I've been using Lew's products for many years now so I had a lot of confidence ordering this spinning combo. It arrived in somewhat poor condition due to packaging problems. The nut that holds the spool on was actually missing and 2 of the guides were bent. Normally I would just return such an item and get a replacement, but this is not possible with Vine items. So I decided to test out Lew's customer service. I contacted them via their website and promptly got a reply asking for more information. After a brief email exchange they offered to replace the reel since parts were not available. Excellent customer service! I was able to bend back the damaged guides and didn't ask Lew's for a warranty on the rod. So 5 stars for the company. I have not used this specific reel yet since the replacement hasn't arrived, but I do have the same model of reel in a larger size. It is very smooth and works great. The difference between the regular Speed Spin and some of their more expensive models is mostly in the materials. I have a number of their reels and all work flawlessly, but this one has more composite pieces compared to die-cast pieces on the higher end models. Tripping the bail using the reel handle is also not quite as smooth as the more expensive reels. For the price I think it's a great reel and I'd give it 4.5 stars because it is a good value. Now on to the rod. I ordered the medium power, fast action 6'6" 2-piece rod. It is comfortable, good quality, has an action that is closer to medium-fast, and the light weight makes it comfortable to fish with all day. In fact, I did fish all day with it this past week and landed over 40 trout. It's a good rod…except the power is not anywhere close to medium. I was fishing a fly and strike indicator setup with a little weight to help with casting. Since the fly hangs straight down and the running line sits on the water there's always a bit of slack in the rig when a fish strikes. Having good power and fast action really helps get a quick, solid hook set. I struggled to get good hook sets with this rod since it lacks the backbone of a true medium power, fast action rod. The following day I fished a different brand rod that's also designated as medium power, fast action, and the difference was stark. I have several name-brand and custom rods that are medium power and this Lew's rod has less backbone than any of them. I'm not sure if my rod was mislabeled or if Lew's just has a different standard for describing their power and action. I like the down-locking reel seat, the grip is comfy, and the wraps all look great. So even though I really like this rod in terms of quality, it does not perform well in terms of power and stiffness. If you're just soaking bait or retrieving small lures I think this rod would work quite well. And just a quick comment on reel size: Lew's uses size numbers that are different than other manufacturers. The size 200 included with this rod is a good match for most trout or bass fishing. The next size up, the 300, is a bit bulkier and heavier but gives you faster retrieve and more capacity. That would be a better size for large trout and bass, and it could even handle bigger stuff occasionally if needed. Overall I give this setup 4 stars for a great company, good reel, and quality rod that doesn't quite match it's specs.
Monty –
David –
C. Smith –
Homesteading with Birds –
Cody W Colvin –
MM –
Thomas Luederitz –
Durough –