Compact and Strong: The Lew's Super Duty SD1H Baitcaster

Date: |
12/4/13 |
Tackle type: |
Reel |
Manufacturer: |
Lew's |
Reviewer: |
Wolbugger |
Total Score: 8.15 -
GREAT
Introduction:
Lew's sure has
come a long way recently since the late founder Lew Childre began offering rods
and reels over 40 years ago. I still remember seeing their old casting reels in
catalogs and being used by David Fritts on television. While those old reels
were popular among anglers, their design was undoubtedly old fashioned and never
really appealed to me. Fast forward to present day, and the lineup of Lew's
reels are compact, attractive, and come equipped with nice features. In my over
20 years of fishing I have fished countless reel brands, but never a Lew's. That
all changed when I had the opportunity to test the new Super Duty model SD1H
casting reel. There has been a good amount of buzz regarding the refreshed
lineup, so I was excited to see if it was indeed the truth or nothing but a
bunch of bologna. Let's dive in as I give my impressions on this slick reel!
Lew's Super Duty SD1H
Casting
Reel
Specifications |
Line
Capacity (lbs / yds) |
12/150
(mono) 30/160 (braid) |
Gear Ratio |
6.4:1
(5.4:1 and 7.1:1 also available) |
Inches Per Turn (IPT) |
28 inches |
Measured Weight |
8.0 ounces
(measured) |
Measured Max. Drag |
11.9 lbs measured
max drag |
Spool Weight |
21 Grams |
Number of
Bearings |
10+1 |
Origin |
Korea |
MSRP |
$179.99 |
Quality/Construction:
From afar, the Super Duty appears to be a well-made reel, and up close the
quality doesn't disappoint. The reel utilizes an aluminum frame, aluminum
handle-side plate, and a graphite outer side plate. The majority of the finish
is smooth and free of cosmetic flaws. On the bottom of the reel adjacent to the
foot, I found a couple faint lines and one minuscule little surface
imperfection, but this is really nit-picking on my part as those things were
barely noticeable and out of view when mounted on a rod. All the reel tolerances
are tight, and there's no flexing or movement apparent. Overall, the quality of
construction surely won't disappoint.

The reel matches up well to a stealthy rod like the Phenix Recon 2
The 95mm swept and ported handle is gloss black and features the familiar Lew's
flat paddle knobs. There is the slightest hint of handle back play at the lower
range of drag settings, but that goes away as tension is increased. Like the
body, the handle assembly feels strong overall and ready to do battle.

The Super Duty on the California Delta.
Quality Ratings for
Lew's Super Duty SD1H |
Finish (1-5) |
Construction Tolerances (1-5) |
Handle Tolerance (1-5) |
Knob Tolerance (1-5) |
Total
|
Possible |
Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10) |
4 |
|
|
|
|
20 |
|
Performance:
The Lew's Super Duty SD1H filled vacant reel seats on the Megabass Orochi XX
Extreme Mission Type-F, Phenix Recon 2 PHX-C766H, and a prototype Airrus
Stargate. I used it solely with 40lb Sufix braided line. This is supposedly a
heavy duty reel after all!

A compact body, and long handle for supreme leverage
Retrieve:
The Super Duty is equipped with a modest 6.4:1 gear ratio. The reel has ample
power for fishing very water-resistant or heavy baits, however retrieving them
in isn't quite as effortless as it would be using a reel with lower gearing. The
SD1S Super Duty model with it's 5.4:1 gearing would likely be the real
powerhouse in the lineup if looking for a serious tool for deep cranks and the
like.

The main drive gear and pinion gear meet
Nonetheless, this is a great choice if you are willing to give up a touch of
power in favor of versatility. Turning the handle is indeed a pleasant
experience. The retrieve is smooth and refined, with a solid feel. Don't you
just hate reels that feel weak, sloppy, and disconnected? Those sensations are
absent here.
Sweet Drag Performance for Lew's Super Duty SD1H (~2.25 turns to
lockdown) |
|
Full Turn |
Full +2 |
Full +4 |
Full +6 |
Lockdown |
Avg % Change |
Startup |
0.9 |
1.6 |
2.8 |
5.7 |
10.2 |
Sustained |
0.9 |
1.6 |
2.8 |
5.7 |
11.9 |
Biggest Drop |
0.8 |
1.5 |
2.6 |
4.9 |
10.0 |
Change in Startup vs. Sustained |
2.8% |
3.7% |
0.3% |
0.7% |
16.4% |
4.8% |
Biggest Drop From Sustained |
10.4% |
9.0% |
9.1% |
13.4% |
16.0% |
11.6% |
Drag:
The Super Duty SD1H was able to achieve 11.9 lbs of drag pressure on our
machine. At lower drag settings, the drag is quite smooth and consistent. At
higher settings it does lose some consistency, and as you can see by the chart
below the line becomes erratic at the highest mark. It's not what I'd classify
as a “jerky” drag by any means, but you'll definitely feel the bumps and
irregularities, most notably when pulling line off slowly.

Power:
The reel feels plenty capable, but as I mentioned, the Super Duty SD1S model
with the 5.4:1 ratio is likely the one you'll want for the most extreme cranking
torque. Though not THE total powerhouse in the series, this SD1H model with it's
high strength brass gearing performs admirably with a variety of baits. Deep
diving cranks are reeled in with relative ease, and the large handles help you
gain extra winching power and reduce fatigue. What makes the 6.4:1 ratio of this
reel so nice is that it's speed is more versatile for other applications, yet it
still retains enough power to wind in bulkier baits.

The drag stack consists of carbon composite and metal washers
Casting Range:
This reel continues to delight me with it's casting performance. It's by no
means a Steez (my favorite casting reel), but I find it extremely easy to
quickly dial in for whatever bait I'm using. For your average offerings ranging
from Senkos to medium swimbaits it handles them all quite well, even with the
somewhat hefty 40lb braided line. The spool is a bit deeper than many reels
nowadays, but that makes it perfect for casting far with heavier line. While it
throws quite well, because of the deep spool don't expect it to have extreme
performance when casting or pitching the lightest baits.

Inside the outer side plate and the MCS
Next Section: Super Duty Performance Ratings 
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