Lew's Reel Questions

[Tiller]

I have a Lews speed spool ($99 model) in 5.4:1 for cranking and I'm having a lot of trouble casting cranks with it. The spool always overruns in the beginning of the cast and although I usually get through it, it kills the distance. I've tried all combinations of the mag brakes and spool tension. I really think it's the lack of centrifugal brakes on this reel that's giving me problems. I've never had this issue with any other reel and I've owned a few with mag brakes only.

Anyone else run into this type of issue with mag brakes or this reel?

Thanks,

Joe

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Lews reels are really finicky, especially the magnetic only ones (mg and ss). I'd sell the one you have and buy the new speed spool which has centri and mag brakes.

[Tylertut]

My Tournament MG (Which has mag braking) does the same thing if I don't have it dialed in perfectly, which isn't always easy to do. I never remember it effecting my casting distance though, usually the overrun will all come out during the cast. 

[BassinLou]

I have the Lews Tournament MG and it casts great. My questions to the OP are the following. Have you properly adjusted the spool tension knob? Crankbaits can be a hefty so the weight off the lure isn't the issue i don't think. The other thing I can think of is, your over powering the cast. Magnetic breaks are great in slowing down the spool on the back end of a cast. Centri brakes are the opposite. 

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I have the Lews Tournament MG and it casts great. My questions to the OP are the following. Have you properly adjusted the spool tension knob? Crankbaits can be a hefty so the weight off the lure isn't the issue i don't think. The other thing I can think of is, your over powering the cast. Magnetic breaks are great in slowing down the spool on the back end of a cast. Centri brakes are the opposite.

Magnetic linear brakes are always braking the spool throughout the whole cast, so technically it slows the spool down throughout the whole cast. The only reason they feel like they are braking at the end of the cast is because they are weak and don't have as much of an effect at the climax of spool rpm. Centri brakes are the opposite in the less reels and many other because they taper off, applying braking force only when it's really necessary.

[Capt.Bob]

Magnetic linear brakes are always braking the spool throughout the whole cast, so technically it slows the spool down throughout the whole cast. The only reason they feel like they are braking at the end of the cast is because they are weak and don't have as much of an effect at the climax of spool rpm. Centri brakes are the opposite in the less reels and many other because they taper off, applying braking force only when it's really necessary.

Any Centrifugal brake has much more affect at high rpm than the magnetic, yes the mag is there but has much less efficiency and very anemic on (top end), if you will, and the centrifugal brake has very little affect at low rpm, that is when the magnetic over powers the centrifugal brake.

 

I have a Super Duty that is mag only that is a casting dream, and all my lew's have been extremely easy to adjust, I really think the op is trying to kill it or whipping it instead of making a smooth cast with follow through??? Read some of post on how to cast a batctast reel, or pit in a little practice, but make sure you are using good form or practicing bad habits can be detrimental! 

[Tiller]

Any Centrifugal brake has much more affect at high rpm than the magnetic, yes the mag is

I have a Super Duty that is mag only that is a casting dream, and all my lew's have been extremely easy to adjust, I really think the op is trying to kill it or whipping it instead of making a smooth cast with follow through??? Read some of post on how to cast a batctast reel, or pit in a little practice, but make sure you are using good form or practicing bad habits can be detrimental!

I learned on a magnecit brakes only reel about 20 years ago and have never seen this issue with the dozen or more bc reels I've owned which is why I ask the question about this reel. I cast very easy with this reel as I know a hard cast could turn into a disaster quick. After a few tough casts with it on sat. into a light wind I picked up a bps PQ with a buzzbait on it and the bait tumbled through the air but with no overun at all making me start to think that there is something up with this reel.

I'll give it another try in the morning to make sure I'm not missing something, otherwise I'm going to pull the trigger on a BB1.

Joe

[aavery2]

Reels with linear magnetic braking can be a little frustrating sometimes, as already mentioned and you know a smooth casting motion is what obtains the best results.  I still have a few magnetic only reels, first generation Revo Premiers, and I have relegated them to pretty much flipping and pitching type baits because of the relatively low spool speeds.  Anything I am casting for distance I prefer some variation of centrifugal or dual brakes.  

[iceintheveins]

I too am disappointed by the casting distance of my tournament MG. It throws the heavier cranks I'm using with it reasonably well but it doesn't bomb them into the next zip code. I'm selling it and getting a chronarch. I've noticed the spool tension doesn't seem to have much in the way of settings, seems to have about the same about of tension no matter how tight or loose it is as long as it's set loose enough for the lure to fall. It doesn't backlash any more than other reels, but the casting distance is disappointing. I'm throwing it on a 7'11" BPS MH crankin' stick, and I even flushed the bearings and cleaned the reel (as it came with lots of grease) and THAT didn't help either. Chronarch for me.

