5500c3 ABU or Lew's SD3H Super Duty 300

[jimmyjoe]

   I have arthritis in my thumbs.

   I recently got a St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass H/M rod. I didn't know for sure whether I'd like it, so I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a reel for it. I got a NOS 5500c3 ABU off the auction site, and spooled it with 15 lb. Big Game.

   Turns out that I love this rod! It's great, and I'm keeping it. However, I really need to watch my grip on the ABU closely, or it hurts. I tried the Lew's SD3H, and it's MUCH more comfortable.

   The ABU is a given. There are oodles of aftermarket parts for it, and it not only will outlast me, but it can be transformed into a true long-cast machine for heavier lures.

   The Lew's is NOT a given. None of my friends have one. Other than the fact that it's more comfortable than the ABU, I know nothing about it. I don't know how reliable it is, how long it will last or how far it will cast.

   So ..... I need advice. Should I put money into the ABU, or sell it and get the Lew's? What's your opinion of the Lew's?

 

   As always .....  thanks for the help.     jj

[Teal]

Man jj, that's a pretty good question.   can another reel be an option?  Like maybe a daiwa lexa, or a tranx?   Love my lews tps but i don't know much about the SuperDuty.   I have 4 c3s that I got from a yard sale..killer reels.. 

 

Edit, I don't know much about it as far as being able to turn it into the long cast machine u want.... I had one of the first ten SD reels and used it for flipping  ..wasn't impressed...but.it wasnt.bad

[jimmyjoe]

10 minutes ago, Teal said:

can another reel be an option?  Like maybe a daiwa lexa, or a tranx? 

 

   I had been thinking about the TranX, but my dealer had the 300a as well as the Lews. The TranX has a thumb bar position that's almost as high as the ABU bar, and just about as uncomfortable for me.

   As for Daiwa .... I'm in the middle of a hissy-fit over them ?, and I don't want to get another Daiwa baitcaster. But if you have any ideas regarding other reels, sling'em my way. Worst case is I'd shoot'em down, best case is I find a new favorite.  ?     jj

[WRB]

5500c3 drag is small and the level wind is always engaged limiting the performance.

You are apparently looking for a low profile style reel a wider spool?

Tranx are good reels but expensive compared to what you have. I would suggest a Shimano Cardiff 300 but it's round. The discontinued Shimano 300E is a good choice and can be had reduced price.

Tom

[jimmyjoe]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

The discontinued Shimano 300E is a good choice and can be had reduced price.

 

   The 300e is, unfortunately, unobtanium. If you do happen to find one, it's $$$$$$. And yes, the Cardiff has the high bar, also. Other than that, it's a great reel.

   Okuma reels (Citrix and Komodo) are well-made, but they don't cast very far. It looks like the Lew's might be the ticket, but I have to find out more about it.      jj

[Teal]

Yeah JJ, sounds like the Lews SD, night the way to go.  What you can do is call Lews today and talk to someone and just look into what type of parts are available and what are some little things you need or can get if needed to optimize performance outta that reel.  Lews has pretty good customer support and they have a large following...

 

since OKUMA is a site sponsor, maybe @Glenn or @Bluebasser86 , or onenofnthenguys that have an okuma reel may know of which of their reels would fit your needs.  And maybe they known how to get the most out of it.

 

13 and kastking both make 300 size reels but I know nothing about them.  If not lews, them I'm almost instinctively looking at Daiwa or Shimano.  

 

Good luck JJ.  Hope this helps.  

 

[jimmyjoe]

   Ordered the SD3H today. I'm a little wimp when it comes to pain, and the comfort factor won out. Lew's has excellent customer service, so I'm pretty confident it'll be OK   ?

