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

[new2BC4bass]

There is a used Curado I 200HG for $110 on another site.  I kind of like Daiwas and would also suggest one of the Tatula models.  I don't have a Pflueger Supreme XT, but some on here do and are very happy with the reel.  I've got cheaper and more expensive Pflueger models.  Pflueger baitcast reels seldom get mentioned here, but I've always felt they were under-rated and ignored for the more popular names.  See if you can locate one of the older blue Patriarch XTs.  Fine reels.  Were $250 new...I think.  Picked up my last one for $90.  A steal.  The Daiwa T3 1016s can be found for less than $200.  Nice reels that cost a lot more new.

[Jeff H]

7 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

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

 

Same here, with one small change. 

 

 

[Basswhippa]

Lews are  $50 Chinese bubble pack Walker Mary throw away reels.   Use it for a few months, chuck it, and  buy another.   

[Nor-Cal Basser]

1 hour ago, Basswhippa said:

Lews are  $50 Chinese bubble pack Walker Mary throw away reels.   Use it for a few months, chuck it, and  buy another.   

Lew's are Korean, not Chinese. I have Lew's reels that are going on 3 years without issue, so I wouldn't call them throw aways. They just aren't my favorite. Daiwa and Shimano just fit what I prefer in a reel better than Lew's.

[kickerfish1]

2 hours ago, Jeff H said:

 

Same here, with one small change. 

 

 

I see what you did there!

[Oklahoma Mike]

I am not married to any one brand and will buy what I feel is the best reel for whatever purpose I want it to serve. I have mid and high end reels from practically every manufacturer. One of these is a Team Lews Lite LFS, and it is on of my favorite reels. I like it every bit as much as the Aldebaran.

[Bluebasser86]

I had a Lew's Speed Spool for a few years and liked it. It was a noisy reel after the first year but still worked fine. Apparently it didn't make it home from one of my last kayak trips though. Loaded it into the back of the truck, wasn't there when I got home. Hopefully it wasn't too damaged to use whenever it's new owner finds it along the highway. 

[XF15-Loader]

Bought a Tourney MB last year and fished it exclusively on a daily basis. I have to say, it's a great reel.  Smooth casting and retrieval and, it will cast anything.  I've had people ask what kind of reel I was using because of how well I was tossing a toad.  

 

Bought a Super Duty to use on my frog pole this year.  I was able to get out and throw it a bit before the pond froze and it's just as smooth as the MB.  

 

These reels may break down in the next year or two but I'd be surprised. They perform so well!

[edfitzvb]

At the price point. I really like Lew's. My first was bought for me as a Christmas gift 20 years ago, and is now retired but still going strong. I have a BB1-Pro, a Tournament Pro, and a Laser Tournament Pro that are still going strong. I bought the Laser used for pennies on the dollar. I also own a Revo STX, 2 Curado 200 green reela, an Okuma Serrano, a BPS pro qualifier, and numerous other assorted reels in the 140-200 price range. I bought most of them used for 25-30% of original MSRP. All of my reels are at least 2 years old or older and all are still serviceable. The Lew's are my favorites. The only brand I can't speak to is Daiwa, but for me, Lew's stands up as well as any other brand, and any time I need a new pawl or whatever, customer service has been more than helpful. If I am buying a reel for someone as a present, I look for Lew's because of my experience with them. YMMV

[SWMIBASSER]

23 hours ago, bigfruits said:

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.

 

Not always. The cheapest reels I've owned were the most reliable and by far longest lasting 

[Maggiesmaster]

I've got three Lew's Tournament Pro reels and one Lew's 'ultralite' Tournament Pro(??) and they're all great.  However, one of my favorites is an old 'gold' Carbonlite.  It was less than half the Lew's price for about 60% of the reel.  I've read the new Carbonlite's aren't as good.  In any event, I'll stick with Lews.

[JoeD320]

I still am amazed that your speed spool gets out performed by my $100 LFS. 

[ww2farmer]

I don't hate anything, every brand has it plus and minus's. 

