Aftermarket Shallow Spool

[Beam]

Does anyone know if I can get an aftermarket shallow spool for a "Team Lews Lite Speed Spool" ?

Wanted to try and build an BFS reel.  thanks

[a1712]

Check Hedgehog Studio's Japan. Brian.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

There are better platforms for a BFS project. 

[The Fisher]

I found some for Tatula Ct and Fuego CT on the EBay at Ray’s Studio and they work great Never found anything for a Lews

[J Francho]

There isn't too much out there for a Lew's.

[new2BC4bass]

I've tried going this route.  (Not with a Lew's, tho.)  Personally I think you are better off looking for a used Pixy.

[Beam]

 I guess I will have to look at different options. Maybe get a shallow spool for my Chronarch 51E. 

Thanks for the responses. .....Beam

[new2BC4bass]

There are some nice spools for the 50E series.  You can spend about what a used Pixy will cost.  I haven't ever looked, but I imagine DIY would have a reasonably priced spool for that reel.

[Stephen B]

On ‎8‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 7:03 AM, Beam said:

Does anyone know if I can get an aftermarket shallow spool for a "Team Lews Lite Speed Spool" ?

Wanted to try and build an BFS reel.  thanks

Save your money. Almost all aftermarket reel parts aren't worth it as the performance for the cost is not beneficial. The price you'll end up spending for bearings, spools, etc to build a BFS reel, you would be better off buying a BFS reel such as a Shimano Aldebaran MGL. 

[CrankFate]

1 hour ago, Stephen B said:

Save your money. Almost all aftermarket reel parts aren't worth it as the performance for the cost is not beneficial. The price you'll end up spending for bearings, spools, etc to build a BFS reel, you would be better off buying a BFS reel such as a Shimano Aldebaran MGL. 

I agree. At least, to some extent. The problem is the value of reels is plagued by diminishing returns. The higher you go in price, the less you get for each bump up in price. It doesn’t matter if you buy upgrades or buy a higher end reel. Either way, a shallow spool is, IMO, the best bang for your buck upgrade there is. Because for most fishing, line capacity is overrated. I personally like upgrades, because out of the box reels are just too tame and limited when it comes to throwing very hard with thin braid to get distance. But it’s not for everyone. Mid to upper mid priced reels are usually the best way to go for most applications. The worst thing is thinking you need to spend $50-$100 more than you want to get a good reel.

[Stephen B]

3 hours ago, CrankFate said:

I agree. At least, to some extent. The problem is the value of reels is plagued by diminishing returns. The higher you go in price, the less you get for each bump up in price. It doesn’t matter if you buy upgrades or buy a higher end reel. Either way, a shallow spool is, IMO, the best bang for your buck upgrade there is. Because for most fishing, line capacity is overrated. I personally like upgrades, because out of the box reels are just too tame and limited when it comes to throwing very hard with thin braid to get distance. But it’s not for everyone. Mid to upper mid priced reels are usually the best way to go for most applications. The worst thing is thinking you need to spend $50-$100 more than you want to get a good reel.

Definitely agree that all reels value is a diminishing value as with most gear. I actually prefer deep spools but that is just me but I have a lot of BFS reels as well (Shimano Aldebaran, Shimano Aldebaran MGL, etc.) Definitely understandable to like shallow spools. We all have our own unique preference.

 

I just don't think reel upgrades are worth it IMO other than drag upgrades and a few other minor things. I think a good function, and well maintenance reel from a quality reel tech is much more valuable. Just ask DVT for his opinion as he sees this a lot and could definitely add to the conversation regarding upgraded bearings performance from Hedgehog vs cleaned, flushed, and properly oiled stock bearings in a Curado K or Daiwa Tatula.

 

 

 

 

[CrankFate]

On 8/14/2018 at 8:16 PM, Stephen B said:

Definitely agree that all reels value is a diminishing value as with most gear. I actually prefer deep spools but that is just me but I have a lot of BFS reels as well (Shimano Aldebaran, Shimano Aldebaran MGL, etc.) Definitely understandable to like shallow spools. We all have our own unique preference.

 

I just don't think reel upgrades are worth it IMO other than drag upgrades and a few other minor things. I think a good function, and well maintenance reel from a quality reel tech is much more valuable. Just ask DVT for his opinion as he sees this a lot and could definitely add to the conversation regarding upgraded bearings performance from Hedgehog vs cleaned, flushed, and properly oiled stock bearings in a Curado K or Daiwa Tatula.

 

 

 

 

Drag upgrades are a big plus, especially when thicker washers tighten up the tolerances. But it was not necessary on the Tatula I just got....

[Big-Bass]

Buy a Daiwa Alphas Air with the faster gear ratio.  I got mine for $150 basically NIB and it's a really nice reel.  Best wishes on the water!

[bulldog1935]

I know this is an old topic, and one I researched on every internet source.  

I ended up with a new Lew's Team Pro SP, and it makes a very nice BFS reel.  

It has the shallow spool, made for 40 yds 20-lb mono.  

The shallow spool also holds exactly 200 yds of 0.165-mm braid - my use is for inshore ML and 1/8-ounce - Or the same 200 yds in 4-lb test mono.  

If you ever need a good line capacity calculator, I like the one at Pattaya Fishing, which lets you also calculate stacking lines of different diameters.  

 

The shallow spool on the SP is far lighter than any of Lew's deep spools.  I further reduced spool inertia with Hedgehog Air BFS bearings, which are currently on sale in Japan already paired for Lew's - if they haven't already sold out.  

 

Before I bought the reel, checked with Lew's whether the SP spool was interchangeable with any other Lew's model (since I already have a few).  Definitely not.  The SP has the smaller SLP frame, P2 pinion gear, so no go with other Lew's models.  

[roadwarrior]

The shallow spool also holds exactly 200 yds of 0.165-mm braid - my use is for inshore ML and 1/8-ounce - Or the same 200 yds in 4-lb test mono.  

 

WOW!

Seems like overkill to me.

[bulldog1935]

you may be missing the point, the spool holds 35 yds of 65-lb braid, but I'm casting distance on light lures inshore, and using the thinnest braid that works with bait reels.  

[bulldog1935]

What should have shocked you is the size of the braid, 0.17 mm is 0.007 inch - according to Jun Sonada, it's the smallest line one should consider throwing on a baitcaster.  The reason some consider it is because they want to throw 1/16th ounce on  baitcaster.  In my case, I have a 1/8-oz inshore niche I want to improve with a low-inertia spool and light braid.  The 200 yards of 0.17 mm braid is very low mass (i.e., low inertia). 

With a normal deep spool, first, the spool is heavier, then you have to stack a mass of heavier line before you can finish with light braid.  Instead of 200 yards, you may end up with 400 yards, but you will definitely end up with a heavy spool that will never cast light lures and probably shouldn't use light braid.  

Lew's has made us a near-perfect BFS reel here, and the main quality of the reel is the low inertia of the spool and its relative small capacity.   A quality that improves the reel both for pitching/skipping, and throwing light lures on light braid.  

 

The quest for shallow spool baitcaster has sent much of the market to Shimano and Daiwa, as this thread demonstrates.  

I go back to BB-1N and Lew's clean sheet of paper that became the modern baitcaster, (ok, I go back farther to Abu and Daiwa Millionaire) - but to me, a baitcaster is Lew's.  

 

I apologize for not introducing myself better on the forum, but it's this page, especially reels, that interests me the most.  

Thanks for your patience with me.