Dumbbassanglr Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 I prefer shimano reels but wanted to try out a Lews. I have shimano dc reels as well as a few metaniums and I really don’t think any lews will stand up to the quality and performance I get from shimano but I’m willing to try one out and see. For those that have fished both or own both, which Lews reels would you put up against shimano? I’m looking at the higher end Lews reels.
Super User fishballer06 Posted July 28, 2020 Super User Posted July 28, 2020 Honestly, I'd try any of them that fits your budget. Then once you realize that they're inferior, sell it and buy yourself the new Curado MGL 70
Super User NYWayfarer Posted July 28, 2020 Super User Posted July 28, 2020 The Lew's Pro Ti is the top of the line Lew's reel. It's MSRP is $349.99 Shimano Antares is $599.99 I love my Pro Ti but even I would not compare it to an Antares. Comparing the two would be like comparing the most expensive car Hyundai makes against the most expensive car Mercedes Benz makes. I think the best bang for the buck Lew's reels are the Tournament MP and the Tournament Pro Speed Spool LFS. Start with those. 2
plawren53202 Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 Just now, NYWayfarer said: The Lew's Pro Ti is the top of the line Lew's reel. It's MSRP is $349.99 Shimano Antares is $599.99 I love my Pro Ti but even I would not compare it to an Antares. Comparing the two would be like comparing the most expensive car Hyundai makes against the most expensive car Mercedes Benz makes. I think the best bang for the buck Lew's reels are the Tournament MP and the Tournament Pro Speed Spool LFS. Start with those. As the owner of a Tournament MP, I would second this. I have never even seen an Antares in person much less used one, so I can't speak to that. But I will say that my Tournament MP has the feel of a reel well above its price point, certainly the $99 I paid for mine on sale but even the $149 list price. Based on my more limited experience with the Tournament Pro Speed Spool LFS, I agree that these are probably the most bang for the buck in the Lew's lineup. I think the law of diminishing returns kicks in when you start to go higher in the price list; not saying they aren't "better" reels, but not better by the same measure as they cost more. 2
CFDoc Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Dumbbassanglr said: I prefer shimano reels but wanted to try out a Lews. I have shimano dc reels as well as a few metaniums and I really don’t think any lews will stand up to the quality and performance I get from shimano but I’m willing to try one out and see. For those that have fished both or own both, which Lews reels would you put up against shimano? I’m looking at the higher end Lews reels. I have several 2020 Shimano Metaniums and a good many Lews of various types. The Lews/Shimano reels are very different; however, I like them both once you find the sweet spot for each. Do you like to cast braid as far as the eye can see with a frog? Get a HyperMag or Custom Lite SLP. The Metanium was a disappointment here. I can cast the spool empty with a SPRO frog on the Lews. Do you like to skip jigs, flukes, senkos? Again, get a HyperMag or Pro-Ti. Do you like to throw light lines, baits, rods? Stick with the Shimano and it's not even close. Deep cranking? Shimano Flipping/Pitching? Anything will work. It doesn't require much reel technology to flip baits 30 ft. And finally, if you're a "sound snob" stick with upper end Shimano's. I personally don't get into the sound of the reel unless it's squealing because it needs work. But I know a lot of folks do. Very few reels out there are going to be as quiet as the top of the line Shimanos.
Super User NHBull Posted July 28, 2020 Super User Posted July 28, 2020 The only things you will accomplish is a renewed love for the Shimano and a lighter wallet. 1
Super User Tywithay Posted July 28, 2020 Super User Posted July 28, 2020 Closest to the metanium is probably the hypermag. It was very light and performed well enough, I guess. Didn't feel nearly as refined as the msrp would suggest.
garroyo130 Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 39 minutes ago, CFDoc said: Deep cranking? Shimano Don't tell me that! ... I was hoping to get a Super Duty 300 for this purpose. It seems 5x ratio Shimanos dont come cheap.
