Jim Elam Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 I will preface by saying I cut my teeth on 5000 C and 4600 CB ambassaduers as a younger man, so anything built lighter than a Sherman tank peaks my interest. That said, I own a revo sx and a few Lews bait asters that are all nice reels, better in many ways than my old dinosaurs that's still fish. Was at BPS today and couldn't pass on a PQ with the 7.1:1 retrieve. Figured I would throw buzz baits with it. Fit and finish were good after I sorted through about 5 copies that all had slight irregularities. Finally found one that was smooth as silk. I spooled it with 8 lb mono, stuck it on a cheapo BPS Extreme medium action 6 ft rod, and took it out today. First 3/8 oz and 1/4 oz jigs on main brake only, no problems. Long caster for sure, similar to the Lews tournament MG. 1/8 oz Ned handled great. Long casts with magnets set at 1-2 were no trouble. Casted this setup from one bank to within 15 ft of the opposite bank of the James near Rivercutt. Okay, let's see what this will really do... To my surprise, I was able to cast 40 - 50 ft in no wind with no backlashes with a 1/16 oz Ned, and a 1/32 oz Ned. Both tended to lose a bit of accuracy and required an educated thumb to be sure, but very doable with no wind. Suspect that would be a different story with a breeze I my face, but I was still impressed for $50. Caught only 2 fish, the rod handled better than expected but can't comment on the reel drag system at this point. Did notice the retrieve was very quick compared to what I am used to, maybe too quick for the Ned in winter. Will have to adjust my retrieve for the reel. All in all, I would have to agree with many here who have bragged about the PQ. It performed better than expected for me today. Who knows how it will hold up, but I paid less for it than I did for my 4600 CBs back in 1984! Doubt it will hold up like they have, but who knows? Jim "The obsessions of others are opaque to the unobsessed, and thus easy to mock...If we are lucky we all have at least one."
Riverwhy Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 Thanks for the review. I bought the same model Sunday and plan to put it on a medium heavy 7 foot Extreme rod.
Seth Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 I tried one of my new 5.1:1 PQ's yesterday. It slung a bandit 200 a pretty long ways. Even caught a few bass, but they were dinks and didn't put much stress on the drag either. Last year I bought a 7.1:1 for my jig rod when they were marked down to $75 and it's still going strong and working great as well. My buddy that fished with me yesterday used a 5.1:1 as well and commented on how nice the reel felt.
Al Agnew Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 I noticed that the BPS Carbonlites have changed appearance again. I absolutely loved the first two versions, the third version that came out two years ago was pretty much a lemon...I tried two of them. Smooth as silk out of the box but after about three hours fishing they were like meat grinders, and I couldn't figure out any way of making them better. I wonder what this latest version is like.
Seth Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 They are supposedly doing a remodel of the Pro Qualifiers next year and that is why they are so cheap this year. I sure hope they don't jack them up like the did the Carbonlites.
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