Great Baitcasters 140 Max in case the Lews KVD is not available on Black Friday

[Cgolf]

So I really think the Lews KVD reel is going to be money, the problem is I am guessing so will everyone else. Was hoping to pick up two during black friday sales, and was wondering if these are sold out, what should I look at next with 140 pre discounts? Was looking at a 8:3:1 for swim jigs, spinnerbaits and some topwaters and a 6:2:1 as a good all around reel.

[CFDoc]

IMO, the $125-$150 range reels are in that sweet spot where Pure Fishing, Shimano, and Daiwa all offer about the same performance for the price.

 

As such, you’re going to find ergonomics and overall feel in your palm as driving factors for your decision. If you like Lews shapes reels, that means you would probably like Abu Garcia as well.

[NYWayfarer]

If you can’t get the Lew’s KVD baitcaster try the Lew’s Tournament MP. It’s basically the same reel with a different paint job and knobs.

[Cgolf]

17 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

If you can’t get the Lew’s KVD baitcaster try the Lew’s Tournament MP. It’s basically the same reel with a different paint job and knobs.

Do you know anything about the 100 buck speed spool LFS? Best I can see is it has lower quality bearings and a different cast control system. Still has the aluminum frame though. The different cast controls might worry me. The Crush I have reminds me of how well my 2 Daiwa magforce BCs have casted.

 

I do have the Tatula 100 as a backup reel as well. I am guessing some would take that over the Lews KVD.

18 hours ago, CFDoc said:

IMO, the $125-$150 range reels are in that sweet spot where Pure Fishing, Shimano, and Daiwa all offer about the same performance for the price.

 

As such, you’re going to find ergonomics and overall feel in your palm as driving factors for your decision. If you like Lews shapes reels, that means you would probably like Abu Garcia as well.

The 3 Abus I have are ok. Two of them Revo STX and Revo SX feel a bit geary, but are very solid performers for me. I don't hate them the geariness feel just bugs me. Have the same issue with one of my Pflueger President reels so much so that I stopped using it on a trip. Adding some lube post vacation did help quite a bit and it is back in use. Perhaps all metal gears will just have that feel.

[zell_pop1]

I am on board with getting one of those KVD reels too. His rods are out now so I think it will be available by Black Friday. 

[NYWayfarer]

2 hours ago, cgolf said:

Do you know anything about the 100 buck speed spool LFS? Best I can see is it has lower quality bearings and a different cast control system. Still has the aluminum frame though. The different cast controls might worry me. The Crush I have reminds me of how well my 2 Daiwa magforce BCs have casted.

 

I do have the Tatula 100 as a backup reel as well. I am guessing some would take that over the Lews KVD.

The 3 Abus I have are ok. Two of them Revo STX and Revo SX feel a bit geary, but are very solid performers for me. I don't hate them the geariness feel just bugs me. Have the same issue with one of my Pflueger President reels so much so that I stopped using it on a trip. Adding some lube post vacation did help quite a bit and it is back in use. Perhaps all metal gears will just have that feel.

I have the $100 Lew’s LFS. It has magnetic brakes only unlike your Crush, which has dual brakes. I like my LFS better than my Crush. The aluminum frame makes a big difference to me. My Crush casts well but it is graphite and not a great quality graphite at that. When it comes to Lew’s baitcasters I will not buy another graphite framed reel from them. Their aluminum reels are much better quality. My tournament MB just finished it’s third season of fishing, it is always in my rotation. It still casts like the day I bought it with minimum care.
 

Please note my LFS is an older model. The newer ones come with the extra bearing to support the pinion. The Crush does not have this bearing. 

[CFDoc]

18 hours ago, cgolf said:

 

The 3 Abus I have are ok. Two of them Revo STX and Revo SX feel a bit geary, but are very solid performers for me. I don't hate them the geariness feel just bugs me. Have the same issue with one of my Pflueger President reels so much so that I stopped using it on a trip. Adding some lube post vacation did help quite a bit and it is back in use. Perhaps all metal gears will just have that feel.

Reels have gears, it’s just a fact of life that, if you use them, they will at some point make noise.

 

I have a handful of 2020 Shimano Mets and the one I have been using several times per week since early this year got noisy on me the other day. A little oil and she was back to normal. It happens though even to the flagships.

[Finessegenics]

My vote goes to the SLX or even the SLX XT. The SLX is an amazing reel for the price and the more I use mine, the more I enjoy it. You won’t be disappointed going that route.

[FryDog62]

19 hours ago, cgolf said:

Do you know anything about the 100 buck speed spool LFS? 

 

I do have the Tatula 100 as a backup reel as well. 

3-4 years ago I bought 4 of the $100 LFS reels. The first 2 years I thought they were the best $100 reel - light, compact, smooth. But 3 of the 4 started a screeching noise when casting after about 2 years of use. Didn’t effect casting distance but grew louder over time. Had the reels serviced/oiled twice but within a couple outings the noise started in again. The 4th reel has been pretty good but seems lack the smoothness it had when new despite having it serviced too.
 