CFDoc Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 11 minutes ago, NHBull said: The only things you will accomplish is a renewed love for the Shimano and a lighter wallet. The level of amnesia from the mid-late 2000's "you will buy junk and like it" Shimano era is quite impressive. Just now, garroyo130 said: Don't tell me that! ... I was hoping to get a Super Duty 300 for this purpose. It seems 5x ratio Shimanos dont come cheap. Well the OP was referring to "high end" reels. The super duty is a ~$150 reel. Brass geared, micro-cut, tank frame Shimanos are ~$400. The super duty is a capable deep cranker for its price. 2
thunderblack Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 OP... whatever you are smoking I want some. I'm kidding but in all seriousness.....Don't do it. 1
Super User dodgeguy Posted July 28, 2020 Super User Posted July 28, 2020 What a pile of misinformation in this post. First of all if you spend twice as much for a reel I would expect it to be twice as good. It's not a fair comparison. That said I'll put my Lews tournament pro up against any reel in casting distance. It also casts light baits like a 1/10 oz redhead with a trd on it with no issues.I would try any reel from the tournament pro on up since ur obviously into better gear. 1
Super User NHBull Posted July 28, 2020 Super User Posted July 28, 2020 27 minutes ago, dodgeguy said: What a pile of misinformation in this post. First of all if you spend twice as much for a reel I would expect it to be twice as good. It's not a fair comparison. That said I'll put my Lews tournament pro up against any reel in casting distance. It also casts light baits like a 1/10 oz redhead with a trd on it with no issues.I would try any reel from the tournament pro on up since ur obviously into better gear. I don't think any disrespect is intended. The OP has Mets so he must understand any price difference. He also asked for a reel that compares to it and I am not aware of one.
Chet C Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 i would add to this that i recently purchased a few baitcasters and i feel the lews tournament mp, is good, the Lews LFS is also right there, i also purchased the daiwa CT 100 HS and the Piscifun Phantom, the Phantom is the lightest, casting distance is on par with the MP, followed by the LFS, and the Daiwa is OK, but that Phantom took in a 6lb 10oz LM rather easily. the only shimano i would like to try is the SLX, i hear good things about it. chet
garroyo130 Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 21 minutes ago, Chet Cognigni said: i would add to this that i recently purchased a few baitcasters and i feel the lews tournament mp, is good, the Lews LFS is also right there, i also purchased the daiwa CT 100 HS and the Piscifun Phantom, the Phantom is the lightest, casting distance is on par with the MP, followed by the LFS, and the Daiwa is OK, but that Phantom took in a 6lb 10oz LM rather easily. the only shimano i would like to try is the SLX, i hear good things about it. chet Lol same mistake i made .. the OP wants higher end stuff ... not the stuff i can afford ?
Chet C Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 2 minutes ago, garroyo130 said: Lol same mistake i made .. the OP wants higher end stuff ... not the stuff i can afford ? sorry, high end. not into them, school me if i should try one, what would notice over my current reels chet
Dumbbassanglr Posted July 28, 2020 Author Posted July 28, 2020 Well that was easy. I’ll stick to shimanos. 1
mrpao Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 Don't be afraid to branch out. I'm a shimano guy as well, and while I like my shimanos, I do have three lews in my mix. I have a Lews pro TI, Hyper Mag, and custom lite slp. I've had the pro TI and Hyper mag for awhile now and like them so far. I've only had the custom lite slp for a few months, but so far I like it too. No issues with any of them. For the money, I think they are great reels. Considering I didn't and wouldn't pay full price for any of them, they are a good value in my book. 1
