I'm the only person in the world who hates Lew's

[RichD913]

That's a direct quote from my brother. To expand on it, it was "Yes, I know you hate lew's. I know you'll never buy another lew's reel again. I hear about it every time we go fishing. But you're the only person in the world who hates Lew's. Everyone loves them." Now, I know this is and exaggeration but I'm just looking for an idea and I'm not trying to bash Lew's or anything like that. Some backstory, my first Lew's reel was a Lew's Laser Speed Spool I got on sale from Cabela's marked down to $80 from $130. So regular price not a cheapo reel but not expensive by any means. Well a week after it started peeling whatever coating it had on it. I exchanged it for new at cabelas after being told by a fellow fisherman that it may not have been left in the ovens long enough (?). Lo and behold the next one started the same thing. Then the functionality problems came. Intermittent loud grinding while reeling. Reel handle just locking up for no reason. I clean it, oil it. I don't treat it bad, so why oh why does  it treat me bad. I'll never know   anyway, what are your thoughts and who is your go to reel company. Honestly, I have a Pass pro Johnny Morris reel I'm in love with but they only make them in right hand retrieve and I can't do that in all the applications. 

[roadwarrior]

There are many choices at every pricing point. Maybe you should focus on Shimano, Diawa, Pinnacle and Okuma.

 

 

[bigfruits]

Not bashing any company (ive never tried a Lews) but ive learned if you buy "cheap" you end up spending more by buying again.

 

Check out Shimano's line of reels. The Curado/Scorpion 70 is a bit more expensive but is a great reel for the price. After I bought my first one, I sold my Curado 51E and two Chronarch 51mgs to replace with more Scorpions.

 

You cant go wrong with Daiwa either, Shimanos are just more ergonomic in my hands.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Lews share general design, parts, tooling and platform with lots of other brands including the BPS and JM as well as Pure Fishing brands. Just keep that in mind if decide to jump ship. In general Lews compete well with other reels in given price points. Daiwas Tatula is a popular current offering can be had for $100. 

[crypt]

I've been fishing for over 45 years and have not "hated" any one reel company . just like some more than others. I like ambassadeurs, bass pro reels,lews,daiwa. but the only brand I have now are abu's and ambassadeurs.

[kickerfish1]

I don't dislike them I have just found them not to my liking. Right now I am exclusively using Daiwa and Shimano for all my casting reels.

[lmbfisherman]

I've never had a desire to get one, I'm sure they work fine.  Everyone gets a lemon now and then.   I grew up with Shimano and have stayed with Shimano with most of my reels.  I ventured a few times but I find myself always picking up a Shimano.  

[WPCfishing]

3 hours ago, RichD913 said:

That's a direct quote from my brother. To expand on it, it was "Yes, I know you hate lew's. I know you'll never buy another lew's reel again. I hear about it every time we go fishing. But you're the only person in the world who hates Lew's. Everyone loves them." Now, I know this is and exaggeration but I'm just looking for an idea and I'm not trying to bash Lew's or anything like that. Some backstory, my first Lew's reel was a Lew's Laser Speed Spool I got on sale from Cabela's marked down to $80 from $130. So regular price not a cheapo reel but not expensive by any means. Well a week after it started peeling whatever coating it had on it. I exchanged it for new at cabelas after being told by a fellow fisherman that it may not have been left in the ovens long enough (?). Lo and behold the next one started the same thing. Then the functionality problems came. Intermittent loud grinding while reeling. Reel handle just locking up for no reason. I clean it, oil it. I don't treat it bad, so why oh why does  it treat me bad. I'll never know   anyway, what are your thoughts and who is your go to reel company. Honestly, I have a Pass pro Johnny Morris reel I'm in love with but they only make them in right hand retrieve and I can't do that in all the applications. 

 

Sorry to hear that.. Although I have a hard time believing. Post a pic to prove it.

[MassYak85]

I have a Speed Spool LFS and a BB-1 Pro and I have no complaints so far with either. LFS I've had a few years now and other than needing to replace a part in the side plate (completely my fault) it hasn't given me any issues. The Pro I got for like half off so it was purely an impulse buy, so far I like it but it hasn't seen much action. 

[RoLo]

Any brand of rod or reel that is worthy of hate, would likely disappear from the landscape.

Lews is not a brand that I normally consider, but it's probably safe to say

that they dominate specific niches within their price range. 

 

Roger

[lonnie g]

remember big stores buy them buy them in batches. I used to work for NAPA. and have  seen issues where a whole batch  of product was bad  for what ever reason. it can happen.  sorry to here you had problems  I personal don't own lews ,but do personally know a couple of pro anglers that love them.  DVT is correct some manufactures make for multiple brands.  these guys have great recomendations  for what ever price range you may want  best of luck to you hope you find what feels good to you.

[fvogel67]

Mine did the same thing.

[RichD913]

Just now, fvogel67 said:

Mine did the same thing.

 

 

Exactly! I was just about to take a picture as some people apparently can't believe that there can be anything wrong with a Lew's Reel. Anyway, the "I hate Lew's" statement came from my brother about my distaste for this reel and it put a sour taste in my mouth with Lew's. But man some people got triggered lol

45 minutes ago, WPCfishing said:

 

Sorry to hear that.. Although I have a hard time believing. Post a pic to prove it.

