[scwine]

Well, I finally bought a new baitcaster besides my Curado which I bought about 23 yrs ago.

Anyway, I went to a local Academy and wanted a Lews reel, but they didn't have any of the particular models I was looking for and decided to pick up the Mach 2. http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/lews-mach-2-speed-spool-slp-mh2sh-baitcast-reel

Does anyone have experience with this reel?

Did I do okay?

Also, is this reel okay for saltwater use?

Thanks.

 

[scwine]

Looks like a bad link above...Here is the reel>>> https://www.lews.com/casting/mach2

 

[Starplex007]

I think you did just fine. I have two Lew's Crush baitcasters and love them. Trout, redfish and flounder.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

 

[pocjetty]

You did just fine.

 

[BILLYSTIX CUSTOM RODS]

nice reel

that is a very nice reel ,to date i have built i believe 3 custom billystix to match that reel along with several of the other new lews .lew's are doing a great job .
stix

 

[dk2429]

Any Lews will out last a new Shimano.

You did good

 

[Gilbert]

Any Lews will out last a new Shimano.

You did good

Lmao......you silly

 

[dk2429]

Lmao......you silly

I ain't so silly from my experience! Had a Curado 70HG that lasted a month until it started making noise and wouldn't cast.. Have an American Hero Lews on the shelf I used to use that is ready for it's next trip when needed.. $59.99.

Lews.....:smile:

 

[J-ROSS-J]

I too have a 70 hg that I had to do a major overhaul in a short amount of time. It’s strictly a bass reel now.

 

[ReedA1691]

Been a Shimano guy since they came out with the first Calcutta. Three Chronarchs (2 gold SFs & 1 100B), one Curado 200 (sold after three trips) and one Metanium, I finally went with a Lew's Lite. Used it this weekend and, aside from the noisiness of the reel when I cast, it performed flawlessly once I got the brakes to where they needed to be. No way to tell about longevity compared to my Chronarchs (been using them 19, 18 & 10? years respectively, but that **** thing casts like a boss.


I see more Lew's reels in my future if this thing last a couple of years without the need to replace any bearings.

 

[Frank84]

I wouldn't generalize Shimano curado based on that model. My grandfather gave me 6-7 curado 200 models that are still flawless after 20 years minus scratches. Many, many old salty guides still use curado a with just a small rinse off with the hose after their used by clients.

Not saying Lews is a bad brand, they may be just as good.

Lmao......you silly

I ain't so silly from my experience! Had a Curado 70HG that lasted a month until it started making noise and wouldn't cast.. Have an American Hero Lews on the shelf I used to use that is ready for it's next trip when needed.. $59.99.

Lews.....

 

[Fishsurfer]

From what I have seen their baitcasting reels stand up and can take some punishment. Their spinning reels however are junk and cannot take a dunking in saltwater but for freshwater they should be OK. I would put ceramic bearings in it after you have worn it out a little.

 

[scwine]

Update on the Mach 2: I honestly can't believe how far I can cast an 1/8 oz lure with this reel. After using my 23 yr old Curado that's never really been cleaned, this free spooling reel is gonna take some getting used to as far as casting. I'm used to totally taking my thumb off my old reel, with this one it seems I either need to tighten the spool more and/or keep my thumb more on the spool. I seemed to get quite a few backlashes with the first quick outing, other than that,,,, Wow, I've been missing out on a lot of casting distance.

 

[EJ@TSFMag]

After using my 23 yr old Curado that's never really been cleaned...

Let me understand this...you have a Curado for twenty-three years and you never really cleaned it or had it cleaned? We're talking a 1998 model Curado, right? And you the new Lew's will cast better...well duh!

I am totally amazed!

Give that old Curado a proper cleaning and lube it correctly and then tell us how it performs against the Lew's. A never-cleaned 23-year-old reel against a new one right out of the box is hardly a fair comparison.

I was still using Calcuttas until about 2002 when I finally switched to low-profile reels. Are you sure the Curado was available in 1998? I don't know the introduction date...only asking.

