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Performance at a professional Level? Bass Pro Shops' Pro
Qualifier Casting Reel
| Date: |
6/18/14 |
| Tackle type: |
Reel |
| Manufacturer: |
Bass Pro Shops |
| Reviewer: |
Wolbugger |
Total Score: 6.96 -
FAIR
Introduction:
Products from large-scale retailers like Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops don't get a
whole lot of press here at TackleTour, but that doesn't mean we don't keep an
eye on what they are producing. Though reviews can be pretty mixed on some of
these offerings, the Pro Qualifier from Bass Pro Shops has always had a
noticeable following. We wanted to find out for ourselves how this reel stacks
up to similar reels from more mainstream manufacturers like Shimano, Daiwa, and
the like.
|
Bass Pro PQX10HD Pro Qualifier Casting Reel
Specifications |
|
Line
Capacity (lbs / yds) |
120 yards of 12 pound |
|
Frame/Side Plates |
Aluminum
frame/graphite side plates |
|
Gear Ratio |
6.4:1 |
|
Inches Per Turn (IPT) - calculated |
26 inches per turn |
|
Measured Weight |
8.7 ounces |
|
Spool Weight |
22 grams |
|
Handle Length |
83 mm |
|
Bearings |
6 + 1 |
|
bearings per knob |
1 bearing 1 bushing |
|
Levelwind bearings |
None |
|
Measured Max. Drag |
20.7 pounds |
|
Origin |
China |
|
MSRP |
$99.99 |
The Pro Qualifier exhibits a silver and gunmetal color scheme
Quality/Construction:
If you're a fan of high-end equipment the PQX10HD won't thrill you too much,
however the reel is constructed well. Most tolerances are all fine, with no
nasty edges or unsightly gaps to be found. There are a couple spots where the
precision lacks a little bit, but those areas are hidden and are quite minute.
The vast majority of folks won't have a problem with the way the reel is put
together.
|
Quality Ratings for PQX10HD Pro Qualifier Casting Reel |
|
Finish
(1-5) |
Construction Tolerances
(1-5) |
Handle Tolerance
(1-5) |
Knob Tolerance(1-5) |
Total |
Possible |
Rating(=Tot/Poss * 10) |
|
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
16 |
20 |
8.0 |
The reel features nice tolerances and overall build quality.
|
Sweet
Drag Performance for PQX10HD Pro Qualifier Casting Reel (2.25 turns to
lockdown) |
|
|
Full
Turn |
Full +
2 |
Full +
4 |
Full +
6 |
Lockdown |
Avg %
Change |
|
Start-up |
1.8 |
2.6 |
4.9 |
11.2 |
10.3 |
|
Sustained |
1.6 |
2.2 |
4.3 |
8.2 |
15.9 |
|
Lowest
Value |
1.3 |
1.8 |
3.4 |
6.3 |
10 |
|
Change
in Start-up vs. Sustained |
9.8% |
15.1% |
11.6% |
26.4% |
53.7% |
23.3% |
|
Biggest
Drop From Sustained |
17.3% |
17.84% |
22.7% |
23.37% |
37% |
23.6% |
|
To measure the drag on this reel, the drag star was
backed all the way off, then engaged with one full turn and strapped to
the machine for the first test. With each successive test the drag was
increased two short pushes with the thumb. After six pushes, the drag
was locked down finger tight. |
Performance:
The performance rating of a reel ranges from its ability to cast and pitch, to
the drag system, to the sheer power on tap for reeling in water-resistant lures
and big fish. This reel came along with me to Lake Okeechobee and Lake
Chickamauga to see how it would hold up.
The swept handle provides a hint more power
Retrieve/Power:
This particular Pro Qualifier boasts a moderate 6.4:1 gear ratio. Upon retrieval
its smoothness is good with just a tiny amount of noise audible. It also feels
nice and solid with no discouraging looseness or that dreaded disconnected feel.
The reel also displays ample power for all-around usage, but with the
83-millimeter handle and modest gearing setup in place you'll be better served
with a gutsier reel like a Zillion Crazy Cranker or Revo Winch for techniques
like deep cranking.
The brass main gear and drag stack...
Drag:
Well, one great thing about the drag is the fact that it's quite powerful. The
Pro Qualifier exhibited a lot of guts in the lab with a maximum setting of 20.7
pounds. This was quite astonishing since the reel's manual lists the maximum
drag at just 10 pounds. Unfortunately, this is where the praise comes to a halt.
The drag is quite bumpy and jerky, even at the lowest settings. This reel is far
from being ideal if you intend to target species that require a smooth drag
system.
The Sweet Drag Performance chart above shows the consistency in drag performance
of our Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier reel. As witnessed by the erratic behavior
of each curve, the drag performance was far from sweet.
Pull the pin and slide the side plate to access the centrifugal brakes. This was
an easy task when mounted on a rod, but was frustrating at times when off the
rod due to lack of proper grip and leverage.
Casting Range:
Despite some very positive feedback I've read
regarding this reel's casting ability, I was neither impressed nor disappointed.
I consider it an average caster, but for me it truly lacked the “free” feeling
that boosts confidence when flicking lighter offerings—even with all the brake
settings off. I didn't go too light with the Pro Qualifier, but it threw three
quarters of a battle-worn Senko and a small popper decently enough. For the most
part I always kept two of the centrifugal brake shoes engaged and had the Dual
Braking System set between a two and three.
Taking a peek at the internal magnets (controlled by the Dual Brake System dial)
and the centrifugal brake shoes.
Next Section: A dual braking system 
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