I’ve had a lot of Lew’s reels in my boat over the years and after countless casts with them, I’ve developed some pretty high expectations. I’ve beat the tar out of them and put ’em through just about anything you can think of and they just continue to be workhorses for me and they hardly ever give me a single issue. They’re just solid and dependable reels… and that speaks volumes to someone like me.
I’ve had an opportunity to test the new Lew’s Mach Crush SLP Casting Reel lately and there are a lot of impressive aspects to it. I never really pictured myself having an orange-colored reel laying on my front deck but it has been too good to put down. I wouldn’t care if it were bright pink; I’d still use this reel if it performed the same.
I’ll go through my favorite characteristics of this bass fishing reel.
I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and we were both commenting on how impress we’ve been with the casting distance of the recent Lew’s reels. After fishing with the Mach Crush SLP Casting Reel, I’d have a hard time overstating its casting distance. I’ve tested it with a myriad of baits and your jaw will nearly drop when you first cast this reel. Although it’s not topwater season here just yet, I messed around with it the other week and rigged up a Strike King Sexy Dawg and gave it all I had with a long cast. With no backlash or tangles at all, I was darn near able to spool this reel and I easily cast it all the way to the backing knot.
While it does show off in regards to casting distance, it has also proven itself to handle short and accurate casts as well. It’s not a particularly “touchy” reel like many others which means you don’t have to baby the spool when you’re making complex skips and pitches underneath cover. So whether you’re looking for a reel that can cast a country mile or gently place a jig underneath a boat dock, I think you’ll be quite pleased with this one.
I’ve really enjoyed how comfortable it is to use this reel for an extended period of time. Weighing in at 7.3 ounces and boasting a one-piece graphite frame with graphite sideplates, it’s a reel that won’t cause undue fatigue on your hand or arm after a long day of fishing. I’m willing to bet you’ll also become a fan of the Winn Dri-Tac knobs. If you haven’t had a chance to fish with ’em yet, I think you’re missing out. Whether you just culled through some fish in your livewell or you’re dealing with rainy weather, these cool little knobs provide a rock-solid grip that feels great even when you’re winching against a big bass.
Plainly stated, you’re not going to find a bass that will overpower this particular drag system. It’s a 20-pound carbon fiber system that, when cinched down, stays locked and won’t let bass gain an inch in thick cover. If you’re fishing a more open-water scenario and prefer to loosen the drag a bit, you’ll be impressed by how well it dispenses line when a bass takes a quick, boat-side dive.
I’ve tested a lot of meaty drag systems throughout my career and many of them tend to lack the finesse that’s often required for many techniques. I haven’t had that issue whatsoever with the Lew’s Mach Crush SLP Casting Reel so far. I’ve caught some pretty nice striped bass on them too a few months ago and as you know, those can be the ultimate test for a freshwater drag system. The line came off the spool quickly and easily with no delay, allowing my treble hooks to stay safely buried in the mouth without bending or breaking the hooks.
