Looking for Answers about Bass Pro Shops Bass Pro Shops® Pro Qualifier® Spinning Reels?

I would use the 40

The PQ20 is the perfect size for bass fishing. the PQ40 would be much too large.

I use the PQ20 for finesse fishing and can throw unweighted plastics as far as I want to. I purchased a Extreme in the 50 size and found that even though it is a great reel it was just to big to use all day bass fishing. The PQ20 Works great for me.

I have the 40, on a 7' med. heavy rod, not to big at all. Perfect Fit.

I have them both. I use the 20 on a Mojo Bass medium-fast taper rod with 8 lb test., and I use the 40 on a Mojo Bass Medium/Heavy-fast taper with 30lb braid. They both work and balance very well.

It really depends on the type of line you are using. If you are using super line, like fireline, you can get away with a smaller spool becuase the line is so thin.

Id say go with the 20. the 40 is overkill in my opinion.

20 works for bass rods. I am using 12 lbs and does well with 1/4 ounce jigheads.

I got the 40 and am pleased. It is not that big with the stubby design. It is bigger than the 20 but is a good all around reel.

the 40 series isn't much bigger than the 20 in terms of weight. Also the 40 series will hold more of the higher pound test lines.

I purchased a PQ50 for my grandson to fish large swimbaits. It has Suffix 832 80# line on it which is suspose to be as large as 20# mono. It handles it with no trouble at all so far. Great Reel for the money.

Floro 15 will work great on a PQ40. I use this for white bass/stripers

It depends on the line i'm currently running 20lb(mono) on my extreme with 20lb(floro) leader but as far as spooling i wouldn't go past 17lb vanish floro i find it best suited for spinning gear.

I think 15 is to heavy on any spin cast. Maybe 15 braid. I have 8# nano on mine.

15 flourocarbon is what i use and its great.

Yeah it should be able to handle 15lb. I have been using 12lb. fluoro and it has no problems at all.

15 lb would be fine on the 40 or 50 model. The other models would be too small.

I have 4/15 braid on one spool and 12# P-Line Floroclear on the other and it does well. I wouldn't recommend the 15# fluorocarbon unless your putting it on the 40 or 50 model reels . If you are bass fishing the 20 model will handle anything you will throw at it except maybe pitching/flipping and in most cases I would use a baitcaster for that technique anyway . If you plan on flipping/pitching then be sure to partner it up with a 7' medhvy/ fast-extrafast rod. Since you are asking about 15# test then I think I might suggest the 40 model but like I said if your not planning on flipping/pitching then the 20 model will be all the reel you need . I love mine .

8 lb flouro is as heavy as I go on any spinning reel

I can't answer about the gear hardness and sealed body but i have owned both and used both alot. Both are great reels and function the same to me. Only difference i have found is $ for the JM!

Ah hah Grasshopper ,You seek the answer to the age old question good over even better. Let me start by saying I often don't have the answer myself,but in this case you can't go wrong either way you go.Yes they are the same in every way except more bearings on JMS model.I have both models and love them both.I use the pq 20 for whitebass and the JMS 10 for crappie fishing and both have made me look like a pro, even if only in my own mind. My advise is if your only going to buy these two and it is for bass,crappie,or walleye or someother type of species that often requires a lot sesitivity to detect the light bite get the JMS.If you are buying for less sensitivity required fishing techniques then go for the PQ model. Again I'd like to reiterate that both are good all around reels. It's just that my experience tells me that out on the water I like to give Myself every advantage I can. Ultimately this gives me all the confidence I can get from my gear.That might sound a little crazy but for sure I know lots of other fishermen that feel the same way. Hope this helps you but if your like me you'll have to answer this question again a few more times before your convinced of a strategy of choosing that you have confidence in. By the way those rods are very good choices for these reels . I would choose a 20 size model for both of these rods . The 20 size is all you need for these rods .Lots of people use more reel than is needed on spinning rods. Good Luck and Happy fishing!

I can't answer the question about gear hardness & sealed body, but I use both the PQ & the JMS and honestly can't tell the difference!

