Reels

In this section I will discuss the reels that I have used for the past 15 years.  I have always used Bass Pro Shops rods and reels because of the price and quality.  For years I used the Pro Qualifier Reel (the old round one), and loved the sturdiness and line capacity.  But as I got older, it became more comfortable to switch to the low profile type of baitcaster.  I switched to the Johnny Morris Signature reels and have never had a reel perform like it does for the price. I was extemely lucky to become a part of the Pro Staff in 2005 when the Las Vegas store opened.  As a Pro Staff Member I have had the opportunity to test a majority of the reels that Bass Pro has to offer.  In this section I will try to give you my insight on the advantages and disadvantages of the Bass Pro brand.

In 2005-2006, Bass Pro came out with the "Pro-Lite" series to compete against the Japanese ultra-light type baitcasters.  This little yellow reel became my all-time favorite and I still use the heck out of them.  They are great for lines of 8 and 10 pound test.  They do well with 12, but that is about the max for this little reel.  It's too bad BPS stopped making them, but they can be seen on special somtimes (especially during the Spring Classic), but the colors change. 

Another excellent reel that BPS stopped making was the Rick Clunn (blue) signature series.  This reel had a larger spool and held up to the rigors of reaction fishing.  I still own a handful of these reels with no intention of letting them go.

As I mentioned before, I used the old Pro Qualifier "round" reels, but since I had several of the Johnny Morris Signatures and the Pro-Lites, I rarely had the opportunity to use other models.  A friend of mine used the new Pro Qualifiers religiously and never had a bad thing to say about them, so in 2011 I ordered my first Pro Qualifier, and it has now become a part of my arsenal.  Again, another great reel for the price.  

In 2009, Bass Pro introduced what they call Dual Braking System (DBS).  If you look at some of the Bass Pro models on their website, you will see the intials, "DBS".  This has, in my opinion, revolutionized the industry.  No other manufacture offers both centrifugal brakes (inside) and magnets (outer dial).  This allows you to fine tune your reels for virtually backlash-free casting.

As for spinning reels, I have tried several models, but only use one; Browning's Midas Series.  I use the 2.5 size which holds 6 pound test easily, but can go up to 10 if you need to.  I usually don't throw anything more than 8 pound test on a spinning reel, that is why I love the Pro-lites.  I can put 8 pound test on a baitcast and I'm good to go (no line twist).  Bass Pro owns the fishing side of Browning, so it is made by Bass Pro.  The reel is a little on the heavy side, but I love the durability and the drag system.