I no longer have the 3 screeching LFS reels (traded them off for $10 each for parts at a repair shop) and have replaced them with Daiawa reels including the 100. I’ve also had other Daiwa reels for years and my experience is they have been bullet proof. A little more expensive but when you subtract the frequent reel servicing of the LFS probably a wash. 

[Spankey]

19 hours ago, cgolf said:

Do you know anything about the 100 buck speed spool LFS? Best I can see is it has lower quality bearings and a different cast control system. Still has the aluminum frame though. The different cast controls might worry me. The Crush I have reminds me of how well my 2 Daiwa magforce BCs have casted.

 

I do have the Tatula 100 as a backup reel as well. I am guessing some would take that over the Lews KVD.

The 3 Abus I have are ok. Two of them Revo STX and Revo SX feel a bit geary, but are very solid performers for me. I don't hate them the geariness feel just bugs me. Have the same issue with one of my Pflueger President reels so much so that I stopped using it on a trip. Adding some lube post vacation did help quite a bit and it is back in use. Perhaps all metal gears will just have that feel.

I hope to score on another Abu “Winch”. I have nothing bad to say about it. The regular price is a bit steep but at a sale it a bit easier to take. Gonna put it with another “Winch” Rod. Their winch series of rods I’m way more than Satisfied with. 

[FishTank]

36 minutes ago, Spankey said:

I hope to score on another Abu “Winch”. I have nothing bad to say about it. The regular price is a bit steep but at a sale it a bit easier to take. Gonna put it with another “Winch” Rod. Their winch series of rods I’m way more than Satisfied with. 

I too have the Winch and out of the Abu reels I have tried,  this reel gets the job done.  I picked mine up at Amazon for $145.  I don't think its worth much more than that but still a good reel.

[Spankey]

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

I too have the Winch and out of the Abu reels I have tried,  this reel gets the job done.  I picked mine up at Amazon for $145.  I don't think its worth much more than that but still a good reel.

If I catch it on sale I’ll be a happy boy. Abu has + & - reviews but I’m very satisfied with mine. Half of the review stuff on anything I don’t believe anyway. 

[FishTank]

47 minutes ago, Spankey said:

If I catch it on sale I’ll be a happy boy. Abu has + & - reviews but I’m very satisfied with mine. Half of the review stuff on anything I don’t believe anyway. 

I bought the current STX and returned it.  Tons of issues. I also fished my friends SX and it was not to my liking.  But on the other hand, I have the ALX as well and it is one of the funnest reels I own.  Love fishing it.

[Cgolf]

 

10 hours ago, CFDoc said:

Reels have gears, it’s just a fact of life that, if you use them, they will at some point make noise.

 

I have a handful of 2020 Shimano Mets and the one I have been using several times per week since early this year got noisy on me the other day. A little oil and she was back to normal. It happens though even to the flagships.

 

6 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

No all gears don't have that feel.  Many sub $200 reel do feel that way though.  If you didn't like the smoothness of the Pfluger or Abu Revos then the KVD may not be any better.  If you're a real stickler for smoothness then you may want to stick to known smooth platforms.  

These actually felt like they were just misaligned, meshed to tight initially? I will say once I lubed them the did feel better. I learned in my RC car days that a proper gear mesh makes a huge difference in both sound and binding up. Metal gear boxes always had some sort of lube in it. My Revo S on the other hand is very smooth. 

 

The pflueger almost looked like they forgot to lube or cut way back on on how much they used. To give you an idea I have had 20 - 40 buck reels that are lot smoother than these pre lubing, so this was not me being picky. 

 

10 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

3-4 years ago I bought 4 of the $100 LFS reels. The first 2 years I thought they were the best $100 reel - light, compact, smooth. But 3 of the 4 started a screeching noise when casting after about 2 years of use. Didn’t effect casting distance but grew louder over time. Had the reels serviced/oiled twice but within a couple outings the noise started in again. The 4th reel has been pretty good but seems lack the smoothness it had when new despite having it serviced too.
 

I no longer have the 3 screeching LFS reels (traded them off for $10 each for parts at a repair shop) and have replaced them with Daiawa reels including the 100. I’ve also had other Daiwa reels for years and my experience is they have been bullet proof. A little more expensive but when you subtract the frequent reel servicing of the LFS probably a wash. 

Daiwa has a questionable track record with me. I have had 3 regal spinning reels, I love them minus them munching bail springs, all 3 have broke at least 1. I had the 70 buck magforce reel with the twitching bar that the bit that lays the line properly on the spool would get out of sync from time to time and bind up the reel, but wow that thing casted like a dream. My Laguna and Viento baitcasters have been great to me though. 

 

Thanks for the heads up on the cheaper LFS, I will stay away from that one.

So general question, are Lews and Abu sourced from the same place? I think I have seen that on here. Daiwa makes their own right?

 

Reading all this, I think I just have bad luck with reels. Maybe my next purchase will turn the tide:)

[zell_pop1]

I had Pflueger reels made back in 2012-14. They were compact all metal reels that were just as smooth and quiet and casted for just as much distance and lasted just as long as the Shimano Citica and Curado D/Es that I owned. Daiwa, Shimano and the Doyo line are all going to perform and last about the same at their common price point. 