Yes it is sealed, I use both. Enjoy

I cant speak for the JM reel but i can tell you I have never had any issues with pinion gears at all with the PQ reels using them in saltwater for tarpon and snook ,I feel these reels will set off your carbonlite rods , example from archery to take vibration out of your compound bow you add weight or mass like a stabalizer , the same effect happens to your graphite fishing rods , If you take a high end rod you paid for that feel and sensitivity . you add a heavy reel such a saltwater over built reel and alot off that goes away ,
I hope this helps with your decision

i just recently managed to catch a 5 pound bass on the 10 model which means the bigger models can handle even more. you should be fine

Should be no problem

humble321321..I fish the pq 40 model landed many bass that size using it. Basically, the 20 and 40's are Pflueger reels in disguise. Either model lands bass & walleye at 2-5 lbs. Check,drag before doing so & i suggest spooling up with the moss green P-Line,floreocarbon 'coated'. It works very well on these reels.

Absolutely, I just recently caught a 7lb Brown Trout with my Pro qualifier 10 on 4 lb. flourocarbon. And it comes with an extra spool that you could use braided line on. I would actually use a backing of mono or a strip of duct tape around the spool before the braid. Good luck, have fun and please keep only what you'll use.
And don't forget to take a kid fishing.

well I use this reel for 20lb snook and tarpon up to 70 80lb class but what makes it so great is the same reel works fine also for pompano and trout , I would reccomend the pq4000 for your type of fishing over the 5000 I hope this helps

Capt. Mark

The 2 reels are identical other then the gear ratio. The PQ20H is faster then the PQ20, meaning it takes fewer rotations to get the lure/fish back to the boat. The "H" I assume stands for "high speed". If you are using crank baits you are actually better off using the reel with a lower gear ratio like the 5:1:1. Also using a baitcaster is better for cranks in my opinion. Hope this helps!

The only difference is the gearing. I bought the high retrieve versions and love them.

Retrieve is faster with the H which is what i have. The size is the same.

They are identicle on the outside . Only the insides are different in that the H model has much quicker line pickup . I guess you already knew that . Anyway I just would like to say that the slower ratio would be the best choice for crankbaits although truley an even better choice would be a 5.1 to 1 low profile baitcasting reel for cranking. Not sure why the crankbait recommendations have come into play in the first place but here is my two cents worth.

the only diff is the retrieve ratio.someone throwing crankbaits may prefer a faster ratio.

I use an old PO40 in the intercoastal and the bay as well as the gulf. I am very happy with it.

It seems to be a high quality reel but I would be careful in salt water conditions. I would make sure to rinse it very well with fresh water after use in salt water and change the line often. I have salt water specific equipment I use for inshore fishing and I use it for that purpose only.

Probably, I don't use them in Saltwater, but I would recommend that you rinse them in freshwater when you are finished fishing.

Absolutely! Just remember to rinse reel with fresh water after salt water use. You'll love it bro.

Yes, but you would be better suited to buy a reel made specifically for saltwater . Look at top of page under saltwater instead of freshwater . Look under offshore and inshore and there will be a ton of fine reels in the same price range and Basspro has a model very similiar to this one in offshore spinning . The Basspro reels are called offshore angler . Hope that helps out in some way . Good luck and tight lines!

The 40 is a good all round reel unless you fish for small fish like bream/perch

That depends on how big your fish are. I use a 7' medium heavy Abu Garica.

I would get the 50 model to be on the safe side. You don't want a brute of a fish to screw up your reel.

i would se the pq50 for pier fishing.

To secure line. Slip tag end of line from
spool under button.

Line Retainer

Its not a button, its a clip you can slide the line under to hold it in place while the spools not in use. It only works when the line isn't ran through the guides on your rod, so basically use it on the spare spool it comes with so the line doesn't fly everywhere while its in your tackle box.

It's just a place to wrap the end of the line around, a line holder, when you are storing the reel.

My grandson uses it for large swimbaits(up to 5oz). He has caught 20# striper using a triple trout and 80# Suffix 832. Reel handled the striper as well as any of our baitcasters.

It might be a little light for fish over 15 LB. I use an old PO40 model for mackeral and it is fantastic

Yes absolutley i've caught fish up to 30lbs with mine so far