Lews Tournament Pro Vs Shimano Cronarch 200E

[riskkid 2]

I'm going to buy a new rod and reel that I need like a fish needs new shoes. Came into some unexpected mad money, split it with the wife and we each get to do whatever we want with it.

In any event I'm down to the above two reels with a 6.whatever ratio. I like the idea of the Cronarch just from past experience with Shimano and I'm confident it will be a great reel. However, the Tournament Pro seems to have more features and the reviews I've read lead me to wanting to try one of these. I'm sure I'll be pleased with either but would like some input based on the experience of others who have used both.

[*Hootie]

I have both, and honestly, I would hate to have to give either up. I personally think the Lews is a lot smoother, but we know the Chronarch is proven. Both great reels.

Hootie

Chime in LMG

[Hi Salenity]

It sounds like a win win either way. I personally love the TP & at $158 they are cheaper than the Shimano

[LgMouthGambler]

I have both, and honestly, I would hate to have to give either up. I personally think the Lews is a lot smoother, but we know the Chronarch is proven. Both great reels.

Hootie

Chime in LMG

Ok, here I am. Im gonna have to agree with Hootie, the Lews is smooth, but the Shimano Cronarch will be the proven soldier on the battlefield. I prefer the K.I.S.S. method on everything, and Shimano has proven it works. Also, dont get fooled by drag lbs, the Lews is inaccurate.

[j.bruno]

If the chronarch 200e is the same as the Curado 200e than... Id have to go with the Lews on this one. Due to smoother retrieving, the TP is alot quieter too. And it out casts my Curado 201e7. The magnetic brakes dont hurt on windy days either. The LEWs is also lighter. By almost an ounce. Go buy one on the bay of the E and dont look back.

Welcome to the team

[Bassn Blvd]

Lews does has a proven track record, they've been around for decades. I sold a majority of my Shimano Chronarch 50mg's and have been using the Lews TP since the day they came out on the market. The TP has been nothing but great. I fish at least 25 hours a month and use the TP about 23 of the 25 hours. Mine cost $199 so I'd like to know where you guys are getting them for 160.

I have not used the Chronarchs since they changed the 50mg, but the 50mg was and still is a very god real. The Lews fits my hand better than the 50mg and I also make better controled casts with it. If the new Chronarchs are as good as the older 50mg's then I don't think you could go wrong with either reel.

I would put each reel on the same rod and see which feels beter to you.

[Hi Salenity]

Lews does has a proven track record, they've been around for decades. I sold a majority of my Shimano Chronarch 50mg's and have been using the Lews TP since the day they came out on the market. The TP has been nothing but great. I fish at least 25 hours a month and use the TP about 23 of the 25 hours. Mine cost $199 so I'd like to know where you guys are getting them for 160.

I have not used the Chronarchs since they changed the 50mg, but the 50mg was and still is a very god real. The Lews fits my hand better than the 50mg and I also make better controled casts with it. If the new Chronarchs are as good as the older 50mg's then I don't think you could go wrong with either reel.

I would put each reel on the same rod and see which feels beter to you.

Ebay $158

I got 3 remanufactuerd TP from Ebay last week for $310!

[Capt.Bob]

Sorry but if you can;t buy the Chronarch cheaper than the Lew's Tournament Pro, I wouldn't do it. Yes both are good reels, the lew's has had excellent reviews from everyone that has used them. I like many others bought one (the Tournament) and within two weeks my Curado's 200B and a 200D and a Caistic were sold and I had a Team, and a Tournament Pro to go with it.

I will also say I bought a set of Boca orange seals, put them in the Tournament Pro. That same evening I put the factory bearings back in and put the Orange Seals in my 200GTB Calcutta, where I could see a better advantage. If they helped the Lew's over the stock bearings it was very negligible and wasn't worth the $49.00 bucks for the 3 of them, and they did make it sound like a Curado. Buy the Lew's, your favorite premium line for it and have some gas money left over for the same price of the Chronarch alone. You will have a smoother, quieter reel that will outcast the Chronarch.

Low profile, I'd buy the Lew's without hesitation, less money, smoother, lighter, quieter, better drag! you have to decide! I would compare it more to a Core! with a little more line capacity.

[ipeeinmywetsuit]

You don't have to get the Lews TP on ebay to get it for 160. A lot of online tackle websites price match. I was just stuck deciding between the exact same reels in question. I went with the Lews and although it is a slightly noisier reel it's very smooth, much smaller, and lighter. I do think you get a better warranty with Shimano vs Lews. Although the Lews does have more performance in a smaller cheaper package. Weigh your options. I'm sure I'll be buying a shimano as my next bait casting reel just to try everything and see what the hype is (or isn't) about. You really can't go wrong with either decision.

[MrSwimJig]

I would go with the Lews. I have fished both and the Lews is just a lot smoother all around.

[TrippyJai]

Shimano must be kicking themselves. I just read the reviews on TW and it seems like many have jump ships to Lew's. All I hear is how great these reels are.

I really want to order one to try, but I have more reels at the moment than I do rods.

[Jim_M]

Just buy one and fish.

[EvanT123]

Could I still throw lighter baits with a lews tp or would in be better to get a 50 size curado or chronarch?

