We finally got my hands on the lew's custom pro gen 2 recently, and right after spending a good month putting it by means of its paces upon the water, I've got some ideas. If you've been keeping an eyesight on the baitcasting world lately, you understand there's a great deal of noise regarding "next-gen" gear. Generally, that just means the new coat of paint and the higher price tag, but Lew's in fact seems to have got believed what people wanted with this one particular. It's not just a renovation; it feels like they took the original Custom Pro and trimmed all the particular fat while beefing in the internal courage.
First away from, let's talk about exactly how this thing feels in your hand. The lew's custom pro gen 2 is extremely low-profile. If you're like me and a person spend eight hrs a day within the water, ergonomics aren't just a "nice to have"—they're the requirement to keep your wrist from falling off. This reel sits so low on the rod seat that it nearly disappears once you palm it. They've maintained to shave the weight down to regarding 6. 1 ounces, that is light more than enough to feel well-ventilated but heavy sufficient it doesn't feel like an inexpensive plastic material toy. It's built on an one-piece aluminum frame, and you will feel that solidity the second you connect into something along with a bit of shoulders.
What's Actually Brand new Under the Hood?
One of the biggest upgrades they've touted with the lew's custom pro gen 2 is the P2 Super Pinion. Today, I'm usually the very first person to move my eyes with fancy-sounding trademarked names, but there's several actual engineering logic here. The P2 system uses a bearing-supported pinion equipment, which basically indicates the gears stay in perfect position even when you're grinding a large fish through heavy grass. I noticed right away that the cranking felt the lot more stable than the old models. There's no "geariness" or oscillation when the reel will be under pressure, which gives you a lot more confidence when you're using high-resistance baits like deep-diving cranks or huge swimbaits.
After that there's the QuietCast ACB system. This particular is Lew's consider on centrifugal brake, and honestly, it's one of the most user-friendly techniques I've messed along with in a lengthy time. They have an external dial that truly makes a distinction when you click on it. Some fishing reels have twenty settings, and only 3 of these seem in order to do anything. With the lew's custom pro gen 2 , every click seems like a distinct modification. I was flipping straight into the wind one particular afternoon—the ultimate check for any baitcaster—and after two seconds of tweaking the particular dial, I wasn't dealing with any of those irritating professional overruns we all all hate in order to admit we nevertheless get.
On-the-Water Performance
I spent most of my time screening the lew's custom pro gen 2 with a mix of strategies, ranging from gentle Texas rigs in order to heavier 1/2 ounce jigs. What really stood out had been the startup inertia—or rather, the lack of it. The spool starts spinning with almost zero effort. This particular makes it the dream for all those short, technical casts where you're trying to sneak a lure within low-hanging branch without producing a massive splash.
The spreading distance is also pretty nuts. We paired it along with some 12lb fluorocarbon, and I had been launching a 3/8 oz jerkbait beyond I probably needed to. It's got the 95mm bowed aluminum handle with individuals classic Winn Dry-Tac knobs. I know some people are divided within the Winn grips—some love the tackiness, others think they get too slimy when they're wet—but for me personally, they're an earn. Despite fish slime and lake water all over my hands, I never sensed like my hand were going to slip away during a hard hookset.
The Little Details That Issue
It's simple to focus on the big specs, yet the lew's custom pro gen 2 has several small "quality of life" features that will I've really arrive to appreciate. For example, the lube port. It's this kind of simple thing, yet being able to add a drop of oil towards the gears without taking whole side plate off is the game changer regarding maintenance. Let's end up being real, most of us don't clean our reels as often as we ought to because it's a hassle. This removes that excuse.
There's also the Speed Dial collection indicator on the tension knob. It's a little dial exactly where you can indicate what pound check you have spooled up. If you're with this problem and a person have ten various setups in the rod locker that will all look similar, this is the lifesaver. No more guessing in case a rod has 15lb or even 20lb fluoro before you try to horse a fish out of a brush pile.
Is usually it Worth the Price?
Look, the lew's custom pro gen 2 isn't a budget reel. It's positioned in that mid-to-high-tier group where expectations are usually high. You're paying for the weight decrease, the smoother gear system, and the particular overall refined sense. If you're just starting out, you probably don't need to drop this kind of cash. But when you're at the point where one can experience the difference among a good fishing reel plus a great one particular, this is definitely in the "great" group.
One thing I was curious about was your longevity. Lew's hasn't always acquired the best reputation intended for long-term durability in their lighter reels, but the Gen 2 feels much more robust than the particular previous version. The side plates fit tighter, the tolerances feel more accurate, and there's absolutely no "slop" in the handle. I've banged it against the gunwale of the motorboat several times (unintentionally, associated with course) and this hasn't developed any of those mystical clicks or jumps that haunt less expensive reels after a couple weeks of heavy use.
Comparison towards the Competition
Whenever you look at the particular lew's custom pro gen 2 alongside stuff from Shimano or Daiwa in the exact same price range, it holds its own remarkably well. While Shimano may have the particular edge on that will "silky" feeling using their MicroModule gearing, Lew's wins on the sheer "tossability" and simplicity of use. This fishing reel is just incredibly easy to live with. A person don't have to be the professional tuner to obtain it to forged a mile with out backlashing. It's quite forgiving, which makes an extended day upon the water much more enjoyable.
The drag strategy is another highlight. It's rated for 20lbs of max drag, which is honestly a lot more than you'll actually requirement for bass fishing, but it's great to have that headroom. Moreover, the move is smooth. It doesn't stutter or even jerk when the fish makes a difficult run here at the boat. That's generally when the almost all heartbreaks happen, so having a drag that peels off line consistently is usually a massive plus.
Conclusions After a Season
If I acquired to find a problem about the lew's custom pro gen 2 , it would be a nitpicky one. The finish is beautiful— a sort of matte gunmetal look—but it will show scratches in case you're rough on your gear. In the event that you're someone that treats their reels like fine tiongkok, you'll be great. If you toss them in a pile in the back of a truck, don't expect it to remain pretty regarding long.
But all in all, we're out there to capture fish, not earn a beauty pageant. The lew's custom pro gen 2 does exactly what it's intended to: it stays taken care of. It's reliable, it's incredibly light, plus it's a fun time to cast. Whether or not you're skipping docks or bombing a crankbait over a point, it just works. If you're looking to improve your main setup this season, I'd say that one deserves a spot on your rod. It's one of those rare cases where the "Gen 2" actually signifies a significant leap forward rather than simply a marketing trick.