[The Budget Fisherman]

Might be the reel. I don't have a distance problem with my mg

[Capt.Bob]

I too am disappointed by the casting distance of my tournament MG. It throws the heavier cranks I'm using with it reasonably well but it doesn't bomb them into the next zip code. I'm selling it and getting a chronarch. I've noticed the spool tension doesn't seem to have much in the way of settings, seems to have about the same about of tension no matter how tight or loose it is as long as it's set loose enough for the lure to fall. It doesn't backlash any more than other reels, but the casting distance is disappointing. I'm throwing it on a 7'11" BPS MH crankin' stick, and I even flushed the bearings and cleaned the reel (as it came with lots of grease) and THAT didn't help either. Chronarch for me.

This should work, I would think any reel with centrifugal breaking and twice the price would make a big difference. Or try a Tournament about 20 bucks more than the MG and a much better reel with dual braking??

[iceintheveins]

This should work, I would think any reel with centrifugal breaking and twice the price would make a big difference. Or try a Tournament about 20 bucks more than the MG and a much better reel with dual braking??

I'm gonna go with a Chronarch E since they will probably discontinue them and the price will go down.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

I'm gonna go with a Chronarch E since they will probably discontinue them and the price will go down.

it's gonna be a long wait for one of them.. I've been waiting since the classic show this year. I'm guessing it won't be until the end of this year, or worse, next classic show or Icast. I'd pick up a used Chronarch if I were you.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I my experience Mag brake reels serve best in pitching and roll casting applications and require some varying thumb control when distance casting. I also have the mags set near max. If you haven't, make sure the rod and line are not hindering you. Flush the bearings and make sure the spool, frame, and cast control spacers are all clean. 

[Gabriel052]

I have the same reel and had similar issues when throwing lighter lures. The brakes seemed to be functioning properly, as well as the spool tension. One thing I think is overlooked sometimes is how much line, and what weight line, is on the spool. For example, you do not want to little line on the spool as it'll have more drag and will decrease your cast ability. However, too much line can increase backlashes. Remove about 10% of the line not the reel and see if that helps any. Good luck!

[Sam]

I have the Speed Spool and it took many casts to set it up to prevent the backlashes.

I can now cast it a mile with no problem.

Some dumb questions to clarify how you set up the rod and reel:

Bait weight within rods specs?

Line test within rods specs?

Drag set like you want it?

Spool tension a little tight?

Have you pointed rod tip to 11AM and drop lure to floor or ground and adjust spool tension so the bait stops when the bait hits the floor? You do this over and over until the bait stops and the reel does not backlash.

Take set up outside and cast it easy. The spool should stop when the bait hits the ground.

Adjust spool tension as necessary.

You can also set the brakes to help slow down the spool.

Let us know if you have tried this and are also having continued problems.

You do this every time you change baits.

[hatrix]

I my experience Mag brake reels serve best in pitching and roll casting applications and require some varying thumb control when distance casting. I also have the mags set near max. If you haven't, make sure the rod and line are not hindering you. Flush the bearings and make sure the spool, frame, and cast control spacers are all clean. 

This ^^

 

They also work well for heavy lures that cast easily with little resistance like spooks, traps, hollow frogs, ect. As for the spool tension thing maybe I am just weird but I basically never use them on any of my reels. That is the biggest robber of casting distance and if the lure has a little weight it defeats the purpose of having a nice smooth reels to me since it becomes harder to turn. Not to mention if you are trying to make little accurate pitches or roll casts it changes the release somewhat because it doesn't just flow right off the spool. I am sure I am not totally alone on that but from what I see a vast majority use tension.

[2833-34497]

I have the Speed Spool and it took many casts to set it up to prevent the backlashes.

I can now cast it a mile with no problem.

Some dumb questions to clarify how you set up the rod and reel:

Bait weight within rods specs?

Line test within rods specs?

Drag set like you want it?

Spool tension a little tight?

Have you pointed rod tip to 11AM and drop lure to floor or ground and adjust spool tension so the bait stops when the bait hits the floor? You do this over and over until the bait stops and the reel does not backlash.

Take set up outside and cast it easy. The spool should stop when the bait hits the ground.

Adjust spool tension as necessary.

You can also set the brakes to help slow down the spool.

Let us know if you have tried this and are also having continued problems.

You do this every time you change baits.

 

I have the several Super Duty's, a couple of Tournament Pro's and a BB1 and real happy with them all. I don't do all the above recommendations above, but a lot of them I do do.