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Bass Pro Shops® Pro Qualifier® Baitcast Reels
2009 Field & Stream Best Value Award
- Built to put you at the top of your game
- One-piece machined-aluminum frame
- Double-anodized, machined-aluminum drilled spool
- 7-bearing system with Powerlock™ instant anti-reverse
- Dual Braking System™
- Pin-release side plate for quick brake adjustments
- Built-in lube port
The Pro Qualifier Baitcast Reel has become a fixture in Bassmaster Elite pro Edwin Evers’ boat. Overall, we’d have to say that he’s done pretty well with his Pro Qualifier [Read More]
- Reel Weight (oz.) - 8.8
2009 Field & Stream Best Value Award
- Built to put you at the top of your game
- One-piece machined-aluminum frame
- Double-anodized, machined-aluminum drilled spool
- 7-bearing system with Powerlock™ instant anti-reverse
- Dual Braking System™
- Pin-release side plate for quick brake adjustments
- Built-in lube port
The Pro Qualifier Baitcast Reel has become a fixture in Bassmaster Elite pro Edwin Evers’ boat. Overall, we’d have to say that he’s done pretty well with his Pro Qualifier baitcasters, and no wonder. We build the Pro Qualifier to fit the way tournament anglers fish. Whether you’re fishing a weekend buddy bash or the Bassmaster Classic®, this reel will put you at the top of your game. From its one-piece machined-aluminum frame and double-anodized, machined-aluminum drilled spool, to its Recurve handle and drag star, the design is sleek, light and functional. And every feature is geared for performance, including the quality 7-bearing system with Powerlock™ instant anti-reverse; our Dual Braking System™ with click-adjustable magnetic and 6-pin centrifugal cast control systems working in concert; a hard titanium-coated line guide. A pin-release side plate for quick brake adjustments on the fly. Soft touch thumb bar. Built-in lube port. Yep—you’re gonna love this reel!
''It never ceases to amaze me…almost everyone who fishes in my boat comes away in awe of my Pro Qualifier baitcasters. They thought they were fishing with $300 reels!''
Edwin Evers
9-Time Bassmaster Classic® Qualifier
Line recovery in inches per handle turn.
103 Questions | 487 Answers
Outdoor Answers
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Does the reel come with line on the spool?
(read all my Q&A)
Answers
Top 25 Contributor
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No, the spool does not come with line on it.
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The reel does not come with line "out-of-the-box" but if purchased at a Bass Pro Shops store they will spool it up for you when you purchase.Details:
I am pairing this reel up with the Bass pro shops turney special 7' MH rod. I fish for Northern pike, Musky and Big bass and i only throw Buzzbaits,topwaters,spinnerbaits, and mepps spinners. What gear ratio do i need for thoughs baits???? I will not throw crackbaits with this rod/reel package. Thank youAnswers
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The 6.4 to 1 ratio should work fine for your application.A:
I would go with the 7.1 to 1 bps pro qualifierDetails:
Im relatively new to baitcasters, but I do own an Abu Garcia Black Max Reel. Im interested in purchasing either the Carbonlite or Pro Qualifier reel from BPS, but im torn between the two. Which would be the better choice for someone who doesnt have alot of experience with a baitcaster?Answers
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Both are excellent. I have both types. It's all about how you set up the reel for the lure you are going to fish. As a baseline, set the centrifugal brake (numbers) to 5 and the spool tension so that the lure you're using slowly falls. Make a few cast and make adjustments you like.P.S. even the pros have a backlash from time-to-time. :-)
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Get the Pro Qualifier. I own 5 in both right and left hand and they are simply the best I have ever fished with. I have owned many different brands and have been fishing for over 40 years. Get the Pro Qualifier!
