GEAR
PRODUCT REVIEW
TEAM LEW’S PRO-TI SPEED SPOOL SLP SERIES
I
f baitcasters were
described as athletes, it
might be fitting to por-
tray this all-star as a
tricked-out mix combining
a world-class powerlifter
with an Olympic figure
skater and a salty little
racehorse jockey. Among
other things, it’s a tough
reel that’s smooth to oper-
ate. There are plenty of
reasons for anglers who
demand top quality in their
reels to give the Pro-Ti a
serious look.
First Impression
38
The Pro-Ti is built
around the company’s
popular super Low Profile
(sLP) platform and is so
compact you can almost
hide it in the palm of your
hand. At 6.3 ounces, it’s
not the lightest baitcaster
Lew’s has ever cranked
out, but it is certainly one
of the toughest and most
functional thanks to a long
By Matt Williams
PHOTOs BY MATT PACE
list of premium compo-
nents designed with dura-
bility, high performance
and weight reduction in
mind.
Among the standout
features are a sturdy one-
piece aluminum frame,
rigid aluminum-alloy gear-
ing, 20-pound drag, six-
pin/27-point centrifugal
braking system and 11
stainless ball bearings to
keep everything spinning
smoothly. It’s also got a 3
3/4-inch carbon fiber winch
for a handle, with sticky
Winn grips.
In Action
Like every other Lew’s
reel in my rod locker, the
Pro-Ti turned out to be a
real pleasure to fish with. I
put it to work in several
arenas ranging from heavy-
cover flipping and pitching
with big tungsten weights
to long-range casting with
frogs, Texas and Carolina
rigs, wacky worms, and
lipless cranks as light as 1/4
ounce. It consistently deliv-
ered blue-ribbon results in
terms of smoothness, dis-
tance and trouble-free
operation.
The spool spun free and
easy. I fished it with baits
of varied sizes and in
changing wind speeds and
found the responsive brak-
ing system was simple to
dial in with a click or two of
the external knob. While I
wouldn’t make a habit of it,
I wouldn’t hesitate to toss
a 3/16-ounce shaky head
with this reel if my spin-
ning gear crapped out for
some reason.
Equally impressive is
the power. I didn’t land any
monsters with it, but I was
able to tackle enough
thick-shouldered grass
bass to realize the Pro-Ti –
with its big handle, sticky
grips and the drag cinched
down tight – can really
winch fish out of heavy
cover. You might not win
every battle, but I promise
none will be lost for a lack
of guts in the reel.
Final Thoughts
Plenty should be expect-
ed from a baitcaster with a
$350 price tag, and this one
delivers as many or more
goods than any in its class.
Not only is the Pro-Ti built
to perform like a champ,
but it’s gifted with a few
other nifty features to help
make those long days on
the water more enjoyable.
The speed Keeper, speed
Dial and Lube Port are nice
touches (see right-hand
page for more).
It’s a high-performance
reel, but on top of that the
reel’s cosmetics bespeak its
quality. The side plates
have a rich titanium finish
with satin purple accents,
completing what is a really
nice reel package.
FLWFISHING.COM I WINTER 2019