The stock Elites and Xtremes don't even have solid titanium guides. The Elites are Ti coated and the Xtremes are E-colored. The Extremes were 100% titanium recoil guides, St Croix discontinued them on the Extreme. Far more fisherman won't buy rods with recoil guides, and prefer the ones you are ref...

I would never pay full retail for any reel, I own three Stradic FJ's I never paid over $135.00 and as little as $125.00, I just bought a Sustain 1000fg $193.00 I don't care what reel when I bought my core,,,$275.00 all were New and it wouldn't mater what reel you want, full retail is unnecessary, I ...

Well there are a lot of reply's here made about the Lew's that are totally false, and obviously made by those who have no experience with them, other than maybe turning a handle at the store. I have Been Servicing and tuning reels for over 25 years. The Shimano was and still is a great reel bar the ...

The reels at least for the Shimano, will be the same weight balance size parts except for line capacity, the 3000 and 2500 reels, that I have experience with, Stradic and Sustain filled would have the same weight and size the spool is identical except machined a tad deeper on the 3000, and totally i...

The problem is are we voting for spinning or for casting??? I have found out a long time ago no company does everything the best, period. I have two companies that I choose when I am buying reels today, one builds the best spinning gear period, even if I don't use their very best, dollar for dollar ...

With the blanks you want $300.00 is a little week. The cost of the SCV blank alone depending on model will run over $150.00. If you spend this kind of money on a blank, you would definitely want to go with better hardware, and when you spend this kind of money you don't want just anybody building it...

you can find as good as there is available for any blank you would want in your arsenal, and absolutely nothing wrong with the earlier brown blank Elite. Dude...there ain't nothin' wrong with the first Gen green blanks...IMO, the most crisp in the 6'6" and 7'0" spinning MLF is the first Gen SCV. I ...

Spinning = my favorite Smallmouth and Walleye rod is a St. Croix Legend Elite, LES63MXF 6'3" MXF w/1000 Stradic I use this more than any other spinning rod by a large margin, For Casting Probably the St. Croix Legend Extreme 7'2" MHM with a 6.4:1 Team Lew's Gold, I love it for any treble hook fishin...

I have had all three versions of the SCV over the years, they fish pretty much the same,,,,terrific. I would buy one in a heart beat for the right price, and that all depends on condition. remember if you ever have problems or break it 75 bucks upgrades it to the newest model with NSI,ART, IPC you ...

I looked thru the silver in bright light and felt the blue were darker. I bought the 580G lens in my Permits (XL frames) in grey w/blue mirror for sunny days and high skies, and the Blackfins (L frames) in copper w/green mirror for overcast days, I can use either for any day but the contrast seems b...

I have a couple pairs of Costas with Fisch frames and 580G lenses. The only time I have fogging issues are on those very humid mornings with no wind. Once the sun gets up and a slight breeze kicks in, I'm fine. I have tried many different brands they all will fog. Glass is better than poly for me i...

30# or 40# Sufix 832 is my main size on casting gear on 2 reels I use 50 for poke and muskie. I have one reel setup for finesse, a highly tuned Team Lew's Pro w/20# 832 Sufix. I have no problem unless I happen to have good fish on and get's in weeds, when I'm using 12# leader, where I have to torque...

Shimano Sustain FJ, Team Lew's Pro, Shimano Calcutta all of em I ever had.

I prefer 5.4:1 for fishing slow such as worms, or for deep crank baits, I can tell a big difference in speed and torque. I use them anytime I want to fish slow or am using hard pulling baits.

As a service shop I deal with most all reel manufacturers and their service don't get no better than Lew's, they are great to deal with.and have a quality product. Rick is as good as it gets when you need help,,,,ABOVE & BEYOND,,,,exactly what they deliver.