Top 25 Contributor
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The pro qualifier is a BEAST and is very easy to use for the inexperienced baitcaster.A:
Both are good reels but go with the CarbonLite. My reasons are it's lighter weight and has materials usually found in much more expensive reels. The carbonlite has a Metal called duralumin that was invented by a german that is way lighter than brass & 20% stronger. The daiwa steez is a $500 reel and has a duralumin spool. The Lews reels that have a duralumin spool are $200 and the Lews reel that has a duralumin drive shaft & gear is $269. The Carbonlite has duralumin spool, driveshat, gear & worm drive. It also has a carbon handle like what's on the Garcia Revo MGX that cost $350. Also I casted my carbonlite reels straight into 25mph winds with a 1/4 oz. sinker & no birdsnest. It's hard to backlash & cast a mile & lighter weight with only 2 lbs less drag than the Pro Qualifier. It cast lighter baits very well too. Only thing I hate about my Carbonlite reels is the shiny gold color. I hate gold colored reels but live with it because I figure I would have to pay $200 to $300 for these reels if they had the shimano name on them. There's not a better reel on bass pro's counter in this price range. Just read the reviews on it and ignore the 2 or 3 that complain about the 8lb. drag. I tightened the drag down and thought I was going to bust my rod in half before it started coming out. 8lbs of drag will do the job this size of reel was meant to do.Details:
I want to upgrade the bearings in my reel due to fishing the salt. What size bearings are these. boca bearings dont have this model listed for easy ordering.Answers
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There's a guy who upgraded to boca's most expensive ceramic bearings on the spool & said the distance was no better than the factory. The bearings are very good quality and should last a good while. I'd just use a pump spray bottle with distilled water & lightly spay it down after each use. Something else you might want to do is put a couple of wraps of teflon tape like what is used on pipe threads around the spool before you put line on it. If water soaks thru the line to the spool it goes thru the the ports in the spool & drips down on the spool shaft and makes it way to the side covers. It will help keep a little water out of the reel.Details:
I'm thinking of getting this reel in the 6:3 ratio for throwing plastics and I'm just wondering if this reel backlashes a lotAnswers
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Not at all best caster for plastics
Top 1000 Contributor
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This is almost a trick question, but I'll try... I own a couple of these and love them very much. I have never had a backlash occur that wasn't my fault, I either tried to throw too hard or wasn't paying attention to wind and such.The reel itself is very smooth, and the cast controls work incredibly well. I do a lot of smallmouth fishing, and I will throw lures as light as 1/16 ounce with these reels, which isn't something I could do with a lesser quality reel.
I would have to say that if you are familiar enough with a baitcasting reel, buy one of these, you will not regret the decision.
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No more than any other baitcasting reel and less than many. Since it has a centrifugal brake and a magnetic brake, I haven't had a problem with mine.A:
I am certainly no baitcast pro and my only backlash happened because I snagged another rod with my crankbait during my backswing, aside from that I have never backlashed this.A:
In general, if you set the breaks correctly, I've experienced very minimal backlashes with the reel. Usually my backlashes are on windy days. For lighter tackle, backlashes are more common with baitcasters, but for this reel, I've experienced very few.
Top 1000 Contributor
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Every reel will backlash but it's not the reel that makes it backlash. It's the user. Even the pros have backlashes so don't think there is a backlash-free reel that you can purchase. You have to set reel to your liking. This usually equates to how much torque you cast with, your style of fishing, your lures, line weight, etc. The Pro Qualifier almost seemed to learn me and my swing when I bought mine. After about 10 minutes on the water I had it dialed in to where I didn’t experience any backlashes.
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Any baitcaster has the ability to backlash. The key to avoiding backlashes is controlling the spool speed of the reel throughout the actual cast. Backlashes are caused when the spool speed exceeds the amount of line coming from the reel. Reels such as the Pro Qualifier use a dual braking system to help control the initial speed along with the final speed of the spool to help in decreasing the amount of backlashes. Granted, you will need to adjust both to the bait that you are throwing. Also, many anglers use their thumb to help in controlling the speed of the spool throughout the cast. To learn more on selecting your next baitcasting reel and how to avoid the dreaded backlash, please visit our OutdoorSite Library and search key word "baitcast".Answers
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same size reel
Top 1000 Contributor
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The 6.4:1 would be good for smaller crankbaits which dive 10 feet or less and lipless crankbaits. If you're into deep-diving crankbaits, which are quite heavy by comparison, go for a reel in the 5:1 ratio or lower. The heavier the lure, the lower the gear ratio, in my opinion.A:
it depends on what model you are gettingDetails:
I love everything about this reel, except I would like to increase the drag some. I have the star drag tightened down all the way, but line still slips off too easily.Answers
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Have you checked to see if grease has got on the drag plates. If so clean them with 70% Isopropyl AlcoholA:
Are you using braided line? If yes and the line is slipping-even with the drag tightened all the way, there is probably one of two things happening. First (less likely) there is something badly wrong with the reel or you have some kind of oil on the drag washers. Most likely, however, the entire length of braid has loosened up and is slipping on the spool. They call it "ghost drag." You can fix this by using some monofilament line as a backing for the braid. Or you can secure the tail end of the braided line to the spool with some masking tape.Hope this helps.
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to increase the drag or decrease it just spin the star by the handleA:
turn the star nobs next to the reel handle away from you, and to loosen it, turn them towards you. it should click when you turn them.A:
You should not have this problem with this reel. I would clean it and make sure you do not have oil where it should not be. These reels have good winching power and should not slip while all the way tight.
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If the star drag is tightened down completely, the drag is at it's highest setting. If the line is slipping easily your reel may need repair. If the reel is still under warranty and needs warranty care please contact us at 1-800-227-7776 (1 year warranty on BPS reels). If the reel is outside of it's warranty please contact the Outdoor World Rod and Reel repair department (417-873-5274) for repair of your reel. Please keep in mind that the reel is designed to have some slip so that large fish will not break your line when setting the hook or playing the fish.Answers
Top 1000 Contributor
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I can offer you a guideline that I use;For crankbaits I like a slower reel, I have a 4.7:1, but would also use a 5.4:1 if I was using it for more than fishing crankbaits.