   Thnx.     jj

[Ogandrews]

You will be so happy if you get a tranx 300, they are my favorite reels around. I have 300’s 400’s and a 500 and they are all amazing reels, but the 300 is so comfortable to use. If your going to use it for cranks I’d say go with the low gear, it’s a 5.8.1 ratio and still have 30” per turn so you will be able to get them moving quick. Such a smooth reel, I use a lot of curados and curado DC’s on my smaller rods and they feel like can openers compared to my tranx. I have friends who bought the superduty 300 for their small bait musky setups and were very disappointed. The tranx is a little more money but it will last you and is built like an absolute tank, can’t say enough good about them.

 

to anyone thinking about getting a cheap big reel, run far away from the kastking it is a piece of trash. Not a fan of the 13 reels either but their not terrible. If you want a cheap bigger reel, than buy a abu maxtoro off of eBay for like $80. Super tough reel, not the smoothest reel but it will stand up to throwing double 10 musky blades for more than one season so it will hold up to anything in bass fishing.

[PhishLI]

40 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

  Ordered the SD3H today. I'm a little wimp when it comes to pain, and the comfort factor won out. Lew's has excellent customer service, so I'm pretty confident it'll be OK   ?

   Thnx.     jj

My brother has the SD300. Not a thing wrong with it yet and he's almost 100% dragging big baits. Not a complaint. We also have all Tranx models up to the 400. Nothing's a Tranx, but the 13 Z3 has been fine, he actually really likes that reel, as well as 3 Quantum Monster 300s. 

[jimmyjoe]

   To make a long story short: Got the SD3H on a Thursday. Spooled it up and went fishing Friday morning. Got a return authorization Friday afternoon. Sent it back Saturday.

   I think mine was defective.

   Looked at the Tranx 300a. I couldn't believe that it would be comfortable, and yet .... it felt different. I bought it, put 15 lb. Big Game on it, and went fishing.

   @Ogandrews, you're right. I owe you. This thing is great! Something about the ergonomics is different, because it's very comfortable. I've already got 4 bass, a pike and a walleye on it, and I'm just getting started! This is for the river ONLY .... at least for right now.

 

jj       ???

[Ogandrews]

2 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

   To make a long story short: Got the SD3H on a Thursday. Spooled it up and went fishing Friday morning. Got a return authorization Friday afternoon. Sent it back Saturday.

   I think mine was defective.

   Looked at the Tranx 300a. I couldn't believe that it would be comfortable, and yet .... it felt different. I bought it, put 15 lb. Big Game on it, and went fishing.

   @Ogandrews, you're right. I owe you. This thing is great! Something about the ergonomics is different, because it's very comfortable. I've already got 4 bass, a pike and a walleye on it, and I'm just getting started! This is for the river ONLY .... at least for right now.

 

jj       ???

That’s awesome man I’m glad you like it. I actually just bought the HG version of that reel as well and absolutely love it, reeling in fish with it feels like your using a winch. There is something about the tranx that just makes it amazing. It’s surprising because technically it’s a super simple and outdated reel, but it is by so much the best big low profile reel on the market. I think the simplicity and toughness of it is what makes it so good.

also just recently got the 7’4” MH version of that rod and love it for squarebills and mid depth cranks.

[BayouSlide]

On 6/5/2020 at 10:27 PM, jimmyjoe said:

   Ordered the SD3H today. I'm a little wimp when it comes to pain, and the comfort factor won out. Lew's has excellent customer service, so I'm pretty confident it'll be OK   ?

   Thnx.     jj

Sorry about your trouble with the Lew's. I have a stable of the upper-grade Lew's reels, both baitcaster and spinning, and give them a "reel" workout.

 

Just picked up another SD3H for a new swimbait setup.

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, BayouSlide said:

Sorry about your trouble with the Lew's. I have a stable of the upper-grade Lew's reels, both baitcaster and spinning, and give them a "reel" workout.

 

Just picked up another SD3H for a new swimbait setup.

 

   Yeah, I am pretty sure I just got a one-off problem. That would just be my luck, y'know?  With this covid-19 stuff, however, I just sent it back.   jj