See above. Same thing happened to me. And I'm not hear to prove anything, I'm hear for advice. Thanks anyway.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

I bought a team Lews pro when they first came out. It really did perform well but I just wasn't crazy about it. It also developed a bad/loud bearing after only a trip or two. Sold it after one season.

 

I used to hate when I would see people describe abu,Pflueger, Lews etc as "cookie cutter" reels, but now I totally understand it. Only 5 or so years ago I was all in on my cookie cutters now after a couple bad experiences I'm over it. All shimano and daiwa for me.

 

I still get a kick out of when when I hear someone say" I hate abu but man these Lews are the best thing ever". I don't usually call them out but I am always thinking to myself, they're basically the same reel.

 

Anyway to the op's point. I won't say I hate Lews but I'm sure I will never own another.

[Big Bait Fishing]

4 hours ago, RichD913 said:

That's a direct quote from my brother. To expand on it, it was "Yes, I know you hate lew's. I know you'll never buy another lew's reel again. I hear about it every time we go fishing. But you're the only person in the world who hates Lew's. Everyone loves them." Now, I know this is and exaggeration but I'm just looking for an idea and I'm not trying to bash Lew's or anything like that. Some backstory, my first Lew's reel was a Lew's Laser Speed Spool I got on sale from Cabela's marked down to $80 from $130. So regular price not a cheapo reel but not expensive by any means. Well a week after it started peeling whatever coating it had on it. I exchanged it for new at cabelas after being told by a fellow fisherman that it may not have been left in the ovens long enough (?). Lo and behold the next one started the same thing. Then the functionality problems came. Intermittent loud grinding while reeling. Reel handle just locking up for no reason. I clean it, oil it. I don't treat it bad, so why oh why does  it treat me bad. I'll never know   anyway, what are your thoughts and who is your go to reel company. Honestly, I have a Pass pro Johnny Morris reel I'm in love with but they only make them in right hand retrieve and I can't do that in all the applications. 

if i were you , i'd give a call to Lew's as they have a fantastic customer service

[WPCfishing]

22 minutes ago, RichD913 said:

 

 

Exactly! I was just about to take a picture as some people apparently can't believe that there can be anything wrong with a Lew's Reel. Anyway, the "I hate Lew's" statement came from my brother about my distaste for this reel and it put a sour taste in my mouth with Lew's. But man some people got triggered lol

See above. Same thing happened to me. And I'm not hear to prove anything, I'm hear for advice. Thanks anyway.

 

Okay so now I believe you.. Unfortunately there are some new members posting garbage from time to time. Glad you aren't one of them. Contact Liz at Lews at: customerservice@lews.com 

I'm sure she will make arrangements for you to get a new reel. 

[RichD913]

I have reached out to customer service and they offered to replace the reel. That's when I just exchanged it because it was still early after the purchase and the second reel had the same problems. So it gets used until I replace it with another reel. Customer service was helpful though.

[NickIL]

For basic cranking I have found the Lew's Speed Spool to be among the best.  I will spend more when I need greater performance from a reel.  Frankly, the basic Speed Spool, at around $100, meets my every need for a smooth, long casting, dependable drag reel.

 

[fvogel67]

I'm not concerned at all with the cosmetics of my Laser Pro,I use it fishing the Great Miami and its kind of my beater reel.It works great and I have no complaints at all with its mechanical performance 

[fishnkamp]

Again not really bashing but relaying a witnessed event. I fish in tidal Md waters. The bass share their home with huge stripers, big blue and channel cats, pickerel and snakeheads.  These fish can tear up equipment.

I have sen a 15 pound blue cat destroy a Lews reel on my boat more than once. Personally I have switched to Diawa Tatula Type Rs and CTs.  Many of the guys I know that fish regularly have made a switch to those reels as well.  Most of them were fishing either Lews or BPS Pro Qualifiers. The Diawas are casting extremely smoothly and holding up well even in brackish tidal water.

[new2BC4bass]

57 minutes ago, NickIL said:

For basic cranking I have found the Lew's Speed Spool to be among the best.  I will spend more when I need greater performance from a reel.  Frankly, the basic Speed Spool, at around $100, meets my every need for a smooth, long casting, dependable drag reel.

 

 

See if they will let you upgrade to a Tournament MB for a little extra money.  Let them know this is the second reel in a row with the same problem.  Who knows.....maybe they will give you an upgrade for no charge.  Otherwise switch to the Tatulas if you want to stay in the $95-$100 price range.

[Yudo1]

My first bait casters were Lew's and BPS PQ's.  I liked them ok, but they didn't wow me.  I bought my first shimano curado 51e and immediately sold everything and went totally shimano/daiwa.  It sounds like you should do the same.

[RichD913]

5 minutes ago, Yudo1 said:

My first bait casters were Lew's and BPS PQ's.  I liked them ok, but they didn't wow me.  I bought my first shimano curado 51e and immediately sold everything and went totally shimano/daiwa.  It sounds like you should do the same.

 

I'm looking for a reel now to pair with the Tatula rod I ordered for worms and jigs, and have decided to go with shimano or Daiwa $200 would be the most I could spend and that's pushing it. I don't really know exactly what to look for. They all kind of boast the same thing. 

[Yudo1]

Get a Tatula CT or if you want something a little more compact then try a curado 70.

[RichD913]

8 minutes ago, Yudo1 said:

Get a Tatula CT or if you want something a little more compact then try a curado 70.

 

I am looking at the Tatula Tactical which is on sale. Was looking at the Curado 70 but am concerned about the line capacity.