Lew’s BB1 Pro 6.2:1 Left Hand Baitcast Reel

The BB1 Pro occupies the sensible middle ground in Lew’s range – a genuine step up in refinement from an entry reel like the Speed Spool RX, without asking flagship money for it. This 6.2:1 version is the deliberately slower-geared half of the BB1 Pro pairing, and that’s a feature rather than a limitation: a lower gear ratio trades outright retrieve speed for real cranking torque, which is exactly what you want when you’re working a deep-diving crankbait through resistance or slow-rolling a big swimbait where speed isn’t the point.

What separates the BB1 Pro from cheaper reels at a similar price is in the details Lew’s chose to include rather than cut: a dual-stage titanium-coated zirconia line guide, positioned further from the spool than standard to genuinely reduce line friction and add casting distance, and the patented retractable Speed Keeper that gives you somewhere secure to park a hook between casts rather than trailing it off the guide. A 10-bearing system with Zero Reverse keeps hooksets solid, the QuietCast 6-pin externally adjustable brake gives real control rather than a single compromise setting, and 160 yards of 12lb mono capacity comfortably covers a full day of deep cranking without needing to top up mid-session.

Detailed Specifications

• Retrieve: Left Hand
• Gear ratio: 6.2:1
• Line recovery: 25in per turn
• Bearings: 10-bearing system, stainless steel double-shielded, with Zero Reverse
• Frame: One-piece aluminium, graphite sideplates
• Gears: Hard-anodised aluminium alloy Speed Gears with P2 Super Pinion
• Braking: QuietCast 6-pin externally adjustable centrifugal brake (ACB)
• Line guide: Dual-stage titanium-coated zirconia
• Spool: 35mm U-shape, braid-ready
• Drag: Carbon fibre, up to 20lb max
• Line capacity: 160yd/12lb mono, 50lb braid
• Extras: Speed Keeper hook keeper, Speed Dial line indicator

Where to Use It

• Deep-diving crankbaits and big swimbaits needing torque over speed
• Cold-water slow-rolling presentations
• Anglers moving up from an entry-level baitcaster without jumping to flagship pricing
• General bass fishing where one dependable, mid-tier reel needs to cover most days

Gerry’s Pro Tip

On a slower-geared reel like this, don’t try to compensate by cranking faster than feels natural – 6.2:1 already covers real ground per turn of the handle. Winding harder than the gearing calls for just tires your arm out over a full session without adding anything to how the bait actually moves.

FAQs

Q: Should I get the 6.2:1 or the 7.5:1 BB1 Pro?
A: Choose the 6.2:1 for cranking power – deep crankbaits, big swimbaits, slow-rolling presentations where torque matters more than speed. The 7.5:1 suits faster techniques like worming, jigging and topwater where quick line pickup counts for more.

Q: How does the BB1 Pro compare to the Speed Spool RX?
A: The BB1 Pro adds the dual-stage line guide and Speed Keeper hook keeper that the Speed Spool RX doesn’t have – a genuine step up in refinement, sitting a tier above it in the range.

Q: Is 160 yards of capacity enough for deep cranking?
A: Comfortably – that’s well in line with what standard deep-diving crankbait lines require for a full day’s fishing without needing to re-spool.

Q: What’s the Speed Dial line indicator for?
A: It lets you identify what line type is spooled on at a glance, which is genuinely useful if you keep more than one BB1 Pro rigged for different techniques.