 

[Cgolf]

2 hours ago, zell_pop1 said:

I had Pflueger reels made back in 2012-14. They were compact all metal reels that were just as smooth and quiet and casted for just as much distance and lasted just as long as the Shimano Citica and Curado D/Es that I owned. Daiwa, Shimano and the Doyo line are all going to perform and last about the same at their common price point. 

 

I have 3 quantum accurists that have a fair amount of use over the 10-15 years I have had them and I haven't done a lot to maintain them. Only complaint with them Is I can't bomb lures out there with them like I can with the newer reels. The quantums I am semi retiring now will go on vacations as a backup reels and one may see action for deep cranking because I have yo zuri 10lb hybrid which in theory is better for deep cranking than braid. I think they were 100 buck reels back then, but I got them all at half off. Almost feel bad taking them out of the rotation.

[Ben77]

I just picked up a Lew's tournament pro lfs on sportsman's outfitters for 134.99 promo code abandoned. So for that price and for that reel for me was a no brainer!

[Born 2 fish]

On 10/24/2020 at 8:46 PM, NYWayfarer said:

If you can’t get the Lew’s KVD baitcaster try the Lew’s Tournament MP. It’s basically the same reel with a different paint job and knobs.

I love my mp

[Shimano_1]

I've owned most of the reels mentioned.  All are decent reels and personal preference is gonna play a role for sure. I loved the ergonomics of the slx but they were loud under any kinda load and lots of reports of them getting geary with minimal use. The daiwas are slick but hit or miss from my experience.  One will be butter, next one not so much. Tatula and fuego ct just a little bulky.  The lews tournament pro lfs at s.o. is probably the best deal out in my opinion.  139 for it, I have several and have been pleased! Id get the mp over the kvd simply because it doesn't say kvd on it lol. Go play with several at a store and see what "you" think. Obviously opinions are gonna vary on here!

[PhishLI]

5 hours ago, Shimano_1 said:

The lews tournament pro lfs at s.o. is probably the best deal out in my opinion.  139 for it, I have several and have been pleased! Id get the mp over the kvd simply because it doesn't say kvd on it lol. Go play with several at a store and see what "you" think. Obviously opinions are gonna vary on here!

Agree! It took me a little time to get a grip on this reel's braking profile with a range of lighter baits, but now that I have I love it. As far as putting light baits way out there with ease it's every bit the match for an Aldebaran 50, which is no slouch in that department. Mine's on a Powell 703CEF where I throw primarily a MB Hazedong Shad, weightless flukes, and finesse jigs. My buddy has an Alde 50 on a IMX Pro 853c jwr. I know exactly what it's capable of in my hands with those baits. The TP LFS doesn't have the feel or build quality of the $420 Alde, but as far as on the water performance goes it's right there, IMO. If anything it's less touchy when dialed in loose, and easier to dial in when changing baits. It's definitely one of my "always with me" setups. Big thanks to DodgeGuy for sounding the alarm on this reel.

[Teal]

Lews tournament pro.  200 bucks.  However sportsmans outfitters sells the for 139.00.   

 

 

[keagbassr]

Cruise over to the fleamarket and buy the 7.4 'k' @waymont is selling for $135.

[Born 2 fish]

I also have a Lews tournament pro lfs and agree it’s a awesome reel.

[sdsc357]

5+ years ago I was a Lew's guy. I started with the 3x speed spool (SS1HL), sold those and bough 3x LFS (SS1HL). Between those two, there isn't much difference in performance. Then I bought a Tournament MB to try. Got excited Lews keep wining icast combo of the year, bought a mach II combo. The machII combo was nice at first but once the new feel wears off, it's not as good as I thought. Like all others, the reel is junk, the drag is now broken and I've used it less than a year.

 

I sold all Lews reel except the MB and the Mach combo is collecting dust. I converted all my reels to the Fuego a couple years back. Overall a much better reel in all aspect except size. I then started on SLX and SLX XT. The SLX sits new in box, never used it at all. I can't say how well it cast or fishes. The XT is a fine reel though.

 

Over the years I have had many "budget" reels, BPS PQ (original), Abu Garcia Black Max, Silver Max and Revo4. As it stands right now, my favs are 1) XT 2) Fuego 3) MB 4)all Lews, Abu, PQ and all the ones made in that Korea co.

 

I just cannot see how a KVD inspired reel would be any better than the MB. So, therefore, I would skip it and buy XT atm.

[garroyo130]

1 hour ago, sdsc357 said:

I sold all Lews reel except the MB and the Mach combo is collecting dust. I converted all my reels to the Fuego a couple years back. Overall a much better reel in all aspect except size.

I too bought a Lews LFS based off of all the love they received at the time. Perhaps they truly were made better before they moved production to China? 

 

Anyhow, I never even fished my LFS. The casting of the frame and overall fit and finish were enough to turn me away from it. Like you, I went to the Fuego. 

 

I haven't fished the SLX XT, but I'm sure the Curado K is a better buy and may be had for the stated price range during Black Friday sales.