 

[scwine]

After using my 23 yr old Curado that's never really been cleaned...

Let me understand this...you have a Curado for twenty-three years and you never really cleaned it or had it cleaned? We're talking a 1998 model Curado, right? And you the new Lew's will cast better...well duh!

I am totally amazed!

Give that old Curado a proper cleaning and lube it correctly and then tell us how it performs against the Lew's. A never-cleaned 23-year-old reel against a new one right out of the box is hardly a fair comparis

I was still using Calcuttas until about 2002 when I finally switched to low-profile reels. Are you sure the Curado was available in 1998? I don't know the introduction date...only asking.

If it wasn't bought in 1998, it had to be within a year of that date. Edit>>May have more around 1997?

I totally understand... I took it to a well known reel repair person located near the san Antonio airport to have it looked at, etc. about 15yrs ago,, He looked at it and handed it back to me, "said it was fine"..Fast forward to my brother using it at a local pond recently, and told me how much it ill-performed. I do plan on having it cleaned, bearings replaced, etc.

EDIT>> I never really thought of the reel being in that bad of shape. I have waded and fished with it so much, I guess I just got used to it.

 

[scwine]

Curados...
The I Series evolves as the eighth generation of Curado reels, with the first offered to consumers in 1991 as the “Bantam Curado.” Each update included the latest in baitcast technology and some forerunners won the “Best new baitcast product” Awards at the annual ICAST Trade Show.
“The first Curado set the benchmark on low profile reels and we still see several of the original “green” models in use today,” said Mahoney.
In 1993, the “red” Curado took on a more modern look and added variable braking system. It was offered in an aluminum frame and spool in 1994. A cranking model was created in 1999; high efficiency gearing and an easy access sideplate was added in 2006; a 200 size was built on a smaller frame in 2008 and multiple gear ratios up to 7.1:1 came on 2012 models.

 

[EJ@TSFMag]

scwine - I guess that settles the intro date question. If I hadn't been so stubborn in clinging to my round reels I might have opened my eyes to low-profile reels a little sooner. What's that they say about old dogs and new reels? LOL!


Thanks for the history lesson!

 

[ReedA1691]

Update on the Mach 2: I honestly can't believe how far I can cast an 1/8 oz lure with this reel. After using my 23 yr old Curado that's never really been cleaned, this free spooling reel is gonna take some getting used to as far as casting. I'm used to totally taking my thumb off my old reel, with this one it seems I either need to tighten the spool more and/or keep my thumb more on the spool. I seemed to get quite a few backlashes with the first quick outing, other than that,,,, Wow, I've been missing out on a lot of casting distance.

Not sure about what the Mach 2 has for brakes, but when casting my new Lew's Lite this passed weekend, the first cast was a bird's nest. I had set the brake control on "Free" so I cranked the brake control to 4 clicks above "Free" setting and it was fine, tho not casting as far as my buddy who also has a Lew's reel. I slowly backed off one click about every ten casts and did not get another backlash all day, while getting just as long of a cast as my buddy.

My comparison to my Chronarchs and Mettanium is fair, as those reels are expertly maintained.

 

[smithpointangler]

Reel

I too have a 70 hg that I had to do a major overhaul in a short amount of time. It’s strictly a bass reel now.

What are bass ?

 

[Gilbert]

Update on the Mach 2: I honestly can't believe how far I can cast an 1/8 oz lure with this reel. After using my 23 yr old Curado that's never really been cleaned, this free spooling reel is gonna take some getting used to as far as casting. I'm used to totally taking my thumb off my old reel, with this one it seems I either need to tighten the spool more and/or keep my thumb more on the spool. I seemed to get quite a few backlashes with the first quick outing, other than that,,,, Wow, I've been missing out on a lot of casting distance.

Are you casting a true 1/8oz lure or 1/8oz jig head with a soft plastic on it? Reason asking is I'm looking for a pond reel and I throw true 1/8oz spoons and crank baits. Best reel I found to do that is Diawa Sol. Nothing else has come close and I've tried about every brand.