Like the majority of people in this subreddit, I’m a big Shimano and Daiwa fan. I use both brands for baitcasters and Shimano for spinning reels (Penn for heavy salt spinning). I have a Curado 150M, Tranx 150, Tatula SV TW 100 and Coastal 80. I’ve also previously owned an SLX DC. Both brands are excellent and haven’t let me down.
But recently the Lew’s Custom Pro 3 grabbed my attention with its gold paint (some probably think it’s fugly) and the Paramag ITB braking system. At $299 I think you’d find most people here would never recommend spending that much on a Lew’s over a Shimano or Daiwa, but I was interested and thought it would be fun to try something new. I’ve only owned it for a few weeks so these are more initial impressions.
My main takeaways so far:
– The Paramag ITB braking system is really good. Casting distance is excellent and backlashes are incredibly well controlled. It seems to be a similar system to Daiwa’s Mag-force Boost system and performs just as well so far.
– Love the aesthetics. The shape is sleek and I’m a sucker for the gold paint. It’s nice to have something bright and colorful in a world full of black, gray or silver reels (shoutout to my bright blue Coastal 80 too). Of course I know many won’t like the color.
– Lightweight. Maybe the most impressive spec on this reel is that it comes in at 5.6 ounces. I don’t know Lew’s reel sizing but line capacity seems to be in line with Shimano/Daiwa 70 size baitcast reels. For a lighter, non-BFS, non-JDM baitcast reel, you’d have to go for a $450 Shimano Aldebaran or $800 Daiwa Steez. And the Lew’s doesn’t feel cheap either. Obviously you get a lot more with those higher end Japanese reels, but it really is impressive that Lew’s hit that weight at this price.
– I actually like the “gimmick” features. The speed knot is quick and easy to use for spooling line. The built in, pop out, hook keeper is something I wish all reels had. The spool tension knob is super clicky and a joy to adjust. And the little dial that reminds you the type and lb-test of line you have spooled is cool too. I definitely tend to forget what lb-test of fluorocarbon I have on each reel. Braid is easy because I always use 30 lb. These are small little details but I’m glad I actually find them useful.
– As buttery smooth as you’d expect for a reel at this price. No complaints here but I think Shimano reels with the micro module gearing have an ever so slight edge.
– For some strange reason, I find the line lay of the Custom Pro 3 superior to my Shimanos and Daiwas. It’s super neat and even. A minor thing and it could just be I’ve gotten better at spooling line over time.
If you can’t tell, ultimately I’m very happy with my purchase so far. Only time will tell about durability of course. Will I be switching all my baitcast reels to Lew’s after this? Ha! No chance. It compliments my Japanese reels well and they all have a place in my collection. But I will at least be open to more Lew’s reels down the road.
Posted by HookEmNOLA
3 Comments
A lews Mach Crush was my 1st actual combo. Its what I learned baitcasters with.
I had no complaints then and still have the setup. I have heard good things about these new reels as well.
Kudos
That’s good to hear. I’ve mainly got shimanos but I definitely want to try one of those.
I’ve never had an issue with any shimano product and had good luck with Diawa I will stick with it. They both feel like brands where you get exactly what you pay for. I’ve bought anywhere from cheap models to the upper tier expensive ones and they’ve all done exactly what they should for the price point while being super reliable.