Lew's Speed Spool LFS Gen 3 Baitcast Reel

Description

The Speed Spool name is where a lot of anglers' baitcasting careers started, and the GEN3 is the third-generation refinement of that original workhorse platform rather than a from-scratch reinvention. It's built to be the reel you reach for without thinking too hard about which one to grab — solid brass Speed Gears on the P2 Super Pinion, a 10-bearing system of double-shielded stainless steel, and a one-piece aluminium frame with graphite sideplates that keeps the package sensibly light without chasing flagship-level weight savings. Braking is handled by a recessed, externally adjustable Magnetic Control System — a single dial rather than a multi-pin centrifugal setup, which makes it one of the more approachable reels in the range to set and leave alone. The one genuine trade-off worth knowing about is the drag: rather than the carbon fibre systems used through most of this range, the GEN3 runs a Rulon drag capped at 15lb. That's a real ceiling compared with the 20-24lb carbon fibre options elsewhere, but Rulon drags have a well-earned reputation for exceptional smoothness at low-to-moderate settings, which matters more than outright max drag if you're mostly fishing lighter lines. A 34mm anodized spool, 95mm bowed handle with paddle knobs, and an external lube port complete a reel that isn't trying to be the most feature-dense in the lineup — it's trying to be the one that just works. - Retrieve: Left Hand - Bearings: 10-bearing system, stainless steel double-shielded - Gears: Solid brass Speed Gears with P2 Super Pinion, Hamai CNC cut - Frame: One-piece aluminium, graphite sideplates - Braking: Recessed, externally adjustable Magnetic Control System (MCS) - Spool: Anodised aluminium U-shape, 34mm - Handle: 95mm bowed anodised aluminium, paddle knobs - Drag: Rulon, up to 15lb max - Extras: External lube port Where to use it: - General, all-round bass fishing across most standard techniques - Anglers wanting Lew's proven Speed Spool feel in a refined, third-generation form - A dependable do-it-all reel for someone who'd rather not overthink the choice - Lighter line applications where a smooth Rulon drag is genuinely an asset Don't judge the Rulon drag purely on its 15lb ceiling — its real strength is how smoothly it performs at lighter, low-to-moderate settings, which is exactly where most bass fishing happens. If you're mainly running lighter lines, that smoothness is a genuine advantage over a higher-rated carbon fibre drag, not a lesser spec. Why isn't a gear ratio listed for this reel? Lew's doesn't specify an exact ratio for this particular GEN3 listing. If you need a precise figure before buying, it's worth checking the reel's nameplate or the exact product listing for confirmation. Is Rulon drag as strong as the carbon fibre drags elsewhere in the range? It has a lower ceiling — 15lb versus 20-24lb on carbon fibre options — but it's known for smoothness at lighter settings, which is a fair trade if you're not regularly pushing heavy drag. Is this the same reel as the original Speed Spool from years ago? GEN3 signals it's the third-generation evolution of that platform — refined over time rather than an unrelated design. How does the Magnetic Control System braking compare to Lew's other systems? It's externally adjustable magnetic-only braking through a single dial, simpler to set than the multi-pin centrifugal or combined magnetic-and-centrifugal systems used on some other reels in the range — a genuinely easier system to learn on.