Reel Selection - A Deeper Look

[jlsch1]

Most reels you buy you are supporting China.

These are marketing companies and most reel sales are in the United States

Lews - Its former reel buyer for basspro and his location is in Springfield, MO.
Has nothing to do with South Alabama and been like that for years.
Yes hate to bust your bubble shimano made the Lews speed spool for Lews.
Lews name has been thrown around like red headed step child.
Originally Lews owner died and name was then sold to Ryobi, Browning, Zebco, Basspro bought the name, and finally present owner.

Purefishing - money goes to up North
(Abu, Penn, Shakesphere, and Pflueger)

Quantum and Zebco - I believe is now owned by W.C. Bradley Co. out of Columbus, GA. http://www.wcbradley.com/divisions.aspx

Pinnacle-http://www.pinnaclefishing.com/shop/t-contact.aspx which is silstar they make a lot of store brand reels and us operations is based out of Irvine, CA.

Now Daiwa and Shimano reel companies that have a long track record of being in the reel business, keeping parts on hand, having real repair dept, and better customer support. These companies also sell reels in the Japanese markets which that market is real demanding for quality made products.

Daiwa and Shimano also sell reels worldwide and in 10 years lets see who owns Purefishing (use to be K2 sports back in 2006 Pflueger, Penn, Abu Garcia, Shakesphere), Lews (which marketing company will buy that name and will you have parts support), Zebco/Quantum/Fin-nor, Pinnacle. I have Daiwa and Shimano reels still in service that are older than present marketing company owning the above reel names.

Look at JDM (Japanese reels) you don't see a lot of other companies in this real angler picky market.
You do have some but not a lot of Abu but not big like Daiwa or Shimano
http://japantackle.com/

Daiwa- http://www.daiwa.com/Contact/ out of California
I like their black gold spinning reels and I got some over 20 years old.
I can still get parts for that line of reel
Their fame Black gold reel, magnetic brakes, and sealine reels

Shimano-http://fish.shimano.com/
Been around along time and they actually made the original lews reel for Lews reel. They actually took the design and made the tools, quality control, and after the relationship ended made a similar reel under the bantam name. Been around along time, fairly good service, parts support, and known for quality worldwide.