Lew's Custom Lite SLP Reel 2025
IndianaFinesse reply :
Hello all, I've been looking to try a Lew's reel in the $200-$280 range (retail that is) and the new Custom Lite SLP casting reel certainly caught my attention by weighing a mere 4.9 ounces. Has anyone tried this reel yet? I can't seem to find much for reviews on it yet. Also looking at the Team Lite speed spool and Custom Pro speed spool. I plan to pair it with a 7' medium power Avid X for use as a lighter general purpose rod.
BTW, this will be the first Lew's I've ever owned, and thanks to being "blessed" with small hands a very low profile and light weight reel are important to me. The rest of my reels are mostly Curado's.
Shimano_1 reply :
Haven't used the custom lite but I own several of the new tournament pro lfs reels. I've been more than pleased. Of the reels mentioned the team lite would be my choice. I've fished a buddies some and haven't heard much other than positive from anyone about them. I'd say any of the reels u mentioned will be great...just a matter of which one suites what you want it for the best. Good luck
dodgeguy reply :
I love Lews but I would not buy that reel. It has a composite frame. I don't buy any reel without aluminum as the frame. I don't care who makes it.
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 1/12/2020 at 12:14 AM, dodgeguy said:I love Lews but I would not buy that reel. It has a composite frame. I don't buy any reel without aluminum as the frame. I don't care who makes it.
This has been my opinion as well...but I also can't say I've ever heard of the frame breaking on any decent reel unless they've been abused, so unless it's just because of the less solid feel you get from a composite frame idk if it matters to much to me for the weight loss.
dodgeguy reply :
On 1/12/2020 at 1:26 AM, IndianaFinesse said:This has been my opinion as well...but I also can't say I've ever heard of the frame breaking on any decent reel unless they've been abused, so unless it's just because of the less solid feel you get from a composite frame idk if it matters to much to me for the weight loss.
Ok. Lews makes awesome reels. I have the tournament pro and it's the best I've ever used including friends Shimano and diawa reels and my Abu mgx. If you get it please message me on how you like it after the summer. I'd be very interested to know.
Good reviews
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Custom_Lite_SLP_Casting_Reel/descpage-LCL.html
Shimano_1 reply :
There are too many high end reels with frames made from other materials. Yes everyone is always gonna say make sure its aluminum and I've always lived by this. However...lews customer service is fantastic so I would buy it worry free and should there be a problem they'll make it right.
dodgeguy reply :
On 1/12/2020 at 2:54 AM, Shimano_1 said:There are too many high end reels with frames made from other materials. Yes everyone is always gonna say make sure its aluminum and I've always lived by this. However...lews customer service is fantastic so I would buy it worry free and should there be a problem they'll make it right.
Agreed. So maybe I need to step into the future.
PhishLI reply :
On 1/12/2020 at 1:26 AM, IndianaFinesse said:This has been my opinion as well...but I also can't say I've ever heard of the frame breaking on any decent reel unless they've been abused, so unless it's just because of the less solid feel you get from a composite frame idk if it matters to much to me for the weight loss.
I have a new Tournament Pro LFS mounted on a 7'1" M. I've only had it out for about 7 hrs throwing mostly 1/4 oz jerkbaits. So far it's been great throwing that weight for distance. I can sling 9 grams very far if I need or want to. It's easy to dial in and not quirky when braking is close to the redline. It's not brass gear micro module smooth but smooth enough. The Lite also has the P2 pinion and I'll guess that the spool is similar in weight to the TP LFS which is super light. If Tanso is anything like CI4+ or Zaion, which it probably is, I wouldn't worry much. My Tatula LT and Chronarch have been fished hard and are both still rock solid.
Shimano_1 reply :
Can't believe there have been this many posts without someone suggesting shimano or daiwa lol. Every company is putting out some awesome reels these days. I've switched over to mostly all lews for this season. This thread has me contemplating the custom lite for finesse jigs and lighter baits. If op tries one let us know how you like it!
dodgeguy reply :
On 1/13/2020 at 3:53 AM, Shimano_1 said:Can't believe there have been this many posts without someone suggesting shimano or daiwa lol. Every company is putting out some awesome reels these days. I've switched over to mostly all lews for this season. This thread has me contemplating the custom lite for finesse jigs and lighter baits. If op tries one let us know how you like it!
Thank God !!!!
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 1/13/2020 at 3:53 AM, Shimano_1 said:Can't believe there have been this many posts without someone suggesting shimano or daiwa lol. Every company is putting out some awesome reels these days. I've switched over to mostly all lews for this season. This thread has me contemplating the custom lite for finesse jigs and lighter baits. If op tries one let us know how you like it!
