Lews Custom Pro vs Custom Lite

[badfish79]

Hi guys. I'm trying to decide between a Lews Custom Pro and Custom Lite. Anyone have an opinion on one or the other? Likes or dislikes?

 

The major differences I see on paper are the weight (5.4oz vs 4.9oz), the frame material, and the line capacity. I like the aesthetics of the Custom Pro, but functionality and durability are more important. They're only $20 apart so price isnt going to be a factor.

 

If it matters, I am going to use this reel with 20lb powerpro mainline on a medium or medium light rod for casting lightweight jigs, t-rigs and c-rigs (everything sub-1/2oz), and will mostly be used in saltwater.

[QED]

I like the Custom Lite much better, but I'm a stickler for low mass rod and reel combos, preferably around 8.25 oz or less.

[NavyToad]

I’m a Lew’s and Daiwa guy, but if you’re looking at saltwater use, you might want to look at the Shimano Tranx.

Not much difference between those 2 reels. I think you’d be happy with either one.

 

[badfish79]

I've been eyeing the Tranx 150, but I am going to try a lefty this time around. The tranx 151 release date seems to be unknown.

[jdr99a]

I know it’s silly, but I would choose the custom pro simply for the fact that it has the built in baitkeeper. I absolutely love that feature. As long as the 1/2 oz is my critical to you that would be my choice. 

[Tatulatard]

I would chose the aluminum frame custom pro.  The Lite is made from similar material to the ground carbon power mixed polymer materail tested here.  It performs very poorly compared to long strand carbon or aluminum. 

 

[dodgeguy]

Custom lite. And I would never use 20 lb. Line on a baitcaster. At least 50.

[badfish79]

I use the thinest line I'm able to since I fish from the shore 95% of the time and I need the distance in my cast. Theres also almost zero cover where I fish, besides eel grass.

[Phil77]

I have them both and would recommend either. I prefer the lite even though it's not aluminum. I've horsed plenty of fat girls out of heavy cover with mine and have no issues yet.

[Cody28]

On 5/3/2022 at 8:47 PM, dodgeguy said:

Custom lite. And I would never use 20 lb. Line on a baitcaster. At least 50.

I regularly use 20 pound line on my casters without issue. This is my preferred line for jerkbaits, flukes, poppers, weightless senkos, etc. Small line equals further casts, faster sink, and a smaller knot if I wanna tie on a leader. I know people warn against it, but if you give it a try is not much more difficult to handle than 30 pound. 

[PhishLI]

On 5/3/2022 at 7:24 PM, Tatulatard said:

The Lite is made from similar material to the ground carbon power mixed polymer materail tested here.  It performs very poorly compared to long strand carbon or aluminum. 

The real question should be is Tanso superior to plastic CI4+ or Zaion  which are both proven materials for reel frames. Also, the shapes used in those tests have little in common to the boxed shape of a fishing reel's frame, and this isn't a small point.

 

FWIW, my next reel will be a gen 2 Custom Pro SLP.

[Phil77]

4 hours ago, PhishLI said:

The real question should be is Tanso superior to plastic CI4+ or Zaion  which are both proven materials for reel frames. Also, the shapes used in those tests have little in common to the boxed shape of a fishing reel's frame, and this isn't a small point.

 

FWIW, my next reel will be a gen 2 Custom Prop SLP.

I was leery of the custom lite because it's not aluminum but after holding it I had to have it. My best fish with it last year was just a smidge over 5lbs pulled from under a lay down. I haven't ever noticed any flex and I've landed easily over a couple hundred fish with it over the last year. My only complaints are it isn't available in a 6 gear ratio and it doesn't have the speed keeper. I don't know much about tanso but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another reel made out of it.

[dodgeguy]

3 hours ago, Phil77 said:

I was leery of the custom lite because it's not aluminum but after holding it I had to have it. My best fish with it last year was just a smidge over 5lbs pulled from under a lay down. I haven't ever noticed any flex and I've landed easily over a couple hundred fish with it over the last year. My only complaints are it isn't available in a 6 gear ratio and it doesn't have the speed keeper. I don't know much about tanso but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another reel made out of it.

Only LFS body reels have the speed keeper. The custom lite is a SLP body reel. It would be nice in an 8.3 and 6.8

[PhishLI]

3 hours ago, Phil77 said:

My only complaints are it isn't available in a 6 gear ratio and it doesn't have the speed keeper.

The reason for this is because its spool is only 30mm tall. Line pickup would be extra slow with in a low 6 spd.

[Tatulatard]

On 5/5/2022 at 12:42 AM, PhishLI said:

The real question should be is Tanso superior to plastic CI4+ or Zaion  which are both proven materials for reel frames.

Proven in that they work.  Diawa has abandoned their material in baitcast reels above the $100 price target and only shimano remains with the chronarch which I am personally convinced will never be made from this material again once the current model is phased out.  They have not made any other baitcast reels from this material in the $200+ price to my knowledge.  Both daiwa and shimano went from these materials being new wonder materials for baitcast reels in the $300 range to completely abonding it on baitcast reels and using it as more of a budget marerial on spinning reels.

 

There is a common theme I hear from feedback about reels using this material including the Lews reels.  They are frequently reported as noisy and not as smooth as their aluminum counterparts after use but they work just fine.  As a whole they just don't stay as smooth or quiet as long but that doesn't mean mechanical failure is eminent.  This is just the price to pay for weight reduction at an affordable price and as long as the buyer knows this when they buy the reel then there is no reason to be upset about it. 

 

The thing is Lews or anyone else for that matter isn't going to say "new and improved plastic reel that offers high end magnesium like weight for a low cost but it will get noiser than it was out of the box after a season or three of use".  They are going to promote how light weight it is and how its made from short strand CARBON FIBER powder in a polymer with behaviors that largely mirror the polymer.  Sometimes they'll throw corrosion resistance around like 13 does with their cast carbon reels.  It's true that plastic is corrosion resistant but that's more of a salt water talking point imo.  

 

Personally I want to see more reels go the route of the hakai and use a magnesium frame with heavily ported brass main gear with high carbon plastic side plates for $200 and under.  The tiny reels like the curado 150 mgl and tatula 80 are also a good way to achieve weight under 7 oz.