Lew’s Custom Lite vs Tatula Elite

[The Fisher]

Looking for a light BFS reel. I see both of these get good reviews and seem to have shallow spools. Does anyone have a comparison or opinion on either one handling baits about 3/16 oz. or less? 

[Shimano_1]

I haven't had the elite but had the custom lite and was quite disappointed.  I feel any of the newer daiwas would be superior in every way. The lite felt cheap, didnt cast as good as all my other reels and the finish was awful.  I didn't use it for really light lures so maybe someone will chime in on that. Of those 2 I'd go elite all day. Shimano has several reels id also consider if you're open to a Shimano. Ive had tatula ct, sv and 100 for reference as well as lews from speed spool to custom pro. Good luck

[Tywithay]

The Elite casts lightish lures really well, but both of these reels are far from BFS.

[The Fisher]

1 hour ago, Tywithay said:

The Elite casts lightish lures really well, but both of these reels are far from BFS.

Thanks, I guess I’m not looking at BFS, which I think is about 1/8 oz lures. Lightest I throw is TX rig 4” Senko with 1/8 oz tungsten. That new Shimano Curado looks good too

[PhishLI]

59 minutes ago, The Fisher said:

Lightest I throw is TX rig 4” Senko with 1/8 oz tungsten.

That's 3/8oz total. Any decent standard non-bfs reel you like will be fine.  Standard reels with lighter spools will be even better.

[FryDog62]

For really light stuff like a Ned, hair jig, etc I use Alphas CT SV.  
 

For drop-shotting, I had a 2 year old former generation Curado 70.  Great reel, but not for stuff that light, poor distance.  For drop-shotting where you want the line to come off the spool with little to no resistance, I switched to a Tatula Elite and it works very well. I also have started using the Elite to throw 1/8 hair jigs and like the extra distance I’m getting now. 

 

Bottom line for me - if I want extra distance and effortless casting with light lures I lean Elite.  I’m less worried about it not fitting the bfs category at 6.7 oz and more about functionality with light lures.  If I am pitching shorter distances, want to occasionally skip a light lure, or casting in the wind, then I prefer the lighter 5.9 oz Alphas with the SV spool  - which is more forgiving and less likely to overrun when the brakes are set low. 

[mrpao]

I have the lews custom lite slp and think is a decent reel. I don't cast light stuff with it so I'm not sure how it would do with them. I have been using it for topwaters, mainly poppers. 

I think people feel its cheap because it's so lightweight. Mine weighs in right at 5.0 oz. It doesn't have that heft to it that aluminum reels have. It feels much like my shimano  aldebarans on the cast and retrieve.

I have had mine for a few months and have not had any issues with it.  If you are looking for a light weight reel, I wouldn't hesitate at getting one. If you have a lightweight rod it would probably pair up nicely. If your rod is heavier or too long, it may end up being tip heavy.

[The Fisher]

14 hours ago, PhishLI said:

That's 3/8oz total. Any decent standard non-bfs reel you like will be fine.  Standard reels with lighter spools will be even better.

Thanks...makes sense 

5 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

For really light stuff like a Ned, hair jig, etc I use Alphas CT SV.  
 

For drop-shotting, I had a 2 year old former generation Curado 70.  Great reel, but not for stuff that light, poor distance.  For drop-shotting where you want the line to come off the spool with little to no resistance, I switched to a Tatula Elite and it works very well. I also have started using the Elite to throw 1/8 hair jigs and like the extra distance I’m getting now. 

 

Bottom line for me - if I want extra distance and effortless casting with light lures I lean Elite.  I’m less worried about it not fitting the bfs category at 6.7 oz and more about functionality with light lures.  If I am pitching shorter distances, want to occasionally skip a light lure, or casting in the wind, then I prefer the lighter 5.9 oz Alphas with the SV spool  - which is more forgiving and less likely to overrun when the brakes are set low. 

Thanks this is what I should have said in my original post “Extra distance with light lures”  Think I’ll go with the Elite 

[Tywithay]

The Elite was a pleasant surprise for me when it came to light lures. I bought it and a Tatula SV at the same time and the Elite blew the SV away. It doesn't do anything magical and you aren't going to bomb 100 yard casts or anything, but the ease with which it is able to achieve average to above average distance is pretty incredible. I added Hedgehog ZR bearings to one of mine and it casts as far as anything I own with almost no effort at all.

[Tywithay]

45 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Yeah SVs aren't great distance casters.  None of the SV spools are really long bombers.  I hear the Zillion SV TW spool is but probably only with lighter weight baits.  They're better for skipping and picking apart cover IMO.  My Magrorce Z/V and SVS spools get the nod for distance.

I only got the SV thinking it would handle the lighter stuff better. The Elite casted the same baits (1/16+crappie tube) further, and with less effort, on the same rods. I found the SV to have zero advantages over the Elite, aside from the thumb bar looking nicer.

[FishTank]

19 hours ago, The Fisher said:

Thanks, I guess I’m not looking at BFS, which I think is about 1/8 oz lures. Lightest I throw is TX rig 4” Senko with 1/8 oz tungsten. That new Shimano Curado looks good too

Most reels can handle that.  How the rod loads is the key.  I would say a 7' M Fast would do the job well. 

 

As far as which reel, you can get a Shimano Scorpion 150 MGL for less than $200 from Japan. 

 

 

[Miken216]

I’m daiwa all the way I have two tatula sv tws, two Steez sv tw, tatula elite, and a zillion tw hd they are awesome reels

[Southcoast Bassin]

On 7/22/2020 at 10:05 PM, Tywithay said:

The Elite casts lightish lures really well, but both of these reels are far from BFS.

Hopefully your joking ... LMAO

A BFS VS an Elite Tatula ????

Not even close .... 

BFS is a Walmart... Dicks setup

JUNK

 

[Tywithay]

14 hours ago, CapeCodSox said:

Hopefully your joking ... LMAO

A BFS VS an Elite Tatula ????

Not even close .... 

BFS is a Walmart... Dicks setup

JUNK

 

I think you're confused.