It's finally here the new Lews BB1 is reborn what do yall think?

David Fritz had a ton of input in the design apparently. It even has the old slop in the handle that the old BB was famous for. I'll probably be getting one for deep divers.

I have the tourney pro in the 5.4:1 model and it's an awesome crankin reel I'm gonna get me one of these too!

How much are they running? I use the SS Tournament in 5.4:1 but I'd like to try the new BB1.

$159

Who actually builds them???

Umm...LEW'S

Umm...Wrong Lew's don't build squat. The Lew's trademark was purchased and the reels are being produced in Korea or China by a reel manufacturer. Pretty much the same way BassPro/Cabelas/Browning, etc. do it. If I had the notion and money for marketing, I could have a line of Cmack reels with however many bearings and whatever colors I desired. No engineering or design skills required.

I find it hilarious how people THINK they know it all...who makes Shimano or abu garcia? well Shimano and abu garcia duh!! It doesnt matter if it was made under a bridge in china if it is built to company specifications It is most likely a good product.my lews reels say korea on them and there's not a thing wrong with them at all in fact they're better than any shimano reel I've ever touched! IMO

I have a new Lew's Tourney model (Korea) that is a nice reel.
I have several Shimano's (Japan) and they are nice reels.

I don't plan on getting rid of any of them.

I also don't plan on buying any of the new Shimano's because they are made in China and from what I have read in reviews they are not as good as the older ones.

If I am going to buy Chinese made reels they will be Okuma's.

I have a couple of them and they are very good reels for the money.

BigDozer66

My Tourney Pro's are awesome reels. I'm sure the bb1's will also rock.

Lew's is definitely one our biggest selling reels and we will be one of the first to have them. If anyone wants to pre-order one we will be glad to take your name and call you as soon as we get them in our hands!

Whoever told you that does not know what they are talking about. Some Shimanos are made in Malaysia. None are made in China. About 30 seconds of research on your own would have shown you that.

I have not held or seen a new BB-1 but if they are better or even as good as the Shimanos they would not be selling for $159. The Shimanos of today are probably not as good as those of yesterday because like every company, when something is made better, it really means it has been made cheaper and will cost more for the consumer. I will continue to purchase Shimano reels if for no other reason than their customer service. BTW I have a dozen or more of the early Shimanos, Calcutts, Chronachs, Curados that still function better than most other brands out of the box and I was a guide for several years so they did not lay in the rod box. I even have one of the original Lew's BB-1s (non-functional) built by guess who? Shimano.

Several minutes of research at our Academy showed that there were some made in China. There were some made in Malaysia also.

BigDozer66