[hatrix]

I was at my local tackle store yesterday for a while talking to some guys and playing with all the rods and reel in the store. Most off all I came with the intention of really looking at the cronarchs but I did play with every casting reel they had. I would have to say with out batting a eye of all the brands and models of each brand be it high or low on price Revo's and Lew's win hands down. I even went out in the parking lot and threw quite a lot of them I was interested in. All the other reel were no contest to me in smoothness and casting ability. Since cronarch is what your asking about I thought right from the start as soon as I turned the handle I was not a fan. It felt like someone just dug it out of a pile of sand and I actually laughed. Then we took it out and made some casts with it. That was also a joke to me in comparison to the cheaper and much nice IMO Lew's and Revo's. Maybe if you could get some older Shimano's I would maybe say go for it. But after playing around with all the newer models I wouldn't even let my dog fish with those reel. Sorry Shimano fans but they seem greatly inferior to what else is out there now a days and most everyone I have talked to have trashed them for other brands.

[roadwarrior]

That's not a test. You played with a Shimano that was either abused on display or defective.

Almost every reel feels good when it's brand new, but tells you nothing about performance

over time. Most reels will perform best with a cleaning and lube before you even fish them.

The Lew's reviews have been outstanding. Perhaps they have taken a giant step forward.

I look forward to reports after they have been fished for a year or two. I recall the same amount

of enthusiasm when the Revo was first introduced.

[jj'sbassinforfun]

Could I still throw lighter baits with a lews tp or would in be better to get a 50 size curado or chronarch?

I personally don't think the Lew's will be as good as the 50e with finesse type baits. Its hard to beat a 50e without spending more. You'd have a hard time getting me to give my 50e Curado up. Its become my dedicated finesse bait reel. It will throw larger baits just fine, But I have it matched to a ML rod that doesn't.

[new2BC4bass]

I really want to order one to try, but I have more reels at the moment than I do rods.

Sooooooooo? Never stopped me!

[Capt.Bob]

I was at my local tackle store yesterday for a while talking to some guys and playing with all the rods and reel in the store. Most off all I came with the intention of really looking at the cronarchs but I did play with every casting reel they had. I would have to say with out batting a eye of all the brands and models of each brand be it high or low on price Revo's and Lew's win hands down. I even went out in the parking lot and threw quite a lot of them I was interested in. All the other reel were no contest to me in smoothness and casting ability. Since cronarch is what your asking about I thought right from the start as soon as I turned the handle I was not a fan. It felt like someone just dug it out of a pile of sand and I actually laughed. Then we took it out and made some casts with it. That was also a joke to me in comparison to the cheaper and much nice IMO Lew's and Revo's. Maybe if you could get some older Shimano's I would maybe say go for it. But after playing around with all the newer models I wouldn't even let my dog fish with those reel. Sorry Shimano fans but they seem greatly inferior to what else is out there now a days and most everyone I have talked to have trashed them for other brands.

I believe you handled a Shimano that was sabotaged! I will say for the price of a tournament Pro (around $150.00 street price) you would have to buy the Core 100Mg around $275.00 to get the same level of size, weight, and performance but it would hold 25% less line, and a 20% lighter Max drag. After owning both, I feel the Tournament for around $110.00 is a little nicer than a Cronarch which runs around $200.00. Dollar for dollar the Lews line produces. For someone to say the Chronarch is a dog that feels like it is full of sand is either talking about a severely misused reel, or just uninformed, or, but I would overlook that review of the Chronarch, and that is coming from someone who owned both, and not just someone that cast them both in a parking lot! They are a fine reel and it's track record shows that, is it worth twice the money for the same quality, depends how you feel about the brand.

It is more like comparing the Chronarch to the Core, if you could have a Core for less money than a Chronarch what would you like. The Core 100Mg I don't own, I have used it and it is an excellent reel and I believe very similar to the Tournament Pro, will it cast light lures like a 50E, I don't know, I would certainly think so, but I can assure you the Tournament Pro will.

[hatrix]

I actually handled 3 chronarchs and all of them felt a little rough in the handle compared to the Lew's or Revo's they just did not have that buttery smoothness that I was looking for. I will say that just holding them and only making a dozen casts with them in a parking lot is not a absolute and definitive determination of the quality or performance of the reel. But from first impressions and actually getting to feel how it sits in my hand and every thing I was just not impressed. For the sticker tag of $200 I just feel you can get a nicer or equally as good reel for less money. I had full intentions of actually buying a chronarch upon entering the store but after playing around with it I can say that reel is not for me. I was going to just buy 2 Revo S but after a little debate I decided to wait since apparently the Lew's rep was just in the store like 2 or 3 days ago and they ordered all the new stuff for 2013 and soon I guess they will be ordering the new Revo's also. They will give me a call when the new stuff comes in so I can come check that out and then I will make my decision from there. After holding it and playing around with it in the parking lot I was just personally not impressed at all. To me it seems as if you can get better bang for your buck with other brands as opposed to Shimano. For me I would rather have 2 Revo S reels or some other reel compared to 1 chronarch. I just don't see the chronarch being worth it in my eyes.

As for the Tournament Pro casting light lures. I have a few and it will cast whatever you want with no issues just match the rod to the lure weight. The breaking system on the Lew's work amazingly on all my reels. For the most part I hardly ever thumb any thing and I always have them set to free spool 100% of the time.