 

What turns me off on one brand or another, believe it or not, is their marketing strategy. Obnoxious, in your face advertising has always been a turn off to me, as well as legions of "fanboy" prostaffers who shill for, and/or bash other companies like broken records.

[Jacob Phelps]

My dad got a tournament MB at the beginning of last season and loves it. Has had no problems at all. I tried it and loved it. Just picked up a Custom Speed Spool SLP. As I have started watching more fishing content online, I have heard a few people recommend Lews. I don't think every model is created equal, but have heard many good things about the Speed Spool LFS, the Tournament MB, the BB models, and every review I have read on the model I picked up were positive. I can definitely understand why you would never go back though, after what happened to your first Lews. 

[ksfishinguy]

21 hours ago, RichD913 said:

 

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

I'm always puzzled by this. There's more line than you can cast off by far. I'm not chastising, just wondering what scenario you'd need more line for. Maybe trolling?

[RichD913]

55 minutes ago, ksfishinguy said:

I'm always puzzled by this. There's more line than you can cast off by far. I'm not chastising, just wondering what scenario you'd need more line for. Maybe trolling?

 

I don't know. Lake Fork Guy said he was using 20lb Fluro with the Curado 70 and he cast out and his lure and all the line followed lol 

[lmbfisherman]

2 hours ago, RichD913 said:

 

I don't know. Lake Fork Guy said he was using 20lb Fluro with the Curado 70 and he cast out and his lure and all the line followed lol 

Uh who puts on 20 lb floro on a Curado 70 or even 50 size reels and cast it out?  If I put 20 lb on a 70 it would only be used as a pitching and flipping setup.  So silly.  

 

I put 30 lb braid on mine, more than efficient for me to use for jigs and plastics without worrying about spooling my reel. You have to use common sense.  FYI I fought big cats and pike with no issues about spooling my reel either.

[Big Bait Fishing]

22 hours ago, Basswhippa said:

Lews are  $50 Chinese bubble pack Walker Mary throw away reels.   Use it for a few months, chuck it, and  buy another.   

[Jeff H]

22 hours ago, Basswhippa said:

Lews are  $50 Chinese bubble pack Walker Mary throw away reels.   Use it for a few months, chuck it, and  buy another.   

I call them gumball machine quality.

[RichD913]

25 minutes ago, lmbfisherman said:

Uh who puts on 20 lb floro on a Curado 70 or even 50 size reels and cast it out?  If I put 20 lb on a 70 it would only be used as a pitching and flipping setup.  So silly.  

 

I put 30 lb braid on mine, more than efficient for me to use for jigs and plastics without worrying about spooling my reel. You have to use common sense.  FYI I fought big cats and pike with no issues about spooling my reel either.

 

He does I guess lol

[Jeff H]

I've put 17lb XT on a TD-Z w/1016 spool and was throwing jigs with it.   I'm not a distance caster but there was plenty of line for me

[Airman4754]

I have 15 or so Lew's and haven't ever had the slightest problem with them.

 

I haven't had the slightest problem with any real I have ever spent more than $150 on new or used and that's A LOT of reels.

 

 

[robster80]

I HATE lews.  I drank the Lews kool aid a few yrs back when i got into baitcasting reels. Everyone praised the tournament pro. So i ordered one and also a super duty. When the package arrived i almost thought it was some sort of strange joke when i held the reel. Just felt so cheap and fragile. Even the lews emblem was halfway peeled off.  There was nothing great about performance either. Had issues with the braking system after a few days as well. After i realized they were made by pure fishing or whatever and share parts with tons of other reels i got rid of em and went to daiwa and shimano. 

[tander]

I got 6 BB1's and have 2 older 80's BB1s. Never had a problem out of any of them. You can get bad ones from any brand, customer service is what you need to look for when buying anything.

[LEWITH]

Lews has come along way in the last few years.  Anything above the tournament MB line you will be happy with.  The tournament MB line is kind of the start to where their product becomes pretty high quality.  If you havent tried a Team Lews Lite you are missing out.  They make a great product everyone has their own opinions ford vs chevy here really.  The top reel makers imo are Shimano, Lews, Diawa, Abu no real order.