Haha yeah I’m surprised it hasn’t become a Shimano/Daiwa post as well ???? And I certainly will post a review this summer if I do end up trying one, definitely leaning towards it right now
garroyo130 reply :
On 1/12/2020 at 1:26 AM, IndianaFinesse said:This has been my opinion as well...but I also can't say I've ever heard of the frame breaking on any decent reel
The problem isn't breaking, its flexing and its not something that happens overnight. I remember reading the countless posts about graphite frames flexing and didn't really believe it until I experienced it first hand. Now granted this was on a Pinnacle reel but it took about 10 years of fairly solid use for it to happen. I hooked into a solid bass one day and when reeling in ... nothing. Got home and took it apart and everything looked good. Drag worked properly and everything was fine. Went out fishing again and same thing.
I may be wrong but I concluded that the frame was flexing to the point that the gears were not making contact under heavy load. The reel could still handle smaller fish perfectly when it was retired.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
There are lots of different graphite materials and other composites. If I were inclined to make an argument against the OPs reel frame flex wouldn’t be part of it.
IndianaFinesse reply :
On 1/14/2020 at 9:32 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:There are lots of different graphite materials and other composites. If I were inclined to make an argument against the OPs reel frame flex wouldn’t be part of it.
What would be your argument against it?
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
On 1/14/2020 at 11:13 AM, IndianaFinesse said:What would be your argument against it?
You can argue for or against anything. On paper the Doyo reels lack the pinion support bearings where others have two. In actual use on the water they work fine. Longevity wise other reels will likely last longer if neither are cared for. Regular maintenance is a great equalizer though.
Nate Schraeger reply :
I just purchased it 2 weeks ago. Although I haven’t got to use it so it would be unfair to give a review... it feels like a 10x better reel than my Lew’s tourney MB SS. It’s extremely lite as u know. Very smooth and palm able. It’s going on a St. Croix bass x 6’8” medium XF for jerkbaits and topwater. I’ll give an update in the spring since I’m in IL. But it feels much smoother than the Diawa tatula I returned it for
dodgeguy reply :
On 1/14/2020 at 11:59 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:You can argue for or against anything. On paper the Doyo reels lack the pinion support bearings where others have two. In actual use on the water they work fine. Longevity wise other reels will likely last longer if neither are cared for. Regular maintenance is a great equalizer though.
According to Lews it has a pinion support bearing.
PhishLI reply :
On 1/14/2020 at 8:11 PM, dodgeguy said:According to Lews it has a pinion support bearing.
Looks like one bearing and one bushing which if fine. It's supported on both ends.
BaitFinesse reply :
The concern with plastic frames is not so much them breaking from regular use but that they are a cheap material utilizing a cheap manufacturing process with a high price tag. These companies would love to sell you a plastic reel at aluminum or even magnesium prices. That is why they all keep pushing it. Even Daiwa is up to it with those stupid plastic OEM 80 reels. The material also can be very cheap feeling in that it allows gear noise and vibrations to transmit to the user and is not smooth and metallic to the touch. It's a perfectly functional material but not high end by any means. The only real concern with breaking is the reel foot snapping off if the rod/reel is dropped or if the real seat locking nut is over tightened.
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/15/2020 at 2:24 AM, BaitFinesse said:Even Daiwa is up to it with those stupid plastic OEM 80 reels
With the exception of the new CA-80...which HAS an aluminum frame.
garroyo130 reply :
On 1/15/2020 at 2:24 AM, BaitFinesse said:The material also can be very cheap feeling in that it allows gear noise and vibrations to transmit to the user and is not smooth and metallic to the touch.
Id actually argue the opposite. After having owned both cheap graphite and cheap aluminum framed reels, I find that graphite actually hides gear noise and vibrations better. For a test pick up one of those collegiate series Ardent Evercast reels ... thats what a poorly done aluminum framed reel feels like.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
On 1/14/2020 at 8:11 PM, dodgeguy said:According to Lews it has a pinion support bearing.
I don’t think the current schematic is posted yet. That’s a good upgrade if they’ve done it.
PhishLI reply :
On 1/15/2020 at 3:49 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:I don’t think the current schematic is posted yet
It's on the Lew's site. If you enlarge the schematic you'll see the turned journal extending the pinion. The bushing shown next to the cam plate is marked part # 155, but the nomenclature is missing in the notes. It's the same arrangement on the Tournament Pro LFS which shows the correct info for the same part #.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 1/15/2020 at 3:49 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:I don’t think the current schematic is posted yet. That’s a good upgrade if they’ve done it.
I believe its baitcasters that have the "P2 Super Pinion bearing supported pinion gear" on their website. This is an upgrade for 2020 The Pro LFS is one of the reels with the P2
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
On 1/16/2020 at 4:58 AM, NYWayfarer said:I believe its baitcasters that have the "P2 Super Pinion bearing supported pinion gear" on their website. This is an upgrade for 2020 The Pro LFS is one of the reels with the P2
Yes I watched their video about it.
dodgeguy reply :
The 99 dollar LFS also has it.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
I got a chuckle out of the big deal they make of it. Lews is P2, Shimano is Xship, while Daiwa is eh, how we done it for years.
jbrew73 reply :
The pinion was a weak point on lews reels and the reason I got away from them. The new P2 reels should be a welcome addition to the lineup.
I think they will out cast anything on the market but the rough gear feel drove me nuts.
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