For fishing jigs I like to be able to recover my jig quickly if I miss a strike or want to make another cast to another spot, and anything from the 5.4:1 will work, but faster is better in that instance.
One thing I also look at aside from retrieve ratio is the line inches per handle turn. You'll find that most of the reels are pretty close.
Generally I prefer a slower ratio if I have a larger fish hooked, as this not only prevents me from horsing it in too much, but it keeps me from torturing the drag like a faster reel can.
I hope these answers help you out.
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Big baits? What kind of big baits? Deep divers with big lips or musky in-line spinners? Those sorts of baits? Those require a lower gear ratio so you don't work yourself to death. Or do you mean big soft plastics or top waters? In this matter, the gear ratio is less important with those as they don't create a lot of water resistance.A:
A 6.4.1 is a good all-around reel speed. You could throw a 7.1.1 if you need fast retrieves for bites that usually happen on the fall.
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Gear Ratio for baits all depend on the retrieve. If it is a fast retrieve, the a higher gear ration is required. If you are trying to keep the bait in the strike zone longer then a lower gear ratio is required.A:
6:3:1
Top 1000 Contributor
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I use a 7.1:1 on my 7' St. Croix for big crankbaits now and it works great.Details:
Do you think the 4 to 1 or the 5 to 1 would be the better reel for shallow to medium diving crankbaits???Answers
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I purchased this reel because of the 4.7 to 1 ratio. I fish it in two situations, because this is a situation-type reel ratio. I fish it on a lake where the crankbait is king, but is choked with weeds. I pair this 4.7 ratio with a very shallow running crank. It gives the bass a good long look at it, and it coaxes them out for the bite. I also fish this on the river paired with a single Colorado spinnerbait, slow-rolling it on the bottom banging it into rocks and stumps. Sometimes a slow moving bait is just what they are looking for, and you get this from this ratio.However, if you want to run a medium or deep diving crank you absolutely need to go to a higher ratio, 6.4 to 7.1. You will have to crank like mad to get your bait down to the depth you desire with anything less. After two or three hours your arm will be ready to fall off.
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I use a 5.1 ratio for shallow water cranks. This ratio keeps the bait in the strike zone longer.A:
I would prefer the 5.1 ratio on lakes. I think any slower and you would be cranking like crazy. I use a 6.4 to 1 ratio, since i do a lot of fishing on the river. I need the extra speed in the flows where the smallmouth play. I dont mind cranking a little slower on the calm water to compensate for the faster ratio.A:
I had a similar concern and decided to go with the 6.4:1 to kinda cover a variety of situations to start out. Its fast enough for me to use with crankbaits, soft plastics. But I've also been able to slow down and pull in several 3 - 5 lb bass on jigs and soft plastics with no problem other than my heart rate going up. Hope that helps you some.A:
Hello. I think 4:1 is too much low speed for shallow and mid-depth cranking. However it may be good in winter and early spring (until spawn). 5:1 can be used in all season and powerful enough for shallow and mid-depth cranking.A:
5 to 1..but its also a personal preference. i bought the 5 to 1 for my crankin rod and it works great!Details:
I keep getting backlash when im using lighter plastics and stuff. This is my first baitcaster so im still getting used to it. I can cast heavier lures without any backlash. thanksAnswers
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Take the magnetic brake and set it at 10, then play with the spool brake until you can cast without backlash.. Then get used to those settings throughout the day and you should slowly be able to reduce the setting on the magnetic brake to make longer casts.A:
Hey Trever I had same problem I started using four and increased/tightened up spool knob. Then I just had to get out there and get a feel for the whole rig. I still get back lashes but it now seems to happen because I loss contact with the spool during casting from a lack of concentration. Keep practicing with various plastics with and without weights even split shot weights and you'll get betterA:
1/2 oz or less i find that two works the best
Top 500 Contributor
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The number of brakes will be determined by your skill. Anopther variable is the line size, type, and brand. Brakes will not solve your problem. Technique will. Practice is the answer.
Top 25 Contributor
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When I first tried to cast really light baits with this reel, I had the same problem. At fist I would engage 4 brake pins and really try to whip the bait out there, but now, I'll use 1 or 2 pins with a softer cast. The pro qualifier or any baitcaster has limits when it comes to light baits and it takes practice to find out what they are. When you get into really light baits, you might have to expand to a spinning reel as they are better suited for finesse fishing.
Top 1000 Contributor
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This reel is used with 1/4oz plus, best is 3/8 plus, and 8#-12# mono line wt/diameter . Every angler has a different casting tech., you need trial and error to choose what works best for you. Start with smooth easy loping casts for the initial adjustment and then readjust for full strength whip casts for distance.
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Ask your questions. Share your answers.
103 Questions | 487 Answers
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