Lew's BB1

[mixermarkb]

To be fair, I don't have any BB-1 pros, but I love the 8 BB-1s I have, maybe even more than the Lews Team Golds I have. I come from shimano land, so I'm not all that sure what to do with mag brakes. The centrifugal brakes on the BB-1's do their job well. I'm sure the ability to adjust them  quickly like on the BB-1pro is nice, but truth be told I just find a setting and never touch them, just use the spool tension when I change lure weights. Great reels, and yes Dave, you will blow one up the first time you cast it. I lost a spool full of brand new trilene 100% fluro on my first cast with one in the backyard pond. Over tighten them a good bit, and ease into them, soon you will be backing off the brakes and casting a mile. I use them for anything moving bait/power casting, and couldn't imagine a better casting reel at any price point. They seem to hold up well too, I haven't noticed any differnce in feel in reels that have a couple seasons of cranking on vs brand new. You guys are all welcome to your own opinions, but I will say I like the multi stop antireverse in the 6.4:1 ratio for walking topwater baits like spooks- that little extra slop just lets that bait just sit there and nose back and forth without moving forward. Took a minute to get used to the idea, but for cranking and topwater, im sold on the "sloppy" ones-

and yes with all the reels and versions of reels you really have to do some study on the Lews site, they do give you plenty of choices!!! 

[dtrs5kprs]

I learned to dish with sloppy handles back in the 80s, doesn't bother me a bit. Never deep cranked enough to be able to know if it matters. Mostly pull warts, model As, shallow Bagley's along with the rod tip and just pick up slack with the reel.

Going to Lews from old curados will play a few tricks on your thumb. And make your jaw drop from the distance.

[Seth]

I bought a tourney pro a few months ago and thought the handle slop was a bit odd as well. It doesn't bother me enough to get rid of it though and everything else about the reel is awesome! The casting distance is awesome!

[Flysmallie]

The slop never bothered me either. When anti-reverse was the big new thing I bought one to replace my spinnerbait reel. That lasted about 3 casts. If I couldn't stop it then I couldn't fish a spinnerbait. I needed that extra slop.

[LittleRedFisherman]

On ‎1‎/‎25‎/‎2016 at 8:02 PM, TrophyFishR said:

I've been listening to all the hype surrounding the Lew's BB1. It casts a mile, the braking system is superior, etc. So, I fork over $150 on a new crank bait reel only to get it home & realize it's gotta design flaw. Apparently, David Fritts decided it would be a good idea to put slack in the handle. Meaning, the anti reverse allows the handle to slam backwards when stopped. I really hate it. It's not really anti reverse if it does that. What gives?

So, it's going back to cabelas for store credit. Might try the revo winch. As my quest to find to perfect 5:1 gear ratio reel continues. 

 

I bought one as well back in the spring, with the same concerns, I basically use it as a crankbait and spinnerbait reel.  I guess Fritts theory is you feel the bite more in the handle if there's some play?  I like mine fine, it does cast great and I don't give that much of a thought now.  I have not used it as a jig reel though, that might be different..