CFDoc Posted July 28, 2020 Posted July 28, 2020 33 minutes ago, mrpao said: Don't be afraid to branch out. I'm a shimano guy as well, and while I like my shimanos, I do have three lews in my mix. I have a Lews pro TI, Hyper Mag, and custom lite slp. I've had the pro TI and Hyper mag for awhile now and like them so far. I've only had the custom lite slp for a few months, but so far I like it too. No issues with any of them. For the money, I think they are great reels. Considering I didn't and wouldn't pay full price for any of them, they are a good value in my book. 100% agree. I enjoy a lot of reels from all the major companies. I’ve yet to find that Shimano reel that’s going to make me sell all my other ones. Maybe next years model... 2
Jason.Domingo Posted July 29, 2020 Posted July 29, 2020 4 hours ago, mrpao said: Don't be afraid to branch out. I'm a shimano guy as well, and while I like my shimanos, I do have three lews in my mix. I have a Lews pro TI, Hyper Mag, and custom lite slp. I've had the pro TI and Hyper mag for awhile now and like them so far. I've only had the custom lite slp for a few months, but so far I like it too. No issues with any of them. For the money, I think they are great reels. Considering I didn't and wouldn't pay full price for any of them, they are a good value in my book. How is the Pro-TI compared to the HyperMag because I honestly feel like the guts are the same except the body material
Super User FishTank Posted July 29, 2020 Super User Posted July 29, 2020 As a Shimano guy, if you want to branch out beyond Shimano, try Daiwa first. Steez, Zillion, Tatula, Alpha > you can't really go wrong. I have tried a few Lew's reels and they just didn't do it for me but they do have a loyal following for some. And then I started to ask around at our last tournament. "Who fishes Lew's reels?" Well... Not many and no one I asked at the weigh-in fishes them exclusively. One quote from a guy that use to fish them, "I got rid of them and kept the free T-shirt". 2
mrpao Posted July 29, 2020 Posted July 29, 2020 The weight and feel of the hypermag reminds me alot of the 2016 shimano metanium. It sits lower on the rod and has that light airy feeling while turning the handle. The Pro TI has a slightly more robust feel in hand and feels slightly more solid. I cant place a shimano reel that feels like the Pro TI. The Custom lite SLP palms kinda like the old shimano chronarch 50mg but retrieves like the aldebaran 50. Thats my best explanation for this model. Its light weight but not silky smooth like the other lews. Probably due to the vibrations coming through the carbon frame. I also believe all three of these reels have aluminum main gears. 1
Super User Tywithay Posted July 29, 2020 Super User Posted July 29, 2020 6 hours ago, Jason.Domingo said: How is the Pro-TI compared to the HyperMag because I honestly feel like the guts are the same except the body material This is my fear with any of the Lews, Abu, etc., reels. How do the internals differ between the $100 and the $300 models to warrant the price increase? A lot of the platforms are the same, or very similar, so I don't know if they're completely different reels or just use lighter components.
evo2s197 Posted July 29, 2020 Posted July 29, 2020 Just curious, what leads you to believe that a Lews version of a high end reel is comparable to a Shimano? If your looking at an alternative to Shimano, check out the Daiwa line up, it's like Ferrari or Lamborghini. A comparable option to Lews would be Abu Garcia, which would be like Hyundai or Kia in the early years. The plus about Lews reels is that alot of the internals are interchangeable depending on the model with Abu Garcia and BPS branded reels along with a few others, they are made by Doyo afterall, same guts different skin.
Dumbbassanglr Posted July 29, 2020 Author Posted July 29, 2020 4 hours ago, evo2s197 said: Just curious, what leads you to believe that a Lews version of a high end reel is comparable to a Shimano? If your looking at an alternative to Shimano, check out the Daiwa line up, it's like Ferrari or Lamborghini. A comparable option to Lews would be Abu Garcia, which would be like Hyundai or Kia in the early years. The plus about Lews reels is that alot of the internals are interchangeable depending on the model with Abu Garcia and BPS branded reels along with a few others, they are made by Doyo afterall, same guts different skin. I never really believed Lews could compare but I’ve heard the term shimano fanboy used so much I wanted to hear some other opinions. Sounds like most agree with me that Shimano is better. I’ve had a couple Daiwas but I haven’t had any of the higher end ones. But I’m definitely not paying retail for a steez or some of their other ridiculous prices.
Recommended Posts