[oldschoolbasser]

Ghost,could be the reel just needs a good cleaning.Those are good reels,and would add an extra weapon to your arsenal.You should have someone go through the reel,and see if there are worn parts that need to be replaced.Take the time to learn how to use it.These reels are better for using in most situations,especially when heavy line,and power are needed.

[KcDano]

Yes, You should give that Lew's reel a chance, plenty of people still use the bb1 today. It is worth tinkering with to get it in operational shape. If you decide you like fishing with baitcaster and want a more modern reel. Sell the Lew's reel, if it is in good shape somebody will pay some bucks for it. Which you can apply toward the purchase of a more modern reel. Check the closed auctions on ebay to arrive at fair market value for the lews reel

[JSC]

Ghost check and see the model number for the Lews Reel ... They were made first by Shamono then by Ryobi ... As suggested make sure it is clean and well lubed .. an excellent reel to learn with (and to use) I still use a couple (would be 3 but one of them was sent to the deep by a bush 10 ft of water with logs and limbs ) AD4000V Ryobi which was another number in Lews Reel.
Lews BB1 was the first major change in bait casting reels (really it was inspired by the "Hurd Super Caster" as was the Lews Speed Sticks (originals with one handle and several "Blades" to change to for the kind of fishing you are doing).
Attached is Pix for anyone who mite be intrested in this bit of Trivia.
JSC

[KcDano]

That something I didn't know that lew's was inspired by Hurd SuperCaster combo rod and reel. I have one supercaster with the saltwater finish (black paint that has for the most flaked away) I have heard that some of the rods for the supercasters were fashioned from surplus tank antennas from ww-2. I have fished with mine, it actually works fairly well all things considered.

[JSC]

The "Inspired By" is an assumption of Mine (gotta watch words like that ) Shag Shaid carved the first of Lews Rod Handles and that was when he went to work with Lew ... Shag had mentioned the Hurd Supercaster to me before he went with Lew and if You add it all up it gave me the assumption (there is that word again) and I think it is accurate that this is where all of the basic design came from.
Have tried to make a cast or 2 with mine but it is tough ... I purchased it from a customer of mine ... he had it to sell for a customer of his in Opp Alabama.
I have some old fishin books and etc and I actualy have an ad for the Supercaster.
Don't know about the tank antenas on the supercaster but do know that the Shakespeare "Wonder Rods" were made from them .. these were some of the first fiberglass rods.
The supercaster was a steel one as you & I know .... wonder if any one else has an encounter with this combo ??
Later
JSC

[KcDano]

The tank antennas were of metal construction, however Shakespeare made the first fiberglass radio antennas early in the fifties

[oldschoolbasser]

JSC,I have to disagree with you on the BB1 being the first major change in baitcasting reels.The Ambassadeur Record reels came out way before the Speed Spool,and innovations like dis-engaging spool,and centrifugal brakes were some of it's innovations.These pre-date the BB1 by over 20 years,so while they were a little more modern ,their design was only an evolution of what ABU-Garcia had already come out with.Ambassadeurs were also the first to come out with the thumb-bar reels in "76",and other companies didn't embrace this technology until the late "80's",and is now pretty much a standard feature on all of the reels out today.Although I give Lew's credit for having the longest handle available at the time.I started swapping my Ambassadeur handles for them back in the early "80's",and still have quite a few to this day.

[King Bait Co.]

ghost I just learned how to use a baitcaster last season. Now thats all I use and will never go back to anything else. My ten year old daughter is starting to learn how to use one. This is how I am teaching her. The first thiong you should by is practis plugs and do it in you yard.
#1 I turn the brake all the way to ten.
#2 Put the rod ti so it at a 65 degree angle.
#3 push the line release button.
#4 Let the bait you are using fall to the ground but the trick is when the lure ground you want the spool to stop spinning. (Make sure you are ready to stop it if its not adjusted tight enough)
#5 make it a little tighter when fist using it. That will help with the back lash.
As you get used to using them move the numer down on the brake. I am down to 4 now.
When fishing it put your pointer finger under the line you will fell all the lightest bites. Its hard to explain how to do it. PM me maybe I can send you a picture.
That was how it was showed to me my daughter is getting it down. Only know she wants to use my rods.
If you bird nest it slowly pull the line out. When it stops their will be part of the line that is crossing the one going out to your lure.
Now the line that cross line pull it up till you can pull the line out past that point you may have a few more in it.
some times if you just roll the spool backwards then pull it forwards it will get the bird nest out also.
Always keep the line full on the spool it will cast easier that way with little room for backlash.
Everybody has their ways just giving you another PM me if you have any questions. I have two other guys I am showing them how to use one also.
By this time next year you should have six or seven new baitcasters. I am telling you once you learn their is no going back to the other stuff.

[JSC]

Oldschoolbasser
I agree 100% that the Ambassadors were the first major change to the old Bait Casters.
(Coxe and another Co.? had a model that you disengaged the spool by pulling out on the handle)
But Lew did Change to the "Low Profile", and as you mentioned the handles, was a mjor improvement, The disengage of the level wind on the cast and the narrow spool... We are back to "Knock Offs" but with improvements.. so I must have used the wrong term when I said "first major chages" sorry about that you are correct.
KcDano
The way I understand it Shakespeare built Fiberglass Anteneas at the last part of WWII and the rods were a "Spin Off" of that .... I remember an article or ad about that in relation to the "Howell Process" "Wonder Rods" ... Wish I had all the details ... I know I am not Old just getting Older and some things don't jump back real fast ...
Ghost
Sorry we hijacked your thread but some of this trivia can get some of us carried away.
The advice King B gave you from getting his thumb and educating his Daughters thumb should give you a little more on getting Your "Thumb Educated" ... "Professional Over Runs" (BACKLASHES) are just a fact of life .. you just have to live with it and learn the art of bait casting by playing the wind and etc.
Good Luck
JSC

[mark poulson]

Try putting a layer of tape onto the spool when it's about 1/4" below full, and then continue winding on line until 1/8" low. That way, the birds nests won't go too deep.