ICAST 2017 Coverage - Lew's Mach Crush Baitcaster

ICAST 2017 Coverage

Lew's is Absolutely Crushing It with Combos

Date:	7/15/17
Location:	Orlando, FL
Admission:	Buyers & Press Only
Manufacturer:	Lew's
Reviewer:	Zander

Introduction: Often leading up to ICAST the press is sent information teasing some of the new product that will be unveiled leading up to the show. Most of the time it comes in the form of emails or just invitations to set up meetings and visit booths during the show. The most creative one came this year from Lew's.

This Orange Crush arrived in the mail in the weeks leading up to ICAST

A few weeks prior to the show a box arrived at the office from Lew's, and I'll admit I had a real head scratching moment when I opened it. Inside the box was a single empty can of Orange Crush, that was literally smashed and wound with fishing line tied to a hook that was attached to an invitation teasing the new reel.

It wasn't until I read the card and saw the name of the new reel, the "Mach Crush," did I understand the message that they were not so subtly sending. Brilliant!

The orange Mach Crush is quite a bit more sleek than the can that arrived in the mail

The Mach Crush: While the soda can with the line was cute the Mach Crush is no doubt the better fish catching machine. The new reel is designed to be a mainstream workhorse. It is constructed with a graphite frame and sidplates for light weight (7.3oz.) and comes loaded with a 10 bearing system with double shielded stainless steel ball bearings and zero reverse one way clutch bearings, which combine for a smooth overall feel.

The Mach Crush features a compact and low profile

The Mach Crush is designed to offer long and accurate casts with the Lew's external multi-setting brake (MSB) dual cast control system. The reel is clearly identifiable from the rest of the Lew's lineup with all the orange highlights which include the orange Winn Dri-Tac knobs. This reel definitely channels the Orange Crush theme and does it tastefully enough.

The reel is fitted with large Winn Dri-Tac grips

There is only one model, and it is a fast one, sporting a 7.5:1 gear ratio. The Mach crush will be available in both right and left hand retrieve in mid September and will retail for only $159 dollars. What is even more impressive is that the reel can be purchased as part of a combo with a matching Mach Crush rod composed of IM8 graphite and also fitted with a matching Winn Dri-Tac split-grip handle. The rod comes loaded with American Tackle’s Airwave Guide system. The best part? The entire combo retails for only $199 dollars, a great value for a mainstream workhorse rig.

There is also a new Mach Crush spinning reel which will retail for 99 dollars and will be available in 200, 300, and 400 sizes and sports a 6.2:1 gear ratio

Crushing It: Buyers and press at the show were so impressed with the value of the entire Mach Crush combo that it won the Best of Show in the Rod and Reel Combo category. If your keeping count that is four years that the company has won the award in the same category! I think that definitely qualifies as crushing it.

The team at Lew's toasting their product team with Orange Crushes... now that is fun

How did the team at Lew's celebrate the Best of Show win? With a toast to the company's Product Development team with Orange Crush's in hand, all led by angling legend Hank Parker and the company's CEO Gary Remensnyder.

Lew's continues to gain momentum in the industry, and on both the reel and rod side are proving that they can build product that anglers appreciate throughout the price spectrum. The Mach Crush baitcaster is already priced to move, but it is the combo that is the great value. I'm looking forward to seeing how the reel actually fishes, but for now I'm going to take my pre-spooled Crush can and see if I am able to catch a fish on it.