is .3 oz lighter.

Another tip is instead of casting to the water, project your cast at a higher plain and allow it to fight into the wind rather than be pushed down by it.  Might have to use Kentucky windage a bit, but it really helps to let it rip

 

Take this to heart, guys. Bill spends hundreds of days per year on the water showing novices how to cast. I set mine the way I do because I've been fishing for 50 of my 55 years. My thumb is also wide enough to cover any low profile spool all the way from side to side. That lets me get by with setting my reels looser.

[Bill Babler]

Technique more than drag settings will let you cast long and straight.  Mike McCelland uses no brake what so ever and can cast further than I ever thought possible.  I have seen him get some Jim Dandies, but none the less he tosses it way across the pond, wind or no wind.

[Champ188]

Fishing Table Rock and other highland reservoirs is often far more about casting distance than accuracy. That's why it's so critical to use a good quality fluorocarbon line with any dragging-type bait, such as football jigs, swing heads ... the low stretch allows you to feel what's going on at the end of your line on a long cast and to drive the hook home.

[Ranger Z22]

One of the times that I have been out with Mr. Babler, we discussed exactly what he has explained in this thread.  I have gone and bought several Lew's including the $199.99 reel he has described and I am not disappointed.  In fact I have turned the majority of my equipment to various Lew's reels.

I have had the BPS models just flat fall apart after I moved here and used them everyday.  They just won't in my opinion hold up, if you are fishing more than you did in the past. 

z22

[Old plug]

Around LOZ it is 95% flipping and pitching. Ido not like hard cast. i can  pitch a 3/8 oz lure 30 ft I m sure using my standard 12lb mono. I like my reels as fast as I can get them. I like to sort of float the bait out to the if you know know what I mean.