GEAR
PRODUCT REVIEW
TEAM LEW’S CUSTOM PRO SPEED SPOOL SLP SERIES
L
ew’s is regarded as
the earliest pioneer in
low-profile baitcasting
reels, and the company’s
Custom Pro Speed Spool
SLP (Super Low Profile)
Series takes the concept to
all new heights. I own more
than two dozen baitcasters,
and not one of them sits any
lower in the seat than this
baby does. Yet, that’s hardly
the only reason the reel
earned Lew’s the Best
Freshwater Reel award last
July at ICAST 2016. The
featherweight baitcaster is
heavy on innovative traits
designed with high perform-
ance, durability, conven-
ience and ergonomics in
mind.
first Impression
32
The first thing I noticed
after cracking open the box
is how light and compact the
reel is. Weighing a scant 5.8
ounces, you could hide it in
the palm of your hand if it
weren’t for the outsize
By Matt Williams
power handle and magnum
Winn Grips knobs.
Lew’s achieved the “super
low profile” by machining
the spool down to 1 1/4 inch-
es in diameter, reducing the
size of the frame/shell to
accommodate it and adding
an exclusive SLP foot plat-
form that makes the reel
ride low in the seat. The
golden embossing and let-
tering make the reel pleas-
ing to look at, too.
on the Water
Some baitcasters have
trouble with lighter lures
and smaller diameter lines,
but this one didn’t. I used it
to throw everything from a
1/4-ounce shaky head on
10-pound-test fluorocarbon
to a 1 3/8-ounce River2Sea
Whopper Plopper with braid,
and the reel definitely per-
formed smooth as silk across
the board.
The four-pin SpeedCast
centrifugal braking system
operates using a 27-point
external dial that allowed
for a wide range of fine-tun-
ing. Having such a range
helped achieve maximum
casting distance and pre-
vent overruns with a variety
of baits and in some stiff
winds.
final Thoughts
Lew’s shaved off excess
weight by using a one-piece
aluminum frame sand-
wiched by C45 carbon side
plates, but it doesn’t appear
that quality was sacrificed in
the process. Instead, the
company created a tough
little customer that you can
cast or flip with all day long
with minimal fatigue.
One thing I really liked is
the bowed carbon fiber
handle. It measures roughly
3 3/4 inches long and is
tipped with Winn’s Dri-Tac
grips for limited slip in wet
conditions or when fishing
with fish slime on the fin-
gers. Together, these added
up to winch-like control.
Three more handy fea-
tures worth mentioning
include the Speed Keeper
retractable hook hanger,
Speed Dial line size indica-
tor and an easy access lube
port.
The hook hanger is locat-
ed on the inner gear wall
and pivots outward for
hanging baits and inward to
stow. The line indicator is an
easy-turn gold dial found on
the tension knob face. Turn
it left or right to the proper
number as an easy reminder
of the line size on the spool.
I found them to be helpful
features.
LInE InDIcaTor
fLWfISHInG.com I january 2017